“All great soul-winners have been men of much and mighty prayer, and all great revivals have been preceded and carried out by persevering, prevailing knee-work in the closet.”
-Samuel Logan Brengle
Listen to today’s Ponder Cast here: Ponder Cast #11
General William Booth’s last words were “Others”.
Give this podcast a listen today “Others” Podcast
May we be continually challenged by the Holy Spirit to serve others and share the good news of Salvation with them where ever we go!
Salvation of the sinner is only the first blessing.
It is a vital ingredient, but it should not be considered the end product.
Let me illustrate this for you with a story:
I once baked a chocolate cake for my family.
I followed the recipe very carefully, and soon the aroma of that perfect cake baking in the oven began wafting throughout our home. We were all salivating at the wonderful smells coming for the oven. Soon, the chocolate cake was ready, and so I took it out of the oven to cool. When it had cooled sufficiently, I cut the first piece and tasted it only to discover, with great disappointment, that I had forgotten a crucial ingredient – sugar. It was sour to the taste and because of that one missing ingredient, the whole cake was ruined.
Salvation is a vital ingredient to the Christian life, but the second blessing, His indwelling is equally important. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are incomplete and we will never be whole. Holiness does not mean human perfection, but it does mean that we intentionally long to reflect Christ in all that we do and say. In other words, the very fiber of our being longs to become like Christ in every way, shape and form.
Without the desire to grow and mature in our faith we will be missing a crucial ingredient in this Christian faith. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation…” 1 Peter 2:2 Once we are saved and have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins, we are then urged by the Holy Spirit to develop and grow into this new life. We cannot simply remain at the altar of Salvation feasting upon spiritual milk; we must grow up and mature! Unfortunately, many Christians live without experiencing this missing ingredient of holiness. Many believers simply stop growing in the faith, they stop learning about Christ and the application that it has on their lives. Holiness is about taking that next step of faith. It is a vital ingredient in our pursuit of Christ-likeness, our personal holiness journey. Without feet to our faith, we are stunting that potential reflection of Christ in our lives.
There seems to be a missing ingredient in modern Christianity today – Holiness.
No, not all Churches struggle with the ingredient of holiness, some, perhaps just do not emphasize it enough.
We, as The Salvation Army, must never forget its importance in the recipe of personal and corporate faith! We, as an organization and mission, were born into the holiness movement of the Church! May we never lose our way! May we never forget its vital importance! May we never stop preaching about holiness in our corps. Sometimes it is easy to forget how vital Holiness is to our everyday lives. Perhaps there have been days that we have all stumbled along the pathway of duty. Perhaps we have not preached it from the pulpits enough. Perhaps we have forgotten to include this crucial ingredient in our corps and in our other ministries…in our own lives. May we never lose this important message of holiness in our Army! We are called to more than just salvation! We must grow up in our faith and get off of the infant formula and start feeding upon deeper, more substantive things! We are called to live and reflect Christ to the world…may we as soldiers of salvation do just that today…not because we belong to The Salvation Army, but because we first belong to Christ himself.
Something more for our Army world to ponder today.
To God be the glory!
The sacred.
It is not strictly for the holiest of us.
The sacred was kept hidden.
The sacred was closed off to the “public”.
Only those who were cleansed could enter.
Those who did enter the space of the sacred who were not cleansed would die.
God’s holy presence makes a space sacred…nothing else will do.
No amount of gold, incense or prayers can make something devoid of God sacred.
But the sacred moved…
On the day of death.
On the day of the cross.
The day when Jesus died for the sins of the world, the sacred moved.
not far away from Golgotha, the temple stood.
The place where the presence of God resided within the sacred holy of holies.
That dark and mighty day the sacred space moved.
The very presence of God relocated.
He wasn’t evicted…perhaps in a way He was.
He wasn’t changing…God is the same today and yesterday.
But circumstances changed.
The plan of salvation, the day of redemption unfolded before humanity who had not it recognized Him.
The curtain to the sacred tore.
Its space now vacant.
No, God had not would not abandon them,
but the space became bigger.
The sacred expanded.
Satan and Death were conquered.
Beyond our human understanding and our existential vision, something supernaturally remarkable took place.
Messiah had come.
Death was defeated.
New life was possible and available to those came seeking.
The sacred space didn’t move, it became available to everyone.
-Living within the sacred-
Truth:
living here within the sacred takes time.
Not because God’s presence isn’t enough but because many times we are still dealing with stuff.
We are still in need of full surrender.
We have not completely relinquished our old patterns of life to fully embrace this new creation Christ has won for us.
Living within the sacred requires our full devotion to the Risen Lord.
Living within the sacred requires us to embrace our own crosses and to lay down our selfishness only to pick up His image of selflessness.
This is the beginning of Holiness.
The Holy Spirit can, and will, take up residence within a new sacred space – our lives.
He will transform us.
He will begin anew within us…
but living within the sacred demands our allegiance and attention.
Living within the sacred requires us to embrace fully the divine plan of redemption.
We can live here.
We can grow here.
We can be holy…here.
The Holy Spirit will transform us…
the only question is are we willing to live here no matter what the cost or earthly sacrifice?
Something more for us to ponder today.
Admittedly it’s a facetious pondering today…
but I think it’s something worth exploring in round about way.
Would Jesus…(if He walked this earth today) be a soldier of The Salvation Army?
Some of you would say, “No, He would be the General”…
But…
when it comes to our mission.
when it comes to our purpose.
when it comes to serving suffering humanity…
would Jesus be a soldier?
Would He hang out with the undesirable people?
Would He converse with that smelly person in your soup kitchen that no one else wants to sit by?
Would He go into the homes of the abused, the drunkard, the hoarder, the unclean, the lowest of the low?
YOU. BET. HE. WOULD.
Would He fight on even when He was tired, busy, discouraged, angry, facing all kinds of adversity?
ABSOLUTELY!
It IS really a silly pondering to consider today, but it is a necessary one.
Sometimes we must peel back all of the orders and regulations.
Sometimes we must step around the finance minutes and the policies and procedures.
Sometimes we put aside the “busy work” lingering on our desks and in our “bring up” files…And just consider what it would take for Jesus to wear this uniform and for Jesus to serve those in need regardless of the hour or the inconvenience.
Because…
If we are an Army of Holiness.
If we are theologically and philosophically aligned with the “Holiness Movement”
THEN
Jesus is in uniform
Jesus is a Soldier
Jesus is a part of this mission.
Because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence WITHIN us!
So in a very real sense…
We are the very hands of feet of Christ.
We are that representation of Christ to the world.
We are called to imitate Him in every way.
SO…
here is where the rubber meets the road:
Are we?
Are we representing Christ in the very best way?
We are NOT perfect by the world standards.
We do have issues…sometimes many.
We all come with our own baggage and burdens.
But He can free us from these.
Do we try to be the best soldier that we can be?
Not to please the General, or our Corps Officer, or the Divisional/Territorial Commander…but to please God.
To honor Him with everything we do…are we THAT kind of soldier?
Are we loving people regardless of how they smell, where they come from, how they dress, the various walks of life they reside in?
This is front line ministry.
This is vital ministry.
This can be hope to countless hopeless causes and cases.
This…
what we do…
matters!
Something more for our Army world to ponder today!
May His glory shine in all we do!
Soldier on!
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
The truth is, we DO face fear in this life.
The truth is, we DO suffer from paralysis from time to time because of fear.
If we allow fear to take up a permanent place within our hearts, we rob ourselves of experiencing the joys of life that God offers to us. Fear can only have power if we allow it to have power in us.
That is easier said than done when all of a sudden a moment of crisis takes place and our hearts plummet over that jagged cliff of trepidation and dread. It is easier said than done when we come to the end of our ropes and we have nothing else to cling to. It is easier said than done when we exhaust all hope and resource and still we can’t afford to make ends meet.
Fear is real.
But so is faith.
Questions to ponder today:
Is fear ALWAYS bad?
Is there ever a place for fear?
Does fear ever coexist with faith?
I once heard a phrase that I still struggle with.
The phrase was spoken to a group of us in a church meeting once.
It goes like this: “Faith and fear can’t exist in the same space”
I’m not sure I agree.
Sure, it sounds good on paper and all.
It’s a good mantra to utter in the face of adversity.
But is this saying really true?
I just don’t think it is.
It could be an awesome “battle cry” to rally the troops and help encourage the discouraged…but I think faith and fear sometimes go hand in hand.
I suppose the word fear has to be defined in this conversation.
I think there are varying degrees of fear to think about when we talk about “faith AND fear”.
We don’t want to generalize fear to mean something all encompassing when it comes to “what we are afraid of”, rather I believe the kind of fear that is present within faith is a trepidation rather than a full blown paralyzing fear. I like one of the definitions of the word “trepidation” because it sort of crystallizes to me how faith and fear can coexist together in us.
The definition I think that fits is this:
‘Trepidation’ – a trembling motion.
To me this means that although we do not know what the future has in store for us, there IS STILL MOTION in us.
It sort of sums up that coined phrase “stepping out in faith” for me.
Although we have said “yes” to Christ and we have made that proclamation to the world around us, there is still the motion that is needed…and within that motion is a trembling.
Perhaps some of us dig deep and that trembling isn’t ever noticeable.
While in the rest of us that trembling aspect of faith is extremely evident.
It is more than mere nervousness of the unknown, it is a moving fear that propels faith to action.
It is more than reverence for God “fear and trembling”, it is an action verb that puts fuel on the fire of our faith.
Do you have fear today?
If you do have fear, I want to tell you that it is okay.
Don’t ever think that just because you’re fearful that there is something wrong with your faith walk.
Fear CAN exist within faith, and if understood and utilized correctly, it can help us to put feet and movement to our faith!
Something more to ponder today!
Discipleship is important.
Jesus lived with His disciples for 3 years, and in those three years He taught them through both words and deed. They were not mere students in a classroom learning some “concept”, they engaged humanity and encountered the Divine as He loved and led. Our prime example of discipleship should Christ and how He instructed His followers.
Some within the The Salvation Army, as well as other denominations, have never been properly discipled.
One might contend that soldiership classes count as discipling, but I believe it is only a drop in the bucket and is not enough. Others might contend that youth classes like junior soldiers and corps cadets are a form of discipling, again, a good start but not enough.
Discipleship is more than a passing grade.
Discipleship is more than completing a work book with a mentor.
Discipleship is SO much more than these things.
We begin this two part series on discipleship with the wrong ways to disciple.
Some of these might be obvious to you, but it never hurts to put these down in writing…so here goes:
5 Wrong Ways To Disciple:
1. “Do as I say, not as I do!” 
This is can be a very slippery slope. Mentors and Disciplers want to be good leaders of others, but sometimes putting into practice what is preached (even to the leader) is easier said than done. We all find it much easier to tell others how to live while experiencing the same struggles of daily temptations of old habits that haven’t quite passed away. If we live by this principle within our leadership model, we could very well be leading people astray because they will inevitably watch us closely in how we conduct ourselves and they WILL notice our inconsistencies in faith and practice.
2. “Fake it”
“I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice..“. (2 Timothy 1:5a)
This is inexplicably linked to the above “wrong way” of discipling.
Discipleship is vital to our pathway of holiness. What I mean by that is: we cannot become like Christ if we do not first long to emulate Him in every way…we cannot simply fake it! A true disciple of Christ is willing to place the great commission of Christ and the needs of others above them self. If we, as leaders, mentors and instructors don’t first walk with Christ in every way how can we expect those that we disciple to walk with Christ? Faking it is not an option. For a time we can fool others, but we again, will not fool God!
Secondly, and quite obviously, we cannot either by word of action teach disciples to simply plod through and fake it. “If you don’t know the answers, just fake it.”, “If you have no faith, just fake it!”, “If you don’t like that person, just fake it!”
Perhaps you think this sets the bar too high, and maybe unobtainable to everyone.
Jesus isn’t asking for our human perfection, just our faithfulness and authenticity.
3. Abuse Scripture 
“not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock...” (1 Peter 5:3)
Disciplers and Leaders, be mindful that although you have authority over those you lead that you yourself are also being held accountable to God! Do not utilize scripture for the purpose of making the disciples your servants. It sounds funny saying this, but in placing these disciple under you the temptation is there for you to make them do things for you or by forcing them to lead things in church when perhaps they are not ready to do so.
Another way in which we might abuse scripture is through plucking out specific verses in order to fit our needs. Be aware of the this! Look at the context of verses in scripture. Do not try to force scripture verses to imply something that they were never intended to imply. Also, do not use scripture as weapons against those you disciple. Isn’t it interesting how scripture can be weaponized sometimes? Please don’t do this. It not only serves to make scripture become something its not, but it can and will drive people away from the faith!
4. It’s all about the uniform (Outward Appearances) 
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25)
Please know that I am not calling you Pharisees today, that is not my intention with the above verse.
What I am implying is that we in the Army can become so “uniform” focused that we can run the risk of being outwardly focused on appearances than about the internal cleanliness of the “cup”. We want to be one Army strong and focused on the battle to win souls for Jesus, but if we skip the sacred step of consecration in lieu of appearances and numbers we will have already lost the war. The uniform, like baptism and communion are merely (or should be) an outward evidence of an inward change. Sometimes we might get the cart before the horse. Many times is this deeply personal and at the same time extremely corporate. If we strive as leaders to just those we disciple into uniforms for the sake of numbers (I hope this doesn’t happen very often) we will have done true discipleship a great disservice.
5. It (Discipleship) should only be taught in a classroom with a book.
“Please turn to chapter six in your work books and let’s finish this fill in the blank section…”
Discipleship isn’t only some class you might take part in.
Discipleship isn’t about filling out sections of a book.
These things can certainly help, and I am not discounting these as elements or tools for discipleship, but discipleship is SO much more than the classroom setting! If there is no challenge outside the walls of the classroom to actively engage and put into practice in daily life what was learned, then it is all for naught.
Jesus took His disciples out into the field. He didn’t do everything for them. He had them put into practice all that they had learned. They (the disciples) were still a work in progress, but Jesus lovingly pushed them along in hands on training with real life situations.
Disciplers, mentors, how do we do this for those that we train to become disciples of Christ?
These are just five wrong ways to disciple, I am sure there could be more to discuss.
The key is to recognize what a privilege and responsibility that we have been given.
Let us disciple with sober intentions, love, compassion and grace…
Something more for Army to ponder today.
To God be the glory!
Last week I wrote part 1 of this “two sided coin” so to speak – 3 Things Soldiers Should Know About Their Corps Officer(s)
Today I would like to conclude the second side of the coin on the topic of “things the Corps Officer should know about their Soldiers!” Understandably without Soldiers in our corps doing the amazing work that they do, we are hopelessly lost! We need strong soldiers to lead. We need strong leaders to help the Corps Officers. I understand that sometimes these two dynamics in the corps does not “gel” the way it should. Both sides of this coin ought to recognize that we are all on the same team…but sometimes, unfortunately, it doesn’t feel that way. I believe Satan thrives upon our disunity and polarizing leadership directions. He wants us to fail. We, often times, will fail in our corps, not because we lack the appropriate resources to complete the mission, but because we can’t see eye to eye, or we all think that we know what is best for the corps and we take opposing directions.
The Corps is the forefront of The Salvation Army mission – make no mistake about that!
Yes, vital lifesaving missions are also located in the Harbor Light, and ARC’s and Schools and Shelters, and in a way they are a corps unto themselves. At the Corps level we engage the enemy and we see the hopelessness of those who come to us for help! This fight isn’t just about who the Corps Officer is (it was never about that in the first place) but about who will lead and who will serve Christ in every aspect of this mission to the lost.
3 Things Corps Officers Should Know About Their Soldiers:
1. They Are The Long-term Investors
Local Officers and Soldiers have been there long before you came to that appointment, and they will be there a long time after you are gone. They have invested in that the local Corps’ mission. They understand that community probably much better than you ever will, no matter what education you might have and what your grade point average was at Training College. I do not mean to sound snarky here by any means, I simply wish to convey how invested most soldiers are to that current Corps. They are the backbone of the corps…or at least they should be. Sometimes (and I know this is true) Corps Officers have run over Soldiers and Local Officers to accomplish what they believe the direction of the corps should be. Sometimes this has happened the other way around as well. Every Corps is different, this much is true, but when Corps Officers and Soldiers work together side-by-side, we work for the same purpose, the same cause. Understand, Corps Officers, that your Soldiers and Local Officers are the Long-term investors of your corps!
2. They Want To Be Led By Godly, Consistent Officers! 
Corps Officers, it is imperative that we lead our corps and its constituents in a godly manner.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:2-4
Yes, hold your local officers and soldiers accountable, but be accountable to these same standards as well!
Don’t ask something of others that you yourself aren’t willing to do either. Be the kind of leader that leads by example and does the hard work right along with your soldiers! God honors holy leaders who are consistent in word and deed! Be consistent leaders! Lead by humility and love, not by power and might! Don’t lord over others with your authority, after all, you can and will be replaced one day. Invest in your soldiers, but also give fully of yourself where possible.
3. Delegate, Lean And Learn!
There is a HUGE difference between a seasoned Officer and a salty one. Don’t be a salty one! There will be difficult days as officers in this Army. There will be times when you will want to take out your frustrations upon soldiers. Choose your battles wisely. Confront when you need to confront, but do so in love and by first praying about every situation that you face!
If you think of yourself as Super-Officer that wears a navy blue and red cape and one who doesn’t need any help from soldiers and local officers, then you need to kill Super-Officer. There, I’ve said it for all soldiers everywhere. YOU. CAN’T. DO. EVERYTHING. YOURSELF. So stop trying to be Super-Officer, because Super-Officer will ultimately burn out, fade away and become discontent.
Corps Officers, you need to understand the vital usage of delegation. Moses couldn’t do everything and so, thankfully he began to delegate responsibilities. Don’t hold the reins of everything so tightly that you begin to slowly strangle your corps to death. Let others lead when you have individuals willing and able to lead. It may not meet your standards at first, but trust them, teach them…don’t enable your soldiers to always rely on the Officer to do everything! You shortchange and stunt the growth of your soldiers and leaders when you become Super-Officer who leads and does everything! So get rid of Super Officer, and delegate, teach and lean on your Soldiers!
Lastly, do not think for a minute that you have learned all there is to know about leadership, and that your soldiers and local officers can’t teach you something new! Always be pliable and teachable yourself! Recognize that book-learning sometimes isn’t enough and that life-learning can aid you to become a better, more godly Officer. Your Corps, your present appointment can and will teach you something wonderful if you are available to be taught. Do not become so prideful in your abilities that you become arrogant and incapable of the kind of change that you yourself preach about from the pulpit to others.
These are just three things Corps Officers should know about their Soldiers.
There are many more…but it begins by listening.
It begins by listening to the Holy Spirit, to your Soldiers and to the community that you serve!
So listen, lead your flock that are long-term investors, and lead them well! Allow them to teach you something. Allow them to learn with you. Help them develop into the best leaders that they can be as well! Together we can accomplish this great mission. Together we are a stronger army! What say you?
Something more for our Army to ponder today!
To God be the glory!
I enter into this pondering knowing full-well that some may consider this rebellious conversation – this is not my intention at all.
I would like to discuss the concept of submission within the ranks of the Army.
Is submission biblical?
Obvious answer – Yes.
Biblical Answers See:
Romans 13:1-7,Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 5:5, Ephesians 5:21
Were there instances in the early church where submission to authority was abused? Of course.
The fallout between the Apostle Paul and Peter was epic.
Peter exercised his authority in an inconsistent way. He ate with Gentiles on one occasion then on another when friends of James came by, he refused because he was afraid of criticism and pressure among the “circumcised traditionalists”.
(see Galatians 2:11-13)
Some might contend that this wasn’t a submission issue, but how would the Gentiles have felt in this instance being relegated and placed below another group of people because of what they did or didn’t practice?
It was an abuse of power that the Apostle Paul had to confront Peter on. After this or shortly after this period there is a shift in leadership within the early Church and Paul becomes the most prominent leader. Peter still had a role to play, naturally, but this was a pivotal moment when two leaders collided on an important issue.
On Ego and Abuse: 
Whether it is The Salvation Army, the Roman Catholic Church or places of government – egos will exist.
There will always be those who wish to achieve a certain type of status and power in order to be placed above others.
After all, didn’t the disciples argue amongst themselves as to who would be greatest (Luke 9:46)?
It isn’t too far fetched to conceive that there are times when leadership and ego collide.
Good leaders will brush off the temptation to display their power over subjugates and those they lead.
Poor leaders will wish to remind others of who they are and just who is in charge.
Honestly it is a sign of character weakness when ego in leadership leads to abuse of power.
Examples of power struggles in our Army have happened over the years. Many variables take place and cannot always be chalked up to just ego and abuse, but it is not unheard of to have leaders ship off officers and (even employees for that matter) are sent to “punishment appointments”. It is sometimes a means to an end. It is sometimes validated. Sometimes this environment develops a culture of fear.
Have we cultivated this “culture of fear” in our Army?
I certainly hope not.
I do believe that there are godly men and women who lead in a manner of holiness and conviction.
I am also not naive in my thinking that ego and abuse are exempt in our Army…it does happen, but I am hopeful that this is a rare occurrence instead of the norm. Some might call me naive in this thought…so be it.
Who do we submit to?
One of the verses that helps me on this topic (because I am really not good at submitting, if I am brutally honest) is Ephesians 5:21 – “Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
I am not a conformist by nature.
I am a fighter.
I will tell you how I feel – there’s no beating around the bush with me.
I know that I must temper this…I imagine you do as well.
I must admit submission is one of my personal struggles.
It isn’t about pride with me, it is all about trust.
For me trust in leadership has to be earned.
I need to know the leaders I serve under have my back.
I need to know that leaders I serve under will support me.
I need to know that leaders I serve under won’t throw me under the bus.
I need to know that leaders I serve under will treat me (and other officers and staff) with honesty, godliness and humility.
1. We submit to God.
In this complete submission we find peace no matter what life or “Army life” throws our way.
When we can fully submit to God (which isn’t easy) we can, as an act of worship to Him submit to the leaders that He has placed in our path. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. This is where the true test of our mettle lays.
We can say “we trust God and we are submitting to Him fully,” and yet our actions can tell us something completely different. Holiness isn’t just about living in our corps and in our communities, holiness is also about living a life of submission…some might say these two things go hand in hand. Will there be bad leaders who abuse power and who are led by ego? Yes, but everyone will have to account for their own actions one day before the Father. What we can do within our personal holiness is submit to Him first and allow Him to work in our submission to others.
2. Submit to Authority
This authority includes leaders we work under. We are all imperfect people and we all make mistakes. The higher you go within the spectrum of leadership, the greater the pressure and the higher the scrutiny. Have mercy on those who lead you. Show respect, love and patience. You may not always agree. I am not saying roll over and accept decisions that are wrong…but choose your battles wisely. Choose also how you will respond to criticism and correction. This happens in every aspect of life, whether it’s a correction by a police officer for speeding, or it is a moment of correction in a conference room with your supervisor – be godly people and react in godly ways through it all.
This. is. a. tough. place. to. respond. with. holiness.
Does abuse and ego happen in our Army? – Yes.
Can we change that dynamic? I certainly hope so. I am willing to change it, are you?
1. Pray for your leaders.
You might be surprised what God can do to perhaps soften their heart as well as yours.
Also in our prayers God can reveal to us places where we need to be focusing on our own egos, pride and issues.
2. Some Day, Who Knows, You might be that leader…then what?
A wise man once said to me – “remember how you were treated by that person/leader, and then strive to become a better person/leader than that in your own life.”
This is our army. 
Lead by Submission to God.
Follow by Submission to God.
And in between, no matter the conflict Submission to God.
“So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.”
(Count Your Blessings/Johnson Oatman, Jr.)
Something more for our Army to ponder today!
To God be the glory!
The List Of “Maybes”…
Maybe:
<You are going through a tough time right now.
<You are just having a bad day.
<You have been in this dry, barren desert from some time now.
<You are on the brink of giving up.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” -Romans 12:12
Here is some encouragement for you today, and let me unpack it for you.
Hope:
Hope isn’t some wish that is granted by rubbing a genie bottle.
Hope is not about “Wishing” my day would get better.
Hope isn’t about dreaming a “better you” either.
Hope isn’t found by fully relying on one’s self. Hope is provided. It is bestowed upon us. Hope, like grace is a characteristic of God. He gave us life, and now He is providing us a way to live it to its fullest. Faith has a way of stretching us. It propels us far beyond our comprehension of “what’s possible and available” to us. Faith, not in ourselves, but in Christ plants the seeds of hope in our heart. When we have this rootedness in Christ, we will begin to finally see beyond the temporalness of life. We can begin to see a bigger picture. We can start to scratch the surface of a hope that comes from God.
Patient in Affliction:
Joy isn’t about being happy. Sure, happiness is great…but sometimes it’s a limited time run.
We do go through difficulties in life.
We will not always be happy.
It is a myth that Christians MUST be happy all the time.
How is that even possible? It would look awfully strange at sad events like funerals to be laughing with happiness in the corner wouldn’t it?
Truths:
We will experience sadness as Christians.
We will endure afflictions too.
Happiness is not the same thing as joy.
Joy, like Hope is provided to us by the source of joy – God himself.
So that despite the situation, both good or bad, we might still retain joy within our souls.
The Heart of the Pondering Today:
I do not know what you are going through today, but I do know that despite the turbulence of life, despite the upheaval that happens from time to time – Hoping in the Almighty provides us joy and endurance through it all. Can you trust in a God who is overall? Can you hope in an everlasting joy instead of a temporary fix of happiness? I’m not saying don’t be happy ever again, but we can tap into something so much more powerful and lasting than short bursts of a disappointing type of instant gratification happiness.
To begin, we have to be willing to let go of the things we cannot control.
It isn’t easy to let go of anything, let a lone a perceived type of control in life, yet, through prayer, through faith we will begin to see a hope that will restore our souls and place us completely submitted to God…in everything, every area of our lives. This is probably the hardest thing for any of us to do, but when we do let go and when we submit to His purposes for our lives, the dynamic changes and we can experience this joyfulness in hope.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I pray for so many today who are experiencing doubt, despair and depression. I pray for strength in my own life today. Please provide us endurance as we place our all before you in complete submission. Teach us what being joyful in hope looks like. Reveal to us Your joy even in the midst of our dark valleys, Lord. Be near us, and help us to live this life that you have called us to. -Amen.
Something more to ponder today.
To God be the glory!
Pastor's Ponderings 