Unanswered Prayers

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. PS 84:11

Today I am so thankful God doesn’t give me everything I ask for but only that which is good and right, according to His holy will. For he has promised no good thing will he withhold from me.  

Condemnation

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Rom 8:1

WOW! What a privilege! What a comfort! According to the law there is much for which I am guilty before God. But the accusations are thrown out and the indictment quashed because Christ perfectly satisfied the law for me. Although the disturbing and vexing sin that remains in me continues to wage war against the Spirit it does not ruin me. Christ is my protector and avenger and has freed me from the guilt (condemnation) and power of sin.

I know these wonderful truths and believe them with all my heart. So why does the condemnation of others weigh so heavy on me? Why do I let their opinions, expectations and disapproval disrupt my peace? Why has my soul become so disturbed within me?  It is because their love, acceptance and approval have become idols of my heart!  When the good desire to be loved and accepted by others – my parents, spouse, children, friends, employer, etc. is elevated to a demand, a must have, or an I can’t live without it, it’s an idol. When the good desire to be accepted and not condemned becomes all consuming and is more important to me than being loved and accepted by God, it’s an idol. And when this good desire becomes an idol it causes anxiety, restlessness, and anger; it robs me of the peace for which I long.

So to get back to the joy, peace and comfort of knowing that there is no condemnation for me because I am in Christ I begin with praising God for all He has done for me in Christ. I meditate on His goodness, love and faithfulness which lead me to repentance. I confess my lack of faith and unbelief and that my heart is an idol factory.  I pray for grace - grace that cleanses and pardons all sin; grace to worship Him as the only one true and living God; grace to fear Him and not man; grace to find my hope, joy, peace and comfort in Him; grace so that when others hurt me with their condemnation (and they will) I do not despair. 

O Father, may your children be so rooted and grounded in your love and acceptance of us through Christ that when condemnation comes our faith is not shaken and our peace is not disturbed.  In our situations and relationships where there is condemnation pour out your healing grace that we might be built-up and encourage with the truth of the Gospel. Teach us to FEAR you so that we can need people less and love them more.   

I am so thankful for the Biblical teaching on idols of the heart in  Peacmaking Women by Tara Barthel  and When People are Big and God is Small by Edward Welch.

Sabbath Rest and Tolkien

“J.R.R. Tolkien gives one of the most entrancing descriptions of the true nature of Sabbath. In book 1 of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, He describes a time of rest and healing in the house of Elrond in Rivendell. The hobbits, along with strider, their guide, have made a dangerous, almost fatal journey to this place. They will soon have to make an even more dangerous, almost certainly fatal journey away from this place. But in the meantime, this:

“For a while the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journey and of the perils that lay ahead: but such was the virtue of the land of Rivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds. The future, good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have power over the Present. Health and hope grew strong in them and they were content with each day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song.”

The future, good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have power over the present. That’s Sabbath!”    From Mark Buchanan’s book “The Rest of God”

Oh Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit may health and hope grow strong in us and by your grace may we take pleasure in today and not fear tomorrow. Grow our faith that we might have Sabbath rest.  

Sabbath Rest

“Real Sabbath, the kind that empties and fills us, depends on complete confidence and trust. And confidence and trust like that are rooted in the deep conviction that God is good and God is Sovereign.”  Mark Buchanan

The practice of applying the sovereignty of God to all situations is what enables us to experience physical, mental and spiritual rest.  It seems as though when we rehearse our problems over and over in our minds, anticipating what might happen the problems grow and take on a life of their own. But when we rehearse God’s greatness and remember who He is and all He has done for us in Christ the problems shrink to their right portion.

So as I pray for rain and for the political issues of our nation I begin by remembering “God has established His throne in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all.” Ps 103 and “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love.” Ps 62 and hope begins to grow, and rest begins to seep in and I am emptied of self and filled with God by the power of the Holy Spirit.    

I hope and pray you are enjoying real Sabbath Rest today.

Has the Gospel Christianized your home?

(From Octavius Winslow's, "The Desire to See Jesus")


It is impossible to love Jesus ardently, to
behold Him spiritually, and to study Him
closely, and not be molded, in some degree,
into His lovely likeness!

Has the Gospel of Jesus made your temper
milder, your heart purer, your life holier?

Has it softened your churlishness (Rude in a mean-spirited way), subdued
your moroseness, sweetened your disposition,
rendering you more attractable, admired, and
loved?

Has it converted your penuriousness(stinginess) into liberality,
your pride into humility, your selfishness into
generosity, your love of ease and sloth into


Has the Gospel Christianized your home?


O remember that the Gospel of Jesus has
done but little for us if it has not done this!