But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4 NLT  
 
Of what are you afraid? Why has the world shaken your trust? Don’t you know that you are a child of the King and that everything is under His control?   
  
Sometimes the Christians look like everyone else when it comes to how we deal with the pressures of life. We tend to allow stress to be our motivator, instead of relying on God’s light to direct our paths. Christians should have a power that the world cannot measure. We have been bought and paid for with the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.   
  
Recently, during one of those really hectic days, I saw myself getting caught up in the fast-paced rat race of life. I was moody, sarcastic, easily angered, all because the world was tossing more at me than I could handle. I walked into my son’s bathroom and my eyes were attracted to a plaque on the sink which reads: WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM!   
  
I realized that I was fighting this “battle” completely on my own. I don’t have to win the victories of life. My battle is over! I am on the winning side! My life can now be focused on building eternal treasures. I am now in the process of decorating my Heavenly mansion.   
   
Suddenly my disposition changed. I had a new perspective as I reflected on who He is and who I am with Him instead of the problems surrounding me. It was a great way to end the day!   
  
Do you need a new perspective? Is life getting you down? Focus on your victory in Jesus! Remember you are on the winning team!

I’m a fairly even keel guy.  My moods don’t go up and down a lot.  I just pretty much stay the same.  I frequently get asked, what gets me excited in life?  What fuels me?  Here are a few things.  Feel free to add your own list.

1.      Helping people get excited about their Jesus relationship.

2.      Making Cheryl happy. (Walks with Cheryl.)

3.      Spending time with my boys (when they want to spend time with me!)

4.      A peaceful long run in the cool of the day. 

5.      Uninterrupted study time (or uninterrupted time period).

6.      New thoughts, dreams, ideas, and strategies.

7.      Throwing my plastic balls into Michael Bayne’s office across the hall from me and scaring him every time.  (Just generally picking on people.)

8.      A sense of accomplishment!

9.      Seeing my sweet Yorkie get so excited when I come home (every time!)

10.  Knowing I’ve pleased my God! 

God’s word encourages planning. Consider “Plans fail for lack of counsel” (Proverbs 15:22) and “In his heart a man plans his course” (Proverbs 16:9).  Yet two things that are equally true are that change is all around us and ultimately God is in control.  Because of the lack of control most of us have over our future and the plans we make today are likely to be interrupted tomorrow when something changes, many leaders fail to plan.  In times of economic uncertainty or rapid change, for example, leaders are tempted to forgo the planning process until things “slow down” or “calm down”.  That, however, can prove to be a fatal blow to an organization’s future.

The age of discovery and information, the industrial revolution and technological improvements all helped to usher the world into the rapid change and instant everything mindset.  A natural reaction to that paradigm shift over time is for many leaders and organizations to “wait and see” what happens, because no one can as easily predict where we will go next as a society and culture.  The truth, however, is that if change is constant and we are encouraged to plan, then somehow those two worlds must collide.  We must learn to plan for our organization’s future in the midst of rapid change.  This process may be one of the greatest challenges for leaders of this century and culture.

The wise person will always plan for change and through change.  The leader’s role needs to be one of keeping the organization true to the overall mission and vision of the organization while at the same time always being aware of changes on the horizon which could enhance or threaten the organization’s success in the future and, in the end, steering the organization through those changes. Plans today must be much more adaptable and flexible to change and more inclusive of others and their opinions if they will succeed; but plans must be made that serve to move the organization forward.  

The world is constantly changing and God does hold the conclusion to a matter, but the “wise man builds a house” carefully, through planning, hard work, and by adapting to the changing culture and environment. Don’t quit planning during times of uncertainty or rapid change!

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9b NIV

I’m tired of the economic news of the day.  Are you?  I’m ready for the Dow ticker to be green on my iGoogle home page!   Still, the greater concern for me has been watching how people respond to uncertainty.  We seem to be in a state of panic.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to trust in God when everything is going well, but when a little trouble comes our way, our faith waivers? Do you think that is why God’s Word consistently tries to prepare us for the tough times of life, and why God repeats the promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you”?

Let me tell you something I have learned from Christian experience, if I do not stand firm in my faith, I will have no faith at all! I can’t be half-hearted in my devotion to Christ, or I will have no devotion at all. It is not enough just to say I believe, I have to live it out every day; through the good times and the bad. If I play with my Christianity, Satan will win in his temptations towards me every time.

I can honestly say I have had my share of hard times. Don’t misunderstand, I can clearly see evidence of God’s goodness, but the truth is my faith has been tested. I have learned this, when I plant my faith deeply in God, in His Holy Word, and when I lean on Him completely and not on my own abilities, I seem to have a strength about me that overcomes the problems of this world. I seem to be able to conquer the spirit of fear and relish in the peace and joy of the Lord.

Life today requires a firm foundation of faith!  I have learned that without a firm faith, I have no faith at all! It is all or nothing with God!

Figuring out who to trust these days is tough.  Years ago, while I was going through a difficult trial, I wrote these words really as a reminder to me of where to place my trust.  Seems like I need to read them again.   

Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you for you are the one who does all this. Jeremiah 14:22

What is the price for your hope?  By what standard do you judge the things in which you put your faith? Let me offer one for you today: Can it/he/they make it rain?

Say you have a new shiny convertible? Can the car make it rain? So you have a great family? If they do just the right jig, do I need to get my umbrella? You have the job of your dreams? Do your responsibilities include sending down showers? You have worked hard to build a fat retirement account? Is there enough in there to buy one good ground soaking? What about just a little sprinkle? Could you fill a teaspoon? With all your wealth could you maybe afford just a little drop?

Can the things in which your hope is in make it rain?

Okay, let’s get elementary for a minute. Who makes the rain? Come on now, once again, who made the rain? That’s right, God did! Good! You’re learning.

Now put your hope in Him today…and in nothing less than anything than can’t at lease bring for rain. 

I would be interested in watching your family do that dance, however. I need a good laugh!

Kudos go out today to fellow church planter Freddy T. Wyatt.  May he and Susan’s example of faith be an encouragement to us all.  The bags and truck are packed and they are on their way to the Big Apple.

Freddy T. and Susan Wyatt recently left a great job at an established church they truly love to help plant churches in New York City.  They left a good salary and benefit package to have to raise tens of thousands of dollars of their own support.   They leave an area of the Bible Belt where people are usually at least open to hearing a faith story to enter a land where they may face as much rejection as they find friendliness.  Their step of faith comes while they have a young, preschool son and Susan is pregnant with twins about to enter this world in a few months.  It’s truly a modern day Hebrews 11 faith example.  You can read more about their story here by checking out their blog NYCMission.  

Their faith challenges me to be even bolder in my own faith, but also reminds me that there are hundreds and thousands of followers of Christ willing to do whatever God calls them to do to advance the Gospel and bring God glory with their lives.  If we want to see a lost world come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, more believers must be willing to take huge leaps of faith.

Do you know people whose faith story has challenged or encouraged you?  (Feel free to pay tribute to them here.) 

Did you see the good news about the economy buried in all the bad news?  Here’s a sampling: 

US Economy: Confidence Unexpectedly Rose This Month

(Of course; we always expect the worst.)

 Sovereign Bancorp replaces CEO, shares soar

(At least someone’s soaring!) 

U.S. stocks bounce back after Monday’s plunge

(Chalking up its third-biggest point gain)

Microsoft To Open Search R&D Center In Norway

(Meaning they are still looking forward.)

Dollar rallies on economic woes in Europe

(Sorry for them; good for us) 

I keep saying, the economy is largely based on public perception.  If we live in fear we will be ruled by fear.  We can always take the Psalmist’s approach:

For troubles without number surround me; (Psalms 40:12)

Or

The troubles of my heart have multiplied; (Psalms 25:17)

 I’m glad the Bible never sugar-coats our pain.  I choose, however, to remember also the Psalmist who said:

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. (Psalms 139:17-18)

Or

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. (Psalms 71:20-21)   (All Scriptures New International Version)

Sometimes life really is about perspective. What’s yours going to be today?   

There is a king in the Bible who when I have thought of or studied prayer, I have often come back to him. The king is a man named Hezekiah. Hezekiah ruled over Judah and he was a good king. He tried to honor God in everything he did and because of his faithfulness, God honored Hezekiah greatly.

Hezekiah became the target of warring nations. The king of a rival nation to God’s people, Assyria, decided he was going to try and take over Hezekiah’s kingdom. Yet throughout it all, Hezekiah consistently used the same battle plan. He went before the Lord in prayer and followed the Lord’s commands. Hezekiah relied on prayer to rule his life. This man knew how to pray and pray in a way that got results.

Some time ago, in a message at Grace Community Church we looked at one of the recorded prayers of Hezekiah to see what we can pull from it. To understand the prayer we should know that the Assyrian nation was stronger than Hezekiah’s nation. They would have easily been favored in a war. The Assyrian king launched a huge smear campaign against Hezekiah with his own people. It scared all Hezekiah’s people to death.

Hezekiah heard about it and went before the Lord. God assured Hezekiah everything would be ok, but the Assyrians wouldn’t let up. They kept taunting and taunting, throwing threats towards Hezekiah. They sent a letter by messenger to Hezekiah that basically said, “The Assyrians are tough and they are coming for you next.”

What do you do when you are backed into a corner about to face something bigger than your ability to handle? Well, Hezekiah received the letter with all the threats and began to pray.

Now find a Bible and read 2 Kings 19:14-19 (Or click on the passage to read it online.)

What can we learn from listening in as Hezekiah prayed?

First, Hezekiah got alone with God. There is corporate prayer like we do at church, and there is prayer where a few are gathered, but probably some of the most effective prayer time of your life will be the time you invest alone with God.

Second Hezekiah’s prayer was Immediate. It wasn’t an afterthought. It was prior to making his plans. We are so geared to react that it’s hard for us to go first to God. He may be second or third or when we get backed into a corner and have no choice, but as a habit we need to make God the first place we turn in our lives.

Third, Hezekiah’s prayer was Open and honest. Hezekiah was transparent before the Lord.  I love the imagery here in this prayer story of Hezekiah. He took the letter, went to the house of the Lord, and spread it out before Him. I get this visual image of Hezekiah, and this letter…laying it there on the table, and saying, “Okay, God, what now? What do I do next?”

Are you in a tough spot right now? You may just need to get you some note cards right down all the things you are struggling with….lay them out on a table…then say, “Okay God, here are my struggles…I can’t do anything about them. What now?”

Writing your prayer requests before God is a great idea for 2 reasons.

a. It helps you remember to pray for them.

b. It helps you to watch as God answers. We get more answers than we realize if we only ask.

Hezekiah’s prayer was Honoring, humble and respectful of who God is.  Hezekiah knew his place as king….and he knew God’s place in the Kingdom. Hezekiah was king of a nation and that is an important job, yet Hezekiah willingly humbled himself in prayer, because he knew his place before the King of kings.

Hezekiah’s prayer was Bold. He said, “Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD…” Hezekiah had the kind of relationship with God where it wasn’t a surprise when Hezekiah showed up to pray. They talked frequently; probably throughout the day. Because of that relationship, Hezekiah didn’t wonder if God would be there when he came before Him. He knew he could ask God to act on his behalf.

The more you grow in your relationship with God, the bolder your prayers can become, because the more your heart will begin to line up with God’s heart.

Hezekiah’s prayer was Dependent. In verses 17-18 he prays, “It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands.” Hezekiah knew he was out of his league facing the Assyrians. From the way I see that Hezekiah responded to life, however, I don’t think it mattered the size of the battle Hezekiah was going to depend on God.

Finally, Hezekiah’s prayer was certain…Because it was based on his personal faith and trust in God.  In verse 19, Hezekiah prayed, “Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.”

Hezekiah had a faith in God that allowed him to pray with confidence. You need to understand that faith is always based on the promises of God. Some things God has promised to do…some He hasn’t. God has promised to always get glory for Himself and always work things for an ultimate good. He hasn’t promised to rid everyone of cancer or to heal every bad relationship.

(That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray for everything. We don’t know His will, but we can’t guarantee God to do that which He hasn’t promised to do.) Sometimes we get upset because God doesn’t do something we asked or wanted Him to do but the fact is He had never promised to do it.

Hezekiah knew God had promised to save His people. He knew God had placed him in the position of authority over them. He had confidence that God would do what He had promised to do. Hezekiah trusted God to be faithful to His word so he was willing to act in faith.

What situations are you dealing with today that you know you are helpless to do on your own and you desperately desire God’s answer?

Get alone with God, spread your problems out before Him, honestly, humbly and boldly and dependently on God; and then allow His will to be done, as you wait for His response.