Category: Dependence

Be Still

9/30/2014

"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.

The power of these verses is not simply in what it says but also where it lies in the context of the verses around it. Psalm 46 is a very tumultuous Psalm. It begins with a declaration not to be afraid though the very earth around us is melting and the mountains fall into the sea. Quite the unnerving scenario. It goes on to describe nations raging, entire kingdoms being displaced, war, and desolation. Yet in the midst of this turmoil is the admonition for us to "Be still". Literally the Hebrew word used here, "rapha", means to relax and let go; to release our need to control the world around us; to cease our struggle to have everything our way; to surrender our hold on the things of this earth. In the midst of a world wildly out of control, what security can we possibly find that would bring peace to our chaos? The knowledge that God is still God. The awareness that, despite the way circumstances may appear, He knows exactly what He is doing. Nothing has caught Him off guard, nor is He intimidated by unfolding events around us. We rest in the knowledge that the Almighty King of the Universe has ways that we don't need to understand. The creator of all that exists knows His own plans and is under no obligation to explain His actions to us. He simply says, "Be still and trust me." When all is said and done, the fact that He will still be God is more certain than the sun rising tomorrow. Regardless what happens, He will be exalted among the nations, and He will be exalted in the earth. And why is this knowledge supposed to calm our hearts? The answer lies in verse 11. This same God, "the Lord of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge."

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The Struggle Of Prayer: Crying Out

9/29/2014

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We care too much how we appear to become desperate enough to cry out.

“…The Bible makes a distinction between ‘prayer’ and ‘crying out to God.’…What I have noticed…is that He will arrange or allow circumstances to arise that have no solution – and then do nothing to remove the problem. Until I cry out. And not one second sooner!” – Bill Gothard (The Power of Crying Out)

When my son, Nathan, was about 4 years old, I lost sight of him in a department store one day. After realizing he was not in any of the surrounding isles, I became frantic and loudly began to call his name. The longer I went without finding him the louder and more intense my cries became. Eventually I reached a point where I didn’t care about the scene I was making or what others thought of me. I knew I had to find my son!

Crying out comes from a place of desperation where we no longer care about our appearance, protocol, or dignity. I've often heard people say, "I'm just not a vocal person." or "That's just not my personality." The fact is, crying out in prayer has nothing to do with our disposition, personality or preference, and everything to do with the passion of our heart to see God move. It requires a total abandonment of our pride and self-sufficiency. A person who cries out to God is one who realizes the hopelessness of their situation without Him and is desperate enough to not care what others think, or how uncomfortable their cry makes those around them feel. This is the prayer of utter dependence on the One who can act on our behalf and the realization of utter despondence if He chooses not to do so.

Such a prayer renders the right words unnecessary. Romans 8:26 speaks of a condition of desperation in prayer where we do not even know how to pray and all we can do is groan. It is in that wordless groaning that our spirit and God’s Spirit unite and He takes over translating what we cannot verbalize. This agony of the soul gives birth to prayer that moves the heart of God and carries with it the promise of His presence. Isaiah 58:9 promises: “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'" Consistent throughout scripture is the fact that whenever God’s people found themselves in overwhelming circumstances, facing impossible obstacles, and were moved to cry out to God in despair, the Lord heard and acted on their behalf. Repeatedly He drew them back to Himself through their troubles and interceded in their situation when they cried out.

Often the Lord allows our hardships and trials for the express purpose of crushing our pride and stoking our desperation until we will get our eyes off of our circumstances and on to Him, and cry out. Do you find yourself in a struggle that is over your head? Know this: your desperation for God must exceed your frustration over your situation. When you reach this point and you find yourself at a loss for words, with no clue what to do, let your cry arise from your heart to His throne and watch what He does. You will find that God was not refusing to act, He was just waiting for you to get out of His way.

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I'm In

9/27/2014

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There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1 NKJV)

Imagine that I wanted to send a friend a book, then decided to write him a note on a small piece of paper as well. I wanted to be sure that he got them both so I put the note inside the book. Though they are separate items, I wouldn't have to mail them seperately. I would simply need to mail the book. Because the note is in the book, it goes where the book goes. Spiritially speaking, this is what it means to be "in Christ". When by faith, I surrender my life to Him, and trust Him for forgiveness, God places me "in Christ". I no longer have to strive for God's favor; I have it because Jesus has it. I no longer have to strive to be holy; I am holy because HE is holy. I simply remain in Him and all the benefits, blessings, resources, power and love that are His are now mine. This understanding explains why Jesus put such an emphasis on abiding in Him in John 15:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:4-11 NKJV)

When we abide in Him our Christian life lives itself. God no longer demands perfection from us because He has included us in His son who is perfect. Does this release me from living a holy life? Absolutley not. Rather, it enables Christ's holiness to surround, flow through and be reflected in my life. My focus then becomes abiding, not striving. He died to sin, therefore, because I am in Him, I am dead to sin as well. He lives in righteousness, therefore, because I am in Him, I live in righteousness as well. This truth motivated the Apostle Paul's revelatory proclaimation in Galations 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Are you abiding? I hope so. It's the only way to live.

"Lord, I abide in You today. I rest in Your favor, acceptance, and redemption. Because I am in You, I will live in Your life, love with Your love, and walk in Your power. Strengthen my faith and let my patterns, thoughts and actions reflect this truth today. Thank You for including me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

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Author: Chet Todd

Hello, I'm Chet. From the time I was a child I knew God had called me to preach and teach. My prayer is that God will use me to help others grow closer to Him.

Be Still

The Struggle Of Prayer: Crying Out

I'm In

Author: Chet Todd

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