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Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9 (NLT)
I recently read a book on leadership and values in business. The author tells the story of how he took an ‘educated risk’ early in his career. His company was considering buying another company. He was on the team that would make a recommendation to buy or not buy the company. While the rest of the team gave the go ahead, he had a hunch that it was a bad situation. He went over the heads of his team and supervisor to tell the CEO his opinion.
As a result of his risk, the issue was reopened and it was decided not to buy the company. History would show that the decision he suggested was the right one. His decision was made on the basis of the things he learned about the other company’s track record among other things. His investigation told him that the company simply wasn’t worth the cost.
What’s true in the business world is true in the spiritual realm as well. Yet, ironically, we seldom treat our spiritual lives the same way as we treat our finances and physical life. Jehovah God tells us to count the cost. Look at his track record; consider what you’ve seen about him in the past when you make a decision about the future.
There are many god’s in our world, and they all have one thing in common, they have a cost involved. The god of relationship demands that the relationship remain exciting, fulfilling and new. If it doesn’t measure up our nature tells us to look elsewhere, to find a new, exciting relationship to fulfill our desires.
The god of want tells us that true happiness comes from the newness and amount of our toys. Gaining possessions at all costs is the demand of this god of want. The true cost isn’t realized until our kids are grown and we realize we’ve never taken time to get to know them. We aren’t aware of the true cost of want until we’ve built a wall of debt so thick we will never see the light of financial freedom.
The god of self-indulgence demands that we pursue a lifestyle that keeps us happy. Monetary cost is no issue. The bodies strewn in our path are of no consequence. The important thing is to realize that ‘life is too short to take it seriously’.
The god of religion demands that you act a certain way; that you worship in a certain style; that you hold to a certain set of dogmas and doctrines. The god of religion is a sly one because he knows just enough to lure you into a trap of feeling you are a good person, until you realize you’ve paid with your soul.
There is only one God in this world that is different from all the other god’s. Jehovah God asks nothing from you. He’s not about rules, he’s about relationship. He’s not about changing the plan in the middle of the game. The cost was paid at the cross. He simply calls us to be everything he hoped we could be.
Count the cost. When you choose who to follow realize that the best deal out there is the God who’s already paid the cost and offers you the deal of a lifetime…and eternity.
PRAYER: Father God, my prayer today is for those who’ve been following after god’s who require a cost they will never be able to pay. Draw them to yourself. Thank you that you are about relationship, not rules. Amen.
You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my Lord and my God. Psalm 30:11-12 (CEV)
A prayer of Praise and Worship:
Heavenly Father,
I come to you today in worship and praise for all you have done for me. I thank you that during those darkest times of my life, those times when I couldn’t feel your presence at all, I know you were there. I praise you for protecting me from my own decisions, and the evil actions of those around me.
I continue to be amazed that you, the Creator God of the universe loves me the way you do; that you have forgiven me of my past, understand the weaknesses that still haunt me, and promise me that my relationship with you will last for eternity because of your Son, Jesus Christ. All, this and because of my position with you, I can call you my daddy.
Like David, I dance before you today. Whether I am in silent worship or a rousing service of praise and worship, my soul dances before you. I can’t contain myself. The praise of my heart finds no words to express themselves. My Spirit will always sing your praise because my worship of you isn’t a time, place or activity. My worship of you is a very part of my essence.
Lord, I am surrounded by many things that still cause me to worry; things that shake my faith at times; actions I take and words I utter that I know are displeasing to you. Forgive me for my weakness. Empower me to praise you during the hard times that still attack me as well as the times of victory and prosperity.
You, O Lord, are my God and I will praise you from the depths of my heart forever and ever. I look forward to the day when my worship is face to face. Amen.
Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate. Psalm 30:5 (CEV)
There is a common misconception that if you are living under the will of God you will always feel his presence and power in your life. The reality however, is that sometimes, even if we are working hard for the kingdom, we struggle to find ‘God’ in our lives.
When God seems silent, our natural assumption is that he is angry at us; that we have done something that has separated us from full fellowship with the Father. Some of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time have endured the ‘silence of God’. David asks God why he has forsaken him in several of his writings. Even Jesus Christ asked, “Why have you forsaken me?” as he died on the cross.
Mother Teresa endured several periods of spiritual drought in her life as she ministered to the needy in India. She writes, “If there be God — please forgive me — When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven — there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. — I am told God loves me — and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart”
So how do we handle those times when God seems angry with us? How do we cope with the silence during those times when it seems our prayers barely make it past our lips; when the words from the Bible seem empty and we struggle to find our faith?
There are no easy answers. We can ask God to examine us, to spend a time of serious self-reflection in which we open the floodgates of our soul to him and implore his Spirit to enlighten us. But there are times when even this seems futile. That’s when the promise of Psalm 30:5 may give us comfort.
The Father’s anger lasts for a moment. He is a patient daddy. He doesn’t blow his lid at the smallest infraction, doesn’t lash out unexpectedly and wound our soul. He’s a patient teacher, a friend, a confidant. But there are times when he must rein us in; when he steps back to discipline, to correct, to catch our attention.
But when God’s anger seems directed towards us we can know his anger lasts for short time. When the dawn begins to lighten the eastern horizon we know the darkness of our night is over. The fears, the anxiety, the worry will soon be over. All that was shadows in the dark will be revealed.
In the same way, God will eventually reveal himself to us once more and we will rejoice in his presence. Have faith. Endure those silent times. Focus on the words of promise we have. He loves us with an everlasting love. His anger and silence doesn’t last forever.
PRAYER: Father God, there have been times when I’ve felt your anger and I confess it was my own doing. Selfishness, pride, lust and arrogance convinced me my way was better. There have been other times I’ve sought you and could not find you. I praise you for the promises of your word and that your silence and anger lasts only a short time. Amen.
I didn’t come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, John 6:38 (CEV)
Jesus had just fed over 5,000 people from a few pieces of fish and a couple loaves of bread. His miraculous actions caught the attention of the people. They wanted more bread. They wanted to have their needs met. The wanted to make this man, who obviously had the power to accomplish anything, their King.
John chapter six is an interesting transition in Jesus ministry. It begins with the feeding of the 5,000 and ends with him asking the few that remained with him if they too would abandon him.
What was the difference? What caused the many that flocked to see Jesus to leave disillusioned and disappointed? It was the realization that Jesus was intent on doing his father’s will, not his own.
Whether you are in ministry, business or just doing your best at raising your family, it’s always hard to stay on task; to choose a direction and move that way; to keep from missing your personal goals because of distractions.
When that happens, when it’s apparent things aren’t going the way we hoped it can lead to frustration, anger and a sense of failure. Even though Jesus was rejected by many people, we see no sense of disappointment or failure in his reactions. Why? Because the things Jesus sought to do weren’t his own desires but the desires of his Father.
Those of us in ministry may struggle with this the most. We have a desire to see God’s work done in mighty and powerful ways. We have an idea of what God’s church may look like. We set goals for ourselves that we call spiritual/ministry goals but are in reality personal and professional goals.
The result? Disappointed ministry leaders; frustrated ministry recipients and people who need Jesus abandoning the church. Jesus was able to handle the ebb and flow of ministry because his goal wasn’t to build his own ministry. His goal was to do the Father’s will.
What is the Father’s will? Jesus answers it himself. To bring people to a relationship with him built on forgiveness, mercy and grace. Notice Jesus makes no reference to rules and regulations. He makes not promises of physical provision although this most certainly was proven to be important to him. But the defining characteristic of Jesus’ ministry was doing the Father’s will, not catering to the wants and desires of society.
Whether you are in a full-time ministry, a lay minister or simply a person seeking to share what you have found in Jesus Christ, remember our goal is not to add numbers to our ‘salvation/ministry’ ledger. It’s to seek the Father’s will for our lives and pursue it.
PRAYER: Father, I confess that often my energy is distracted to my own will and desires. Empower me with your Spirit to seek your will and allow you to do it in my life so others will see Jesus, not me. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 