Pain, Pride, and Priorites

For the past couple of months I have been dealing with severe lower back pain.  The kind of pain that won’t let you sit, stand, move, or sleep without constantly reminding you it’s there.  I knew I needed to go to the chiropractor, but I stubbornly put it off. I made excuses as to why I didn’t really need to go and foolishly spent way too much time combing the internet for ways I could treat myself at home. Time after time, Tyler would gently encourage me to just go to the chiropractor, but I would not heed his clearly superior advice. And so, I remained in pain . . . which just got worse.  Finally, about a week ago, I listened to Tyler’s urging and made an appointment for the next day.  

At the risk of sounding overdramatic, words cannot accurately express what relief I found by finally going to my chiropractor.  Seriously.  I was able to sleep through the night for the first time in weeks.  I could sit and stand without moaning or grimacing.  When I went in for a follow up appointment, my chiropractor asked me, “Why did you wait so long to come in?  You knew this was the only way you’d feel better.  Why did you wait?”  

Her words made me think . . . not just about my back pain but also about my faith and walk with the Lord.  How often have I been in a situation where I am struggling — with a sin, with a conflict, with an attitude, with a difficulty, with feeling dry in my soul — and yet I delay and, in many cases, refuse to go to the Source of relief & comfort?  To my chagrin, I must admit that it is too often.  And why would I wait? Especially when this is what I can find . . . 

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

Phil. 4:6,7 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 18:10 - “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”

For me, I have found that the answer to why I delay to seek the Lord in His Word and in prayer is ultimately rooted in pride.  I think I know better.  I don’t feel like running to the Lord and scripture because I know I will have to submit to Him and His truth.  I foolishly listen to my feelings that it will be easier if I just keep plugging along in my current state.  Like I said, good ol’ fashioned pride.  

All too often pride keeps us from being able to partake in the joy of resting in Christ.  It prevents me from the blessedness that comes from submitting to God’s will.  Seeking Him, knowing Him, and communing with Him is one of the things that Paul tells us is God’s will for our lives.  

Romans 12:2 - “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

How else can I renew my mind than by pursuing the Lord in His Word and in prayer? It grieves me when I realize how I have failed to keep time with the Lord as a priority because I know that regardless of how busy you or I may be, we always make time for the things we want to do.  Always.  

I know how easy it is to become distracted, burdened, and busied by so many other things.  If I am not careful and vigilant I let those things (some of them very good in and of themselves) slowly take over my focus and become much weightier in my priorities.  God is crowded out, and I am left dry in my soul and ineffective for the kingdom.  

My pride will tell me I can make do or even thrive if continue on in this way, but that is nothing but a lie.  I have been reminded yet again how desperately I need my God and His precious Word.   It isn’t just that He must have 1st place . . . He must have preeminence in everything I do.  Seeking the Lord isn’t just something I do with my Bible and a cup of coffee each morning.  Seeking Him must be part of all that I do.  

I encourage you to take some time this week and consider if pride or misplaced priorities are keeping you from knowing our great God as intimately as He desires us to.  I know I am, and I ask that you keep me in your prayers! 

Much love and God bless!

Elisabeth 

Unmet Expectations and the Goodness of God

We all have expectations. Each day we wake up we have an expectation of how that day is going to go (whether big or small) and yet every day we face unmet expectations. The past few months the Lord has been teaching me that in spite of my expectations, God is the one who determines my path… and is to be trusted. That path isn’t always easy.  In fact, sometimes it’s really hard.  Sinners that we are, we too often focus on our desires outside of Him. Here’s a confession: It is impossible to be content with anything if focused on earthly desires and not on the God who gives grace. In fact when we realize that those are the only options, the circumstances of life show us where our desires are truly rooted! We must not find contentment in our circumstances and we must have faith in God who has allowed us to go through whatever we are facing.

Have you ever caught yourself saying, “IF ONLY__________then I would be happy”? Many times we think that if our circumstances were different then we would be happy or content. However, this is sinful thinking and will lead us down a path of wrong thinking that will make us discontent. When we ask the “what if’s”, we are not trusting God and allowing ourselves to think rightly about Him.  We know we will all face trials and afflictions in this life.  Yet many times they come as a surprise to us. Why is this? Well, our expectations of how we thought life was meant to be have been overturned.  We love and cherish our thoughts and ideas about how we see our life above that of the infinite mind of God.  As believers, we shouldn’t be surprised when we face trials.  Even when the unexpected takes us by surprise, we must trust that God’s sovereign plan has allowed it in our lives for good.  Why?  Because ultimately, it’s not about us and what our flesh craves.  It’s about bringing glory to Jesus Christ by trusting in the grace only He provides.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him… For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from heart or grieve the children of men." (Lamentations 3:22-25;31-33)

“All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Ps. 25:10)

What a good and loving God we serve that He is faithful to keep His promises to us and that He has compassion on us!! I am a sinner who has already been given more than I deserve, which is Christ who took my sin and declared me righteous that I might have eternal life with Him!! The Lord will not disappoint us if we put our hope and trust in Him.  I can say that I am so thankful for the trials the Lord has allowed in my life because through them they have grown me closer to Him and have caused me to realize how sinful my heart really is and my need of Christ. I pray that I would set my expectations and hope in Christ and trust Him that He will direct my steps.

I would encourage you to take some time to think about what expectations you might have and ask God to show you through His Word if these are right. Whatever circumstances the Lord is allowing in your life right now are to grow you and make you more like Him. We have to cling to the Lord and place our hope in Him and trust that He is good.  I pray that we can “count it all joy when we face trials of various kinds, for we know that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

Hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Brooke

A Heart of Submission and Prayer

Lately my heart has been so thankful for God’s design of submission. And that through His Son, I can learn to be submissive in the most impactful ways that glorify Him to the up-most. Before the Lord so graciously saved me, I viewed submission in all the wrong ways. I thought of it as a demeaning term and that it was something I had to do because it was “right” or because my guy friends told me I needed to do it ‘cause I was a girl. You can imagine my attitude towards submission then as an enemy of God. But through God’s grace He changed the way that I viewed and lived out this term. He caused me to realize the great privilege I have in learning what it means to submit to the glory of Himself with all my “…heart, soul, mind, and strength.” (Matthew 22:37) I’ve experienced the joy that comes when I submit my will to the Father’s. Learning to trust in Him in the day to day circumstances excites my heart to further serve the Lord. Sometimes submission isn't always the easiest thing to do or even what I want to do when my flesh fights it, but as a woman of God it is something I must learn to do in the hardest of times.

In the past few weeks the Lord has granted me an incredible, wonderful new avenue for me to learn submission. Just when I thought I had a good handle on it, God had a new challenge for me and knew the need for me to learn still. I honestly never thought I could learn so much in such a short period of time, but through marriage God has continued to open my eyes to my daily need for Him in order to submit and serve Him and my husband the way I am called to. When I fully submit to my husband I am ultimately submitting to the Lord. Learning to humbly serve the Lord as a single person has just continued into the relationship I have with my husband.  How thankful I am for this area where I can continue to be challenged to grow!

Submission has also made me incredibly aware of the need for prayer and the importance of it in my life. Apart from the well-known scriptural calls to prayer, there are really two great human reasons, I've learned, why we ought to pray. One because of the fact that prayer is the source of power for growth and perseverance in our spiritual lives. How am I to know how to best serve and love my husband, others, and my Savior unless I am constantly on my knees asking for the knowledge to best do so? How am I going to grow in endurance in the various areas of my life if I am not going and laying down my life before the Father daily? The scripture tells us that “…He has given us all that we need for life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3), through the living out of His Word. What better way can we honor and glorify the Lord than to align ourselves to His Holy Word and praise Him for it every day that we live? The second reason is that prayer bends our will to God’s will, which is what submitting our life is all about. Prayer and submission weren't designed to pull God to my will, but to align my will to His. How awesome is this?! How awesome is it that we as God’s children have the privilege to have our wills aligned with our Savior! Even when we don’t understand why life brings hardships and trials, we can fully trust in the Lord and have a true peace when we submit to Him and trust that He knows and has the best in mind for us "...for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28-30)

Yet how few of us exploit this opportunity to draw from Him the power we need to press on or to have our will bent to God’s. How I have failed in the past to try to understand how to better serve my Lord, how to submit my life to Him, and praise Him in thanksgiving. Yet, He is SO gracious! He has provided us a way to draw closer to Him and enter into His presence daily….through the saving power of the Gospel and through prayer! Adoration and praise for our God quite naturally leads to the presentation of our bodies – our entire lives – in an ultimate act of worship. After the apostle Paul says, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36), he immediately calls us to submission: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).

Through learning about submission to God I realize that my devotion results in a conscious yielding of every part of my personality, every ambition, every relationship, and every hope to Him. This is a daily task of laying down my life in which, by God’s grace, you and I can grow and one day be presented "...fully mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:28) I pray that this encourages you to submit and praise the Lord in whatever stage of life you are in. Submitting to the Lord is one of the single most effective ways we as women can make the Gospel attractive to others and exhibit a true heart of worship!

"In all things, praise Him."

Tiffany

It's gonna be okay...and even better than that.

To be completely honest, this last month has been the hardest month I have had in a long time. Details aside, it was mixed with decisions that needed to be made, uncertainty, anger, fear, sadness, restlessness, lots and lots of tears (which I blame at least 50% on being 32 weeks pregnant)...lots of highs and lows. I found myself being "okay" one minute to being a puddle of tears the next. "What the heck is wrong with me?!" I kept asking myself. I knew some of the things I felt were valid, human emotions, but I also knew that I couldn't go on like this indefinitely.

Our pastor here has been preaching through Ephesians, and the last several weeks has been on the armor of God (Ephesians 6). Last Sunday was just what I needed to hear...balm for my soul, really. He was talking about how Christians have to constantly remind themselves of the gospel in order to be armed against Satan's attacks- not just reminding ourselves what Christ has done for us on the cross (although it definitely includes that!), but also the present help and future hope that we have as His children. It was nothing new, nothing I haven't heard before, but it spoke directly into my fears and sadness. Even hearing Pastor Todd simply say, "it's going to be okay!" was a relief to my restless heart.

You know what? At the end of the day, Christ is still King. He is still my Savior, He is still the one that holds me in the palm of His hands. Even though the present trials are not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, He still cares. That truth alone brings me to tears (as if I haven't cried enough this month!) :) Not only does He care, He has secured for us, His precious children, a certain hope of a new heavens and a new earth with Him eternally. So while it doesn't discount the hardships we face day to day, it gives us perspective and the strength to keep going.

So as simple as it may seem, remind yourself of the big picture. We don't have to pretend the trials aren't there, but we don't have to go through them as if there is no end in sight...because there is. A beautiful, glorious end where He will make all things new.

Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity...
Christ has died and Christ is risen
And Christ will come again 
("Mystery" by Charlie Hall)