FINDING YOUR WAY OUT OF YOUR PIT

Typically my life just peters along, at its usual predictable pace, until all of a sudden, “wham” it hits me. My motivation drops to an almost zilch and I’m stuck in another pit, wondering when I will find my way out of yet, another one. Another slump, another pit. I’ve been here before, many times and I am very familiar with the emotional disconnect of a pit. In the darkness of pits there is sadness, sometimes despair, alienation, gloom and fear, the worst is fear. For with fear comes the deep concern of not being able to get out again. Upon watching the new movie, “Risen”, I was reminded how the Disciples felt after Jesus died on the cross. At first, most all of them ran away. They too found themselves in a slump of sorts. Disconnected, alienated from the one whom they had put their hope in, despair, gloom and even fear as they sat down and wondered which way, they would now turn. You see, their slumps as well as ours, are so often caused by feelings of misplacement or a loss of something, self-disgust and even boredom. When our relationship or walk with Christ is tainted or not what it once was, we become disconnected and misplaced and we find ourselves in a slump or pit. When this happens, don’t make it harder on yourself than it needs to be. They become harder, when we are not prepared for them. If we are not prepared when they hit, we can easily resign ourselves to a feeling of disconnect somewhere. Sometimes, when we are the middle of a slump, pit or whatever you may be calling yours these days, its easy to consider them to be personal penance for something that we have done. The Disciples were feeling downcast because of their shame and lack of faith during a time of crises.  Sometimes it can happen when we deliberately walk away from truth. But not all times as Jeremiah found himself in Jeremiah 38 as he was sinking down. Low ground always sinks. Sometimes little slumps can come into our lives and leave us with a low level dullness that colors our whole world a kind of grey. They are decidedly pervasive and can leave us with an all-consuming lack of motivation and joy and can lasts for a short or indefinite period of time, as it did with the disciples. It will be up to us and us only to crawl out of those dark slumps and pits and into the light, where we can see and think more clearly. At some point or another, you and I will cross paths with a slump. You may have a limited supply of “personal motivation” and “will power” and the longer you stay and struggle in it, the more strenuous the task of coming out of it will be. When those reserves run low it can be difficult to even start a task, let alone complete one. That is why it is so important to be prepared for when they come and to stay connected to the power source that will keep you energized in the Truth. The one thing that will send you into a slump quicker than anything thing else is negative thinking against what you know is God’s truth. No matter where negative thoughts begin, they will always spill over into every other part of your life if allowed. The scripture teaches us clearly to stay away from that way of thinking (stinking thinking). “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8.  “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he:” Proverbs 23:7a. It does not matter how you got there, be in pushed in, slipped or jumped in. There is always a way out. Reach for the light by reaching for the Truth in what God is telling you, and do it His way. I just came out of a slump! I did it by doing exactly what I am encouraging you to do. I was prepared, I had been there before. I knew what it was going to take. I was willing to do it God’s way! I’m free, I’m out!

 

Hold Fast,

Bren

Encouraging The Sick And Brokenhearted

The most important attitude that we can impart to someone who is sick or troubled in life is simply, our own hope. Proverbs 18:14 says this concerning someone who is sick or has a crushed spirit, “The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear it if the spirit is crushed? Romans 15:13 says this about hope, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. God’s Word teaches us that hope is something that we cannot see, but it’s biblical foundation is reflected in our faith in God and not our circumstances. Hope then is the antidote for despair. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” It is our faith that enables us to have hope. Acts of kindness is a another way to encourage someone who may be sick or downhearted as in Acts 2:42, “ They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers”.

 

The early Christians are our role models. Bringing someone in need a prepared meal, praying with them, reading the Bible to them and sharing good conversation are all very encouraging. Another way to encourage them is to remind them not to focus on the future of all the, “what ifs” and “maybes”, but to stay focused on today, moment by moment seeking God for their healing and the will of God to be revealed to them through their situation. Matthew 6:33-34 tells us this, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Jesus Himself, said not to worry about the future! We are all terminal beings, no one lives forever and everyone has trials and tribulations. Encourage them to focus on today, doing the right things and making the best out of their current situation. God designed each of us with a kind of survival instinct and wants us to have a nature that is optimistic and hopeful. Those who have it enjoy a better quality of life, do more good for others and often live longer. The book of Job teaches many lessons, including what not to assume or say if we want to encourage someone. Job's suffering was so devastating it is hard to imagine. Satan killed all of Job's children and most of his servants and caused him to lose all his possessions.

 

Later he was personally afflicted with a terrible disease that caused painful boils all over his body. Of all Job's supposed friends, it appears that only three and a fourth one later on in the story, cared enough to visit Job and spend considerable time with him to "mourn with him, and to comfort him" in Job 2:11. But Job understandably complained that they were "miserable comforters" in 16:2 and said, "How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words?" in 19:2. These three friends seemingly had good intentions to give comfort and advice to Job, but they had mistakenly assumed that Job's suffering was God's punishment for disobeying His laws. They also assumed in their wrong theology, that God always rewards good and punishes evil in this life, with no exceptions. They saw no purpose for suffering other than retribution and punishment. So in spite of their possible good intentions, Job's three friends primarily gave him added mental and emotional distress. So I would conclude that we should be very careful before we try and analyze someone’s illness. The Bible has much to say about the power of words. It's sad that Job's friends were using their words to discourage instead of encourage. After all, "The tongue of the wise promotes health" Prov 12:18 and, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life" Prov. 15:4. May we all continue to grow in understanding about how to be effective helpers and encouragers in this new year!

Hold Fast,

Bren

WHAT SIN ARE YOU CLOAKING?

 

 

 

This morning as I went before the Lord, one of the things that was revealed to me concerning sin in my life was the fact that I was harboring criticism in my heart. Criticism that I had been cloaking as petty issues. I find that often times when the Lord has revealed to me an area of sin in my life, if I am not careful, I can easily skip over them as petty and use them as reasons of excusing myself instead of doing the radical invasive surgery on my heart that is needed. My natural tendency is to rationalize which often times leads to excusing myself, which leads to no change and I wonder why nothing changes. Oh how I pray, that the Lord will help me to be different and not pretend that nothing is wrong in my heart. For if I do, the old nature in me will grow stronger and make it harder the next time I want to be real and transparent with the Lord. I pray that He will open my eyes to see the things in my heart, that breaks His heart and keeps His grace from overflowing in mine. I must do the nessacary heart surgery needed to cut out every inkling of pride that keeps me from total surrender. He is so good and merciful to keep lingering over me and because of that, I choose to die to my pride and embrace His life in me. What are you struggling with today my friend? Are you cloaking deeper issues in your life with petty questions and answers? Is your criticism, jealousy, bitterness, envy or resentment only a covering for an unforgiving heart? Things can spill out of us that on a better day, when we are walking with the Lord and focused on what is right, we would never choose to say, think or do. However, when we choose to embrace sin in our lives, we are actually exalting ourselves over others and the Lord. It takes the focus off ourselves and can give us a false impression that we are right and others are wrong. It is not wrong when we notice areas in the lives of others where there is room for growth and their personal dynamics can improve. But if your heart is humble, loving and willing to look past their personal flaws, you will have a decidedly different approach in your dealing with and judging their shortcomings. You will find that through the proper love for them, you will begin to cover them with prayer and aggressively encourage them with the kindness that God offers and shows us. Critical words spring from a critical heart. How’s your heart today?  “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. Ephesians 4:31-32

 
Hold Fast,

Bren

WHAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION

 

Often times we can appear to be all right in the general sense of our walk with Christ. But more often than not, there are still areas that need some attention. Those areas in which we are careless and lazy and not as mindful to as other areas that we do not struggle in. The little things, those petty sins, we might call them. These are the remnants of our carnal nature that always fights for control and will always lead us to being careless. I feel sure that my personal carelessness is an insult to God's Holy Spirit that lives in me, as a child of God. I also know this from what the Word of God teaches as well as my own personal experience. When I grieve the Holy Spirit, I have a strong sense within me that lets me know that something is not right and beckons me to search until I figure out what is wrong. God will allow nothing to escape. Our lives are under His scrutiny. He sees over every detail until He has finished His good and perfect will in us. The outcome will be up to us, as to how and what we allow Him to do in us and through us. If we will not change or rectify that thing that God has His finger on in our lives, He will continue to bring us back in countless ways to the same point over and over again. He never tires, until we have learned the lesson that He is teaching us. His great and only purpose is, to produce His finished product. With the most persistent patience, God will bring us back to that one particular point. Through this process, God is trying to impress upon us that one thing that is not entirely right in our lives. Today, I am pressing forward to find that thing in me that is not entirely right. How about you sweet friend? "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning;" Joel 2:12 "Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4

Hold Fast,

Bren

THE POWER TO SERVE AND LIVE

The scripture tells us that a person inherits God’s Divine nature at the moment they choose to come to Christ and repent of their sins. That is what being born again is all about. It is about the old life that was lived to please the carnal nature going away and inheriting the new nature that God gives them the moment they come to Him with a repented heart. This new nature causes the new believer to seek and strive to be more like God. They begin to look at their choices and decisions with a greater magnification of the consequences to their actions as to how they will reap from their choices, as well as how their decisions will bring honor or dishonor to the One who now lives within them. The effort that must take place, in the life of the Christian from that point on is, an effort of diligence, as they concentrate more on forming godly habits and working on a deeper, personal relationship with God, in their lives. 

None of us are naturally born or even supernaturally born with character; so we must work towards forming our character by how we choose to live. Nor, are we born with habits. We have to form them as well. Our expectations and love for God, is something that should lead us to a greater walk and commitment to His calling and choices for us. But, those expectations should never replace, the common stuff of ordinary life that exhibits the marvel of His grace and mercy.  One of the great hindrances in our spiritual life is when we look to the big things to do for God and forget to serve Him in the small things.  Remember that, "Jesus…took a towel,…and began to wash the disciples’ feet.” And this is how we are to serve and live as well.     

There are times when there will be no illuminations, no great vision or thrill, but just the daily ins and outs around our common task. Routine is often times God’s way of saving us, between our times of inspiration. We should not expect God to always give us His thrilling moments, but learn to live in the domain of drudgery by and through His power in us. The smallest details in which we obey, has all the omnipotent power of God’s grace behind it. If I do my duty, not for duty’s sake, but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience and trusting Him is the whole superb grace of God in me. Nothing thrills me more than to hear that God is speaking to precious souls through the efforts of my encouragement. 

The thing about encouragement, is that it works both ways and works its best, when God gets the glory! Thank you sweet friends for taking the time to visit with me each week through the written word. I love each one of you and want nothing more than for you to experience and make contact with the Lord, in any moment that you may be experiencing discouragement. Keep running the race, no matter how hard it becomes and remember; though we are constantly being sleighed, yet will we serve Him. He is cleaning out in us that which keeps us from knowing and walking with Him on a Higher level. He is worthy, look to Him!

Loving on you today,

Bren