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You Do What You Think

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If “you are what you eat” is true, then I’m a big ‘ole chocolate-covered coffee bean.

Yes, I consume a lot of chocolate and coffee. And while I also eat lean meat and fresh fruits and veggies, I’m sure I would be healthier if I cut back on my favs!

Everyone recognizes our diets directly affect the health and working of our bodies. And while we may not eat right 100% of the time, most of us try to do what’s best for our bodies overall.Our thinking dictates our behavior

We Do What We Think

But are we as careful with our spiritual health? The Bible shows a direct correlation between what we put into our minds and our spiritual health. The way we think directly affects our character and behavior. The apostle Paul put it like this:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is. Romans 12:2, NLT

In order for the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ, our thinking must first be changed. If we fill our minds with the “wisdom” of the world and its ways that’s exactly what will come out in our character and behavior.

An Example from My Own Life

Years ago I started reading a popular detective book series. I noticed from the beginning that the language was less than acceptable for a believer who shouldn’t allow “any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth” (Ephesians 4:29). But the stories were engaging and, after all, just because I “read” it didn’t mean I agreed with it or would ever say it, right? So I kept reading.

Somewhere into the third book of the series I noticed with horror that sometimes when an emotional situation arose, one of those words I had been reading on the page popped into my mind. Thankfully they didn’t come out of my mouth, but I have no doubt they would have if I continued to read the books.

God quickly and clearly showed me the connection between what I allowed into my mind and what would eventually come out in my behavior. I threw those books away. Lest you think me “super spiritual” I confess that I don’t always obey God so quickly. However, I am thankful I did this time. I would have been crushed if one of those words came out of my mouth in front of my children – or my pastor!

Let’s Be Transformed, Not Conformed

What our culture considers “good, moral, and acceptable” is a far cry from the truth of God’s Word. When we watch, read, and participate in things out of line with God’s truth our thinking becomes desensitized. As our thinking shifts and conforms to the world our character and behavior will follow.

We will do what we think.

Let’s ask God to show us where our thinking is out of line with His truth. Let’s ask Him to transform our thinking and improve our spiritual health. Let’s start today!

What things in our culture do you feel have the most negative impact on believer’s thinking? How can we guard ourselves and allow God to renew our thinking and align it with His?

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More Questions than Answers

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It’s been three days since the tragic bombing in Boston. Three are dead and more than 150 injured. Every available resource is working to find the answers to questions like these:

  • Who committed this horrible act of violence?
  • Why did they do it?
  • How did they pull it off?
  • Is more terrorism planned?

praying, Why does God allow,In time, these questions can be answered. But other questions are much harder to answer.

Where was God when the bombs exploded?

Why didn’t He stop this terrible tragedy?

Where was God?

The best Bible scholars wrestle with these kinds of questions. But the Bible clearly teaches many truths about God we can stand on in times like these. For instance, God has the power and authority to act. He is involved in His creation. He knows and cares about every aspect of our lives. I know these things are true and accept them even when I still have questions.

Where was God?

He was there. Amidst the chaos, God’s presence and activity could still be seen. For instance, have you heard about Dr. Allan Panter? Dr. Panter is an ER doctor from Georgia who stood just ten yards away from the first blast while waiting for his wife to cross the finish line. In a news interview, I heard him say that everyone to his left went down when the bomb exploded. (For more on this story)

Dr. Panter, the closest uninjured person to the victims had the trauma training they needed. With the help of others, Dr. Panter immediately began applying tourniquets, including a man who lost the lower portion of both legs. The doctor’s proximity and background helped save multiple lives. This was not a coincidence. This was God’s intervention.

Why does God allow evil?

A while back, I wrote a serious of blogs about why God allows difficulties in the lives of believers and how He uses them. These biblical truths also apply to the question of why God allows evil. Here’s a quick summary and link to each post.

  • The Bible clearly teaches that God’s faithful children will experience trials and difficulties. Why, Oh Why Introduction
  • God promises and is able to bring good out of difficulty in the lives of those who love Him.   Why, Oh Why Part 2
  • God can and will use our pain and trials for His greater purpose. Why, Oh Why 3
  • God uses the pain, grief, and difficulty He allows into our life to purify and strengthen our faith.  Why, Oh Why 4
  • Even when we can’t see the reason for our sufferings we can still stand on the character, power, and love of God and place our trust in Him. Why, Oh Why final

In the Meantime

One day evil will be completely defeated. There will be no more grief or pain or tears. What do we do in the meantime? When evil appears have the upper hand? We stand firm on the God who has all the answers. We trust in His goodness and grace. We cling to His loving presence.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

How has God revealed Himself to you as your source of strength and help in times of trouble?

 

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3 Reasons for Joy

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Monday Minute in the Word, devotionalTrials fill our lives. This shouldn’t be surprising; Jesus said we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Not only do these difficult circumstances bring grief and pain, they also threaten to steal our joy. But believer, Jesus also promised His followers  “no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22). So how should we understand this?

I’ve heard it said that, unlike happiness, Christian joy has nothing to do with our circumstances. Yet, when I looked up the meaning for the Hebrew and Greek words most often translated as “joy” they have essentially the same meaning as “happiness.” Biblical joy can be defined this way:

 Joy, gladness, pleasure, happiness; the opposite of grief and sorrow; feelings that result from circumstances

The difference in fleeting joy and the joy no one can take away is the circumstances on which we base it. If we look to our temporary, earthly circumstances for joy, it will be stolen from us time and again. But if we rely on our eternal circumstances, our joy will be firm and secure.

Although I know my list could be longer, here are three reasons for joy God gives us in His Word:

  1. Salvation (1 Peter 1:5-9) – Peter beautifully shows how rejoicing in our eternal salvation far outweighs the grief of our temporary earthly trials. In the midst of our trials we are “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
  2. God’s Love (Romans 8:35-39) – Paul experienced great hardships and persecutions in this life. In spite of these things he experienced the joy of Christ (Philippians 1:18). How? No matter what he suffered, nothing could separate him from the love of God.
  3. Intimate Fellowship with Christ (John 15:5-11) – On the night He was betrayed and arrested, Jesus wanted to make sure His followers knew how to find their joy in Him. As we “abide” in Christ – stay closely and vitally connected to Him in obedient relationship – our joy will “be complete.”

Are you experiencing this kind of joy? You can! Read these Scripture passages and ask God to show you how to find joy in your eternal circumstances!

What other “reasons for joy” do you see in Scripture? Let’s share them with each other today!

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Left Hanging

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The day was clear and crisp, just perfect for spring skiing. When we arrived at the slope, we purchased our lift tickets, quickly donned our skis, and got in line for the lift. So excited to have a full day of skiing ahead of us.

Four of our group sat together on the quad chair – me, Wayne, our oldest daughter, Kelley, and our friend Connie. About a quarter of the way up the hill the chair lift came to an abrupt halt. That happens fairly often – usually to wait for someone who has fallen getting on or off – so we weren’t concerned. But then minutes ticked by and we remained stopped.

God is workingFor the next two hours we alternated between long stretches of stillness and brief forward movement. The first time the chair began to move we cheered, but after just a few feet we stopped again. After that, each time we moved we held our collective breaths. But alas, we only moved a short distance.

It was a warm day for April in the Canadian Rockies, but when you’re hanging off the ground in the wind with the weight of your skis and boots pulling on your dangling legs, a chill can set in quickly. The four of us huddled close for warmth and told stories to pass the time.

After about two hours I started eyeing the ground. If I dropped my skis would it be close enough to jump? Then I checked to see how far it was to the closest support tower. Is it possible to shimmy across the cable?

But just before I made rash decision to act dangerously, someone shouted at us over a bullhorn. “We’ve been working to get the motor going, but it won’t stay running. We’ll try one more time. If that doesn’t work we will get you down another way.”

Another way? Seriously?! What does that mean? Fork lift? Helicopter? Giant eagle?

Just as I was taking another look at the ground, we started moving. All four of us were praying. Fifty feet to the end. Forty. Thirty. Twenty. Ten. Now, stand up and put your skis on the ground!

After more than two hours, no feeling remained in our legs but we managed to get out of the chair and move away from the lift. Petite little Kelley was chilled to the bone so Wayne took her to a warming shack to thaw. Connie and I made our way gingerly down the slope to the lodge.

As it turned out, the resort paid for our lunch and refunded our lift passes. After eating and warming up in the lodge, we spent the afternoon skiing for free. (Well, I guess it wasn’t really “free.”)

For the majority of those two hours we felt like the ski resort had simply left us hanging. We didn’t see any activity on our behalf. We saw very little forward progress. But as we learned later, an entire team of mechanics was working frantically to get us down to safety.

Sometimes life feels like that. Sometimes we may feel like God has “left us hanging.” Sometimes we might think He’s not doing anything while we struggle. But Scripture teaches us the truth:

  • God is never inactive; He is always working (John 5:17).
  • God knows and cares about every aspect of our lives (Matthew 6:25-34).
  • God is all-powerful and in control of every situation (Jeremiah 32:17).
  • God is with us in our trials (Isaiah 43:2).
  • God is good, loving, and faithful (Psalm 145:17).

When you doubt God is working, when you wonder if He cares about you and your situation, remind yourself of the truth. Even if you can’t see it, He is working. Even if you don’t feel it, He loves you.

Let’s Share: Has there ever been a time you felt like God “left you hanging?” In retrospect, how was He working?

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But Even If He Does Not…

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Has your faith in God ever been shaken because He didn’t answer your prayers in a specific way? Have you ever doubted His love for you because you had to endure a painful trial? Many believers have.

Recently, God has been teaching me the same truth in several different ways. He must want to make sure I learn it. Here it is:

My faith must be in God and not in what I hope He will do for me.

Where is your faith?Where is your faith?

Since January, I’ve been leading a group of ladies through a study called “Live a Praying Life” by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. It is transforming our prayer lives and our understanding of God. In Week Ten, Jennifer explains that many believers become discouraged with prayer because they have a misguided understanding of faith.

Many of us mistakenly think that faith is “believing real hard.” If we believe hard enough then God will do what we want Him to do. Heal our spouse. Save our friend. Provide a job. Then when things don’t turn out like we want our assumption is that God doesn’t care or that God doesn’t answer prayer.

The problem with this thinking is that we’ve put our “faith” in an outcome instead of in our all-knowing, all-powerful God. Jennifer clarifies the issue:

Faith is not knowing how God will bring His will into being; faith is knowing that God will bring His will into being.

 Into a fiery furnace

Those three faithful friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – demonstrate what it looks like to have faith in God and not an outcome. When the Babylonian authorities ordered these Israelite captives to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue or be thrown in the fiery furnace, they put their faith firmly in God.

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will no serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18, NIV

These words grab my heart. They are one of the boldest declarations in all of Scripture. “Our God is able! But even if He does not…”

We place our faith in God and worship Him because He is God and He is able. Not because He will see fit to handle things the way we, in our limited understanding, think they should be handled.

Living by Faith

The “Hall of Faith” in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, further demonstrates this truth. We learn that some “escaped the edge of the sword” while others were “put to death by the sword.” Some “conquered kingdoms” and others faced “jeers and flogging.” Some “routed foreign enemies” and others were “chained and put in prison.”

The common denominator in every life described in Hebrews eleven was not the physical outcome of their situation. No, rather each life memorialized in this well-loved chapter placed unshakeable faith in God. However He chose to use their life to further His kingdom, their faith remained solid and safe in the Person of God.

What does this mean for you and me? We can stand firmly on the truth that God will carry out His purposes. They will not be thwarted. The temporary physical circumstances may not be what we would choose, but we can know that God is working. We can peacefully rest in His loving, protective arms and trust His outcome.

Have you ever found yourself putting your faith in an outcome rather than God? Share a time that you were discouraged because your prayers were not answered in the way you thought they should have been.

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