Jesus Bling Daily Devotionals

Day 179 - Job Day 20 - Don't Be Afraid to be Challenged

2013-08-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.” (Job 32:6)

It is entirely appropriate that today’s text centers around a young man who, respectively, questions his elders belief systems. It is my three girls are most often used by the Lord to smooth out my rough edges. They help Him form me into a better follower of His Son (as a result, a better mother). I include them in my writings a lot because through their questions and struggles, I gain a truer perspective of what the Lord desires for my life. Elihu’s role in the Book of Job is no different. Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary, describes the encounter like this,

While Elihu said some of the same things as the other speakers, his purpose was different from theirs. He was not trying to prove that Job was a sinner, but that Job’s view of God was wrong. Elihu introduced a new truth into the debate: that God sends suffering, not necessarily to punish us for our sins, but to keep us from sinning and to make us better persons.

One other critical person to my journey of faith is my husband. He asked me a question when we were dating, more than thirteen years ago, that is always in the background. It was his perspective that always colors questions of my faith. He said,

I know that you have faith in God, but can you tell me why?

When people come at me, whether truly seeking or in a debate, to know why I choose to follow Christ, it is his face I see. Somewhere, inside everyone, is someone who wants to know the truth. Jesus says He is The Truth (John 14:6), and that He sets us free (John 8:32). Our lives should reflect that truth because it is what so many want - unworldly freedom to have joy, find peace, offer kindness and gain wisdom.

The questions of those around me encourage me to seek greater understanding of why I practice the Christian faith. They make me ask the Lord for wisdom because too often my own understanding is so limited. When people seek the truth in us, we can give it to them. We can show them, through our own struggles, the path to God.

If you encounter someone who challenges your belief in Christ, don’t run and hide; or worse, get angry and shut them out. We shouldn’t be afraid of having to answer questions. Questions and experiences about Who God is shouldn’t keep us from seeking Him or being open to what they have to say. Like iron sharpening iron, different perspectives sharpen our faith. We can say, “I don’t know, but let’s find out together.” We don’t have all the answers, but we do know where to find them. The Apostle James said,

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (James 1:5)

How gentle and great a God who responds to His children’s needs for answers!

Ask the Lord for help when you encounter questions or challenges to your beliefs.

Heavenly Father – Thank You for being faithful to me. I am not faithful to You but You stick by me, closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). I know that You have great plans for me, so when I encounter challenges to my beliefs in You, help me to turn to You for guidance. Let me rest in knowing that You know the way, even when I am confused, threatened or unsure. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further reading: Psalm 51:6, Daniel 2:21, Matthew 7:7

Day 178 - Job Day 18 - Overcome Your Fear by Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

2013-08-23T12:35:00.002-07:00

Have I covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, and kept silent and did not go out of doors? (Job 31:33-34)

One of the central themes, and struggles, of our Christian faith is how to live out the truth of Scripture. I mean not just what we believe but also how we act. I heard a pastor on the radio today call it Theology Applied. Like what the Apostle James said, we show our faith when we work it out; otherwise our faith is just empty talk (James 2:26).

When we practice our faith, it strengthens us and demonstrates the truth of the Gospel we are saved by. But it’s hard. In our verse, Job is defending himself against the accusation that he succumb to peer pressure and didn’t help others. It challenges me to remember I have to do that too, for the sake of my love for Christ.

As much as I'm trying to figure out how to do this, I’m also trying to teach it to my kids. They are nine-going-on-ten and seven. They both proclaim belief in Jesus. So, when they share things that happen to them, I pray for a way to tie it back to Who Jesus is and what He would want them to do. A lot of times that means going against what is normal.

Last year, my older daughter was in third grade. She told me after school one day about a little boy in another class that didn’t say much. Apparently, he is very short. I don’t know if he just hadn’t caught up with his classmates or if he has a physical handicap; either way, she didn’t think he had any friends. It was clear God placed him before her for a reason and I told her that. I asked her if she knew his name. She didn’t, so I tasked her with finding it out and saying “Hi” to him at recess.

It took a while; so, I kept asking her about it. When she found out his name and greeted him, she discovered he did have friends – one in particular was a very tall boy. (Kind of a funny picture there). She felt better and learned it wasn't that hard to go out on a limb for another.

This may not be the most significant object lesson. It wasn’t building a well, or a house or feeding the homeless. Nor do I share it to make myself look like a godly mother. For both of us – it was working out our faith muscles. I wanted her to get out of her comfort zone, her usual circle of friends, to engage with someone a little different. That’s where I find the Lord – when I get out of my usual routine. When we step out in faith, it doesn’t just change the person we seek to help, it changes us too; a double blessing.

I hope to remind her of all of this when she gets a little older and it gets scary to go against the crowd. As she grows, the cost gets higher too. That is where a lot of us are. We feel there is too much at stake to go out on a limb. We would never say we are afraid, but we are. The only cure is to do what my daughter did and go for it, as many times as it takes. With this in mind, I want to remind her (and you) to just do what she did before: be sweet and reach out.

That’s the secret to ministry, to showing people who Jesus is. The hurt of this world can be defeated by a kind heart reaching out with open hands. We have to get out of our comfort zone for a second, stop worrying about what people might think, and jump into love. Then we will be able to say like Job we are blameless in the Lord’s sight because we are living like His Son.

How can you go against the comfort of your day to reach out to someone in Jesus Name?

Holy God – I seek to please You. Help me to have an opportunity to work out my faith in You that will bless someone else. Show me how to love mercy, seek justice and walk humbly with You. Give me the eyes to see the chance to love on someone in Jesus’ Name and give me the courage to act. Always in His Name, I pray. Amen.

Further Reading: Exodus 23:2, 2 Chronicles 32:18, Micah 6:8

Day 177 - Job Day 18 - Overcoming the Flesh

2013-08-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things. (Job 31:23)

So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9b)

I hope I’m not alone in this, but for years I have struggled with falling into the exact same temptations. At first, I wasn’t even aware some things were temptations, but over time, the Lord showed me the reality of my path. I don't mean He showed me just how material things were keeping me from His purposes. He revealed even my inner responses, whether that’s anger, pride, lust or greed (to name a few) were wrong. Even then, I didn’t immediately give them up, I still struggle.

Job, in this passage, is defending his innocence to accusation of the sin of withholding charity from his neighbors. His reasoning here is because he feared God. He could not sin against God and others – he just could not. Joseph, in our second verse, says the same. This is mindset the Lord wants to give all of His children. He wants us to choose His way, not out of blind obedience or fear of His wrath, but out of love. By the power of His love for us, the Holy Spirit grants us the ability to love Him more than the things of the flesh that enslave us. He wants us free to live and love and do great things!

Over the last six months, the Lord has been teaching me how to overcome my ingrained sinful habits and responses (i.e. "my flesh"). When I committed my life to Christ, it was no longer my flesh ruling. He broke those bonds, but living them out in the temporal world has sometimes been a hard and painful road. There are patterns of the flesh so deeply engrained I've despaired of ever changing, even though I’ve even more desperately desired just that.

I found the hope I need to keep going, as usual, in the Bible. It is the living and active, God’s hand-written notes on living life His way; and it is able to divide flesh and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). It tells me when I'm going the wrong direction and what to do about it. It shows me when my flesh is in control. Always the first step is to admit to the problem (repentance) but then, the Bible gives me words of power and strength to follow God instead. It shows me I can turn around and go the other way. It reminds me the Lord is doing some new in me and I can embrace that instead of any sinful pleasure of the moment.

When our flesh is weak, He is strong. We can rely on Him to deliver us from any temptation, no matter how long we've fought against it. The choice is ours. We don’t have to feed our flesh. We can know the difference and exalt the Spirit instead. We gain the eyes to see life God’s way when we live in His word. It is a radical and serious decision to cry out to the Lord instead of relying on willpower to overcome temptation. Yet in return, He gives us blessings in the natural world and strengthens our resolve to rely on Him further. It’s a hard fought win-win but eternally worth the effort.

What temptations are you facing today and what does God’s Word say about it?

Holy God – I know that You desire me to follow Your Spirit and not my own flesh. I want to desire that too, but I am afraid. Help me to find encouragement in Your Word. Help me to place my hope and trust in You instead of what I can do by myself. Show me that I can be changed and even if it is hard, it is so much better than continuing to walk a path away from You. I want to love You more than myself and seek the renewal only You can provide. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Psalm 55:17, Psalm 32:6, Psalm 62:8; Matthew 5:3-8

Day 176 - Job Day 17 - How to Find the Wisdom You Need

2013-08-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28)

See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we’re making garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame— and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall. (Psalm 20:7-8, MSG)

I am a very capable person. I am strong, smart and resourceful. These are all gifts the Lord has given me and I try to use them to the fullest measure. And...that’s when I get into trouble. In my quest to do and be the best, I blow past what the Holy Spirit is trying to do through me. I trip Him up so I can sneak past Him to get to the finish line first.

The verse above from Psalm 20 says it all. When I depend on the strength of my flesh – my innate abilities and skills, I’m going to be successful - for awhile. But the end is always the same: I can do get a ton of things done, but the gas gauge will eventually read empty. The gains will only be fleeting.

Work + Myself = Temporary Gains & Eventual Burn Out

Yet, when I start with the Lord, I don’t falter. My energy doesn’t run out - the tank never runs dry. I can keep going, plugged in, bearing fruit and making changes that will last for eternity.

Work + Following the Lord = Lasting Rewards & Limitless Strength

The secret is to purse the things of Christ first. I can pursue my own goals all day long, but by the end of the day, I’m totally worn out. There may be happiness but not joy. I'm not going to look much different from anyone else either. I will look, talk and act like the world. But I am a Child of God! I'm supposed to be different. I can’t just stop and ask for His blessing on my plans, either. This is as convicting to me now as it ever has been. When I run in a direction without asking the Lord to start with if that is the way I should go, I'm going to get lost.

Thankfully though, the Holy Spirit doesn’t let me get too far ahead. It is by His wisdom I understand I’ve got to slow down and let Him come up beside me. When I’m alone with Him, my path gets easier to see and my energy is full.

Let’s be a people that seek Him first – people that seek His wisdom and understanding over our lives. Let’s be different and show others what a life of peace and joy looks like. Let’s slow down and put God first. Then we will see His Kingdom come and earth will be like it is in heaven.

Carve out a few minutes in your day today to seek the Lord and His purposes for your life.

Heavenly Father – I come to You asking for the blessing of Your presence right now. Not a blessing on my plans or ideas, but a fresh indwelling of Your Spirit so that I can do Your will. Forgive me for not seeking You first. Help me to remember that it is better to spend one day with You than a thousand in my own strength. Help me to remember that true life comes from following Your Word rather than my own ideas. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 175 - Job Day 16 - Fear Isn't Just About Respect, It's About Authority

2013-08-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him. (Job 23:15)

When you hear “fear the Lord,” you might picture hiding from the bogey man under the covers. I assure you, it’s not that. We’ve talked about it numerous times on this journey and it appears over 300 times in Scripture. It could be its own yearly devotional! Fear of the Lord is essential to the success of a fruit-bearing Christian. But it has a little different meaning that back in Job’s day.

In Old Testament times, gods were to be feared. They had control over your life and death. (That still applies today.) I think that’s why Job, here in this verse, declared he was terrified. Both Isaiah, Ezekiel and the Apostle John had terrifying encounters with the Lord. Yet, in John’s case, the Risen Christ sets the tone for the believer when He puts His right hand on John, His hand of authority and power, to raise John up from his catatonic state.

That’s the point of having a fear of the Lord. We not only must respect and revere Him, we have to submit to His authority. We start giving the Lord authority over our lives because we are commanded to do so. As we progress in the life of faith, we learn that He is trustworthy. As our relationship grows, we learn to appreciate, then love, the tender care of the Lord. We come to crave His authority over our own way because He is complete justice and purity. So we can trust Him to treat us not only fairly, but His interests are our best interests.

When we say we fear God, it means we have Him in the right place, on the throne of our hearts. We bow the knee to His Will. It isn’t an automatic fear, it is a learned response. My life continues to be a process of re-bowing my knees daily. I learn each time what giving Him the respect of following His authority looks like. It involves loving the Lord and doing His Will more than leaning on my own understanding of things.

My spiritual partner the other day shared this wisdom,

Our level of submission determines the level of authority that we walk in, which in turn gives us power over our carnal selves. The more Lordship we give over to the Lord in all aspects of our lives, the greater the submission, the greater the authority. Our authority power is such an important piece because it is our armor that we take up against the enemy's blinding spirits so that we can knock down doors on the ‘hindrances’ preventing us to go further with Him.

Have you actively bowed to Christ’s authority of your life lately?

Mighty God – I surrender my life to you, again. I pursue my own understanding, ignoring Your gracious counsel. Forgive me and create a right spirit, a clean heart, in me. Don’t let me go any farther into this day without confessing Your way is greater than mine. Set me on the right path, full of Your grace and truth. Then I will be capable of greater things. I will overcome those issues that hold me back, by Your Holy Spirit’s power. Lives will be changed as a result and I am always and ever grateful. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Further Reading: Isaiah 6:1-13, Ezekiel 1:24-28, Revelation 1:12-18

Day 174 - Job Day 15 - Find Your Freedom Over Your Enemies

2013-07-13T00:19:00.001-07:00

Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them. (Job 21:9)

There are always going to be those people who do the wrong thing and get away with it. They might even be very successful. They are going to step on people – maybe even you – to get ahead in life. What they want, they get. And we secretly wish they would get what’s coming to them. I mean, here I am, doing my best to be a good citizen and a good Christian. So this person over here, who is bent on doing the wrong thing, gets away with it. Where is the justice in that, Lord?

That’s what Job is talking about here; describing how bad people don’t seem to get what is coming to them. They live wickedly – from a biblical world view – and they prosper. They live in safety, in big houses they’ve built on the backs of good people. In our crazy, mixed up world, the wicked succeed far more often than the pure in heart.

Yet, what I find really crazy is that Jesus asked as to pray for these people!

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus is really serious. I ponder how I'm going to PRAY for the people that hurt me (and others but mostly me). I know I’m supposed to work to ease suffering, but to intercede on behalf of those who are having their cake and eating it too seems like a bit of a stretch.

Four years ago, for more than six months, I struggled in a relationship with a woman who treated me terribly. She alienated me from the community we were a part of and made me look like a fool, all the while gaining in popularity. There seemed to be no one on my side. My husband got tired of hearing my complaints, but I couldn't get over what was happening. I'm the pure in heart right, but she is the one on top? How does that work out right, God?

Till one day I heard Him whisper this into my heart:

Do you want me to show her mercy or justice?

I knew where He was going with this. I wasn't so pure in heart after all. If I continued in my fallen mindset of wanting her to get what I thought she deserved, that’s exactly what would happen. And at that thought, I was miserable. I know I was encountering the heart of God for her. He didn't want her to experience justice, He wanted her to come to salvation.

You can't experience God's heart for people and not be changed. I started praying for her that instant. Nothing about our situation changed, but I did. I was able to forgive and it caused a release of emotion that had held me back all those long months. We moved shortly after and the bitterness that plagued that season of my life was gone. This echoes what the Reverend Karyl Huntley says,

You know you have forgiven someone when he or she has harmless passage through your mind.

Enlist the power of prayer for your enemies. They don’t have to be long prayers, especially at first. Make it simple and by doing so, you free yourself from being tangled in the web of the flesh. You will be transformed.

Do you have an enemy you need to pray for today?

Dearest Father – You know my heart better than I do. Help me to let go of the hardness built up towards my enemies. Help me to focus on what is going on between You and Me. Give me the courage to forgive and pray for those who've hurt me and my loved ones, but still seem to prosper. I want to desire the mercy You came to give. Send Your Spirit to empower me to live according to Your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Proverbs 16:7, Matthew 5:44-46, Romans 12:17-19

Day 173 - Job Day 14 - Don't Fear the Dead End

2013-05-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

…you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment. (Job 19:29)

This statement wraps up a speech by Job, a response to his awful friends who just keep coming at him. They want him to admit what he did, to bring his dark deeds into the light. As we know, though – Job was innocent.

If you have ever felt that way – stuck at a dead-end, completely in the dark, though you know you haven’t done anything wrong. It is a lonely space in time. In this verse, Job wants his friends to know they might end up there too, if they aren’t careful. Warren Wiersbe wrote in his commentary on Job,

At times God permits His children to experience darkness on a dead-end street where they don’t know which way to turn. When this happens, wait for the Lord to give you light in His own time. Don’t try to manufacture your own light or to borrow light from others.

I’ve been there. I’ve been greatly moved by God but also felt like He was keeping me stock still. No moving forward. No moving back. Completely pinned in on all sides. In my dead-end season I wrote this,

Maybe the darkness we are in is not because of some evil, satanic prank. Maybe it is a divine gift. Perhaps it is His Hand covering our eyes because His glory is passing by. Maybe His Glory is being worked out in our lives and we couldn't understand until it is complete. We must see it from the backside or our heads would explode. He has us hidden, between a rock and a hard place, but covered by His Hand - it is the safest place to be.

We often think what goes around comes around, but being in the dark may not be a result of our misdeeds. God may have us there for His purposes, which are not always immediately apparent. It may take days, weeks or years to understand His reasoning, if we ever do.

This is not a time for fear or shame – it is a time of growth and preparation. It is a time to focus on understanding, more fully, the truth of what God speaks to us. As Oswald Chambers states,

It is not the days of sunshine and splendor and liberty and light that leave their lasting and indelible effect upon the soul, but those nights of the Spirit in which, shadowed by God’s hand, hidden in the dark cleft of some rock in a weary land, He lets the splendor of the outskirts of Himself pass before our gaze.

We can focus on the outcome, or we can focus on God. We can live in fear of what we can’t see, or we can wait on the Lord to reveal His light to us. We can learn more and more and more about this God we put our trust in. We can take comfort in His promises, even if we can’t see our hands in front of our face. Treat it as a divine gift – embrace the safety of being in His Hands.

If you feel trapped or like there is no way out, seek safety in the Lord.

Heavenly Father – I know Job was confused about where You had him. I, too, am confused by where you have me. It feels strange and scary to not be able to see the way ahead. Bring to my mind all Your promises of deliverance and peace because I want to grow closer to You during this season. Help me to lean into You, resting comfortably in Your arms so I can wait patiently for Your glory to be revealed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Day 172 - Job Day 13 - Rest in Peace

2013-05-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry. You will sleep without fear and be greatly respected. (Job 11:18-19, CEV)

There have been numerous occasions in the last five years in which either myself, my husband or both of us are awake in the middle of the night. The dead of night is an awful enemy to contend with because it has no answers, but yet you wrestle anyways. You stare into the inky blackness and pray for clarity. You seek a solution, going through the events of the previous day, or the one coming up, only to feel like you are walking in circles - always ending up where you started.

Answers rarely come in the wee hours.

What Zophar is saying in this verse has it’s basis in earthly prosperity. If Job would only repent! But there is a gem of truth in these verses. When my mind and heart contend with the world, no peace is to be found.

Only when I wrestle with the Lord, like Jacob, do blessings await. When I surrender to Him, I am released from my burdens. I do not have to chase after the answers because I am confident that even while I sleep, my Protector is working things out for me. I may not know what the day holds, but He does and that is enough.

Gill, in his exposition of the Bible, states,

…and thou shalt take thy rest in safety; lie down on the bed and sleep in the night season in peace and quietness, having nothing to fear; being well entrenched, and secure from depredations and inundations; and, more especially being hedged about and protected by the power and providence of God.

It’s pretty clear when we’ve put our faith in something other than the Lord. When we start depending on our own abilities, or in others, we feel our hedge of protection slipping away. We start feeling vulnerable and confused. That’s right where we should be, as far as the enemy is concerned. He wants us: frightened, confused, discouraged and exhausted.

When you lay awake at night, thinking about the circumstances you face, the easiest thing to do is hold on to them - trying to figure it all out on your own. It seems much harder to release your iron grip and surrender to God. When it's hard, that’s when you should open your hands. God is not the author of confusion and when you give over to Him, He blesses you with reassurance, peace, comfort and most certainly, rest.

When you are worried and restless, seek the Lord in prayer. All that you need will be found in Him.

Holy God – I have wasted so much time being worried. There is so little that I can control. I’ve lived as if it is all up to me, when the reality is, everything is in Your Hands. Forgive me and remind me, especially in the dead of night, You know what is best. Help me to cast my cares onto You and receive Your peace and rest. Give me insight when I lack it, ready for the sun to rise so I can go forth in confidence. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Psalm 121, Psalm 127:2, 1 Corinthians 14:33

Day 171 - Job Day 12 - Bargaining for Faith

2013-04-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him…then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. (Job 11:13,15)

Job is being confronted here, not by a friend, but an enemy disguised as a friend. Zophar was angry at Job and makes three stinging accusations. Our verses today summarize the third – that Job is stubborn in refusing to repent of the sin he so obviously committed to bring all this disaster upon himself. It’s part and parcel to what Warren Wiersbe calls a “commercial faith.” He explains,

But if Job wanted…blessings, he had to get them on Zophar’s terms…Zophar is tempting Job to bargain with God so he can get out of his troubles. This is exactly what Satan wanted Job to do! If Job had followed Zophar’s advice, he would have played right into the hands of the enemy.

Have you ever been tempted to bargain with God? I know I have.

Lord, if you would just get me out of this…

Lord, if you would just give me this…

Lord, if you would just help me here….

I’ll do anything you want. I won’t mess up again. I’ll be perfect. Just do this one thing for me, Lord and I’ll never be unfaithful to you again.

It’s not a promise we can keep – the enemy knows it. He wants us to have shaky faith, based only on what God will give to us rather than what Christ has done for us. When we go to church because of what we gain from our relationships in the Lord, we miss the true freedom that comes from living in His unconditional love. When we live for what we can get, there is no release from our past, present or future misdeeds. We focus on the kind of deal we can strike than the true meaning of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

When we endeavor to live God’s way – out of love for God, ourselves and our neighbors – there is only freedom that awaits us. Our past transgressions are removed. Our present issues are being resolved. And our future is full of hope and promise. That’s the kind of faith Job had – confident in God's reasons for this affliction so he could keep living in the assurance of God’s goodness.

Today is an opportunity to identify if you’ve fallen into the trap of counting on God only when it matters to you. It is a chance to remove the Lets-Make-A-Deal mindset so to receive a fresh perspective, a greater anointing of mercy and salvation. It is a way to be freed from the kind of faith that says, “If only you would do this, God,” so you can embrace the power of a faith that says, “If I have only You, God.”

Ask the Lord for a heart that no longer needs to barter with Him because it is filled with His grace.

Heavenly Father – Too long I’ve spent trying to make you into a god who will do what I want, when I want it. It has gotten me nowhere. I don’t feel free, I don’t feel loved and I don’t feel strong. I don’t want to live that way anymore. I turn back to You, Lord, seeking Your forgiveness. I want to live by the Word that says if I seek You first, I won’t have anything else to worry about. Thank You for another chance to begin again, knowing You will restore me to righteousness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Numbers 23, Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 3:20-21

Day 170 - Job Day 11 - Revealing Fear's Limits

2013-04-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot. (Job 9:35)

A little more than a week ago, I was with my six year old daughter. We were on the way to get an MRI done, as part of her quarterly scans, in accordance with her cancer remission protocol. (We are happily celebrating almost two years post-treatment!) In my mind, they are a formality because we know the Lord has completely healed her, but we have to keep an eye out.

Even after so long, she still fears these scans. Well, not the scans, but the ‘pokes.’ They’ve got to keep an eye on her bloodwork and she has to get an IV put in, so I have to hold her down when they put in the needle.

As we drove to the hospital, she told me how her fear feels. She said the fear of the pain fills her mind and makes her head grow big, like a balloon. Only when she starts thinking about good things does her head gets smaller. She wisely said that the pain she fears feels so much bigger than it really is.

Fear fools us into thinking it is bigger than it is. It convinces us we can do nothing and that we are all alone in this. It darkens our minds and fills our senses. It overtakes us until we think there is no hope. But fear doesn’t want you to know its secret because it is a big one. It’s power to overwhelm you hinges one thing and fear would do anything to keep you from finding it out.

Fear has limits.

God does not.

In our verse today, Job nearly wishes for a mediator to stand in the gap for him. He wants someone to help him understand, to get past this horrible experience. He pledges his loyalty if such a person existed. Back then, he could only look into the future and put his hope in what might be.

We don't have to wait or wish. We have Someone who knows our pain, our limits and has gone so far beyond them, we can trust Him with our very lives. That is Jesus Christ. He stands in the gap to show us the limits of fear – because fear is a created thing. Fear can only go so far because it doesn’t exist in its own power. Just like my daughter discovered, when we turn our eyes to Jesus, He shows us how miraculous His power is because He is the Creator.

When we invite Jesus into our circumstances, we can experience His limitless love, power, strength, peace, mercy and grace. Nothing can stand against them because they are not limited by the physical world. Like the Apostle Paul said, "Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:23)

God and His character are not limited by the laws of the natural. Fear is because it can only grow when we give it room. When we deprive fear of the air of our thoughts, it can’t expand. Fixing our minds on the things of God deflates the power of fear, just like taking the air out of balloon.

Like my daughter discovered – and Job came to realize – there is a power more infinite than fear. That is the power of Christ living in us. Now that we know the secret, we are no longer slaves to fear!

If you embraced the limitless of Our God, what fear would you be freed from?

Holy God – thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son. Thank you for Your infinite wisdom and mercy, that allows me to live in the space of Your love. When fear overwhelms me, help me to remember its limits. Help me to focus on how nothing is impossible for you, when I put my trust in Jesus. In His Name I pray, Amen.

Further Reading: 1 Kings 8:27, Psalm 145:3, Romans 11:33-36

Day 169 - Job Day 10 - Don't Let Fear Keep You From Others

2013-03-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid. (Job 6:21)

What keeps us from reaching out to the hurting? Is it our busy schedules? Is it our complicated lives? Or is it fear?

These questions have haunted me since one day last year, after an encounter in the grocery store. Sophia, our middle daughter and cancer survivor, was with me on a quick run for some basics. She is well-known at her school, having gone through her treatment while attending Pre-K and from a news report the whole school saw. A little girl who also attends the school was standing in line behind us with her grandmother. She greeted us and then turned to her grandmother and said, “She has cancer!”

The grandmother, to my shock, reprimanded the little girl harshly for speaking. I overheard her whisper she should not say things like that out loud. I don’t know if it was the superstitious belief that if you spoke the name of the disease, you invited it into your life; or if she thought it was rude to bring up other people’s business in the checkout line.

Whatever the reason, I could tell this woman was afraid, I could see it in her eyes when she looked at us. She is not alone in her fear of encountering pain, though because I'm just as guilty. Many times fear has kept me from reaching out to a friend or neighbor in need. I’m afraid I will say the wrong thing or not have any words at all. I have made all the excuses in the world – I’m too busy, I’m too tired, I don’t know how to relate. But it comes down to what Barnes Notes on the Bible summarizes about our verse,

You came with a professed intention to administer comfort, but your courage fails.

Fear keeps us from meeting people where they are. That’s the stark difference between us and Jesus. He never let fear get in His way. He touched the untouchable and cleansed the unclean with His bare hands. Against all social order, political lines and personal propriety, He met people just as they were. He didn't ask them to make Him comfortable or clean up their act before He helped them. He was there in the midst of their mess. He met them along the road, at dinner, in the middle of a sermon; whenever and wherever they needed Him.

If we are be conformed to His image, we must stop letting fear dictate how we respond to pain, tragedy and social injustice. We can’t let it keep us from others, wherever we encounter them. We must not be afraid to speak, to help, to reach out to them because that is when we demonstrate the true heart of our Savior. When we show His love to those desperate for it – He is there and will do His mighty work.

Who can you reach out to in the name of Jesus today?

Holy God – You made Yourself small and human, so we could see what love and healing truly look like. I admit I have not always done the same. Forgive me and cleanse me of the fear that keeps others at arm’s length. Help me to share in their lives and show them what You’ve done in mine. Help me to be an agent of healing and peace today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Psalm 147, Matthew 5, John 16

Day 168 - Job Day 9 - Be an Agent of Love Over Fear

2013-03-21T09:51:00.003-07:00

Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. (Job 6:14)

There is no more devastating experience than to receive condemnation instead of comfort when you present your trials to a friend. The Church has done more damage to the name of Christ, Who is the ultimate Comforter, by propagating the “you get what you deserve” mindset. We drive people away from God when we, as Jesus said, point out the splinters in their eye when the log is sticking out of our own.

Over and over again in Scripture, the idea Job’s friend came to proclaim – that Job was getting what he deserved – is rebuked. It is so easy to get caught up in being religiously right, so much so that we hurt the very people Jesus came to save. It is easy to let showing our love turn into telling them how they are wrong.

What always opens my eyes to how I get caught up in that mindset is when I read about how Jesus reserved His harshest judgment for those judgmental people in the religious elite. He told them they shackled the poor with burdens that could not be carried. We do the same when we act “right” instead of out of grace.

It’s time to remember how we should be living. The prophet Zechariah put it this way: This is what the LORD Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another (7:9). The prophet Micah put it this way: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (6:8).

Jesus remains the truest friend of the hurting. His mission, as stated in Luke 4 included healing and freedom. When someone we know is struggling (whether we agree with their choices or not) that’s the message they need to hear. Our world needs to see His words from Mark 2:17 in action:

It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

We are on the brink of revival, possibly nationally and globally, but we have to get over the fear of what we don’t know or agree with. We have to welcome those different from us, for no other reason than we were once different and Christ welcomed us in. Whether they are gay, straight, white, black, tattooed, single, divorced, married, broken or seemingly whole: our job is to show them love over our opinions of how they live.

I have not always done this well. In fact, there are people in my life who would tell you I’ve done it very badly.

But what I know now is that Jesus loves me in spite of who I once was (and sometimes still am). He gives me the freedom to love in ways that would be impossible without Him – and I’m learning to walk in those ways. I want to be an agent of peace, hope and joy, not one of self-righteousness. Kindness is the best medicine to a world full of hurting people. Grace is the blanket we can throw over those shivering in the darkness. Gentleness can be on our lips even when we don’t agree – especially when we don’t agree with others.

Nothing changes the world quite like love. No amount of being right or forcing our beliefs will ever change a heart. Living as Christ did, though, will change others in ways that last for eternity.

Will you join me in trying to live like our Savior today?

Heavenly Father – There are so many opportunities to prove how I’m right, but today, I want to live like Your Son did. I want to prove the love You have for each person. I want to show that love, being light and salt to the Earth. Please help me to overcome my fear of what I don’t know, understand or agree with and reach out to the lost. Help me to show them grace, mercy and kindness – the way Your Son did. Let them see You in Me and in His Name I pray, Amen.

Day 167 - Job Day 8 - Our Hope Displaces Our Fear

2013-03-20T08:55:00.001-07:00

You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals. (Job 5:22)

Are you watching The Bible Series on the History Channel? We are here and really enjoying it. One scene we saw this week was Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel was put there because he refused to obey the king’s edict not to pray to anyone but the king of Persia. He was caught in the trap laid by jealous administrators: they couldn’t find any fleshly corruption in him, so they had to find a way to catch him in his faith. They did – right in the middle of one of his three-times daily prayers to Jehovah. And because the king had issued the law, it couldn’t be changed, so Daniel was thrown in with the hungry beasts.

Because Daniel was faithful to the Lord, however, he was kept from harm. This is how it reads in Daniel 6:23:

And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Now, I don’t know if Daniel started off scared and then a spirit of peace overwhelmed him. I tend to think I would be scared out of my mind if I was sealed in a pit with hungry lions whose purpose was to eat people. When I think about it, though, I shouldn't fear just in an extreme circumstance like this. I have reason to be fearful every day. There are forces in this world that seek to destroy me – as Jesus said in John 10:10, they come to kill me. They have a million chances each day to do so.

Yet, I don’t walk around in a state of fear for my safety. I don’t fear what is coming tomorrow – whether it is destruction, famine, wild beasts, ruin or physical injury. I don’t fear what can happen to my children and I don’t wonder if I’m going to end up a widow. I know there is an end for all of us, but I don’t worry about when it will come or how it will happen.

I am secure in the Lord. That is all there is to it. Those times when I am not so secure, I pray. I ask for the Lord’s help and because He is living in me, I know I am heard. I know there is power beyond measure going before me. I know indescribable grace stands beside me. And I know the Hand that created the universe covers my tracks. This is what the Apostle Paul called,

Christ in You – the hope of glory.

Our verse in Job is just another way of saying that the Lord is with us – all the time. 24x7x365 He is Immanuel. He doesn’t sleep, He is continually watching over those who call upon His name, ready to make their circumstances work for His glory and our good – just like He did for Daniel.

This world is a fear-filled place with a thousand reasons to anxious, but when you are one with Christ, you can let go of that fear. You can go about your day knowing He is sovereign so you are secure. It’s not arrogance; it is the confidence that comes from the peace of God reigning in our hearts and minds. We are loved and cared for by the Infinite One in whom all things are possible. There is no longer any reason to fear what this world can do to us.

Ask God to show you the security found only in Him, so you don’t have to live in fear.

Holy Father – The things of this world catch up to me. I start to choke on the fear of what could happen. I find myself lacking the confidence to believe in Your power over my life. Help me, Lord, to know without a doubt that because I believe in Your Son, there is only room for hope. No matter what happens to me or my loved ones today, let me go forth in the power of Your Holy Spirit, Who is guarding me. Help me to set down my fear at the foot of Your Cross and never pick it back up again. In Jesus’ Name Alone, Amen.

Further Reading: Daniel 6, Psalm 121, Colossians 1:27

Day 166 - Job Day 7 - Do Not Fear What Others Will Say

2013-03-07T11:30:00.001-08:00

You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes. (Job 5:21)

And if the servants of Christ are not delivered from outward troubles, they are delivered by them, and while overcome by one trouble, they conquer all. Whatever is maliciously said against them shall not hurt them. They shall have wisdom and grace to manage their concerns. – Matthew Henry

Despite the awkward way Job’s friend Eliphaz delivers this promise, it holds true nonetheless. God promises to give us the ability to handle any negative talk, any slight to our reputation, when we trust and obey Him. The challenge lies in the trusting.

I have both been the victim and perpetrator of what the Apostle Paul calls “unwholesome talk.” But being on the wrong end of it never ceases to catch me unaware. Scripture makes it clear - if they could call Jesus the devil incarnate, as believers in Him, we are in for it too. But I'll be honest, a negative comment about my faith stings for a long time.

The Accuser stands ready and willing to hit us where it hurts. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but a harsh word tears down my confidence. Mean-spirited talk makes me think twice about who I am and sets me on a path of questioning whether God thinks the same. I can be successful in every other part of my life, but when my integrity is called into question, it spoils my entire outlook!

The writer of Song of Solomon labels the "lash of the tongue" as “little foxes that spoil the vine” (2:15) They stop us in our tracks – derailing our progress of growth. I know a lot of people live in fear of what others think. They fear a negative response so much, it paralyzes them from talking about the wonders of their life in Christ.

If the fear of what other’s will say keeps you from talking about God, it is time to ingest this promise. It is time to stop believing the Accuser when he points his finger and screams, "FRAUD! IMPOSTER! FAKE!" It is time to believe instead in the words of your Heavenly Father:

This is my son, my daughter, in whom I am well pleased. (Matt 3:17, Mark 1:11)

That declaration from God was made about Jesus - but we live it too. God sees us just as He sees His beloved Son. We can take that to the bank every minute of the day. We can take it and run away from the fear of what others will say.

What matters is what God thinks about you, friend!!

People will still say ugly things to you and about you. But you don't have to let it hurt you anymore. By believing God over them, you are secure in His love. You are held by His everlasting peace. His thoughts about you never, ever change.

It is time to face your fear and time to tell the Accuser he has no power over you. The only power over you now is Christ's love. Jesus speaks volumes about how wonderful you are in His Word. He goes on and on about how valuable you are to Him. He loves you so much, He died for you to believe those promises.

Today - it is time for a fresh start. Confess your fear to God and be healed. Leave behind the burden of what others say in favor of what God says. It is your moment to move forward in your relationship with God. Do it now.

Will you believe what God says about you or continue to believe what others say?

Heavenly Father – I’ve held onto the fear of what others say about me for a long time. I've let it get in the way of growing in You. Please forgive me because I want to value what You think of me more. Jesus, I want You to be proud to confess me to Your Father but I need Your help. Remove this fear so I can embrace the freedom You desire for me. Help me Lord in my weakness and let Your strength be mine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Psalm 31:20, James 2, 1 Peter 3:14

Day 165 - Job Day 6 - Don't Fear (or Shoot) the Messenger

2013-02-18T10:44:00.003-08:00

Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on people, fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake. A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. (Job 4:13-15)

We have entered crux of the book of Job – the discussions between Job and his friends about his innocence. This is an interesting verse to comment on, for me anyways, because Job’s friend Eliphaz reminds me of a few folks who didn't get their message of comfort across very well, so I was left feeling more discouraged than encouraged.

Eliphaz wants Job to understand he knows the things of God. He experienced the fear of the Lord – it came upon him in the middle of the night. Whether this was an actual divine visitation or something else, the commentary is mixed. It left such an impression on Eliphaz though, he sought to use it to make Job see he needed to repent; then all would be well. His plan didn't work, however. Job remained staunchly sure of his innocence.

Just because we know Christ doesn't mean we can't mess up the delivery of God's loving-kindness. I don't know a person alive who hasn't encountered a well-intentioned messenger of the Gospel who delivered the Good News badly. Why are we surprised when this happens? We are, after all, only human.

The worst of it usually comes when we are like Job - sitting on the ash heap we used to call our lives. The last thing we want is religious or judgmental advice. Our hearts hunger for the truth – to know for certain God loves us and is doing something about our misery. Anything less makes us feel worse. But we can't shoot the messengers, simply because when we do, we are in danger of letting those experiences color the way we see God.

I don’t want to shy away from this because it makes such an impact in our going forward. If you’ve had a bad experience with someone coming with care in the name of Christ, only to receive condemnation, don’t be shy about sharing it with the Lord. In fact, He is the only place safe to really talk it through. No one else will have the wisdom to show you how to learn from it. In His eyes, it is possible to see the situation for what it really is: a broken person doing their best to deliver a divine message; even when they do it badly.

We might have to practice forgiveness, thankfully knowing we are not alone. Jesus Himself, in agony, faced it. It is one of His greatest statements from the Cross that rings through the ages to us.

Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)

The very best thing you can do is let go of the hurt – as many times as it takes. Try and see them as God does and learn what you can. We can gain spiritual insight by other’s mistakes. We can embrace what Christ's love means to us, in order to best pay it forward in ways that make a difference.

If you have been hurt be the well-meaning advice of Christian brothers and sisters, bring it to God’s feet so He can heal you through the power of forgiveness for others.

Heavenly Father – I know many of Your people mean well when they seek to comfort me. But sometimes it doesn’t feel like it is coming from You. Help me to forgive them and love them for their desire to encourage me. Give me a heart so complete and sheltered in Your arms that I am not bothered by mis-statements of others. Forgive me where I've messed up Your message and help me to see the best way to pass Your love along to others in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Job 5, Job 6, Luke 23

Day 164 - Job Day 5 - How to Face Your Worst Fear

2013-02-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. (Job 3:25)

“I want you to know, this is not your fault.”

Those were the first words out of the mouth of our daughter’s oncologist, after they figured out what type of cancer she had. Those words, while sincere, brought very little comfort. We knew this was a random act as a result of living in a fallen world. We were in the place best for her care and we had options available.

But we were still afraid.

We have faced other harrowing situations since that day nearly two and a half years ago, but nothing compares. I’ve written since the beginning of this project about how I never considered myself a fearful person. But this experience took it to whole other dimension.

The Book of Job speaks so loudly in my life because of this experience - I know what it is to suffer. It is part of my core being now, as I have faced the valley of the shadow of death. I am not sure if I am any better at facing my fear because facing fear never gets easy. Facing your worst fears only makes you more aware of other fears coming true.

Barne’s Notes on the Bible makes this observation about our verse facing our fears:

The sentiment is in accordance with human nature, that when we are visited with severe calamity in one form, we naturally dread it in another. The mind becomes exquisitely sensitive. The affections cluster around the objects of attachment which are left, and they become dear to us.

God has something to say about our natural human sensitivity to tragedy once we’ve experienced it. We never stop looking over our shoulder and develop habitual responses to fear - we either run or fight it. When we think we might be fighting or running away from our circumstances; what is really happening is that we are wrestling with how God is working in and through that situation.

If God is in it and we choose to flee, we miss the blessings. If God is in it and we choose to fight, we miss the message. I spent the first six months of Sophia’s treatment bouncing between the two options, never realizing there is a third. One day when I had nothing left, when I couldn't run or fight anymore, in that moment I experienced the peace of total surrender.

Psalm 46:10, out of the Holman Christian Standard translation echoes this thought:

Stop your fighting – and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth. Yahweh of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

When we surrender our fear to the Lord, we find Him pouring out His peace on us. When we feel beaten by fear is precisely when we start to win the battle. Through surrender, we are held and kept in perfect peace.

If you are facing your worst fear (or any other challenge), don’t struggle. Don’t run away. Run instead to the Lord and fall to your knees. He will be kneeling beside you – ready to lift your head and your heart. That’s when you find your fear is already defeated and the Lord reigns supreme.

Find some time today to be still before the Lord and surrender your heart and circumstances.

Gracious God – I have for so long wrestled and run from this fear I’m facing. I have fought it every way I know how and still it beats me. Help me to have the courage today to surrender it to You, knowing You are gentle and humble in heart, always a safe place and an ever-present help. Show me the peace that awaits me when I let go of my circumstances to your care and the joy I will find in the midst of trial. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Job 30, Psalm 46, 1 John 4

Day 164 - Job Day 4 - Passing the Test with Endurance

2013-02-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” (Job 2:3)

We have come to the second encounter between the Lord and Satan, following the first test of Job’s faith. In it, he lost everything that was his – from his livestock, to his house and even his children. Yet Job passed the test! He was bent but did not break.

I’d like to picture the Lord in this scenario with a smirk on His holy face. His comments have kind of a sarcastic tone to them. The Reformation Study Bible points this out:

The sudden change from the words of 1:6–8 at the end of 2:1–3 shows how the Adversary, who has lost the first round, is humiliated by God through a bit of irony. The same word Satan had used to accuse Job is used here, translated “without reason.” It is the Adversary who has done wrong, not Job.

As pictured a thief in John 10:10, Jesus alludes to the idea that these tests of our faith will come by the hand of those who seek to distract, confound and lead us astray. Perhaps you are facing a day where it feels like you are the only one around you concerned with the things of God! If so, you are in the middle of a test.

Know that it pleased God when Job passed the test. It still pleases Him today when we resist the urge to take the easy road. He rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17) and He is proud when we choose to be a light when it's pitch black around us. In that same verse from John 10, Jesus points out that He came to save us from these challenges. Christ, upon salvation, gives us life – abundant, overflowing life – that cannot be contained by anything Satan can throw at us.

When faced with the darkness, we must hold out a little longer because:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Lord may allow more in your life than you can handle. It is an opportunity to rely on His power. But He will not allow more than what you can stand against. Tests will come – they may be coming at you right now. If they are, take this to heart: God is proud of you! You are in the battle with Him and a battle won for you is a battle won for the Kingdom. He is with you, around every twist and turn. And He is preparing an exit strategy just for you, so hang in there!

Pray for the strength to stay faithful, even when the tests of your belief come.

Holy Lord – thank You for rejoicing in each of my victories, whether they are great or small. Thank You for staying with me and give me the endurance to stand against the wiles of the enemy. Show me that I am not alone in this fight and remind me to just be still before You. I know Your deliverance is already on the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Genesis 21, 2 Kings 6, Psalm 34

Day 162 - Job Day 3 - Discovering Why You Fear God

2013-02-07T15:27:00.005-08:00

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. (Job 1:9)

The conversation between the Lord and Satan, so spirit-warming and encouraging yesterday takes a decidedly nasty turn today. Satan, full of venom for God’s people, throws down the gauntlet. The New Living Translation Bible puts our verse this way,

Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.”

Like a litigator arguing his case, Satan points out the logical reason why Job serves God. It hinges on the fact that Job only loves God because of the blessings he received. Satan wants to take it all away and show the Lord what is really in Job's heart. He wants to prove that God, by Himself, is not worth of our love. He wants to reveal how weak we are and how frail our faith is – by making sure God sees that our devotion is based on what we get, not real love.

This question, however, whether I love God because of Who He is or just because of what He has done for me – is not a bad one. When you start to think about why you follow Christ, you might be surprised. Many of the faithful have encountered situations that make them consider the cost of loving Jesus. Soren Kierkegaard, one of the deepest theological philosophers of the 19^th century, slept with the Book of Job under his pillow. Kierkegaard had this to say:

Every word of his is food and gladness to my ailing soul. Now one word rouses me from my lethargy, so that I awaken to new disquietude; now it quiets the fruitless fury within me and puts an end to the horrible feeling of mute nausea produced by passion. You surely have read Job? Read him, read him over and over again.

This is an unusual choice to make for favorite book of the Bible. Kierkegaard had a predisposition to dwelling in the depths of his faith, but I don’t. I like to dwell in the parts of God I know, the shallow depths where I can see the bottom. I don't want to swim out to the deep because it means I'll have to be very uncomfortable and do a lot of hard work.

But when we don't ask this question of ourselves, why we love and respect God, we are tempted to trade a relationship for religion. Don’t get me wrong, boundaries are good, but when they keep you fenced in so that you can't experience who Jesus really is, it's like exchanging good for bad. When we don't explore the depths of our relationship with God on a regular basis, we are in serious danger of replacing grace with fear and mercy with condemnation.

There are moments coming that will force our hand. I'm not sure what that will look like in your life, but when I faced my own "dark night of the soul" (St. John of the Cross) I found the answer to Satan's question. I now know with certainty that Jesus is more than enough to sustain me, not because of what He gives me but simply because of who He is.

I can understand why Kierkegaard held onto the words of Job with so much fervor. It is only in the fire that we truly comprehend the cost of the Cross, and we aren't left empty-handed. Asking those tough questions leads us to peace and joy not granted any other way. It is the best path to finding out who we really are and growing in God’s love.

Take time to explore the question posed today – and seek God in the answer.

Dearest Lord – Thank You that You are a God big enough for me to question. Thank You for being with me even when I wrestle with doubt and when I search for answers to tough questions. Show me the peace that surpasses all understanding when I go deep with You and let me come out of any season of doubt full of love for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Genesis 3, Job 1:10, Psalm 77, Revelation 12:9

Day 161 - Job Day 2 - To Begin, We Must Know Who We Are

2013-02-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’ (Job 1:8)

Yesterday, we met Job. Today, we meet his God. That is the way itworks: first, someone meets you and then they meet who you worship. It’s a humbling idea to wonder if Christ is really the first impression I give off to the people around me.

Beyond that, this is a window into what is really going on. The wager God and Satan make over Job's faith set the stage; what Paul Harvey called "the rest of the story." Keeping this scene in mind as we go forward will help us not get lost in the why of suffering. Instead, we will focus on our response to it. We will be empowered to do that today because we have the opportunity to consider what we are made of.

How God views us is just as important as how we view ourselves. This statement by God in our verse defines who we are as His children. In reading these words, I can hear Him whisper:

Have you considered the fact that there is no one like you on Earth? Do you know just how special I think you are? I see you as I see my Son – blameless, upright, my own Beloved! I rejoice when you put Me first and I tell everyone in the Heavenly Realms about you!

Does that make you step back? God speaks about me (and you) in the Heavenly realms? He calls me (and you) out for a purpose, even allowing difficulties in my life because He has confidence in me (and you)? In the words of Ted Griffen,

He made you so you could share in His creation, could love and laugh and know Him.

The Creator of the Universe does in fact know me (and you). And He speaks well of us!

I thought if we spent time on that, we wouldn’t be such easy prey; we wouldn't given in as quickly to fear and worry. I can assure you, Satan will do all in his power, just like he did with Job, to keep us from thinking about what God thinks about. Satan knows if we embraced God’s view of ourselves, we would cease to give him so much power over our lives. When we experience how much the Lord treasures us, we won’t need to give in into the booby-traps he lays for us in our minds and circumstances.

As we embark this journey through Job, keep the end in mind. My dear friend Gindi emphasizes this on her blog:

The reason it is important to BEGIN with the fact that God tells us we are chosen is because it may be the most important title that you or I wear. Regardless of all of the other stuff going on around me, this fact is constant… if I know in the deepest part of my soul that the God that created the universe and imagined oceans and platypus and rainbows picked me, then I can weather the changing and unpredictable opinions surrounding me.

Now is the time to dwell on how much God loves you. When life comes crashing in, pull this verse out for priority meditation. Make God’s thoughts your thoughts and you will never be shaken for long.

What would change in your life if you really believed what God says about you?

Heavenly Father – I cannot begin to thank You for what You have done for me. I spend so much time trying to earn Your love, I forget I already have it beyond measure. Help me to spend a few moments today in the light of Your Presence, embracing as much as I can the love You have for me. Show me how to return those feelings, to honor You with my mind, body and spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Exodus 20:6, Psalm 111:5-6, Isaiah 43:1, Jeremiah 31, Luke 12:26-32, Ephesians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 9:8,1 John 3:1

Day 160 - Job Day 1 - Be Open to What is Ahead of You

2013-02-05T10:48:00.002-08:00

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (Job 1:1)

There once was a man named Job. He was no ordinary man because he loved God and was blessed because of it. That’s the beginning of the story we are about to encounter. It says nothing of Job's future. It gives no clue about what he is about to experience. We don't what lies around the bend in our own lives. Because of that reality, we will spend the next twenty-four days exploring how Job encountered fear; for one good reason.

Job is a man of faith.

Faith doesn’t give us a promise of an easy life. It doesn’t make our problems go away. Not all of us prosper in this life. Yet, to sum up the words of author Phillip Yancy, there was a significant shift between the Old Testament and New about the cause of suffering. After Jesus’ death, the family of faith started to put the emphasis on "What is the Lord doing?" versus "What have I done?" Suffering is a part of this life. The writers of the New Testament saw it as a way to share in more of Christ, instead of trying to figure out where someone went wrong.

In reading and studying Job, it is clear to me that he was not only a man of faith, but a man of honest faith. When hardship comes, he didn't hide behind religiosity or give into the arguments of his friends. He didn't blame himself, although his friends do. He doggedly believed in his innocence and while God allowed this misery to fall on him, he believed there was a good reason for it.

He never gets that reason. Often when our own times of testing come, we never get an answer either.

I don’t know the ultimate reason why my daughter got cancer. I know a lot of miraculous, only-God things came out of it, but I don’t know why He allowed it to happen. I haven’t led a perfect life, I’m still not. But from the moment we heard “malignant, aggressive tumor,” we never suspected it was our fault. There are people who still put the blame for things like that squarely on their own heads (or the heads of others.)

I won't discount that sometimes bad stuff is a result of our own wrong choices or because we are victims of a fallen nature. But I believe that not everything bad is because God is into punishment punishing. I've often wondered if the real lesson in suffering, self-inflicted or random, is simply an open door to experience more of His presence.

Our challenge, as we walk through this book and its commentary on fear, is to heed the wisdom of Joshua Abraham Heschel when he says,

I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.

There is wonder coming. God is about to do amazing things in our lives. We only have to work to see it. Let’s prepare today for an experience of honesty and a reawakening of authentic faith. Let's ask to meet God in the verses to come. But we don't have to be afraid of what is coming. We can be prepared for struggle because we know it will bring growth. That growth allows us to work out our faith with fear and trembling, all in according to God’s mysterious work in us.

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the wonder of His word and to keep you open to the work He is doing, even when things get hard.

Holy God – thank You for including the experience of Your servant Job. He was a man of deep faith, but he was not exempt from hardship. Prepare my heart to meet what You have prepared for me in this coming season with confidence in Your ability to be with me and deliver me from anything. Give me a conviction of hope, rather than the condemnation of fear. Help me to remember when the darkness comes, I can always reach out to You for the light. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Day 159 - Honesty Gives Others the Courage to Fear God

2013-02-01T09:53:00.004-08:00

In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them...The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them...And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. (Esther 8:17, 9:2-3)

What will often satisfy us, in our human condition, is a happy ending. We want a pleasurable resolution to a tragic situation. Here, in our passage today, we have it. Esther was faithful to her people and her God and in return, she was blessed to be the instrument of salvation to people about to be exterminated.

The Lord worked through Esther and Mordecai, to reveal He was indeed present with His people. He would keep them from harm and satisfy their desire to be recognized by those around them. Instead of being an object of scorn and ridicule, they became celebrated for their faith. As a result, there was revival and the community of believers in Yahweh grew!

In stark contrast to this verse, I just finished reading the Book of Job. It is the flip-side to this happy ending. Job is restored in the end, but before that, he is the object of all the worst afflictions we can think of. Often viewed as the definitive work on suffering, Job argues with God, his friends and wallows in a pit of despair.

Yet, there is one thread these stories have in common – and not just their proximity in Scripture. It is the lesson of faith. We have to have it and when we do, we will be redeemed. We can’t have faith in outcomes or the blessings. Our faith always and only depends on Jesus Himself. Do we trust He will follow through on His commitment to us, either in this life or the next?

In times of prosperity, such as the Jews were experiencing at this point in our passage, we don’t tend to do spiritual inventories. We tend to go with the flow. Yet those dark times, like what Job faced, are what typically prompt us to ask where God is – or more appropriately – where we are with God.

Both scenarios give us a chance to be honest with the Lord. In my opinion, that was why the Lord choose Job and Esther. Both were brutally honest in their need for His salvation. For the follower of Christ, He makes it plain: He wants this kind of need, a revision of our soul, every day.

Sometimes God doesn’t want you to learn anything other than He wants to be close to you. It is true though; that the work He does in our lives is to show a fallen world what is possible. Phillip Yancey, in his book The Bible Jesus Read, makes this statement:

We will never know, in this life, the full significance of our actions here for, as Job demonstrates, much takes place invisible to us. Jesus’ cross offers a pattern for that too: what seemed very ordinary, once more dreary feat of colonial ‘justice’ in a Roman outpost, made possible the salvation of the entire world.

Whether you are rejoicing or are in despair, what brings people to Jesus is honesty: with the Lord, yourself and with them. The more authentic you are on your journey to eternity, the more real Jesus becomes to those around you. They will eventually catch the idea that there is more to this life than just what happens – there is the real possibility of finding love, hope, peace and restoration.

How can you be more honest with God about your circumstances?

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the opportunity to experience this life with You. I have hit highs and known depressing depths, but all along, You have been there. I don’t love You because of Your blessings, but for Who You are. Help that love and belief translate into an experience for others to crave Your mercy – no matter what I’m facing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Job 38-42, Esther 8, Philippians 3:10

Day 158 - Focus on the Source of Hope in a Dangerous World

2013-01-30T10:31:00.001-08:00

Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. (Esther 5:9)

God is not mentioned by name in Esther, but it is clearly a continuation of the salvation story. Esther continues to paint the picture of the Lord’s regular use of the most unlikely of heroes (heroines in this case) to save His people. The drama surrounding this eternal story, however, could be the plot of a major motion picture or a reality TV show!

In his commentary, referring to Esther’s uncle - the godly Mordecai – Matthew Henry makes this statement:

Those that walk in holy sincerity may walk in holy security, and go on in their work, not fearing what man can do unto them.

Pastor David Jeremiah made a similar statement I heard on the radio one day,

A man of God in the will of God is immortal until his work is done.

As we see Mordecai standing against the intolerable Haman, I think about those people who have sought to destroy my reputation, discourage me and turn my friends into foes. There have been days when I’ve thought they would achieve their ends. I’ve cowered in fear because of what I think people can do to me.

God has many promises that reveal the truth of our circumstances in the spiritual realm, but when you live in the physical, people can really bring you down. Just look what they did to Jesus! He also guarantees we will face the same trouble!

There is one reason, though; we don’t have to remain in the despair of our circumstances. It is for one reason that we can face tomorrow. It is because our hope is not in how we can be saved from man, but that our hope has already been secured – in Christ. We face the “Hamans” of this world and are tempted to give in. But when we focus on Hebrews 12:2, from God’s Word translation, we are renewed:

We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.

We don’t serve a God who doesn’t know what our life is like. By His example, we can focus on what will be, not would could be. When the “what ifs” and the “wait-and-see-what-I’ll-do-to-you’s” seem to have so much power, we can turn on our flashlight of hope and joy. In the light of God’s constant presence, nothing will stand. What might hurt now is just a blink in the eye of an eternal God. Keeping our vision fixed on Christ is essential to enduring any cross or shame.

Where you are lost, confused, frustrated or scared, look to the source of hope and joy and reclaim your faith in what God has already done.

Holy God – Where I seem to be and where I actually am don’t match up. I can’t see the victory you’ve won and things seem to be completely out of my control. My life feels like it is in the hands of people who want to destroy me. Restore to me the joy of the salvation You’ve brought me. Give me the eyes to see You working in the middle of this situation. Help me to hold close to Your goodness, no matter what my circumstances tell me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Esther 4-6, Acts 3:15, 1 Corinthians 1:18

Day 157 - The Reward for Vertical Focus

2013-01-28T09:47:00.000-08:00

I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. (Nehemiah 7:2)

It’s nice to have these breaks in the narrative. So often we have to combat fear; it is nice to be reminded of what we will achieve when we do. Today's verse shows us the results of choosing to fear God, rather than focus on defeating fear. That one change in our thought-process has the power to changes our whole perspective, from temporal to eternal.

Being a man or woman of integrity means being reliable, dependent and good – that is something we all want for sure. In my own life, especially over the last few weeks, this has been a resounding theme. There is nothing more challenging, or rewarding than to conduct yourself with integrity when challenges come at you. Recently, in the devotional Jesus Calling, I read a statement that shocked my system regarding being a person of Godly integrity. In the January 26^th entry Sarah Young writes,

Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life. Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties. This is a false hope! As I told My disciples, in the world you will have trouble. Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in Heaven. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking Me: the perfect One…I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way.

It is such an encouragement to know that God is interested in who we are! It is not just about what is going on, even though that is where our major focus usually is. What God wants is a people who, in every situation, turn their eyes to Him for what they need. As I heard a pastor say once, the Lord is much more interested in our growth than in our comfort. When we embrace this spiritual principle and apply it to our lives, we find the freedom from having to figure it all out. Instead of focusing on how I can think my way out of present difficulties, I need to turn to the One that already has the answer. When I focused on the horizontal aspect of my life, I get worn, weary and frustrated.

But the more I turn my eyes vertically, the more I am given the capacity to see life as it was truly meant to be lived. As I look to the Lord, He makes me capable to being a light in very dark circumstances. I won’t always get it right, I won’t always have the perfect response to trouble. But what I will have is Jesus with me, always by my side and an ever-present help.

Nehemiah’s brother was a man of integrity because his heard was in the right place. He was trustworthy, not because of who He was, but because of in Whom he put his trust. He put God first and that enabled him to rise above the situation and bring peace among a chaotic world. He worked at it, not letting his fear of the things of this world overwhelm his faith. It takes time, effort and practice to gain a reputation like he did, but it is the ultimate compliment – to be known as a man of integrity and strong belief.

To be transformed like he was, all we have to do is keep looking up.

What situation needs a vertical over horizontal focus?

Heavenly Father – I thank You for the gift of grace the sacrifice of Your Son provided me. It has given me the power to look outside myself, outside my own understanding for answers, and become the kind of person that lifts people up. Give me the strength to keep believing You will straighten my path and believe in Your promises. That way I will stay out of the dark, twisted paths of fear and be a light to others when all seems dark. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Nehemiah 7-8, Psalm 112: 4, 7, John 16:33

Day 156 - Today is Your Day to Say "No" to Fear and "Yes" to God

2013-01-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:16)

When I first studied the book of Nehemiah, I wondered why the book just didn’t end here. We are fifty-two days in and the wall is completed! Nehemiah finished the job the Lord gave him in less than two months! This chapter in and of itself could be the climax of a major motion picture, it is that exciting! It is most definitely a high-point in the life of Nehemiah and all of us who carry our faith in God share in his victory.

This journey Nehemiah is on speaks to the reality of doing what God asks of us. In the words of Judith Briles,

God may not provide us with a perfectly ordered life, but what He does provide is Himself, His presence, and open doors that bring us closer to being productive, positive and realistic.

Ezra, Nehemiah and all the rebuilding Jews faced constant obstacles. They faced the threat of annihilation at the hands of the people surrounding them and as we see here, even some of their own were against them. From a spiritual level, this chapter represents what happens whenever we endeavor to do the work of the Lord.

The enemy does not want you to be successful.

Can you face that reality? Does it make you want to quit? Does it make you second guess what God really asked you to do? That’s exactly where the enemy wants you. He wants you scared and doubtful. He will come at you again and again and again – by whatever means necessary achieve that end because he knows fear stops us. In the words of author Jon Acuff,

Fear will never tell you it’s time to do the thing you’re afraid to do.

There is a reason we take so much encouragement from Nehemiah’s journey. It shows us if he can do it, we can too. His life confirms that when we live for the things of God, we are blessed. We won’t be without struggles, but the Lord will be with us, seeing us to the other side. Even if we feel bruised and battered by the time we get there, we will be stronger and more capable of displaying the truth that Christ came for all of us.

As our passage proclaims, we will come out victorious. When God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Today is the day you remind your emotions who is in charge. Today is the day you rein in your mind so it no longer spins off into unfruitful, dark directions. Today is the day the Lord is waiting to show you the plans, the hope, the future He has for you. It is your day to take a stand, in confidence, knowing victory is on the way. The enemy doesn’t want you to be successful, but the Creator of the Universe does. Who can say no to that?

Make time for a quiet moment, especially in a stressful situation, to read about what the Lord does through Nehemiah and be encouraged.

Heavenly Father, never has the choice been so clear – it is either my failure or success on the line. It is all up to You and I need every bit of Your power and strength to face my situation and tell it to move. By faith I claim that it will. Give me the perspective to see how You are working in and through me and believe in the best outcome. Also, give me Your patience to wait for Your response. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Nehemiah 4, 6-7, Romans 8

Day 155 - Living a Life in the Light

2013-01-21T16:36:00.001-08:00

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? (Nehemiah 5:9)

As I watch my DVR’d Oprah interview with Lance Armstrong, I see a man struggle with the choices of his life. As I listen to his responses, I have to wonder why he finally stopped trying to keep up the act.

Maybe part of it was finally facing the fear that had dogged him. Perhaps he got tired of trying to believe the lie. It is an example of no matter how hard we try to hide, there will come a day, as Jesus says in Luke 8:17, when we will all have to face the music. Everything we’ve done will eventually be brought out into the light. Christians are no exceptions to this rule. But the choice for us is different. We are meant to live as if we are already in that light.

Even though we choose to try to live in the light doesn’t mean we won’t ever feel sun-burned. Living by God's Word is perhaps the most difficult aspect of a life of faith because it is so hard to go against the tide of culture, friends and family. It hurts to be criticized. It hurts to be judged, especially when you feel you are following God's plan. It is easy to be a Christian in name only and that is where fear would like to keep you. It is the loudest voice you will hear. When we listen to it and start to hide our faith, we fall down a slippery slope and find ourselves at the bottom.

The issue facing Nehemiah in this chapter doesn't seem huge. The crux of it is the wealthy Jews loaning money and goods to fellow Jews at high-interest rates. However, this is expressly forbidden in the Mosaic Law. The upper class was supposed to care for the poor, it was part of their cultural and spiritual duty and a way to show their honor of the Lord. But that wasn’t happening, even in the early days of rebuilding the nation. Even Nehemiah was guilty of this infraction.

He faces the same choice we do. No matter how loud fear was shouting, he doesn’t let it stop him. It would have been easy to listen to it because this infraction of the law seems so minor, but Nehemiah kept very short accounts with God. In this situation, because of his obedience, he comes out ahead and leads the people to repent. But fighting against that fear, out of love for God, didn’t seem to work out that well for Jesus. He paid a terrible price for showing us how to live a life of light. It is expressly because of how Christ lived and died that we can live out our own calling, in spite of the fear. It is Christ’s Spirit living in us that gives us the strength and the courage to stay out of the darkness of fear. And it is in His Word that we find the hope, like Nehemiah, to withstand whatever comes.

How do you respond when you have to make the choice between living for God and living comfortably?

Gracious God – thank You, first and foremost, for not treating me as my sins deserve. I know you do not excuse it and call me to repentance, but you are faithful and just to forgive when I do. Help me to have Your perspective on life. Help me to live in the light of Your presence, even though it is not easy to follow in Your footsteps. Let me trust You more and show others the way to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Exodus 22, Leviticus 25, Luke 18