Tag Archives: Lord

Beyond Understanding

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A big problem I’ve constantly had in my Christian walk is the need for understanding.  As I’ve said many times, I am an analytical person.  It is hard for me to commit to anything if I do not have a very good understanding of it.  This naturally creates a problem for me in turning verses like Proverbs 3:5 into a reality.

“Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

But Lord, you made me an analytical person?

Recently I read through Leviticus and wow, there’s a whole lot I don’t understand in that book.  More like there’s a whole lot that I question, “why is this even in the Bible?”  Yes, I know it was a different culture.  Yes, I know it needs to be read in context and yes I know we read the OT through the lense of the New Testament.  But still I read sections and think, “That’s just not right.”  I don’t need to get into specifics.  I’m sure you’ve come across plenty of Bible bashers who joyfully go straight to certain passages of Leviticus to disprove God by making Him out to be some sort of immoral monster.  Which leads back to my original question of “why is this even in the Bible?”  Why did God allow things like this to be written knowing that it would cause many to speak out against Him in later cultures?

I became so distraught over this I put the Bible down for a while.  I was angry because I didn’t understand.  Many other issues bombarded at the same time.  I ran into a nasty cocktail of spiritual, mental, emotional and financial trouble.  I was in a lot of pain and I was angry.  But something crept up through my anger; something that pushed passed my understanding—or lack thereof.

It was peace.  His peace.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7

The interesting thing—and probably an obvious truth to many—is that when I was angry and was not talking to God I was a total wreck.  He allowed me to have my pout fest and then I finally gave in and made my requests known to God.   I gave in and asked for help because I certainly wasn’t going to figure it all out on my own.  And what do ya know?  Just like scripture says, as I started asking, peace started reigning.

So today I sit and rest in His peace.  I trust the Lord and take a hard lesson learned to lean not on my own understanding.  There’s many things I don’t understand in this world, but there’s one thing I do:

God is good.

 

Ever Increasing Glory

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Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. -2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV

This is a very powerful verse because it speaks of God’s never ending glory.  He is an ever flowing river of grace and a well that will never run dry.  He invites all who are thirsty to taste and know that the Lord is good!

Many times in life we will run into situations where we do not feel as if we are free.  Often times we feel oppressed whether it be from work, stress, financial situations, bad health, addiction or tragedy.  But Jesus offers us strength and peace amidst the chaos.  He offers you an opportunity—anytime and anywhere—to call upon His name and to be in the glory of His presence.  That is the freedom I have found in the Lord.  Don’t feel bad or guilty about spending time with the Lord.  We need to do this.  It is healthy.   It refreshes us so we can go back and be a light to the world.

When Moses would come down from Mt Sinai the Bible says his face would glow because he had spent time with God and the glory of God reflected off of him.  The Israelites made him wear a veil because they didn’t want to look at it.  I’ve been around people before who reflected the glory of God.  They had clearly spent time with Jesus.  Sometimes if I’m in the middle of a pity-party and someone reflecting God’s glory comes in, my first reaction is to put a veil on them.  I don’t want to see it and I don’t want to hear it.  I want to sit in my self-pity.  But then something happens—the Spirit of the Lord overflows from them and knocks on the door to my heart… Suddenly there is freedom.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.  Welcome the Spirit today.

Lord let us be a light to the world with ever-increasing glory so that your Spirit of living waters may overflow from us unto others.

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You are so certain in your heart!

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“You are so certain in your heart—whether you can actually live that out sometimes or not—in your heart there is a strong yes!”

This prophetic word was spoken to me a while back and it has really stuck with me because I have come to realize that my heart is completely the Lord’s.  My heart knows God!  My heart has a personal relationship with Jesus.  It is my intellect I have to continually reason with.  My own understanding stirs doubts while trying to sort out the ways of an infinite Creator, but in my heart there is a strong yes!

It is an amazing place we go to when we trust the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).  David was there when he wrote Psalm 131:

Lord, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever. 

So now I pass this word on to you:

You are so certain in your heart! Though times have been tough, keep trusting in the Lord through this season.  He is bringing you into a new level of humility that will also bring you into a deeper revelation of His love, grace and peace! Keep leaning on the Lord and He will take you there.

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