I love Paul's blessings and this is one of my favorites.
One of the blogs I've written that has impacted me the most personally was about this verse. Back in July 2007, I wrote one of my shortest blogs. It was about grace Paul's double-powered prayer. It's one of those teachings that has stuck with me and comes to mind almost every time I hear the word "grace." You can read about it here.
In my previous blog in this series on Philippians I focused on our relationship as slaves to Jesus. It is only by His grace that we can have that spirit of immediate obedience I prayed for. And that kind of obedience gives us peace. When I delay in my obedience, my stress level rises quickly. Responding – even when I only know the very next step and there are so many unanswered questions – brings peace. My obedience gives me an assurance that I'm leaving it up to God and He will provide.
While studying another letter of Paul's during a Bible study last week the discussion turned to the topic of the power of our words and the power of blessings. Unfortunately, we agreed that none of us speak or write blessings as Paul did. Imagine how different our culture would be if we did speak in blessings.
First, the impact on the one doing the blessing would be tremendous. I am convinced that I would think differently if I were to develop the pattern of speaking blessings more frequently.
Secondly, the person receiving the blessing would…well, I'm not sure how they would feel about it. At the very least they would have had a blessing spoken over them and if you believe that your words have power in the spiritual realm, that blessing is a big thing. Beyond that their experience will vary based on their perspective of spiritual things and their experiences. When someone speaks a blessing to me, I experience an unexpected moment of joy. And it becomes something my mind goes back to throughout the day. Someone who has less experience with blessings may be confused or uncomfortable. That's OK. A blessing spoken in an upbeat and positive way will work its way through the confusion and discomfort into the person's spirit. God's Word does that. If the person is alien to the Gospel, they may be taken aback by it, but it is the rare person who will take offense at it. And if someone takes offense, we can always apologize for offending them (and silently pray for them).
Thirdly, the impact on our society could be pretty exciting. I believe our words have power in the spiritual realm. I believe that speaking blessings change the spiritual atmosphere in a home, a business and a community.
Lord, teach me how to speak and write blessings as a natural part of my day. I want You to be on my mind and on my lips throughout the day. I want to bring You into the lives of those around me.
Will you join me? Let's start a revolution of blessing. Don't wait for someone's birthday to bless them. Do it today!
This blog post, titled The War Over Reality, by Francis Frangipane caught my attention this morning. It has been adapted from his book The Three Battlegrounds, available at Arrow Publishing's online Bookstore.
While its message feels especially appropriate during this Christmas season, I know it is a life message appropriate for the whole year. Jumping off the phrase "there was no room for them in heaven" (Revelation 12:8, AMP), Frangipane writes about spiritual warfare in a unique way.
Christmas is pregnant with possibilities – the possibility for family dissension at annual gatherings; the possibility for personal meltdowns caused by unmet expectations or grief; the possibility of illness brought on by over-stressing our bodies, minds and spirits as we attempt to do all things and be all things to all people.
Who will control your reality? Will it be the influences of the world or the influence of God?
Let me again encourage you to spend time with God during this busy season. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring God's reality into your world.
And as you attend to things in your every-day, Christmas-season life – those activities and events that are routine and those that happen only during this season – take His truth – that is, reality as only Believers can know it – with you.
Take Christ with you this Christmas season.
9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." 10And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.
Perhaps you've heard of Jabez. His name literally means "he will cause pain." That's what his mama named him, presumably after a difficult birth. I've been wondering how that affected him emotionally as he was growing up. Knowing that he'd been named "he will cause pain" – and undoubtedly personalizing it to "I will cause pain" – must have been painful mantel to wear every day of every year of his life. "Of course it must be true," our Enemy would scream into his mind, "because your mama said so…And you've already done so, hurting the one person you say you love more than anyone." Our enemy can wreak havoc with our minds and emotions and ultimately our life if we listen to him.
We recently read this verse 1 Peter in our Resting at the River's Edge reading.
The enemy has been on the prowl lately. Have you heard the news reports lately?
I'm an adult and I understand that I haven't caused any of this – they've simply named a hurricane after me. Yet each time I hear a news report or read a headline it has jolted my brain – feeling to my brain somewhat like a hard slap in the face. So I've been feeling a bit of a kinship with Jabez these last few days.
And God has used the experience to experientially teach me some things that I'd already learned from reading Scripture. That's called reinforcement. It's not pleasant but it seals the teaching in our spirits.
Words have impact and that impact has the power to change and shape one's reality. Just as the New Jersey shore has been impacted by the waves and its shape has been significantly changed by the erosion of the beach and the destruction of roads and bridges, one who is the subject of hurtful words is subject to the effects of those words – the erosion of their confidence and destruction of their dreams.
Scripture says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21, NASB). We have the power to both destroy and give life with the words we say. Hearing repeatedly over the past few days that "Sandy" has brought devastation into millions of lives has not had a life-giving affect on me. Similarly telling a child he isn't good for anything (or at anything) will not have a life-giving effect on him. Just like telling ourselves that we're not good for anything or we can't do anything right is not life-giving. Those words have the power of death.
"Jabez, would you…" a friend might have said.
"You, the one who causes pain, would you…" is what Jabez might have heard.
So he fought back – in the spiritual realm. "Lord, change my reality – make me one who does not cause pain. Bless me so that I might be a blessing to others." You might say "Sandy, you've added that last phrase. It isn't in Jabez's prayer. He didn't pray anything about being a blessing to others." No, he didn't. But the short discussion of Jabez begins with the phrase "Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers" (1 Chronicles 4:9, KJV). An honorable man (or woman) is generous (following God's laws and His heart). It is totally within the context of the few verses to presume that Jabez's heart's desire was to be a blessing to others.
Whew! Those are some pretty lofty prayers – prayers that even scare me; prayers that sound impossible and foolish to me. But I believe God answers prayers and I believe He encourages us to pray lofty prayers with lofty ambitions. So I, whose name means helper of mankind, choose to speak words of life to myself, to pray words of life over my life and ministry, and to believe for those words to have an impact – both in this world and in the next.
[Jesus is speaking:] Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
What words spoken against you do you need to reverse by praying life instead death?
Earthly trousseaus include things like linens and dishes and home accessories – treasures a young woman wants to take into her marriage. Yes, it's an old fashioned idea and I don't know anyone who does it anymore – at least not anyone in America – but it symbolizes the young bride's hope for a beautiful life with her future prince.
Christ tells us not to worry about storing up earthly treasures, but to build up our trousseaus for our marriage to the King of Kings. What treasures would honor our future husband? What treasures should we be storing up in heaven? I read this passage a few months ago and these questions tickled in the back of my mind.
And [Jesus] said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
I have come to believe that these things are greater treasures in God's eyes than the writing of a tremendous book, leading a great organization or preaching the perfect sermon – all of which receive great acclaim within the Christian community. I'm not saying writing these things aren't treasured by God – they are, and they will carry forward into eternity. I am saying that God honors what is done in secret and what is done at great personal expense without expecting glory in return.
Lord, help us to embrace the secret, sacrificial acts that bring glory only to You.
8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
3Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.
Our prayers are so valued by God that they are stored up as incense in golden bowls in heaven. Our prayers for others, for revival, for the lost are sacrificial acts of mercy and humility. They take stands against satan and represent faith that overcomes lack of sight.
This week…pray for opportunities to build up your heavenly trousseau – and then walk through those open doors.
God has used this passage more than once to keep me from doing something displeasing to Him. The first verse gets me – The Lord hates, he detests these things. When tempted to do one of them, that verse comes to mind and I think "Do I really want to do something the Lord detests?" I usually decide that I really don't want to put myself in that camp.
Let's look at the 7 things He detests?
Haughty eyes. Some versions translate this as "a proud look." According to the Amplified Bible, this is a "the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others." Have you looked at others with disdain? If so, you are guilty of this offense. I know that I have. There is plenty in God's Word that speaks against pride and it is pride that is at the root of this sin.
It is to our benefit and the Lord's glory for us to keep our pride in check. It starts with that haughty look, that "better than thou" attitude that creeps into our thoughts and actions. Lord, give us Your thoughts about each person we meet.
A lying tongue. God detests lies. Even white lies. Even exaggerations that make us look better than we really are. What's your resume look like? Is it honest? How did you present yourself when discussing a conversation with a third party? Did you make yourself out to be better than you really were as you presented your side? I work hard at being honest, but some situations present challenges. As I write marketing literature for our company, I am challenged to be compelling and honest. When faced with disappointing someone, the temptation is great to make up an excuse when the truth is simply that I want to do something else. Lord, give us such a love for the Truth that we detest lying as much as You do.
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'RacaRaca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
RacaRaca is a Greek word that means "worthless one." Have you called anyone (even in your heart) a fool lately? Perhaps the person in front of you at the grocery store or the parents down the block who let their children run wild? Do you see the relationship between this and "haughty eyes." Both have pride at their root – you know better than the one you are condemning. Lord, help us to value others and the gifts You have placed in them.
A heart that devises wicked schemes. Have you plotted the downfall of your lazy coworker, overbearing boss, church troublemaker or neighborhood gossip lately? I hope not. I'm not saying that these people shouldn't be dealt with appropriately. They should. The key word is appropriately. Not by devising wicket schemes. Not by devising situations in which they are exposed harmfully. Allow God to bring about situations that render justice. Lord, enable us to turn all situations over to you and not harbor wickedness in our heart.
Feet that are quick to rush into evil. Is there an area in which you are quick to desire and rush into things that do not honor God? I'm convinced that some practical jokes would fall into this category. Some are harmless and funny, but our culture has an edge to it and what would have been considered hurtful in the past is now accepted by many as practical jokes. If you are a practical joker, be careful to keep your pranks on the right side of the line. Lord, help us to bring our fun side under the control of Your Holy Spirit.
A false witness who pours out lies. Isn't this the same as a lying tongue? It would seem so, but God takes special interest to say that He detests lying about the actions of another person. Whether that person is guilty or innocent, our responsibility is to speak honestly about their actions. When we are a wronged party, that can be pretty challenging. When the person is unpopular, perhaps even because of their own actions, it's important to speak truthfully. Our sinful nature is tempted to exaggerate the wickedness of people who have not been kind to us. Doing so is the same as being a false witness. Lord, help us to be discerning and to speak only Truth.
A man who stirs up dissension among brothers. When someone has wronged you, are you tempted to tell others about it? That's stirring up dissension. When church isn't going as you think it should be or the pastor makes a decision that you disagree with, are you tempted to talk to others about how wrong the Pastor is? That's stirring up dissension. At work do you join others in complaining about the boss or decisions that management is making? That's stirring up dissension. We live in such a society of complaining! I hate it, but confess that I am not immune to it. It is sometimes so tempting to answer the "how are you doing" with a list of complaints about life. Sometimes the Lord brings this verse to mind and I wonder what there would be to talk about if we didn't complain about life as we know it. The Lord brings the answer – the goodness and blessings of God. It doesn't fit into our culture, but we're called to be counter-culture. Lord, help me to resist the urge to stir up dissension and to enter conversations where others are complaining with grace. Lord, let me bring You into all situations.
And therein lies the answer to avoiding all the sins: Bringing the Lord into all situations. Asking for His grace to live and act in His ways.
I am confident that you didn't find yourself in all seven of these sins that the Lord detests, but I suspect you might have found temptation in some of them. I know that I do. By God's grace, they are all less tempting than they were twenty-five years ago when I first discovered this verse. I had a boss who was asking me to lie to an auditor. I knew it was wrong but I didn't want to lose my job. The morning after the discussion with my boss I read these verses. I knew I could not lie. Shortly thereafter I chose to quit the job and God gave me a better one. He is faithful to those who follow Him. As we mature in Him, though, the definition of sin takes on a finer edge as He continues to conform us to the image of Christ.
Blessings, friends. May God continue to conform you to the wonderful, truthful image of Christ who is full of grace and mercy.
Let's start by reading the passage that describes Jehoshaphat seeking the Lord.
3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
13All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
14Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
18Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
While there's no "magic formula" to seeking God, Jehoshaphat's approach is a good one because it brings us into a right relationship with God through humbling ourselves and admitting our weaknesses, demonstrating faith, properly exalting God and waiting upon Him. We would do well to emulate Jehoshaphat when we face seemingly insurmountable battles in our lives.
In response to Jehoshaphat, "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel" and he prophecied a wonderful promise from God – that the people would not have to fight the battle. I find the prophecy fascinating in that God tells the people "you won't have to fight, but take up your battle positions and stand firm." At first it caused me to wonder why they had to take up their battle positions and stand firm if God was going to fight their battle for them. Why did they have to go out to face the enemy if they didn't have to fight that enemy? I'm sure the Israelites were wondering this, and God doesn't answer the question, He simply reassures them that He will be with them. Let's tuck this question in the back of our mind and read on to learn what happens.
After seeking the Lord, Jehoshaphat did three key things as he prepared to step into the battle.
He encouraged the soldiers. He builds up their faith. We can do that to ourselves. Psalm 42 provides just one example of King David encouraging himself. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God…" (verse 5a).
He got advice of others – "after consulting the people" he made decisions. Proverbs 15:22 tells us that "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." King Jehoshaphat wasn't afraid or too superior to ask for advice.
It continually builds our faith.
It demonstrates the source of our victory.
It stirs God to action.
Well, Jehoshaphat and the Israelites are headed into the battle the Lord has promised them they will not have to fight. How will God keep His promise? Let's finish the story and find out.
22As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
27Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets.
29The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
The "vast army" was a desert of dead bodies.
Praise and worship – the people returned joyfully and went into the temple and had a praise party! One of the greatest lessons in all of this is that what starts in worship ends in worship! The people entered the battle in worship. They ended it in worship.
Remember that question you tucked away until the story was further developed? The question about why the people had to go out to the battle if God was going to win it for them? Scripture doesn't answer the question outright, but I believe that it was largely to increase their faith. God's instruction to the Israelites in verse 17 was "see the deliverance the LORD will give you." God wanted them to see with their own eyes and be a part of the action to build their faith. Could God have accomplished the same thing while the Israelites slept? Absolutely. Do you think the impact would have been the same? I don't. I think the Isarelites needed to encourage themselves in the Lord, and they needed to put their faith into action by suiting up and marching out toward the battle. They needed the practice of holding on to the promise of God. And perhaps, just perhaps, God wanted to "wow" them – to see the looks on their faces and the rejoicing in their hearts when they looked upon the battle God had won for them.
I know I need those things. I need God to increase my faith sometimes, and the way that happens is by allowing me to be put in situations that cause me alarm and force me to push past the alarm and run into God's arms – situations where I am required to demonstrate my faith by taking steps toward an enemy (or a challenge) that only God can defeat (or accomplish).
Friends, I pray God's richest blessings for you – and that includes situations that might initially cause you alarm, but allow you to see Him in greater glory!
A couple of weeks ago the phrase "Summer of Praise" came to my mind. As the pastor preached on a totally different topic, I got more and more excited about the possibilities of making that phrase a reality.
Imagine – a whole summer dedicated to praise! It makes me smile just thinking about it. Imagine how powerfully your spirit could be impacted by such an emphasis of praise! I get excited thinking about the change that will occur. I have every confidence that no matter what happens in the world and in my life over this summer, if I continue in praise my spirit will be renewed and I will become a stronger woman of faith and joy.
First, by proclaiming it a "Summer of Praise" she is almost guaranteeing that the enemy will attack her.
Secondly, life happens to everyone – does she really believe she can praise through it?
Thirdly, she might be excited about the Summer of Praise now, but how is she going to react when she's tired, hungry or just plain out of sorts?
You're probably right. But I am taking a step of faith. One that says "I believe that with God's help I can live differently in the summer of 2011. I may experience setbacks, but my God is able to keep me on track." And as I've already written, I am excited about the person I'll be in late September – a stronger, more positive Sandy who has seen God change my perspective in the midst of whatever the summer brings.
Friends, I encourage you to join with me in this Summer of Praise. If you're not as confident as I am that you will be changed, consider it a Summer of Praise "experiment." Commit to extra-ordinarily praising God this summer and see what He will do. I am confident He'll change your heart and your perspective, and that will change your life!
Contact a local nursing home and ask if you can lead a "Hymn Sing" one evening for the residents. You'll probably receive a great response – nursing home residents love to sing the old hymns. Invite a friend or two to join you.
Ask your church to have a "worship night" some summer evening.
Many communities have outdoor summer music concerts and sometimes worship teams participate. Check out your community schedule and join them some evening.
Turn one of your small group meetings into a time of worship & praise.
Plan a simple "Praise Party." Everyone brings a psalm of praise or favorite praise song and serve special "feast" food.
Add singing a worship or praise song to your devotional time.
Sing a praise song as your prayer before meals.
Take "praise breaks" during the day. Muslims pray five times a day. I am challenged by this. Could I possibly set five times each day when I'll take a five minute praise break? How about 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm and 8pm? I'm not legalistic about such things, but I'm going to shoot for those times. Even as I write this (because I haven't done it yet), I wonder how it will change my day and life? I'm excited about the possibility. During your praise break, praise God (aloud if at all possible) for who He is and what He's done, sing a song of praise or take a few minutes to write Him a note of thanksgiving.
Keep a gratitude and praise journal.
Set aside a couple of times over the summer to watch worship videos on YouTube. Imagine how different you'll feel going back to work if you did this during your lunch hour! Treat it as a date – something to look forward to and plan for.
Meditate on the hope we have in Christ.
Read a book or two about praise.
Practice the "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15) – praising when you don't feel like it. This is the praise that will strengthen your praise muscle more than all the other activities.
I'm not planning on doing all of these things, but many have been added to my daily plan and monthly schedule. May I encourage you to pray about making this summer your Summer of Praise? I'm praying that you will catch the vision for praise and that your life will be changed over the next 120 days.