Servant's Life

Storms scare me – specifically tornadoes.  They scare me because I am no stranger to them.  I can still recall sitting in my car and watching a tornado travel down the road beside me.  That isn’t something you soon forget. So, as the storms raged last night, I found it hard to sleep.  Fear can be a powerful thing.

Many people speak of the fear of the unknown.  The truth, however, is that people are usually afraid of those things they know all too well.

That’s how it was with Jacob.  He was no stranger to the wrath of his brother Esau.

Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”  - Genesis 27:41

Jacob had a seemingly legitimate reason to fear his brother.  Yet, often, God calls us to face the very thing that we fear.  It’s just His way.

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred…”  - Genesis 31:3

Yes, sometimes, He sends us back to the very thing we have spent our lives running from.  But, don’t miss the best part.

…and I will be with you.” – Genesis 31:3

When God instructs you to face your biggest fear He always promises His mighty presence.  

God knows that a life of fear is no life at all.  And He will do whatever it takes to set you free.  Freedom is a big deal to God.  His Son did the work of setting you free and there is no room for the bondage of fear.

Whatever fear you face – whatever it is you might be running from – if God is calling you to return you can know that He will be with you.

(Mark 5:25-34)

What stands between you and intimacy with Christ?

Apart from sin, the biggest barrier we encounter is shame.  That is why, very often, we want our healing to happen in private. We believe in His power. Yet, our instinct is to touch the hem of His robe and then disappear into the crowd.

But Jesus is interested in more than simply healing our hurts. His desire is that we be transformed.  That is why, though the woman had already been physically healed, He was insistent upon seeing her face to face.

So, He was looking around to see who had done this. – Mark 5:32  HCSB

Shame had been her identity for so long.

Satan wants you to believe that you are your past.  He has a great memory and he loves to remind you of your every mistake.  He would love nothing more than for your identity to be all tied up in your shame.

That is why Jesus would not move on until the woman came to Him.  He could not let her slip away because she had not yet received all that He wanted her to receive.  So, He waited.  And she came to Him.

Then the woman…fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. – Mark 5:33 HCSB

If we want transformation, we have to be willing to bare our souls to Christ.  There is no confession that is going to shock Him.  There is no admission that will make Him turn away from you.  He can heal from afar, but transformation happens in His presence.  This woman’s shame caused her to almost settle for healing.

But Christ, the great pursuer, gave her far more.

Go in peace and be free from your affliction. - Mark 5:34b HCSB

She came to Christ bound by sickness and shame.

She walked away in peace and freedom.

Intimacy with Christ is far more than healing.  It’s a transformation – a brand new identity that has nothing to do with our shame, but everything to do with our Savior.

*A post from the archives as I enjoy this snow day with my girls.

Have you ever tried to have a quiet time with the Lord, but your heart just wasn’t in it?  Maybe you’re feeling discouraged or hopeless.  Or, maybe, it’s just a rainy day and you’re just feeling down.  Are you feeling a little lost this morning and wondering how you got there?

If you only have the energy to read one verse this morning…turn to the book of Hosea.

Therefore, I am going to persuade her,
lead her to the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her. – Hosea 2:14 HCSB

This verse just brought me comfort.  The Lord is speaking to the people of Israel who had forgotten the Lord and turned to other gods.  They just no longer had a heart for God like they had in the past.  Three things stand out.

1. I am going to persuade her…The children of Israel had turned their backs on God.  They had forgotten all that He had done for them.  Prosperity and pleasure surrounded them and they no longer had any need of the One who had delivered them from servitude and hardship.  God, however, does not walk away.  He does not give up on them.  He pursues them again.  In The Message, this line is paraphrased…I’m going to start all over again.  Are we so willing to accept only good things from His hand and then question His protection or provision when hardships come our way?  When we, like the Israelites, can be such fickle followers…He does not give up.  He persuades us to once again turn to Him.
2. lead her to the wilderness…Sometimes, when we find ourselves in the wilderness, we assume that something has gone wrong.  When we are struggling to find our way or experience some disappointment..we think that we have, either willfully or unknowingly, taken a wrong turn. What if God Himself has led you to the wilderness.  Would that change the way you feel about being there?
3. and speak tenderly to her…God will speak tenderly to us.  Yes, He may need to lead us into the wilderness to cause us to refocus on Him…but, when we get there, He speaks tenderly.  There are times when we are certainly deserving of a harsh word from God…times when we have let doubt and fear creep in once again.  Yet, when we turn to Him with a weary heart…He speaks tenderly to us. 

Do not be fearful of your wilderness circumstances.  He is there.  Know that, if He lead you to the wilderness, there is a purpose behind it.  Be committed to following Him down any road. 

Refuse to be a fickle follower of Christ.  Follow him with the same passion and commitment whether He is leading you beside still waters or into the wilderness.

“And now, here’s what I’m going to do:

   I’m going to start all over again.
I’m taking her back out into the wilderness
where we had our first date, and I’ll court her.
I’ll give her bouquets of roses.
I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.
She’ll respond like she did as a young girl,
those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.        

 Hosea 2:14-15 The Message

I am going to stand perfectly still.

For one moment – there are no work assignments waiting, piles of laundry to take care of or looming medical tests.

For just one second – there is just me and Him…and peace.

~~~

My spiritual gift is worry…okay, I realize that is most definitely not a spiritual gift…but I am such a worrier.

I worry about how my every action impacts my children.  I worry that I am going to scar them in some way and, years later, they will be in therapy working through why their mother insisted on dressing them all the same and why, oh why, could they not just wear their flip-flops to church?

I worry that I am missing out on opportunities to be used by God.

I worry that I am not a good wife.

I worry that I’ll never stop worrying.

And, once my mind gets going, it’s a flurry of chaos and I am unable to function.  So, Psalm 46 speaks to me.  Nations are in uproar and kingdoms are falling.  There is desolation and war.  There is chaos and confusion.  I feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about it.

What should I do, Lord?  Start a petition?  Protest?  Worry?  Should I worry, Lord? (Okay, that was facetious.)  But, seriously, when the world seems to be spiraling out of control…what should I do?

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth. – Psalm 46:10 NIV

When the chaos creeps in and the crazy craves control…be still.

When circumstances call for you to doubt…know.

~~~

So, tonight, in this moment…I am just going to be still.  I will have to give baths and brush teeth and do all of those wonderful mommy things that I truly love to do.  But, in my heart, it’s just He and I…and peace.

I am going to stand perfectly still.