Your Story's Pages

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Some people dread change, while others await and embrace it. The unknown can stir up feelings of uncertainty and concern in some people, while others experience impatience as they anxiously look forward to the change that is soon to occur.

Is there a life-changing event on your horizon? Graduation, engagement, marriage, baby on the way, new job, promotion, relocation, retirement? Whatever the change, remember that God is already on it. Before you were born, He had a plan in place, so why not turn to Him and trust His guidance on the matter? Whether you are young, just entering adulthood, or well into your “golden years” and stepping into the world of retirement, the goal should be to finish well. You can do this by living the story and carrying out the tasks God prepared for you (His ways are always best) before time began (Ephesians 2:10). All of us are accountable to Him for every moment we spend in this life.

If you are entering a new era in life’s journey or rounding the bend of your travels with the end in sight, you can face the unknown with certainty, trusting God as He guides you. We all have stories. As each of your story’s pages turns, without reservation, no matter what lies ahead, devotedly pour yourself out for the Lord’s service until He calls you home. 

Swept Off Your Feet

 “If it had not been the Lord was on our side. . .” (Psalm 124:1a)

In this psalm, David says the Lord did not let the enemy swallow them alive; the raging waters of their fury did not overwhelm them. For this, he praised God, knowing their help was from the Lord; He was on their side, and they escaped harm.

But what happens when the Lord is not on your side? If you have wandered from God’s care or you are living in rebellion, you still belong to Him, but fight life’s battles in your strength, not His. The enemy of your soul swoops in and sweeps you off your feet. He wants you fixated on your circumstances believing there is no hope; you will drown in the surge coming against you. His roars (1 Peter 5:8) can paralyze you with fear; his lies cause doubt, frustration, hopelessness, disappointment. He throws your way, whatever it takes for you to lose your footing and fall. But your Savior is nearby, ready and willing to help and lead you to victory if you only ask Him.

If you have not invited Jesus into your life, the Lord is not on your side. You face the world’s evils alone; you will lose life’s battles. But this isn’t what God wants; He wants to help you, save you, not only from the enemy but from eternal separation. If you feel you’ve been swept off your feet by the adversary of your soul (or people around you) who seeks your demise, God is greater and always nearby to rescue the perishing who call out to Him. The One who saves wants you to live eternally with Him.

Broken Ground

 “The Lord is near to those who are brokenhearted; and He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).” (Psalm 34:18 AMP)

It was past the time to plant the wildflower seeds in the field, but after no rain for weeks, the ground was rock-solid hard, unsuitable for growing anything. For the seeds’ survival, groundbreaking was a must. But even after several plowings, the chunky soil was not ready. A farmer-friend explained that he repeats tilling a field cater-corner after plowing in one direction to ensure thoroughly broken ground. Undoubtedly, a thriving crop depends on prepared soil followed by the correct care.

A flourishing life also depends upon a pressing and crushing—the brokenness of self—for the best to spring forth. Life’s overwhelming blows often leave people feeling drought-ridden, their spirits dry and thirsty—a condition that can give way for disappointment and discouragement to enter. Sometimes seclusion and disobedience follow. God is always nearby His children and ready to rescue. Before this happens, broken ground, a turning-over must occur.

If you want your life-field blooming with an aromatic fragrance pleasing unto the Lord and blessing to others, cultivation is necessary. For a successfully prepared life-field, you must first turn from going your way and, in surrender, turn your heart and mind (field) over to the Lord. Now, will you give God access to every area of your life, allowing Him to prepare your life’s “soil” by plowing through it this way and that, no matter how many plow-overs it takes? When you do, every obstacle that blocks your effectiveness as God’s child will crumble into nothingness. Then you are ready for re-seeding and receiving the nourishment needed to flourish for God’s glory. Trust Him for the harvest and blessings that follow.

Troublemaker

 “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, ‘Art thou he that troubleth Israel?’” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father’s house. . .” (1 Kings 18:17–18)

When he saw Elijah, King Ahab said, “So you are Israel’s troubler.” As God’s prophet in the land, Elijah boldly spoke against Israel’s disobedience to God’s commands. Because he proclaimed the truth at God’s bidding, Ahab labeled him a troublemaker. Elijah turned the king’s words back to him, saying it was he who troubled Israel; he and his pagan wife, turning Israel’s heart from worshiping the only true God to false gods. God’s people chose for themselves to follow their leading, engaging in their evil practices. Although they were misled, Israel blatantly rebelled against God. Rather than receive the blessings God promised for obedience, they experienced the consequences of disobedience: famine in the land.

 Have you ever been accused of being a troublemaker or a whistleblower? A tattler? A whistleblower reports illegal or harmful activity that could adversely affect a person, the public, businesses, or a nation. Tattling supplies information about others’ every minor wrongdoing, often so they feel better about themselves. Those actions, although wrong, would not affect society. Troublemakers maliciously cause trouble, usually inciting others to follow them in resisting authority. Elijah spoke God’s truth, warnings, and call to repentance while the evil troublemakers of Israel, Ahab, and his wife Jezebel, defied God’s sovereignty.

You may have seen, heard, or read something offensive—it was misleading, false, wrong, and could harmfully affect someone. A deciding factor as to whether report such a matter that could mar your reputation would be to consider the condition of your heart. Do you feel the need to report the issue because it violates God’s Word? Has the situation broken established rules? Was a person harmed or face harm? Was the law of the land abused? Or has someone crossed the line you’ve drawn from a self-imposed standard or law of which you appointed yourself executor, and you’re in a twist? Once you know your reason to talk about a situation legitimately, and if your heart is right with God, speak the truth in love with His boldness.

God-directed-words can encourage confession of sin and repentance. When straying, rebellious people turn back to God; spiritual famines end in individuals and across the land. God takes those once dry, hard, cracked, broken, but now repentant lives and restores them to vibrant health.

Thorny Walls

“Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.” Hosea 2:6.

Even the tiniest of thorns causes discomfort. Depending on the thorn's size, the bush, and how many times you run into it decides the amount of pain you experience.

God told him to marry her; He said she would be unfaithful. It must have been difficult for Hosea, but he married Gomer, a known prostitute in obedience. And just as God said, she was unfaithful to him.

God said He would fence her in with a thorny wall. The purpose was to block her path, to make her lose the wrong way she wanted to go. In verse six, God is not referring to Gomer but His beloved Israel, who chose to embrace Canaan’s false gods and lifestyle. God set up walls that caused pain so His people would turn from their wicked ways back to Him. But His “bride” disregarded the painful thorny pricks, continued in her rebellious unfaithfulness. God warned His people to repent and return to His care, but they rejected His guidance and faced defeat and destruction by the enemy and exile from their homeland. Consequences of choosing their way.

God’s “bride” today is His Church, those who belong to His family. Some of His children have chosen complacency, choosing to follow false gods, embracing what the world offers rather than the One who supplies life’s every need. If you keep running into hurtful walls, you may have chosen the direction you wanted to go without consulting God because you knew what His response would be on the matter. The result of your stubbornness is a repeatedly pricked and restless spirit and difficulties God never intended you to face. Why can’t you find an opening to escape the pain? God may have enclosed you in a hedge of thorns, or someone concerned about you is praying God’s protection about you for your good. That interceder carries a burden for you and knows the discomforting thorns are nothing compared to what awaits if you continue the destructive path you’re traveling. God wants genuine repentance from His children.

God unconditionally loves His unfaithful children as much as the faithful ones. But He wants the wanderers to repent and return to His loving care and protection. Are you the pricked, stubborn one or an interceder? An interceder will continue seeking the Father’s will until He releases the prayer to stop praying for that person or situation. Stubborn ones who keep running into walls of pain, stop. Turn from the wrong way you’re going, back to the One waiting to hear from you, wanting His best for you.

The Bride of Christ, God’s people, refusing to turn away from sin, selfish wants, and the world’s evil ways, back to our First Love, face dire consequences. We are already feeling thorny, painful pricks; God loves us Church, but sometimes—often—love hurts.

Hedged In

 “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to Myself.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Have you ever felt boxed in, like walking in a maze, facing a wall at every turn? Sometimes, walls or barriers are helpful, such as dividing rooms in a house, public restroom stalls, or keeping pets safe outdoors. Other times, wall-like erections can affect friendships and even communion with God with strategically placed dividers guarding our hearts. But what does it mean when God sets a wall or hedge in place? Why would He do this? When God erects barriers, it is always for the greater good. When He divided the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape Egypt’s army, the water must have been frightening as massive, towering walls stood to them on their right and left sides; but they walked safely across dry ground.

No matter the size or type of God’s hedges, they always serve a purpose. Three such barriers the Bible refers to are that of protection (Psalm 34:7, 125:2, 139:5, 10; John 10:27–29), isolation, that Jeremiah sometimes felt in his forty years while serving as God’s prophet (Lamentations 3:7–9), and thorns, the barrier God placed before Hosea’s wife and the Israelites because both were unfaithful (Hosea 2:6). We must believe the truths of God’s Omnipresence, that He is everywhere at the same time, His Omnipotence, He is all-powerful, and His Omniscience, He knows everything. Whether a person receives those realities does not negate the matter because He is who He is. As His children, God is behind us and goes before us (Psalm 139:5); He leads us on the right paths, watching over and protecting us as we walk the life-road prepared for us. Jesus and the Father are One. The Son holds us in the hands of our Father who covers us, and no one can snatch us from Him (John 10:27–29).

Psalm 125:2 tells us that God is all around His people like an immovable mountain and will remain in that position forever. He is before us, behind us, all around us, and has His hand over us because He loves us. Jesus has and covers us, and God holds and covers us—double-gripped in the hands of The Almighty—hedged in! 

God’s love is unconditional and everlasting. He promises never to leave us. But when you reject His protective care (go your way, follow your path), you may run into a prickly wall like the Israelites. Or you may feel isolated for a season, like Jeremiah. Though he walked dark, lonely, and troublesome paths serving God, he confessed he didn’t deserve God’s mercy; His faithfulness was new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23). Whenever you find yourself walled in, God is in control and intends it for your good.

Contrast

“Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord. . . ” (1 Corinthians 6:17)

Light and darkness, large and small, sweet-smelling and stinky—contrasts. Things that are different—reveal a distinction.  

As the Lord’s soldiers, God supplies everything we need to stand firm and face each day boldly, geared up, fitted for life’s battles. But God will not strap us with His armor, nor will He make us take it up and put it on. Neither will He make us saturate our hearts and minds with His Word and pray unceasingly. Those are things we soldiers must choose to do. We must decide to don God’s armor and bravely face what each day holds. God is on our side and by our side. He is our strength and our every battle’s Victor if we let Him.

Whether marching through battle or taking a stroll, our lives should reflect integrity and godliness. Everything we do, what we say, even our countenance should not only be different but strikingly different from that of the world’s, including “good” people. Wherever we are, others should note we are not like everyone else; we should never “blend in.” The difference should cause them to want to know why and we should be ready to explain.

Does your life have contrast? It should. In this chapter, Paul tells of circumstances he and his coworkers overcame; their lives had distinction. We, too, should live as faithful ministers of God our Father and Commander, making a difference in this lost world. 

Fitted for Battle: Unceasing Prayer

“Praying always in all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . .” (Ephesians 6:18).

Prayer: the privilege of communion with our Father; getting to know Him more.

What a glorious way to honor our Lord and hear from Him—pray. Paul writes that we are to pray without ceasing; stay alert, and persistently pray for all believers; pray as we go about our duties throughout the day until we close our eyes in sleep. We can pray anytime, anywhere. Current circumstances may dictate whether our prayers are silent or audible—but pray always. Although praying is not an armor-piece worn, Paul lists it after the pieces we are to “take up”—it is an effective offensive tactic against our adversary, a defensive covering for our well-being, and our communication line with the Father.

Fitted for battle, well-suited in God’s armor, the Lord’s soldier faces unnecessary struggles unless covered with prayer. Seeking God’s strength and overcoming power is key to living as an overcomer. It is God who brings victory over our adversary and in our lives. And Satan detests hearing God’s children praying confidently, expecting to hear from Him, knowing mountains can move when someone prays in faith, believing. As we petition our Father for help through life’s challenges, for healing, wisdom, direction, and others, we enter the spiritual realm where spiritual battles are fought all around us. When we humble ourselves before God, resisting the devil, he will flee (James 4:7).  

 Intercession plays a significant role in the lives of believers. We are to pray for one another: fellow believers, the lost, and sometimes God burdens our heart to pray for someone’s specific need. That person may be floundering, needing direction, or feels hopeless, unloved, and unworthy; that someone God burdened you about may be discouraged and desperately waiting for help—someone like you or me to intervene on their behalf. If a certain “someone” keeps coming to mind, begin praying and continue until God gives you release to stop. Whether we know the results of our interceding, God is at work in that life.

As we bring our prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God and petitions for others and ourselves before the Lord, we must believe He hears us. How can we know? In 1 John 5:14–15, we read that we are confident He hears our prayers when we ask anything in line with His will. That is the key to answered prayer. Entreat the Father and pray for what pleases Him, not what you want. He desires fellowship with you, repentance, and salvation for all humanity (2 Peter 3:9). When the answer comes, rest in His judgment because He knows what’s best.

But sometimes, prayers are blocked. As the words leave our lips, they seem to hit the floor. What hinders our prayers and keeps us from living victoriously? A few culprits are an unforgiving heart, sin not dealt with, and wandering thoughts. Contributors to thoughts that drift are an over-loaded calendar, worry, stress, and posture. Wait a minute, posture? Yes, your posture—not whether you stand, kneel, sit, or lay prostrate before the Lord; with hands raised or at your side; covering your face or your head—but the posture of your heart. Bow your heart in humility before God; you cannot deceive Him.

Soldiers of the Lord, life’s battles are not against one another but the powers and rulers of this world’s darkness and spiritual wickedness (v. 13). God supplies His children with everything needed to live victoriously and charges us to take up and put on His armor that we can withstand the conflicts and temptations that cause us to fall. Having obeyed His command, fully protected, stand firmly and boldly in His power and pray, believing as you share God's message of hope and salvation.

Fitted for Battle: Sword of the Spirit

 “And take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17).

What soldier, at any time in history, would engage in battle without some type of weapon? Silly question, yet how often do you begin a new day, facing a spiritual war that rages non-stop, unarmed?

For their good, God wanted the Israelites to know, love, serve and revere Him, the one true God. The Lord commanded them to teach their children His statutes diligently from the moment they woke in the morning until they closed their eyes in sleep at night (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). That is some serious-minded teaching! Each generation was to pass this knowledge and truth of the true, living God to the next generation.

Have we been slack in our generation in passing on God's truths? Do we instruct our children diligently “all day long” about God and the importance of obedience to His Word, or do we settle for a bedtime Bible story from time to time? Have we assumed a minister, school, or Sunday Bible teacher correctly instructs them about the one true God? God wants and expects parents to train their children in His ways; other teachers in their lives are lagniappe.

The sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, is our protecting, offensive weapon. How can we stand against the enemy's deceit and lies if the Word is not embedded in our hearts to refute him? With God’s truth, we can boldly stand our ground against the darkness of this world when he attacks with his cunning tactics and lying accusations. But like the other armor pieces, unless we take it up and use it, we are defenseless.

The Book of Hebrews' writer describes the Spirit’s sword vividly. The Word is living and mighty, powerful, and precisely sharper than any sword. It can penetrate and separate the heart and thoughts with a single movement, exposing hidden sins, fears, and secrets to change lives (Hebrews 4:12). But we are not to abuse the use of this sword and “brow-beat” people with God’s truth. Jesus commissioned us to proclaim His truth; His Spirit does any needed life-changing surgery. (Tomorrow, the final weaponry piece is sometimes as a secret: prayer.)

Fitted for Battle: Helmet of Salvation

 “And take the helmet of salvation . . .” (Ephesians 6:17).

Not only is the soldier’s helmet a vital piece of armor, but it is also crucial to wear it correctly on the head. What good is headgear if you are looking through the earhole?

Hard-hats are mandatory headwear for construction and oilfield workers. Why? Head-protectors. A worker would experience severe injury or even death if a heavy object hit the head without a protective headpiece. For Christians, salvation is the head’s protecting helmet, guarding the mind where all thought and decision-making processes begin. Those who are not firmly grounded in the truth that God, our Father, saves by grace and loves unconditionally have minds that can run amuck in the thick of life’s battles.

When you called out to God, and He saved you from your sins, it was a one-time occurrence, and you became His child having eternal salvation. God’s daily salvation from life’s challenges rescues, restores, and protects His children from the enemy who shoots flaming darts that can wound, cripple, and re-direct our walk with the Lord. Being saved by God’s grace (redemption) secures us a home with Him forever. However, while we walk this side of glory, we must live out our salvation daily. Living in spiritual warfare, we must take captive our every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). Knowing who we are in Christ and applying God’s truths in our daily living, by His power, tear down binding strongholds.

Salvation’s helmet protects the truths we process and believe in our minds. Having been washed clean by the blood of Jesus, we are God’s adopted children—Jesus’ brothers and sisters—joint-heirs with Him in God’s kingdom. People without Christ have unprotected thoughts and are easily deceived and bombarded with lies from the enemy. Believers insecure about their salvation experience fall prey to the world’s evils and people who remind them of past mistakes, saying they are not good enough. But as trust in God increases, so will the faith-shield that wards off the enemy’s arrows against the Christian’s salvation helmet, feet that are ready to carry the Gospel message of God’s peace, striving for righteous living, and walking in God's truth.

Tomorrow’s topic is God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit, one of two offensive weapons we have.

Fitted for Battle: Shield of Faith

 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16).

The Roman soldier without a shield faced certain death. Artisans uniquely constructed these shields with materials that protected most of the wearer’s body against arrows and darts, including the fiery ones. Those “darts” were not what we today would throw at a dartboard; they were a javelin-like weapon, dipped in oil and set on fire.

For the Christian, faith is our shield, our faith, and trust in Christ. God says He is our shield when we take refuge in Him (Proverbs 30:5). Our faith in God can extinguish the fiery darts of fear, lies, and accusations of our enemy (and fellow earth-walker). His minions will throw every shameful moment, weakness, and failure at us to make us think we are incompetent, useless, unworthy, unloved, and without hope. He wants to stop us dead in our tracks, defeat us in our Christian walk. Our faith-shield, when worn correctly, can and will extinguish those darts.

Imagine yourself as you face a battle, and your shield is needed. You reach deeply for your faith, take hold of it, and raise it. But are you fully protected? The size of your faith determines the extent of your life’s protection. You risk deathly exposer to the enemy’s cunning tactics if your faith is small, like the size of a book. How do you gain a full-sized body protector? As you continually feed on God’s Word and learn to depend on and trust your Father more, your faith increases. God is your shield. He covers you as much as your faith allows.

Faith believes in God. Faith believes God is and will do what He says He will do without visual proof. Only then will you be able to go forth confidently and victoriously in His name, as His cherished child. Soldier of the Lord, as you grow in faith, your shield’s covering increases. (Tomorrow, the helmet of salvation.)

Fitted for Battle: Shoes of Peace and Readiness

 “Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God. . . and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:13a, 15a)

A soldier’s shoes in biblical days not only protected the feet but the lower leg as well. The shoe was well-fitted, breathable, and the bottom had cleats to keep a firm stance.

Would you choose designer sneakers, those cute three-inch heels, flip-flops, or chunky, not-so-attractive boots to climb a mountain? This question may sound silly, but how often do we begin a new day wearing cute shoes when the chunky ones are needed?

In life, we sometimes face mountain-like issues to climb—days filled with turmoil, fear, discord, stress, discouragement, worry. Events and emotions can knock us off our feet if we are not wearing the correct footwear: the Gospel, the Good News that brings peace. Whether life’s chaos comes from our own making, others, or the adversary of this world, our footing is secure amid the battle with our feet correctly fitted with the Gospel of peace.

Peace is not only an absence of conflict but also an inner peace despite the raging storm about us. It is inner calm, a wholeness, and well-being that only God can bring amid life’s storms. Well-fitted with the Gospel of peace, we have a steady foothold as we readily carry the Gospel message to a lost and dying world.

God’s soldiers’ feet must be sandaled with readiness, an understanding of, and a firm stance in God’s Word to carry His truth willingly and faithfully to others. Are you walking surefooted, or have you settled for something less? The enemy is always watching, waiting, and prepared for opportunities to knock you off your feet. Wear the “chunky shoes,” stand firm in life’s always-raging battle around us. Readily carry the Gospel message wherever you go. (The shield of faith is tomorrow’s topic.)

Fitted for Battle: Breastplate of Righteousness

“. . . And having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an up-right heart)” Ephesians 6:14a.

The soldier’s breastplate protected the vital organs: heart (also referred to as the seat of our emotions and will), kidneys, and lungs.

Life and death hang in the balance; the construction and positioning of your breastplate are crucial. If it is cunningly self-made righteousness, no matter how majestic it looks on the outside, it will not suffice on life’s battlefield. A pretense of right-standing with God will not and cannot extinguish the fiery darts that the enemy will hurl towards you if he considers you a threat to his plan. If you lay righteousness aside to go your way instead of God’s way for a season, you will feel the onslaught of the enemy who is always watching. If the belt of truth does not secure your breastplate, those fiery darts will find their way to cripple you effectively.

We cannot self-produce righteousness. How do we acquire the victor’s character that protects all the vital areas of our lives? God clothes us with Christ’s uprightness when we receive His Son as our Lord and Savior. At that moment, holy, righteous God took up residence within us and wants—expects—His children to live in right-standing with Him. We do that by aligning our thoughts, words, and actions to the truth of His Word. We stand victoriously in battle only because of His righteousness.

Have you stubbornly chosen to go your way in a matter? You may think it is not that big a deal, but it is to God. Scripture compares stubbornness to worshiping idols and rebellion against God’s commands as witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). If you, as God’s child, have stubbornly chosen your way, you have laid your breastplate aside (though righteous God still abides within you). In choosing unrighteousness, you expose yourself to attacks by the enemy of your soul. Where will the accuser, destroyer attack? He will strike the place that will do the most damage: your heart. He will cause a great disturbance in your emotions (shame, guilt, hopelessness, frustration, anger) and manipulate your will (cunningly lure you farther and farther away from God).

If you laid your breastplate aside, pick it up. Ask God for forgiveness; practice right-living and rest in the covering of His righteousness. King Solomon’s advice is to protect, keep watch over your heart above everything else because it governs the direction of your life. (Proverbs 4:23). Tomorrow we’ll see the importance of strapping our feet with the Gospel of peace. 

Fitted for Battle: Belt of Truth

“Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth” Ephesians 6:14a.

Soldiers in biblical days tucked their flowing garments under the band worn around the waist to keep their feet free of entanglement. The belt’s security was crucial as it also held their vital weapons of warfare. In verses eleven and thirteen, Paul instructs the Lord’s soldiers to put on, take unto them the whole armor of God. The band of truth holds the defensive pieces securely, close to the body. What is this truth that holds us? The Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Unless you are secure in Christ and live by God’s principles, you will fall defenseless before the enemy of this world.

God is holy; He hates lies and deceit. According to Proverbs 6:16–19, you lie if you:

Bend or twist the truth

Carefully veil information to hide a deceptive action

“Cover” for someone, so other people will not know the “real” person

Skillfully word a conversation to hide the truth of the matter

Speak “white” lies or half-truths

All humanity, apart from Jesus, has lied during their lifetime. Does this mean God hates us? No, but He hates sin. You miss the mark of God’s perfection if lies and deception are part of your daily routine—no matter how innocent or helpful it seems for you or another. To think we can hide lies and deception from God is futile. That mindset will stunt our walk with Him; we will not flourish, and other people may be affected by the error of our ways as well. The Book of Wisdom instructs us: The person who tries to hide or explain or give excuses for their transgressions will not succeed or have peace of mind. But whoever acknowledges and turns away from them, forsaking them (does not return to them), will experience God’s mercy, forgiveness, and inner peace (Proverbs 28:13–14).

God’s truth should be the very core of our being with the other pieces of armor connected to it. That truth should infiltrate our every thought, word, and action. With the Gospel’s truth at the center of who we are in Christ, personal integrity and moral courage will emerge mightily in our battle against the unseen spiritual forces of wickedness. Tighten your band of truth and stand firm soldiers of the Lord. (Righteousness is the armor-piece subject tomorrow.)

Fitted for Battle

“Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11.

You confirm the secured date on your calendar. Now you prepare for the long-awaited shopping trip, vacation, weekend getaway, cruise, hunting or fishing trip, or holiday just around the corner. How do you plan for such events? Different activities require specific preparations, including a checklist to ensure you don't forget anything. Would you make the necessary arrangements? Sure, you would—if you want a successful event.

The apostle Paul presents the necessity and advantage of wearing God’s armor, the vital equipment for protection and effectiveness as God’s servant. In Ephesians 6:10–18, God’s Word instructs His children how to prepare to overcome the adversary, the enemy of our souls: “Put on the whole armor of God” to stand firm and fortify against the devil's schemes, strategies, and deceits. But before we don God's armor, Paul writes that we must "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might (v. 10). This strength is not gained from body-building workouts. Instead, it's an inner strength that resists the enemy of our souls by depending on the power of God's might, not ours.

You face a one-on-one wrestling match daily, not with people but against that which you cannot see with physical eyes; it is a spiritual battle against the forces of evil in this world (v. 12).

According to Paul, wearing the whole armor of God enables us to stand as victors in this spiritual battle. Why, then, do we often live wounded and defeated lives? Are people not wearing the armor properly? Do we pick and choose which pieces to wear? Are we neglecting to put it on at all? If it is so vital, why do we take it off? Answering these questions may reveal some hidden truths about ourselves. 

Over the next several days, consider the significant role each piece of armor plays in daily life. Are you clothed with God’s armor? If not, why? 

Sticks and Stones

 “. . . Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus . . .” Colossians 3:17.

The adage about sticks, stones, and words appeared as early as the year 1862. One and a half centuries after leaving the author's lips or pen, the phrase is still quoted today.

Sticks and Stones: Ouch! Yes, they do hurt; you know that if you have ever been on the receiving end of a baseball bat swung or flung into the air. Stones—well, that goes without saying; even a small one can cause pain. Ever had one inside your shoe? Sticks and stones can and do cause bodily harm, which may also turn into emotional harm as events lock into your memory bank.

Words (intentional): Bam! You said it, and you meant it. The goal was to inflict pain, doubt, shame, guilt, agony—mission accomplished! You have no intention of apologizing because the receiver of your words deserved them.

Words (unintentional): Oh my! You opened your mouth without realizing “your foot was in it.” Your words stung, caused grief, sorrow, opened old wounds, parted a friendship—if only you could take back what you spoke. You can apologize (and be forgiven), but the damage stays, and both parties carry unerasable memories.

Be careful where you “swing your bat.” Jesus said not to judge others. The standard you use to evaluate others is the one they will use to assess you. We are not to worry about removing the speck or splinter in a friend’s eye (something wrong in their life) when we have a log in ours. First, rid yourself of what’s wrong in your life so you can see clearly to help someone else (Matthew 7:3–5).

Now, about our mouths. David, the great psalmist, penned a solution regarding the words that proceed from the portals of our lips: “Set a watch O, Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). God sets a guard over our mouth before any word is voiced at our request, warning if it is not acceptable. He will not make us say what’s right; that’s a choice we must make. But He is always available to help us rightly speak when we ask. Remember, as God’s children, whatever we do or say, we are the representatives of the Lord Jesus.

 

Down, Down, Down

 “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea. . .” Jonah 1:4.

God gave His prophet a clear directive: Go to Nineveh and announce My judgment against them because of their wickedness. But instead, Jonah fled. Note the downward spiral of his decision (vs. 3–15): he went down to Joppa; he went down into the ship; the men cast him down into the raging sea; a great fish swallowed him (down). Jonah tried to flee God’s presence.

Down, down, down—Jonah kept going “down” because he thought he could run and hide from God. But he could not, just like we cannot. And his rebellious decision didn’t affect only him. The seamen on board the ship, who were not running from God, faced certain death right along with Jonah. His sin entangled and endangered the lives of innocent men.

As the ship quickly filled with water, it was needful to throw all cargo overboard; death was eminent. Jonah knew his actions angered God, and for the men’s safety, they must cast him into the sea. With much reluctance, the sailors put him overboard—the raging sea at once stopped. They were spared, but not without the excessive cost of a damaged ship and lost cargo. However, through this experience, the mariners came to know and worship the one true God.

 Jonah’s rebellion cost him three days and nights in the nasty belly of a fish God prepared. The dank, reminding odor of his sin would not disappear until he repented and was out of the fish. Once he confessed his wrongdoing and stood on dry ground, he went to Nineveh but performed his assignment half-heartedly. He didn’t want Israel’s enemy to escape God’s wrath, but the king and his people repented of their evil ways, and God did not destroy Nineveh. Jonah was displeased that God showed pity towards the Ninevites and would rather die than see God’s mercy extended to them (4:3).

Has God called you to a challenging task, and you ran? Are you in a God-sent-storm because of your running? Who or what in your life are you willing to take down with you in your rebellion: family or friends, finances, innocent bystanders? Are you angry with God when He extends mercy to wrongdoers? Whether inside a fish or not, the stench of sin is present, and only repentance dispels the odor. Though God can bring good from self-induced, harrowing experiences, is stubbornness for your way worth the grief and God’s disfavor towards you? Speaking from personal experience, it is not.

When God Says, "Go"

 “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)

Can you imagine? He had no clue where he was going. God told him to leave his country, leave his kinfolks, leave everything familiar, and take his wife to a land He would show him. “So, Abram departed, as the Lord spoke unto him. . .” In obedience, without questions, he started traveling and trusted God would inform him when he reached the appointed destination.

God’s calling: He calls us to Himself. When we surrender to Him, from that point forward, He has prepared tasks for us to complete before the beginning of time (Ephesians 2:10). There are diverse types of calling in life. Some callings are long-term, even lifetime, while others are temporary. You may feel God’s call to help on a committee, organize a special event, or be a voice for helpless people who need a spokesperson. God calls people to different occupations and tasks. He decides who, when, where, and how long each person serves. Obedience is a vital factor in the success or failure of everyone’s callings. But beware of creating for yourself a calling to your liking (different from volunteering your services), something God never intended. It may bring worldly praise to you but no glory to the One from whom all blessings flow.

After surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Christ, our assignment in life is to proclaim the Gospel message to the world (Matthew 28:19–20). When God calls us to a task or ministry, He has already prepared the way, the people, the resources, the wisdom, the strength for the journey, and the appointment's fulfillment. Our duty is obedience to the call, no matter how grand or insignificant it is—obedience and trust in God, who said, “Go.” 

Although Abram made poor decisions during his travels, God honored his faithfulness and the promised heritage to him and his numberless descendants. When God says, “Go,” would you obey without hesitation like Abram? Blessings await you and others when you do.

When God Says, "Come"

“Thus, did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” (Genesis 6:22)

Think of the most incredible thing God has asked you (or compelled you) to do. Did it make any sense; was it an impossible feat to achieve? What was the outcome of your challenge? How does it compare to Noah’s?

The wickedness of humanity’s sin caused such a grievance to God that He set in motion a plan of destruction—trees, animals, birds, everything—all creation would suffer the consequence of evil humanity. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). There was one man who walked with God, and He would spare Noah’s family because of his faithfulness. God told Noah to build an ark with specific dimensions (three football fields long and three stories high). God’s dedicated servant asked no questions, not even, “What’s an ark, or rain?” or “How can I accomplish such a task?” Not even, “How will I persuade animals to enter the ark?” Noah did everything as God commanded: built the ark, gathered enough food for everyone, brought a male and female of all living creatures on the ark.

At God’s divine timing, He said to Noah, “Come into the ark . . ..” God didn’t tell Noah to go into the ark; He invited Him to enter—He was there, waiting for him. Then God shut the door. None of the scoffers who watched, laughing at Noah and his family work on the ark for over a hundred years, could enter—none of them had turned from their evil ways, even though Noah warned them of the impending destruction. Then it began to rain, and the floodwaters beneath the earth burst forth and filled the land. Everyone and everything outside the ark’s safety perished.

Jesus, Son of God, is our “ark”—our Savior, who preserves us from God’s judgment of sin. We choose whether to accept His gift of salvation by inviting Jesus into our lives or reject His Son. One day each of us will physically die. On that day, you will escape sin’s deadly waters because you are safely in the Ark, spending eternity with your Creator because of His grace or by rejecting Him, perish in your wickedness. Scoffers who never accepted God’s salvation through Jesus face eternal separation from Holy God, the One who invites all people to “Come into the ark.” If you delay your decision and the rain starts, it will be too late to cry for help—God has shut the door. God said, “Come” to Noah, and he went. When God says, “Come” to you, will you enter His safety or choose to drown in your sins? 

RSVP—please respond by accepting God's invitation.

The Third Letter

 “Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.” James 4:6

The centurion pleaded with Jesus to heal his servant, who lay in bed paralyzed and in terrible pain. Jesus agreed to go with the officer, but the officer said he wasn’t worthy for Him to enter his home, believing He could heal by speaking the words. Jesus said He never saw such faith in all of Israel, for him to return home to his healed servant (Matthew 8:8, 10).

The biblical account of the servant’s healing shows how great faith moves God’s heart to action. But faithless, preconceived ideas can rob us of not only blessings but also miracles. God numbered our days on this earth and meticulously planned each one for the best route we should take daily. The problem is sometimes we choose our way instead. What are some results of following our plan? Stress, confusion, unnecessary struggles, heartache, missing miracles—missing God’s best. Why would we discard God’s design, thinking ours is better? One reason is pride.

Another healing account is Naaman’s leprosy. Thinking he was too important and deserved better than to wash in the muddy Jordan River, he almost missed his miracle-healing and would have died a leper. Finally swallowing his pride, Naaman dipped seven times in the murky waters as instructed by Elisha, God’s prophet, and rose from the water healed.

He only thought the words in his heart; I will exalt myself above God, I will be like God (Isaiah 14:13–14). But God heard His angel Lucifer, cast him from heaven, saying his new home would one day be hell. You may be thinking I would never try to rise above God! Really? Have you ever chosen your wants over what you know God spoke to your heart?

Pride. A five-letter word, but the third letter, the “I” in the middle, is the one that sometimes unintentionally says to God, my way is better than yours. Have you missed a miracle, an unexpected blessing, or God’s best for your life because of that third letter? It can quickly happen if we are not consciously looking for and living in God’s wisdom, His nearness, and serving Him to the fullest with other’s needs before ours. But the death sentence for abusing that third letter is to think you are kind and good enough the way you are. You are not; I was not; no one is good enough to spend eternity with God the Father in heaven without Jesus in their life. 

If you have not surrendered to Jesus’ authority, you will miss the most significant life-healing there is: a sinner transformed into a saint by God’s grace through the cleansing blood of His Son. God created hell for Satan and his followers, those who are not part of God’s family. If you have not asked God to cleanse you of your sins and opened your heart’s door to Jesus, don’t delay another second. Swallow the pride that keeps you from His saving grace and eternal life with Him.

Metamorphosis

 “. . . Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Recalling a slow-motion video I watched many years ago, I can still visualize that ugly caterpillar crawling on a leaf. It was doing what its Creator made it to do: hang upside down and engulf itself with a chrysalis (cocoon) and wait. At the appointed time, it struggled in its wrappings and broke free as a new creation, a beautiful butterfly.

The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, unable to righteously live according to His standards on our own (Romans 3:23). Our ugly sin separated us from Holy God, who loves us. But the good news is God sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sin, a debt we could never pay ourselves (John 3:16–17), supplying the way to live according to His standards. When we receive what Jesus did for us, His blood cleanses us from all our sin, and God wraps us in His righteousness.

Unlike the butterfly, for us, there is no waiting time or struggle to free us from wrappings for the metamorphosis; we are at once a new creation: “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (v. 17). This transformation ushers us into God’s family as the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. Unlike the butterfly that lives only a short while, we have eternal life with our Father.

Our changed life is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through the blood of His Son’s sacrifice. As a new creation, He gives us the task as His ambassador to tell others how they can be right with God through Christ. Ambassadorship is a lifetime assignment, ending when He calls us home.

Out of Ink

 “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

You saw the warning—it appeared more than once. There’s still time, you thought; no time to stop now, I will tend to it later, you thought. The same thing happened several times before with plenty of time to spare; so, you went about your business. Facing a crucial deadline now, everything else is put on hold until the document is completed, printed, and presented. The full-color presentation you have been steadily working on is almost ready; you press the “print” key—ah, you can finally relax. But halfway through the process, you received a final warning: Out of ink. “No!” you moaned. One empty cartridge in a color printer causes printing to halt suddenly; even an ink cartridge has “a season and a purpose.” The printing pauses until replacing the empty cartridge, but you didn’t take time to restock your supplies and missed the deadline.

When functioning as an “almost empty cartridge,” you will notice warning signs like irritability, impatience, mediocre performance. To assure you don’t get those messages, refill by spending time with God; His Word offers endless supplies. Although the Holy Spirit lives within born-again-believers, each decides how much space they yield for His filling. When surrendered to His authority, your “printout” will bless others, and spending quality time with Him prepares you for what the day holds. Procrastination towards obedience is a robber of blessings and peace.

There are seasons and times for everything God created: “A time to be born and a time to die” (3:2). God appointed the day of our birth and recorded the day of our death. He reveals Himself to all people in many ways: by His written and proclaimed Word, creation, songs, people, books, road signs—whatever way He chooses. Until you believe and receive His messages, you are like an ink cartridge running out of time, but when “out of ink” happens, it’s too late. Having refused the gift of Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you face a horrible eternal-death. Procrastinating about where you spend eternity may leave you standing before holy God as an empty cartridge, forever separated from God who created you, the Father who loves you.

Farming 101

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous . . .” Hebrews 12:11

Farmers know what, when, and how to do what needs doing for successful harvests; it is a God thing, a talent He lavishes on some people. For example, the farmer knows the right time to plow over a field, even when produce is still standing. A farmer-friend told me this process improves the soil and guarantees successful future crops.

Do you sometimes feel like you are being “plowed over?” The writer of Hebrews under the Holy Spirit's leadership tells us that if God doesn’t discipline you, it means you are not His child (v. 8). God’s discipline is always for our good; He corrects us so we can share in His holiness (v. 10). Do we enjoy chastisement? No, because it is sometimes uncomfortable, embarrassing, even painful. But the passage today concludes with a promise: “But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in the way” (v. 11 NLT).

Impressed by the “arrow-straight” rows, I asked a farmer if there was a reason why the rows were meticulously straight. In my early twenties at the time, I had a mental notepad and pencil ready to record what I expected to be a teachable moment. Instead, he surprised me by saying, “It’s a matter of pride.” He was not referring to an arrogant pride, but This is my livelihood, my field, and I want it to be the best it can be satisfaction in his work. My next question was, “How do you keep the rows so straight?” Without hesitation, he said he focused and drove towards a focal point he set across the field.

Now that was a teachable moment. Life’s distractions lure us off course, and often, we choose an alternate, more exciting route or a more comfortable path that God never intended. Those choices sometimes lead to discipline—because He loves us. But when we keep our eyes on Jesus, plowing through God’s prepared plan for us, our “life-rows” stay straight, and the abundance of fruit we produce brings glory to God’s name and blessings to others and our lives as well. 

Clouded Vision

 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts:” (Psalm 139:23a)

My glasses were forever smudged; no matter how often or thoroughly I cleaned, my vision stayed distorted. I mentioned this dilemma to my optometrist at my regular visit. Because of my comment, my eyes’ examination confirmed his suspicions: I had cataracts, and if I wanted blur-free vision again, cataract surgery was my only choice.

What is it in life that can cloud our vision? Disappointments? Preconceived ideas? Judgments passed on someone because of something we saw or heard? Demands of having our way. Unresolved hurts and conflicts? Betrayals? Just as cataracts slowly form unnoticed, so clouds can slowly roll across our paths, and we are unaware of the haze that distorts everything we see and receive.

I had complete confidence in the surgeon who replaced my damaged lenses. God guiding his hands through the procedure corrected my eyesight, and following the post-surgery instructions assured a successful recovery. Once my eyes were free of cataracts, miraculously, everything was clear again; the fog of which I was unaware no longer dimmed my eyes. Obedience was the crucial factor in my sight’s restoration, but I had to first go to the doctor.

If you are “constantly blinking” or “wiping the lens of your glasses” for a clearer vision of life, go to the doctor, not just any doctor, but The Great Physician. He is trustworthy. Dare to ask God to exam your life: “And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (139:24b). Receive His findings, follow through with His instructions, and notice the clarity of truth and your perspective on life.

Life is Sometimes Messy

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4

Reading through the Book of Proverbs each month for many years, this unusual verse did not escape my reading, but it had escaped my attention and understanding. I never gave it a second thought until God “pulled a string” one morning as I was reading, and the “light bulb” came on. It was one of those “wow” moments. That was twenty years ago.

God used floor grout in our most often used bathroom as a reminder of this verse. The grout grabbed my attention for several days as I entered the room. Why? The slight color variation of the main walk area to that of the less traveled perimeter told me it was time to clean those sandy lines between the tiles due to the room’s foot traffic.

An empty, unused animal stall stays nice and clean, but without oxen, the farmer had no help with his work in the field. The oxen helped meet his daily needs, outweighing the mess they left behind. Some people keep meticulous houses and want them to stay clean and clutter-free, so they seldom invite anyone to visit—a spotless house is more important than meeting others’ needs.

Where there are no people, there is no activity and no mess to clean up. But life is sometimes messy. When we invite or let people in our circle of living, our schedules, resources, nerves—our space in life sometimes gets muddled somewhere along the way. However, we were created for fellowship, serving one another, and sharing the message of Christ. True; if we never allow others to be part of our lives, our “stalls” will stay clean. But of what use is a meticulously kept life if you invite no one or only a select few to share it with you? If you close yourself off to other believers and a lost world, of what use are you to God’s kingdom? Take a good look at your “stable.” Does it show signs of fruitful living, or is it squeaky clean? 

Friendless

 “The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin . . . “(Proverbs 18:24a AMP)

Although there are hermits, who are satisfied living in solitude, God created humanity for companionship and association with other people. Some people are satisfied with calling only one person a friend, while others need multiple friendships to satisfy their longing for camaraderie. If you are searching for a friend, know that others are looking for someone just like you.

The question is, can you have too many friends? According to the passage, it isn’t the number of friends who poses a problem, but the kind of friends you choose. Rushing into gaining friendships quickly without wisdom causes devastating destruction. Being selective is not to be confused with being snobbish, but choosing comrades wisely, as the proverb warns. If friends are not like-minded, problems will occur.

The second half of this proverb says, “But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.” Jesus is our friend, a friend we can depend on, one who will never disappoint, will always understand, and never leave us. You may be thinking, well, of course, Jesus is my friend. But is He? A friend is one with whom we spend time and share our thoughts. Is Jesus your friend? Is He mine?

Friendship and fellowship with other believers are essential to our spiritual well-being, but friends come, and friends go. If you find yourself without friends, we learn Jesus is enough as we mature in the Lord. He is “The Friend” in your life who sticks closer than a brother, the One to turn to first for help and answers—for everything you need. He is trustworthy and will never leave you friendless.

The Bottle's Message

 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Our friend was hesitant to say anything at first as he fixed a cup of coffee, but out of curiosity, he blurted out, “I keep glancing at that bottle; I’ve got to know what it is.” The bottle he referred to was on the beverage tray kept near the coffee pot. Picking up the bottle in question, he laughed and said, “I knew it couldn’t be what it looked like, but I had to know.”

Why did the bottle stir such curiosity? The visitor recognized the “look” of the bottle as one that held a popular, name-brand liquor, but ours had agave (honey). Scripture warns us: “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (v.22). You may be thinking, but agave is not evil. No, it isn’t, and neither are alcoholic beverages unless you abuse the use of them. But what if our visitor didn’t know us well and was unaware of the standards by which we live? If that person thought the same thing about the bottle’s message as our friend but didn’t inquire about the contents, he may have left wondering, this preacher drinks hard liquor?

My agave sweetener now exists in a new container that doesn’t resemble the former. Why? God’s Word says to put all things to the test and cling to those that are good. We should withdraw from any wrong appearance or that which could cause someone to stumble in life (Matthew 18:6). What message does your life container send?

Are You Afraid?

 “Say to them that are of a fearful heart: Be strong, fear not; behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense, He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4

What do you fear? Or more precisely, what do you fear most? Is it your family’s well-being? Job security? Illness? The world’s current condition? The future for yourself and generations that follow? Though these issues are crucial, they should not rob you of peace with God. Shortly before leaving this world, Jesus spoke comforting words to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. Jesus prepared them for His coming cruel death and departure, to not fear what would happen and the days to follow. He speaks the same message today in some form of the phrase, “fear not,” which covers every day of the year, including leap year. God knows; God sees; God provides—God cares. He has not missed nor ignored one event in your life or the world.

Isaiah’s message tells us to stand firm fearlessly, trusting in God to intervene righteously and avenge injustices. As born-again believers, we belong to God. We are His children. His Holy Spirit lives within each of us; He is already with us, so why would He need to “come” to us? When we need saving from life’s adversities, we must cry out to our Savior for daily saving. It is then that He comes to save us, meet and rescue us in our time of need.

Peter stepped out of the boat and bravely walked on the raging waters to meet Jesus on the sea but began sinking when he shifted his gaze from the Maker of the waves and focused on the storm. As he cried out for help, Jesus went to Peter, met him in his need, and saved him. The disciples then worshiped Jesus, acknowledging Him as the Son of God (Matthew 14:22–33). Are you afraid today? This same Jesus will meet you in every storm you face. Be strong; you need not fear. Cry out to your Savior; He is nearby.

As the Wheel Spins

“But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.” Jeremiah 18:4

Remember the days of modeling clay and play dough? What fun we had, squishing the stuff in our hands to soften, making it more pliable for creating masterpieces. Once we completed the piece but didn’t like the outcome, we would smash it down, squish it up, and start over. But remember what happened if you left your unfinished handiwork exposed to the air or sunlight too long? Yep, it hardened—maybe not entirely, but enough that it was not useable to reshape, and you discarded the work.

God instructed Jeremiah to go to the potter’s shop, and He would speak with him there. Jeremiah found the potter busy working at his wheel. Not satisfied with the jar he was making, the potter smashed the clay back into a lump and started over; the clay was still moldable. As Jeremiah watched the potter, God told him to warn all Judah and Jerusalem; they faced destruction if they refused to turn from their evil ways. The people replied they were satisfied with their way of life and would continue following their evil desires.

God wanted His people to stay moldable in His hands, but they stubbornly chose to expose their lives to evil living. By doing so, their hearts of clay became harder and harder. Because of their disobedience, God scattered them before the enemy, refusing to notice their suffering (v. 17).

As a lump of clay spins on the wheel, the potter must apply consistent, equal pressure within and without the object. This technique is vital in forming and strengthening the vessel, preparing it to survive the fire it must endure for useful service. On days you feel hard-pressed within and without, it may be the “Master Potter” at work as He spins you on life’s wheel, preparing you for the “fires” of life you will face, creating a masterpiece for His service. Stay moldable in His hands—that decision is yours to make by yielding to His Son-light-authority in your life. The danger of stubbornly choosing the world's light and your desires over God’s way paves a pathway to becoming an unprepared, easily broken, unusable pile of clay. 

Step Up

 “Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him . . . “(1 Kings 19:19)

Elijah, not questioning God’s message to anoint Elisha as his replacement, hints at his weariness. After Elijah cast his mantle on Elisha as God instructed (indicating Elisha’s call as his assistant and to the prophetic office), the prophet left Elisha to ponder his calling. Elisha took his plow for firewood, roasted his oxen, fed the townspeople, and said his goodbyes. Without the plow and animals, he would never return to farm life. Fully committed to God’s choosing him, he chose to follow God, leaving family, friends, and former life behind and went after Elijah as his assistant-in-training.

Total obedience—that is what God looks and longs for from those He calls for service. The call of God to “step up” in serving Him may come suddenly and unexpectedly. If you feel unworthy or ill-equipped, you are in the perfect posture as a useful tool for God’s work. Questioning the validity of or doubting His call is an indication you think God made a mistake or acted in haste. But God never makes mistakes, and His timing is always right. When His Spirit “is cast” on you, embrace your calling; surrender yourself into the capable hands of the One who knows you. Trust Him. When God calls you to a task, He equips you to carry it out successfully.

Elijah was weary, and at God’s instruction, stepped down. Elisha was unsuspecting yet followed God’s leading and stepped up—both men were obedient. We know from Scripture that even though Elijah faltered, he didn’t die; God carried him by a whirlwind to heaven in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire (2 Kings 2:11)—but, because he has not yet died, we know God is not finished with his service yet. Elijah was gone but left behind his mantle (a type of robe usually worn by prophets, made of skin with hair). Because Elisha saw God take his master to heaven, he received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, just as Elijah said (vs. 9–10). The newly appointed prophet picked up Elijah’s mantle and immediately began fulfilling his calling.

As Elisha plowed the field that morning, the last thing on his mind was that God would appoint him as His prophet. Without hesitation or question, he left everything to answer God’s call. If God unexpectedly called you to a task, would you surrender to Him? Would you be willing to leave behind everything that may keep you from being fully committed? Like Elijah and Elisha, you and I have much to do for the Lord, empowered by His Spirit, if we are willing and obedient.

Step Down

 “It is enough; now O, Lord, take away my life . . . “(1 Kings 19:4)

Elijah not only saw but was directly involved when God sent down fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even “licked up the water” around the altar (v. 38) as hundreds of Baal’s prophets watched. When God’s people saw the miracle, they proclaimed, “The Lord, He is God” (v. 39). The same day, Elijah saw God turn one tiny cloud “like a man’s hand” (v. 44), into a deluge of rain, after years of drought. And the same day, he felt the Almighty’s hand of power and strength on him as he ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot back into the city, many miles away (v. 46).

Elijah experienced three extraordinary miracles within one day. Yet, only minutes after his run, he sat under a tree, asking God to take his life. What caused a mighty, faith-filled man of God to change so drastically? Jezebel, King Ahab’s evil wife, was infuriated after hearing of the event-filled day and sent a messenger to Elijah with news that he would die by the next day for killing their pagan prophets. He ran for his life to Beersheba, the Promised Land’s southernmost area, a place of safety. After a day’s journey into the wilderness, Elijah sat under a shade tree, and it was there he told God it was enough; he could do no more for God’s people.

Fear found a foothold as the evil words of Jezebel pierced Elijah’s heart. The weary warrior forgot the power and faithfulness of God; one sentence sent him into a tailspin so severe that he felt useless, helpless, and welcomed death. Elijah continued his one hundred- and fifty-miles trek to Horeb, God’s mountain. Along the way, God supernaturally supplied rest areas, food, and water for His exhausted servant. Upon reaching mount Horeb, Elijah lodged in a cave, and it was there that God asked him, “What are you doing here?” Elijah answered that he was the only prophet left who served God, and all of Israel wanted him dead. God told Elijah that he was not alone in the battle as he thought; there were still thousands of Israelites faithfully serving Him. Some of God’s words that followed are heart-wrenching. He instructed the mighty prophet to anoint Elisha, who would aid him while in training to one day soon take his place as God’s prophet (v. 16).

When fear speaks to your heart, do you embrace its message? Are you weary of the day-to-day battles? Do you feel like you are alone in the struggle? Have you felt like running away? Are you ready for God to take you home; you cannot go any further? Don’t let fear, weariness, or discouragement rule your life or rob you of your God-given calling. God alone is the judge of who and when someone should step aside for another to fulfill their responsibilities. Satan is the father of all lies and a most effective fear-stirrer, so remember: “Ye are of God little children and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Eyewash

 “. . . And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 25:8)

Men, women, and children do it—we cry. An eyelash or foreign particle in the eye, grief, allergies, hurtful words, a joyous moment—we cannot escape tears. Yet, tears are helpful. Every time we blink, tears moisten the eye, and that lubrication helps us see more clearly. Crying also keeps the eyes clean and free of bacteria. Using artificial tears as an eyewash substitute is okay, but natural tears are by far more effective, for they can also “wash the soul.”

Sometimes our emotional state dictates when tears flow, and even though it doesn’t seem to at the time, crying releases different chemicals, making one feel better. G. Gensen wrote the song: Tears are a Language—God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul and hears them fall. He understands what caused the pain and is always nearby to help. Ira F. Stanphill wrote the lyrics to He Washed My Eyes With Tears—a broken heart exposes fears and pride to which we are sometimes blind; brokenness reveals God’s glory and the greatness of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.

Shedding tears occasionally arouse a thoughtful spiritual self-check-up. They are beneficial, but one day God will wipe them all away because we will no longer need them.