Blindly Following the Leader

Joyful elementary-schoolers fill the air with melodious excitement as they sing together:

“Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus
but to trust and obey.”

Bring back memories? As children, many of us learned this chorus and others like it, storing it in the filing cabinets of our memories. We continue to grow up, but we sometimes forget, or even deny, the truths in these catchy tunes.

Personally, I have sensed for many years a calling on my life to foreign missions. Even at a young age, I knew that I was called to all nations of the world. Recently, our church announced the opportunity to minister in India this summer. Oddly, I possessed no desire to go. After years of waiting for an overseas mission trip, I pleaded a long list of excuses before God.

Why? I couldn’t tell you; it makes no logical sense. Thankfully, I opened my eyes to the possibility of participation after a conversation with my pastor and a meeting with my Savior at the throne room.

Believe it or not, this occurred within a 24-hour time frame.

How does this relate to children's songs? Since I made a commitment to this trip, my patience and trust have been tried. Usually, I try to make things happen for myself rather than letting God step in; I work and work in an effort to “do what needs to get done.” For the first time, I have stepped back and accepted the fact that I am not in control of my life—God is.

Consequently, the anxiousness and stress that would have filled every aspect of this trip previously no longer remain, all because of my willingness to “trust and obey.” Because God caught me off guard, He can craft this trip to His agenda rather than my own. It’s a glorious thing to watch as my personal plans fade away to reveal the beautiful butterfly of His perfect will.

God continues to teach me more challenging levels of this lesson, but from unconditional trust comes joy beyond measure. And this joy carries me through this race we call life.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).

It's All a Lie

Lies.

Such a great impact comes from these four simple letters. Can you image yourself in a position where you would willingly listen to and believe thousands of lies on a regular basis? Of course not. We refuse to think that we believe lies because we all know that lies bring consequence; they bring confusion, misconception and brokenness.

In reality, we all live under the influence of these nasty little monsters. We turn on the radio, and the anchor oftentimes fills our minds with lies: 

You must lose weight to be loved. 
You must have a date to be loved.
You must actively proclaim Jesus every second of every day to be a Christian.
You must do good works to be saved.

You must fit in with the crowd to be accepted.

We believe these statements, unaware of the resulting affect on our lives. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of this deception is its foundation. When Satan speaks lies into our lives, he does not choose something completely illogical. Instead, he twists truth into a lie which we will believe easily. For instance, we need to live a healthy lifestyle, but God still loves us no matter our body type. We need to proclaim God’s message to others, but our salvation does not depend on our works.

Fortunately, Jesus tells us that He has come to bring us truth. Not only that, but according to John 14:6, He is the truth: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (NKJV). He has come to give the eyeglasses to the blind, the eyeglasses which reveal a true picture of reality instead of the fuzzy misconceptions that we accept for ourselves.

The truth will set us free (John 8:32). We hear this repeatedly, but the time has come to apply it to our lives. The time has come to ask God to reveal our personal misconceptions. May we leave no stone unturned as we search the deepest alcoves of our hearts.

WARNING: God will answer. He will expose lies and replace them with truth, but you may encounter difficulty and pain along the way. When you live your entire life under the influence of a lie, it becomes a part of you; it manipulates your actions, your thoughts and your emotions. Removing a lie can mean revising your lifestyle completely. Thankfully, God’s grace fills in the gap of deception’s barbarity. Instead of stealing our joy, He gifts us with it. Instead of defiling our value, He creates us in His image. It’s in this moment of personal revelation that the truth will set us free, indeed.

Running from the Darkened Room

A little boy cries out to his mother, “Mommy, I’m scared. Can you please turn the light on? I think there’s a monster under my bed.”

Why do so many children, and even some teenagers, find themselves terrified of the dark?

Simply put, they fear the unknown. In a dark room with eerie sounds and whispering winds, the imagination runs wild. Before long, life-sucking ghouls and slithering anacondas have overtaken the closet.

Have we ever stopped to think that perhaps we dream up issues for ourselves? Sure, each individual faces obstacles, but what about the imagined ones?

For instance, take a typical teenage girl. She wakes up, rides to school, and sits down in the cafeteria. On this particular morning, she takes special care to dress nicely for her English presentation. As she nervously awaits the bell, a peer turns to her and mocks, “Where’d you get that skirt—the dumpster? It looks like it came straight off the back of a homeless woman.”

At this point, this girl has two options. She can continue on with her life free of offense, or she can harbor bitterness and hurt over a flippant comment. Too many times, we pick option two. To make matters worse, we add to the problem with our thoughts:

What exactly did she mean by that? Does she think things like this every day? What if she’s been spreading rumors about me this whole time? I bet she hates my guts. Man, I’m such an outcast. I’m not worth anything. I should just give up on life.

The curiosity of not know the meaning behind this insult drives the girl crazy. Before long, the girl’s list of “what ifs” and “buts” finishes the unknown parts of the story.

As Christians, this assumption leads us to major trouble because we start to behave as if these assumptions were perfectly true. Most of the time, our over-analysis takes our thoughts to irrational levels.

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to “ [cast] down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (NKJV).

So, we need to make sure that all of our thoughts line up with Christ. Christ says,
“'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,'” says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV).

Not easy. Trust me, I know from experience, but the effort and difficulty of striving toward Christ always outweighs the consequences of living a life without Him.

There’s no doubt that God will help us, but we need to take the first step and desire to take control of our thought life. Until we recognize the problem, the ghouls and anacondas will dictate our every action.

Feelin' the Love

It’s that time of year again: Love-struck teenagers post romantic pictures on Facebook of Valentine’s Day dates and gifts as others post sad statuses of dateless singleness. How is it that one day can bring such differing emotions?

Every person lives a different life with a different background. As a result, this “day of love” brings to the surface many reactions to the past.

To those in relationships:

Most likely, you look forward to February 14, the day when you will express your attraction for your significant other. While this day can strengthen your relationship, remember a few things as you move forward together:

Emotions catch us off guard. Whether a result of sweet words, or kind gestures, we often interpret romanticism as love, only to find out that unity begins to wither away after the romance ends. Keep in mind that only God can satisfy your deepest desires. You can seek acceptance in you partner consistently, but until you find identity and approval in Christ, your relationship will not last; God is the foundation on which relationships must be built.

With that in mind, you must purposefully position several safe-guards in your relationship in order to avoid fatal mistakes. Know your weaknesses and the areas in which you and your significant other face temptation. Specifically avoid these areas. Feelings can overwhelm you with a false sense of passion, leading you to give in to the fleshly desires of a life devoid of self-control.

Go forth in prayer as you celebrate this Valentine’s Day.

To the lonely single:

Cheer up! Do you realize that your loneliness provides the perfect opportunity to draw closer to Jesus? He created you specifically for a purpose, but many of you do not recognize or understand your God-given identity. Adding a boyfriend or girlfriend to the situation simply complicates this process, as lonely people usually look to their partner for approval.

God desires that “all [your] fountains are in [Him]” (Psalms 87:7, NIV). Basically, this means that you only rely on God for fulfillment and satisfaction. Only when you reach this point can God trust you with a relationship. Otherwise, you will encounter prickly situations with a significant other; your spiritual brokenness would hinder relational wholeness.

Don’t fret. God will bring “the one” into your life when He sees fit. Until then (and even after), give your worries up to Christ. He sees you and hears your cries of loneliness.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, NKJV).

To the sexually abused:

My heart goes out to you. How hard it must be to endure a celebration of love after others have distorted love’s true meaning for you. Know that God cries your every tear. He sees your pain and assumes it as His own. (Psalms 56:8). He did not cause your abuse and hopes that you will accept Him for Who He is:

He will not leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He will not manipulate you to satisfy His own desires. He will not flee when times turn rough. God is the true Love that holds you when you cry and comforts you in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Trusting His Word may prove difficult, but slowly, God will help you overcome the pain that others have caused.

With every magazine article, Facebook post and television commercial flaunting the love that has betrayed you, remember that only God can hold you up with an everlasting sincerity (Ephesians 3:16-21). Seek out help as you give your life to Christ. I am praying that you will reach safety from the evils that surround you. Do not fear: God will pull you through.

To the happily single:

Having chosen my singleness, I have not forgotten you! Congrats on your commitment to Christ. I know the frustrated feeling of reading yet another magazine article focused on soothing V-day loneliness all too well. Think of this Valentine’s Day as the perfect opportunity for you and Jesus to express your love for each other. After all, He is our Lover, right?

May you and Jesus experience overwhelming closeness as you celebrate the life-long commitment you have made to our eternal Savior and Lord.

Regardless of person or background, God provides this Valentine’s Day with a purpose. Go forth and seek His purposes out as others forget the true Love this love-filled season.

The Letters of an Old Friend

It’s a wonderful thing to hear from a long-lost friend. Whether that is a rebellious loved one or a childhood comrade that moved miles away, unexpected contact never fails to warm one’s heart.

Many of you have lived your life in denial that God loves you, convincing yourself that you are without need of a Savior. A lot of you grew up learning of God’s ways and hearing His truths. I’m here to tell you that no matter how far you stray, God is there. No matter how long you ignore Him, He still loves you.

You can do nothing to separate yourself from the Love of Christ, nothing to extinguish His passion for you (Romans 8:38-39). It doesn’t matter what kind of person you think you are: drug addict, homosexual, pimp or average joe. God is waiting for you to call on His name for help.

You see, you are the long-lost friend. God created you with a purpose, and that purpose has not been forgotten. Don’t think that by straying from Him you have lost the hope of a future with Christ. He has not forgotten you, nor will He ever.

But He is pained.

By rebelling against God, you have caused Him heartache. He loves you so much that your refusal to talk has caused Him grief. The One that created the earth and everything in it wants to have a personal relationship with you. Forget about your unworthiness, for God makes even the lowliest worthy in His sight (Colossians 1:19-22).

Run to Him, and He will answer.

Life-Changing News

When someone has exciting news, he or she usually shares it with everyone willing to listen.

“You’ll never guess what happened. I earned an A on my history exam! That’s worth 20 percent of my grade!”

Or how about this one:

“My mom and dad gave me a laptop for Christmas! I cannot believe it!”

Why does he or she feel the need to relay this news so frequently? Because the object of excitement had an impact on his or her life. Better grades mean less punishment from parents and an increased sense of accomplishment. A new laptop means an outlet for schoolwork and ease of Internet usage.

We have exciting news--news that can change the world. As Christians, we understand the fullness of a life with Christ. God fills this life with faithfulness and a peace that surpasses all of our human comprehension. This salvation has the potential to impact the world around us.

Remember the broken members of your family? What about those friends who live in darkness and despair? They deserve to know what we know. The question is: Why don’t we share Jesus with others as excitedly as we relay news of our personal successes?

The Christmas season tells of a baby boy born of a virgin. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and proclaimed,"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-33, NKJV).

What a gift! It may surprise us to know how many of our friends, family and peers do not know the meaning of Christmas and have never received the gift of salvation. This Christmas, let’s begin to share the news of the baby which brought hope to the hopeless and life to the dead.

Merry Christmas!

A Thanksgiving Curve Ball

On the way home from a Sunday night church service, my friends introduced me to four other passengers:

“I know this is a terrible introduction,” one confessed, “but her mom is awesome.”

I replied with agreement; she is amazing. Unexpectedly, Heidi, the black-haired girl sitting next to me, voiced a strong statement:

“At least you have a mom. Some of us have never had a mom, and some of our moms died,” she stated.

“Yes, and I am very grateful to have her,” I replied.

Wow. God sure threw me a curve ball. Using a stranger, He bluntly reminded me of His blessings. Living with a Godly mother shapes my spiritual maturity and wisdom, but others do not have this privilege.

Unfortunately, we often allow such things as tiffs and arguments to blind us from reality--especially during holidays. Whenever family gathers, someone usually ends up disagreeing with another.

Why is it that the one day meant for reunion often brings about discord?

In Colossians 3:15, Paul wrote, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (NKJV). While this verse seems like nothing extraordinary, a trip into the rich Greek roots reveals a powerful message.

The word peace has several meanings: A state of national tranquility; exemption from the rage and havoc of war; peace between individuals, i.e.-harmony, concord; security, safety, prosperity, felicity (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous); of the Messiah’s peace, among others.

These roots reveal an interesting concept: when we lay aside our offenses, we will safely live in harmony with others. With this harmony, we will prosper. Discord causes rifts; concord brings reunion. Until we accept a “state of…tranquility,” we will never be thankful for our families, and thus the arguments will continue.

God also deserves our attention. In Psalms 100:4, the psalmists writes, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, [And] into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, [and] bless His name” (NKJV).

What is thanksgiving? According to the Hebrew root, towdah, thanksgiving is: Confession, praise, thanksgiving; thank-offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving; confession, among others.

When we come to praise God, our offenses hinder our relationship with Him. In order to draw closer to Him, we must confess--confess that perhaps these arguments were selfish and ungodly, that perhaps they hurt others, that perhaps we were wrong all along. At this point, we admit our inability to handle our own lives, and we give God the reigns. We then praise Him for His ability to reign justly and live in a consistent attitude of thanksgiving towards our Heavenly Father. As a result, our wounds heal and we draw closer to God.

That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.

As you gather with friends and family, remember the truth of God’s blessings as you release your offenses with thanks.

Greek root word definitions taken from blueletterbible.org.