WHEN FEAR ANSWERS THE PHONE

In my March 26 blog I started looking at different ways to be at our best when life is bringing us its worst. So far, we’ve considered: “The Power of a Nap” (March 26); “Fixing Your Focus” (March 27); and “Imagining the Worst Is Not Helpful” (March 29). In all of these blogs the common thread is they deal with the condition of our heart (will, intellect and emotions). In the past couple of days I‘ve been reflecting and meditating on the biblical word, STEADFAST. Several psalms come to mind: 57:7 (NIV) “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.” The Hebrew word for STEADFAST is: Kuwn (koon) and it means “to be firm, be stable, be established; be securely determined.” To have a heart which is steadfast sounds amazing! 

Can you imagine what it would be like to be steadfast when the storms of life are raging and tribulations are troubling your spirit? There is another psalm which says: “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.” (112:7 NIV) I recommend reading the whole chapter to discover who the “He” is in this psalm and who qualifies for this tremendous promise. I have to be honest, (well, I don’t have to be but I will!), when things are in the mode of going from bad to worse, I often get nervous when the phone rings or I check email or someone starts a sentence, “Did you hear …?” This anticipation of the worst [bad news] is often a gauge of our level of trust in the Lord. Do I really trust the Lord?

Pause in writing the blog: At this point in writing, I had to go to an appointment at City Hall. I anticipated my meeting would only be about 30 minutes so I paid for 40 minutes of parking. Well, my meeting last an hour and when I came out of City Hall, the meter lady was directly behind my SUV. I feared the bad news of a parking violation, but when I got to my vehicle there was no ticket. Silly me!

I want a steadfast heart. I want to be someone who fears God, but who doesn’t fear bad news. And if bad news comes, I want to be someone who is “securely determined” to trust God. Years ago I heard someone say, “The good news is the bad news is wrong!” Storms are going to come and bad stuff is going to happen in our lives, but I choose to believe God has good plans for me. Instead of allowing fear and wavering faith to dictate my reaction to the bad news, I choose to expect to receive good news when the phone rings, or I read emails, or when I have conversations with people throughout my day.

Here’s the closing thought I want to leave with you: The bad news doesn’t change God’s good plans for your life! As I write in the book, “Jesus and You: 25 Ways to Grow Your Life in Christ”: “Whatever happens in your life’s circumstances, always remember that storms don’t have the final say in your life.” (p. 101) BTW, if you would like a FREE copy of this book, of which I was privileged to be one of 25 contributing authors, send me your name and address via Facebook message and I will send you one, as a reader of The Transforming Truth. (Limited to the first ten requests)

IMAGINING THE WORST IS NOT HELPFUL

Random House Dictionary offers this definition: “forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.” This is a definition of IMAGINATION. Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, mankind has possessed the capacity to use his imagination to form images and ideas. This can be a profound ability when our imagination is being used for good and it can be a tremendous liability at other times. I was talking to a friend, who also serves as an occasional mentor to me, about different challenges I was facing in my life. As I shared one of several potential scenarios fueling my deep concern, he stopped me: “Mark, the things you know are bad enough it’s not helpful to imagine other scenarios.” He was absolutely right. I was allowing my imagination to suggest all kinds of potential twists and turns and it was causing me to be fearful and anxious. I have found that FEAR can be a function of our imagination focusing on the worst case scenarios. I say “can be” because there are legitimate fears which serve to protect and prepare us to face potential dangers or threats. For this reason, our imagination can work for us or against us. 

I appreciate my friend being so direct with me that day and caring enough to say something. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) says: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” The way we “(cast) down imaginations” are to replace the mental image/idea imagining the worst case scenario, or our thoughts of an increasingly negative future, with the truth and promises taught by Jesus. Contained in the Greek definition of “imaginations” seems to be the idea of giving the mental images or ideas produced by our imagination a certain legitimacy or as at least as much validity as the truth. In other words, we’re listening to our imagination as much or more than we are listening to the Holy Spirit, as He seeks to guide us into all truth. Who are listening to?

A good question for all of us to ask ourselves is: Am I using my imagination to prepare to face the future or is it producing fear and anxiety? If your imagination is producing fear and anxiety, if it is diminishing your faith in God, it is a clear indication it’s time for “casting down imaginations.” It is time for “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 

When our imagination is being influenced by the Holy Spirit, it is a powerful resource in preparing us for the future and helping us to overcome the challenges of life. When our imagination is being fueled by our flesh and we’re listening to the Liar (John 8:44) more than the Spirit of Christ, it is a miserable way to live. I’ve observed fully devoted followers of Jesus become so consumed by their imagination, their own ideas of all the things that might go wrong, it destroys their ability to exercise faith and to be responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

I believe how we use our imagination, our ability to visualize good and evil, is a huge issue for most of us. For this reason, we have to saturate our minds in God’s Word. We have to be certain that the number one influence in our thinking is not past failure (our or someone else’s), or the pain and problems of the present, or the long list of things which could go wrong in a given situation. The number one influence is the written (The Bible) and Living Word (Jesus).

Reality is harsh enough! Don’t use your imagination to make things even harder! 

In our next blog we'll explore what it means to have a "steadfast heart."

Several additional verses which address our IMAGINATION:

Genesis 6:5 NIV “The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts (KJV, every imagination) of his heart was only evil all the time.”

Luke 1:51 NIV “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;¹ he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts (KJV, imagination of their hearts).”

Acts 17:29 NKJV “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.” (Note: Devising is the same Greek word used in the Hebrews 4:12 description of the ability of the “word of God” to judge our thoughts)

FIXING YOUR FOCUS

In this blog I want to continue to look at how to be at our best when life is bringing us its worst. In my previous post I explored what we can do when our thoughts are trending towards being downcast and dark. If, when you wake up from your nice nap, you are still struggling with your thoughts, another factor to consider is your FOCUS. One of the things that can happen, especially when we are going through a big-time trial or an extended time of trouble, is to get very limited in our focus. We begin to obsess over every facet of the trial/trouble, as if it’s the only thing happening in the world. This can lead to what I call, ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING: If everything isn’t going good, than nothing is going good. When our thinking becomes limited in this way we allow the trouble in our life to influence every other area. There may be serious issues in your life, but there’s no way everything is bad at the same time. When our focus gets narrow we allow the bad to diminish the good and it inevitably drags us down.

There is something very powerful in resisting and refusing to allow a narrow focus to take over your life. Instead of fixating on the bad, all the things that aren’t the way you’d like them to be, force yourself to focus on what is good. This is where praise (giving thanks to God for what He has done) and worship (giving glory to God for who He is) can play a huge role in your life. When you pray, don’t spend all your time praying for yourself and your situation, but devote the greater portion of your time praying for others.

In my next blog, I want us to look at what we can do when our IMAGNIATION is overactive. Until then, force yourself to focus on the good in your life.

Philippians 2:8 (New Living Translation) “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

THE POWER OF A NAP

Earlier this week I was having one of THOSE days. You know the kind, the high-pace and high-pressure kind which threatens our sanity and spirituality. I was doing my very best to keep up and to work through all the stress and then I made a strategic decision: I was going to take a 30-minute nap. So, right in the middle of the afternoon I laid down on our sofa at lunch, foregoing my PBJ, and caught a short power nap. I don’t know how you are but I make better decisions when I am rested. I think more clearly when I am not worn down and wearied by the day. I manage stress more successfully when my body and mind are working for me and not against me.

Normally I function with a positive outlook on life. I am generally contented and hope-filled. Since I understand what my “normal” frame of mind is like, when I sense a shift in my thinking I know it’s time to change up my day. If my thoughts are trending towards being downcast and dark, it’s like an alarm goes off and, if I can, I take time to evaluate whether what I am experiencing is physical, emotional or spiritual. Much of the time it’s physical. Maybe I’ve not been getting enough sleep, so I am sleep-deprived. Another thing I consider is what I’ve been eating. As someone said, “It’s not what you’re eating--it’s what’s eating you.” A third factor, which is big for me, is whether I am playing hoops with the boys, and getting adequate exercise. To ignore these three factors is make life harder than it already is.

I am going to continue to explore, over the next few posts, the theme of how to be at our best when life is bringing us its worst. It may not be possible to reduce all the stresses in your life, but you can be better prepared to deal with all that life brings your way. If you don’t take good care of you, no one else will. I am pretty sure that what some of us need is a good power nap. Come to think of it, I could…ZZZZZZZZZZZ!

NEAT, PLAUSIBLE, AND WRONG!

Tonight our small group continued with our study of the Book of Job. For all the inquiring minds, we were in chapters 11 and 12. The more we delve into the dialogue between Job and his three “dis-comforters” it becomes clear that this is a time of redefining the theology of everyone involved. God wasn’t exactly who they thought Him to be. The prevailing thought of the day was that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Job believed this as much as his friends, that is until life happened. As Job’s situation moved from bad to worse, everything he had learned about God up to this point in his life was being challenged. 

In one of my favorite quotes, H.L. Mencken once said, “There is always well-known solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.” I have found that to be so true, so many times. Job and his friends were quickly finding out what we have found out: Life doesn’t always fit into our pre-conceived, and, dare I say, pre-contrived notions. There’s nothing like an extended season of struggle and trouble to blow up our theology and introduce us to a God who is greater and grander than we ever imagined. 

Check this passage from Job 12:13-25

"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. 14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. 15 If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land. 16 To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his. 17 He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges. 18 He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. 19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows men long established. 20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. 21 He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. 22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light. 23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. 24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste. 25 They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.”

I hope you know this powerful God described so profoundly by Job. As we closed our small group this evening I found myself praying David’s description of God in Psalm 24:8 (NIV) “The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.” If you are going through a particularly difficult time right now, I pray that in the middle of it all you will have an encounter with “the LORD strong and mighty”, even while you discover all your neat and plausible solutions [theologies] are wrong.

MY REDEEMER LIVES!

One of the abilities God has given us is the capacity to make a determination whether something is good or bad. It is connected, in some way, to the knowledge of good and evil which Adam and Eve gained following the first sin (Genesis 2:9, 17; 3:5, 22). Of course, having the capacity isn’t the same thing as consistently and correctly applying this knowledge. So many times in my life I have had an encounter or experience which I quickly determined was good or bad, only to find out later I had rushed to judgment. Sometimes we do this in connection to the people in our lives. We may do this when we receive news of something which is important to us. We may do this when faced with making a major decision. In our rush to judgment we may have labeled something as “good”, only to later receive additional information or insight which is not so good. Or we may label something as “bad”, only to discover it’s actually for the best. This has happened to me often enough that it causes me to be very careful in drawing conclusions too quickly as to whether something is good or bad. 

I am humbled by the fact that my perspective of things is so very limited. I know what I know, but there is so much more that I don’t know. I see what I see, but there is so much more that I don’t see. On a good day on the golf course I can see my golf ball up to about 250 yards. That’s assuming I’ve kept in the short grass and not launched it into the woods or a water hazard. I am bringing up golf because today is the first day of Spring, and to make the point that while I can see 750 feet on a good day, God’s ability to see is unlimited. Too bad He doesn’t look for lost golf balls, but I digress. The Prophet Isaiah communicated this description of God’s abilities, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: “'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. 9‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you’re aware my Wednesday night small group is studying the Book of Job. One of the things we’ve learned from Job is that nothing in our lives can be evaluated except in the context of eternity. I love the statement Job makes in 19:25 (NIV): “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.” Any time the Bible reminds me of God our Redeemer, I love it! The word, REDEEM, means: RESCUE, RESTORE, REPAY, RANSOM and REVENGE. I don’t know about you, but there are plenty of things in my life I am trusting my Redeemer is going to redeem.

If you’ve recently received news which seems bad (from your place of limited sight), remind yourself that your Redeemer lives. God has a track record of taking evil and turning it for the good in the lives of His children. So even if you’re correct in your determination something is bad, God can still turn it around. MY REDEEMER LIVES!

Two additional references to check out:

Genesis 50:1-21 ~ The Story of Joseph

20“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (NIV)

Joel 2:25-27 NIV "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm-- my great army that I sent among you. 26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. 27 Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.