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Fred’s Blog – The Impossible Will of God

11 Jan

“Who doesn’t want to know the will of God? As a young man, that topic occupied me as much as any other. I recall reading Alan Redpath’s guidance that discerning the will of God is done best by aligning the lights of three beacons. First is circumstances. Second is the truth of Scripture. Last, the counsel of wise friends. If those line up there is good reason to believe you are in the will of God and your decision, while not guaranteed, will more likely be the right one.

“But, I have discovered over the course of my life that discerning the will of God is not always that clean and neat. In fact, there are times when the will of God seems to go against all three guides. There are moments when God asks for the unimaginable that contradicts our understanding of Scripture, only confuses our circumstances and flies in the face of our trusted friends.”

Fred Smith, Excerpt from “The Impossible Will of God”

Dear God, I read the first paragraph of this friend’s blog post this morning and thought, “Oh, I totally disagree with that!” And then I saw his second paragraph. YES! “There are times when [your] will asks for the unimaginable that contradicts [my] understanding of Scripture, only confuses [my] circumstances and flies in the face of [my] trusted friends.” YES!

I have a relative right now who is really facing some trials. I know my advice to her, but is it the right advice? How do I really know? I’m using my logic and wisdom, but, in the end, I am a fool and my knowledge and perspective are limited. I would hate to steer her wrong.

In thinking about this first paragraph (and granted, Redpath says, “not guaranteed,” so he has some cover here), I am left to consider Job and his friends. I don’t know if he had Scripture to review, but he was certainly seeking your wisdom, he was seeking his friends’ counsel. He just couldn’t make his spiritual wisdom and his friends’ counsel match up with his circumstances.

Father, there is almost too much here for a prayer to you this morning. It’s worth an essay at a minimum. So let me just say that I agree with my friend’s blog. I pray that you will speak to me through my friends, my circumstances, and through scripture, but I also pray that you will give me peace in my trials, teach me, bring me to repentance when I need to, and speak to me in your still small voice that says, John, what are you doing here?

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 11, 2018 in Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

 

Acts 26:17b-18

10 Jan

Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

Acts 26:17b-18

Dear God, what is it about our souls that needs to be forgiven by you? Yes, I know that this passage is about being forgiven so I can be set apart for you as well, but it’s undeniable that there is something in my souls that needs forgiveness from you for the things I’ve done.

I think there are very few truly evil people in the world. I think most that do bad things and even appear evil from the outside are acting out of their own damage, but if you reveal their sin to them then forgiveness will free them. I wonder if the difference with a truly evil person is that they have somehow internally died to the need for your forgiveness and they lack the ability to feel remorse for anything. That is the person about whom I need to be concerned and fearful.

Father, thank you for the freedom you give me through the forgiveness available to me through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Thank you for giving me access to a relationship with you and a pathway to peace and wholeness. And thank you for welcoming me into to your Kingdom, both here on Earth and in Heaven.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 10, 2018 in Acts, My Utmost for His Highest Scripture of the Day

 

Matthew 6:19-21

09 Jan

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Matthew 6:19-21

Dear God, this is one of those verses we talk about a lot as humans. Even if we don’t know these particular verses we will try to teach our children that there are more important things than money. But do we really believe that?

If you read stories of lottery winners, it seems an overwhelming majority end up worse off after winning millions of dollars than they were before when they had little. And yet, a lot of people but lottery tickets hoping to be the one. A lot of people will completely judge how our country is doing based on the stock market’s performance even though there are so many other aspects to a society (crime, Healthcare, foreign relations, etc.) that directly impact people as opposed to this one measure. Even everyday people like me tend to compare ourselves to others financially and try to figure out how we measure up to the person next door. We even cover their money, not realizing that their spiritual life is nonexistent and that they have no peace (I’m not saying rich people can’t have fulfilled lives—I’m saying that we tend to only use their money as our basis for comparing ourselves with them).

Father, I want to turn loose of any love of Money that remains me me. Usually, a good cure for that is to give it away, but what I’m talking about is a little different. I’m not talking about trying to put the stockpiling of money my priority. I’m talking about not letting Money be part of my evaluation regarding how someone or our society is doing. I want to see the world with your eyes. I want to have your wisdom and vision. I want to love with your love.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 9, 2018 in Matthew

 

Amos 5:14-15

08 Jan

Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.

Amos 5:14-15

Dear God, it seems that your commands are consistent—Hey, just do what’s right. Love God. Embrace righteousness and reject evil. Be fair and reject corruption. Do these things and you’ll be in the center of my will. Reject these things and you will leave my presence, and in my presence is peace.

I think that’s the big thing. Our human eyes will sometimes trick us and make us think that corruption and selfishness or self-indulgence pays. There are plenty of billionaires who are corrupt and pursue their own selfish whims. From the outside it looks like they have it all. But only someone who knows your peace can understand what that person is missing.

Father, help me to live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. Love through me. Encourage through me. Be glorified through me. And help me to know you and your presence just a little better today.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 8, 2018 in Amos

 

Ephesians 5:1-4

07 Jan

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Ephesians 5:1-4

Dear God, I do not remember verse four. I’m sure I’ve read it before, but it kind of caught me off guard to hear Paul talking about obscene stories and coarse jokes. I guess I never imagined people sitting around and laughing from vulgarity in biblical times, but it makes sense that it would happen.

With a world so riddled with sexual assaults, human trafficking, etc., I’ve said for awhile that porn is the gateway drug that leads people into these activities, but maybe it’s a step back and it’s really the obscene stories and coarse jokes. Maybe it’s what we (and I’m including myself here) enjoy in the comedy shows we watch. It’s amazing how much humor in today’s comedies is derived from sexual topics, while shows from the 50’s and 60’s like I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke show are hysterical even today without going there.

Father, I probably take in too much that is not pure. It probably plants seeds in my heart that have the potential to find fertile soil and grow into something I shouldn’t let in. Help me to be mindful of this. Help me to be what I need to be for your glory and as part of my worship of you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 7, 2018 in Ephesians

 

1 Peter 1:6,13

06 Jan

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

1 Peter 1:6,13

Dear God, I have a family member right now who is facing some trials I have never faced. I am so concerned for her. I thought of her when I read this passage this morning. I know she has joy ahead. I know you have better things planned for her in her earthly future, and you have ultimate victory over evil planned for all of us later.

As I sit here and type this, I am remembering that I had several bad dreams last night. I remembered one or two of them immediately when I woke up (it was one of those times when I had to reorient myself to reality), and now I remember a couple more. I don’t normally have dreams like this so it is telling me how much my mind is wrapping around this situation.

Father, help me to prepare my mind for action and to exercise self control. I think that preparing my mind for action starts with praying to you about this and listening to your still small voice. What should I do? What should I not do? How can I help her? I’ll start with asking you to help and guide her. Give her your peace. Fill her with your joy. And please don’t make this suffering for nothing. Make it count so that she and others will, in the end, see the glory on the Lord!

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 6, 2018 in 1 Peter

 

Micah 6:8

04 Jan

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

Dear God, this sounds simple enough. And yet, when I woke up this morning, I saw an email about someone I know in Fredericksburg who really frustrated me and made me angry last year. As I sit here now, I realize that I have not loved mercy or walked humbly when it comes to him. How many other times do I fail you in this area every day?

There was actually a Steven Curtis Chapman song about this verse about 20 years ago called “The Walk.” It basically said that you can do great things, have power, experience success, etc., but at the end of the day it all comes down to asking yourself if you did right, loved mercy and walked humbly with you.

Father, when it all gets stripped away, help me to simply be left having been doing these three simple things. And help me to forgive this friend. I need to be more compassionate when it comes to him.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 4, 2018 in Micah

 

Titus 2:11-12

03 Jan

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

Titus 2:11-12

Dear God, I had an interesting thing happen yesterday. A friend told me that he believes in “God,” but has no reason to believe in Jesus. It all just seems to fantastical for him—virgin birth, resurrection, miracles in between. I was so caught off guard that I didn’t give nearly as good of a response as I wish I had. I’m sorry for that.

Back to this passage, help me to continue to turn from the things that are godless and sinful, and towards the things that are of you. Help me to be righteous, wise, and devoted to you. Help me to let go of my fears and be at peace. Help me to completely let go of my own agendas and plans for the future and embrace you in each present moment.

Father, I guess this is a pretty simple prayer today, but it’s also a back to basics. Love God. Hate sin. Repent. Disciple. Serve. Help me to believe enough to do all of these things.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 3, 2018 in Titus

 

Psalm 90:12

02 Jan

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Dear God, I just read an editorial about the unity/disunity in our country. It mentioned that we are descending into tribalism within our society and see other groups with differing opinions in our societies not so much as fellow Americans with different opinions, but as enemies who must be vanquished, even if the are fellow Americans. I started to wonder if that same thing doesn’t start to have some truth to it when it comes to members of churches too.

I found one set of statistics interesting. In 1994, apparently Republicans and Democrats saw each other strongly unfavorably at rates of 17% and 16%, respectively. Now those numbers are 43% and 38%. We have certainly lost a common enemy (in the country, we can’t even agree about whether or not Russia is the enemy, and in churches, we have lost sight of Satan as our enemy) and started to turn on those who disagree with us.

Father, taking this verse, I guess my desire is that you would help me to remember that life is short, make me an instrument of your peace, and the help us all to find common positive goals around which we all can rally. Unite us as a nation through constructive dialogue. I don’t want a prayer for unity to mean you have to give us enemies to achieve it. I’m hopeful (although not confident) that we can unite through positive forces and that you haven’t designed us to always need negative forces to unite us.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 2, 2018 in Psalms

 

Isaiah 52:11-12

31 Dec

Get out! Get out and leave your captivity, where everything you touch is unclean. Get out of there and purify yourselves, you who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord. You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the Lord will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.

Isaiah 52:11-12

Dear God, I’ve always struggled with getting anything out of the passages from the prophets. It has always felt like if I take a couple of verses like this out of context and try to apply them to my current reality then I am being foolish. But both of my sources for daily scripture (Bible Gateway and “My Utmost for His Highest”) had passages from Isaiah today so I thought I would just talk to you about this concept.

I suppose just about anything I read in the Bible is is set in someone else’s context and not my own, but at least those contexts are usually presented in a smaller package so I can see what similarities there might be between my life and the situation about which I’m reading. But the prophets are usually a little more vague, and include prophecy that you’d have to be a biblical scholar to link to reality. So, whether it’s right or wrong, I’ve usually ignored the prophets to some extent.

I guess I will add that a couple of years ago I heard some good teaching out of Habakkuk at a retreat that, when a scholar opened up the context for me, really had a lot to teach me about a error in my own thinking. Maybe that will be my journal for tomorrow.

Father, help me to be who and what you need me to be today. Love through me. Please take care of my wife and me during our long drive. Ordain my steps and help me to turn loose of my own self-perceived wisdom and submit to your glory and grace.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 31, 2017 in Isaiah, My Utmost for His Highest Scripture of the Day

 
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