Moving Us Along

God controls how people feel toward us

John Piper

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them and that you may know that I am the LORD." Exodus 10:1-3

What an interesting statement to ponder.  I saw that statement from John Piper as a Tweet on Twitter and it got my heart and a mind a stirring.  

So, how do you feel about this statement that "God controls how people feel about you"?  What is the feeling or nudge that arises in your heart when you hear that?  Be a good Berean and search God's Word. 


I know my initial response was, "well, I don't like that Lord nor do I know if I agree with that statement".  But as I pondered and looked into the Word, I began to meditate and think upon on this passage in Exodus.

That statement by John Piper began to draw up all sorts of questions in my heart.

So, what does John Piper mean? What does God's Word say?

Scripture is very clear that we have an adversary that prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour. It also tells us that the enemy comes to seek, kill, and destroy. 


"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8


"The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  John 10:10


Satan hates man (you and I) because man (yes, you and I) are highly favored with God. Not because man (you or I) deserve it, but because Jesus gave His life to redeem man (you and I).  This is what Easter is all about.  A Divine exchange.  Jesus' life for yours.  And for mine.

When we repent of our ways and ask Jesus into our hearts, Jesus takes us from one kingdom and brings us into another (His).  And we become sons and daughters, heirs and co-heirs.


"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."  Romans 8:16-18

But, I would say it is safe to say that at times, in the Word there are incidences, like this one with Moses and Pharaoh where God strategically hardens hearts.

Here, God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that the Israelites could be set free and the world would know it was GOD ALONE who did it.  God wanted to be seen and to be known in the miracles taking place. God wanted to reveal who He was in the light all the counterfeit gods of Egypt.  God wanted to reveal He was LORD.

So, God does allow the hardening of hearts in some incidents in order to bring about His purposes in the earth.  Why?  Exodus 10:1-3 tells us.  So that our children and our grandchildren will know He is LORD.

A short while back, someone was telling a story of time when he was pastoring a church.  Late one night, all the elders of that church invited him to a meeting. They did not tell him what the meeting was about. They asked him to come to a meeting at a coffee house at 10 pm at night.  When he went to the meeting, he was fired.  He was not told why, nor given explanation. For a while, his heart was filled with anger, offense and bitterness at how they went about letting him go from his pastoral assignment.  He was a man who deeply loved God and loved his flock.  He could not understand nor see God's plan or intentions through it all.

He shared when he was processing this traumatic event with the Lord (seeking to forgive these men), the Lord reminded him how he had been calling and asking him to start building a para-church teaching ministry and yet he had not had the courage to move into that. To step into that would of required a faith he did not have at the time.

Well, this event catapulted this man into his calling. He was forced to begin to develop his teaching material and his heart for ministry, and do what God had created him to do.  Now he speaks all over the world to thousands and thousands of people on the topic of prayer.

I would say, this was one of those Divine moments where God hardened the hearts of those elders in order that God's will might be accomplished in the earth.  Now, I am not saying this is what happened with this man, only God knows that.   

But this story of my friend does comes to mind as I meditate on this passage above in Exodus.  God has His way of doing things and moving us along, that are usually NOT the way we would do things.  

What we think would be best, often times are not even second best on God's list. His dreams for us entail even more than we could ever imagine. 

I don't think this man's ultimate call was to pastor a flock of a few hundred, it was to literally teach thousands of people around the world how to pray.


God had to harden some hearts in order to move this man along in his calling.

God's ways are not our ways.  His way, although sometimes more difficult, is always the best way.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.  Isaiah 55:8

Lord, thank you for your word today.  Thank you Lord, that in certain times, you harden people's hearts in order for your will to be accomplished.  Help us to understand how your goodness, your mercy and your grace are always at the center of your heart and all that you do.  You can do nothing apart from love, for love is who you are.  You are love.  Thank you Lord for moving us along in the way that you believe is best.  We love you Jesus.  In your name we pray, Amen.

One Another

Are you so foolish? 

After beginning with the Spirit...

are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?  

Galatians 3:3

Oh Lord.  We need you and the help of your Spirit. Help us to grow in the fruit of your Spirit and to live in obedience to your Word.  Help us with those grace growers in our lives and to love as you love.  Forgive us where we struggle and wash the shame off of us when we fail.  Continue to bring forth fresh revelation of your grace and the work of your cross.  Let us live the Easter message 24/7, 365 days a year.  Let us continue to be a messengers of grace. Always. And to everyone.

Accept One Another

"So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified."  Romans 15:7 NLT

Admonish One Another

"Let the words of Christ (God’s Word), in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."  Colossians 3:16 NLT

Agree with One Another

"Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose." 1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

Bear with One Another

"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love."  Ephesians 4:2 NLT

"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." Colossians 3:13 NLT

Be Devoted to One Another

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."  Romans 12:10 NLT

Encourage One Another

"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

"You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God."   Hebrews 3:13 NLT

Forgive One Another

"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Live in Harmony with One Another

"Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people.  And don't think you know it all!"  Romans 12:16 NLT

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."  1 Peter 3:8 NLT

Offer Hospitality to One Another

"Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay."  1 Peter 4:9 NLT

Stop Judging One Another

"So don't condemn each other anymore. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path."  Romans 14:13 NLT

Serve One Another

"For you have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love."  Galatians 5:13 NLT

Do Not Slander One Another

"Don't speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God's law. But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it."  James 4:11 NLT

Submit to One Another

"And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."  Ephesians 5:21 NLT

Love One Another

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."  John 13:35 NLT

"Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts."   1 Peter 1:22 NLT

"This is the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one another."  1 John 3:11 NLT

"And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us."  1 John 3:23 NLT

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God."  1 John 4:7 NLT

Love One Another (Your Enemies)

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  Matthew 5:44 NIV

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you."   Luke 6:27 NIV

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."  Luke 6:35 NIV

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody."  Romans 12:17 NIV

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."  1 Peter 3:9 NIV

Blow on a Certain Trumpet

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet. - Theodore M. Hesburgh

"Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish".  Proverbs 29:18 

Oh Lord, the cry of my heart in this season is for your leaders to arise and become agents of change in this world.  Lord, if people are uncertain in the trumpet they are sounding, no one will come to know the truth of Jesus Christ, nor understand their mission in the earth.  God, would you hear the cry of my heart, and begin to bring about a birthing place for leaders to be developed, trained, empowered and released to be agents of change in this world.  Let the trumpet of your grace resound in the church, in the marketplace, and in our communities.  Let light permeate the dark places.

Focus on God

Focus on God and refuse to let the enemy dictate reality to you.  God is in control of your life unless you are controlling it, or you decide to give it to the enemy.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  James 4:7

Throw Off What Entangles Us

I read a Tweet on Twitter today, that prompted an amazing quiet time with the Lord this morning. The question on Twitter was, “what is most important to you about the book of Hebrews”?


Immediately my mind went to Hebrews 12, verses one and two and I was overcome with thankfulness. I started pondering the years of bondage that I walked in, and the tremendous freedom that the power of Easter has brought to me.


“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2


So often, I can run through life and I forget to stop and thank God for all the blessings He has poured out on me. Not just the physical blessings but the spiritual ones as well.


As this question hit my heart with such force, I repented immediately to the Lord for my dwindling gratitude for the tremendous freedom He has brought to my life and my lack of gratitude for Easter that is coming soon.


“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14


From the time I was little, the enemy was setting up a plan to destroy me and he just about did. But God in His infinite mercy and grace, heard my prayers, and began to set my feet upon a solid rock. Jesus.


As I pondered this passage in Hebrews and as I think upon Easter which is coming up soon, my heart grieves at how consumed by self I can become. I think about how in a few weeks, most of the world will be tuned into “Easter”. Their antenna’s will be up, maybe not fully looking for Him - but they will be up! And although many people will be thinking Easter eggs hunts and chocolate bunnies, we have a chance as Christians to use this time to share who God is in our lives. To invite people into an intimate relationship with the one who created them.


We have a chance, no matter how big or how small it might be, to be a beacon of hope to others. This is the time when the world will be dialed in to the topic of Easter and as Christians we have an opportunity to sound the trumpet of truth; the grace of Jesus Christ. The power of what happened on that Easter Sunday, over 2000 years ago is still alive today.


As Easter approaches, I find a new prayer arising in my heart. A prayer to become less religious and for God to give me a language and a way of connecting with others who do not know God. A way of being able to share with them the truth of who Jesus is in a way that their heart can come to know Him. One that is real and genuine. Authentic and transparent.


The truth that they are deeply loved no matter what they are walking through, or what they have done. Nothing is so bad that His love can not reach them and cover it.


I am asking God to make me a messenger of His grace. Of His infinite mercy. Of His abounding and astonishing love.


The world seems to be getting darker, not brighter. And as it gets darker, my prayer is I would become brighter. That I would not be afraid to shine the light of Jesus, so that others might know Him. I pray I would hold up the light, as high as possible in Him, so others can come and drink of the living water.


Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10


My prayer this Easter is that I would continue to throw off EVERYTHING that entangles me and run the race for the sake of others. The world needs Jesus, and we need to become servants and witnesses of the gospel of grace and the power of the cross. Let’s carry Easter to others.


Lord,


Oh forgive me for my lazy heart, and my heart that has not been overflowing with gratitude for all you have done for me. Lord, forgive me for my lack of thankfulness. Not only for your saving work in my life, but the work of freedom you have done in me. Thank you Lord for throwing off the sin that has entangled me, the cords of death that were around me (Ps 18), so that I could be free to communicate your love with a lost and hurting world.


Lord, help me and empower me to share the message of Easter with those who need to hear it. Lord, just as I needed your grace back then, I need your grace to sustain me in each moment. To represent you well to others. Lord, empower me to do what you’ve called me to do (Acts 26:16-17).


“Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:16-17


In Jesus’ name I pray, 
Amen

Be Still and Know God

I am sitting here and the house is absolutely silent.  I can hear the wind blowing outside, the rain hitting the windows, the wind chimes singing, and the dryer tumbling clothes.  Solitude and silence, in the presence of God and His Word, absolutely re-charges me.  There is nothing I enjoy more, than to be still before Him.

"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

Although, I never use to be like this. I remember how I always had like an ADD heart.  I was always being distracted by life and things to do, and inner peace was something I never had.  My mind and my heart were always busy - thinking and doing.   My heart was distracted with the outside forces of life.

To be still with myself and with God was something I avoided at all costs.  My relationship with God was filled with a lot of tasks and to-do’s.   

As I ponder this topic today, I think the shame and self-hatred were so huge for me back then, that I feared if I really slowed down on the inside of my heart, God might see what was really there.  I feared Jesus would see me and he would not want anything to do with me.  I feared rejection and shame.   I feared He would not like me nor love what He saw.  Oh, what a lie.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

I remember my first silent retreat I did in 2002.  I attended my first Sabbath retreat down at the San Francisco Theological Seminary.  It was an eight day silent retreat where for eight whole and VERY long days - you were not allowed to talk to others (except in a few spiritual direction meetings).  

You were not allowed to put worship music on or read books to distract you.  Absolute silence and stillness were required.   I had never silenced my tongue like that before, much less my heart or my body.  It was like taking my whole body, mind, soul and spirit from running at 1,000 mph down to 2 mph.  What a trip and experience that was!  I never knew inner peace.  Yet, God was about to show me how to begin living a life of peace.

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”  Isaiah 26:3

When I signed up for the retreat, I thought it would be fun.  FUN?! Although what I encountered at this retreat was both intensely disturbing and absolutely freeing.  

My journey towards freedom began at this retreat because I realized what God is most after.  What God is most after is our hearts and connecting with us in our inner man.

There was a battle for my heart and for me to never come to the realization that God is found in stillness.  

He is found in the command, “be still”.  

It was here, in the stillness of my heart that I became very real, raw, tender, vulnerable, and transparent before a loving God.  I remember it took me at least three days for my heart and mind to slow down from all the distractions, cares, worries and concerns of life that had engulfed my heart.  

But as soon as all those distractions began to fade away, my heart came to the forefront, and I began to stand in the presence of a Holy and yet Loving God.  I began to know Him more fully.  His Word came more and more alive and the revelation of who Christ is, came forth in deeper dimensions.

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”  Phil 3:8

It was here, that the Lord began to call me to come away and to talk with Him.  To connect with Him in the depths of my heart.

“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming'".  Psalm 27:8

It was in these moments of silence and solitude, and reading the Word, that God began to teach me more about Himself and about the power of what happens when we still ourselves before Him.  It is the power to know our God and to be in a personal relationship with our creator.  

Stillness is not an outward condition of our bodies, it is an inward attitude of the heart.  It is in this stillness and quietness of our hearts where God will meet us.

This afternoon, as I wait for my sons to arrive home from school, I am contemplating this gift.  The gift of stillness and of silence.  For in the silence and solitude of our hearts - we can find God and come to know Him.  

"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

God is aching and desiring for us to slow down our busy lives, the lives within the walls of our own hearts to encounter a loving God.  He wants to touch us, hold us, and love us.

So often, we run through life so fast, and we say our quick prayers to God, and we even offer up our love, and yet - we never slow down long enough for Him to embrace us and love us.  For Him to speak to us and sing His songs of delight over us.

"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.”  Hosea 2:15

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

Scripture tells us to love God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, and to love others as we love ourselves.  If we want the world to know the love of God, and to know Jesus, we must first be carriers of that revelation ourselves.  We must know the truth first, before we can be witnesses of this love.

“He answered:  'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "  Luke 10:27

I encourage you today if you have never tried stillness, or silence, to set aside a time to be quiet before God.  No books, no music, no journals, nothing but you, your heart, your Bible and God.  I won’t recommend eight days as your first trial run. But try an hour or two.  Or maybe a day away.  But do offer some time up to the Lord, to be still...and see what He reveals to you about Himself.  He is so worth the find.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for you and for the gift of solitude.  Thank you that we can be still and know you.  Thank you that through the death of your son Jesus, we can have an intimate and powerful relationship with the God who created the heavens and the earth.  Lord, help us today to be still before You.  Give us a hunger for your Word.  Let it be a lamp unto our feet, leading us in all we do.  We love you Jesus.  Help us to more fully receive your love and be transformed by you!  In Jesus name, Amen.

When There Are No Words, Pray

Today, I can’t even find the words to write a blog.  My heart just wants to pray.  My heart is heavy, aching, and in prayer for some friends of mine who are trying to find even a glimmer of light in some very dark circumstances.   

Lord, I pray that you would intersect their lives today. Let this prayer - bring forth the glimmer of light they need to sustain them in each moment.

Lord, 

• Where there is faithlessness, bring faithfulness.
• Where there is darkness, bring your light.
• Where there is depression, bring your joy.
• Where there are suicidal thoughts, bring the power of your resurrected life.
• Where there is pain, bring your comfort.
• Where there is rejection and abandonment, bring your presence.
• Where there is hatred, bring your love.
• Where there is cursing, bring your blessing.
• Where there is deceit, bring forth your truth.
• Where there is self-hatred and shame, bring forth your perfect love.
• Where there is unforgiveness, bring forth your forgiveness.
• Where there is failure, bring forth grace.
• Where there is sin, bring forth mercy.

Lord, move on behalf of those who are hurting.

• Hear the cries of their hearts.
• Have compassion on the broken-hearted.
• Heal the fragile hearts.
• Hear their cries.
• Walk through their walls of self-protection.
• Remove the layers of lies, the deceit, and the word curses.

Lord, your word says life and death are in the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)

• Remove the words that are bringing death.
• Let new life emerge.
• You make all things new.
• Let them see you.  
• Let them know you exist. 
• Let them know your love which is better than life! 
• Let them give praise to you!

Come to them Jesus.

Come and be their salvation.

Come, on the clouds and bring your deliverance! (Psalm 18).

In Jesus’ name,

AMEN