Promises, promises

Matthew 7:9-11 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Here is another positive promise of God; God’s provision.

Jesus does not say that we will be given precisely what we ask for; or that we will find exactly what we are looking for; or that the particular door we want will be opened to us. But we will receive ‘good things’!

He says that we will not ask without receiving what God knows is best for us. We will not seek without finding what God knows we most need. We will not knock without having the most worthwhile way opened to us. Can I trust in this radical goodness of God. 

We see here from Jesus this instruction to actively ask God for His blessings.

Jesus gives us three specific types of soliciting God for His gifts: ask, seek, and knock. 

We are to ask. That’s simple enough to understand, is it not? We simply ask God for His blessings. 

We are also to seek. When you seek something, you intentionally look for it. You go out to find it because you want it so much. 

We are also to knock. Knocking means that we want to come in somewhere. We know that we need permission, so we seek that permission. We seek permission to enter!

Prayer won’t win me the lottery. Nor will it save me from dying. God is not a Santa Claus who gives us just what we happen to want. Instead, the promise is that God will never give us bad things, only ‘good things’. God is infinitely good, and works for our long-range good always.

‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ This is the Golden Rule, however we tend to follow another Rule: the rule of tit for tat. But as Christians we must instead try to take our cue from Jesus. His goodwill toward us is not conditioned by the way people respond to him. I must try to be like God in this.

Seeking One,

you are the beginning and the end of our search.

Finding One,

you are the alpha and omega of all discovery.

Asking One,

you are the voice and the silence of our exploration.

Giving One,

you are the fullness and the emptiness of all yearning.

Persistent One,

you never abandon your search for us,

nor tire of our repetitive to-ings and fro-ings.

Receiving One,

you endlessly welcome us home,

and spread before us a feast 

in the face of our constant requests for mere morsels of bread.

Search us, O God,

and find within us the secrets we hide.

Ask us, O God,

and receive from within us the pain we bear.

Keep knocking at the door of our lives 

until we open our wills to your purpose,

our lives to your life, and our yearning to your hope.

Strengthen our courage; bolster our endurance;

spur us onward in your way in our world

through the power of the Holy Spirit

and the name of Christ. 

Amen.

Promises, promises

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Having looked at three negative factors that attack the disciple we now turn to a positive encapsulating gift of God that strengthens us; trust.

People often say, “I wish I could have faith!” But everybody lives by faith! All day long, people trust one another. They trust the doctor and the pharmacist; they trust the cook in the restaurant; they even trust the fellow driving in the other lane on the highway. If we can trust men, why can we not trust God? In fact Warren Wiersbe goes so far as to say, “And not to trust Him is to make Him a liar.”

A man who lived on Long Island was able one day to satisfy a lifelong ambition by purchasing for himself a very fine barometer. When the instrument arrived at his home, he was extremely disappointed to find that the indicating needle appeared to be stuck, pointing to the sector marked “HURRICANE.” After shaking the barometer very vigorously several times, its new owner sat down and wrote a scorching letter to the store from which he had purchased the instrument. The following morning on the way to his office in New York, he mailed the letter. That evening he returned to Long Island to find not only the barometer missing, but his house also. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 offers two approaches to life: lean on ourselves OR lean on God.  We can lean on ourselves OR we can lean on God but we cannot do both.  If we lean on our intellect and abilities, then we have no need to acknowledge God.  This is the definition of self-sufficiency.  If we have no need to acknowledge God, then we will obviously have no need to trust God.  On the flip side, if we don’t trust ourselves, then we will have a sincere need for God.  If we have a need for God, then we will acknowledge Him which will then move Him to direct our paths. It is that Divine direction that presents the opportunity to trust God with all our heart.  This is the definition of God-sufficiency. 

These verses form a circular bond that repeats itself in progression. 

If you trust God with all your heart, you won’t lean on your own understanding.

If you don’t lean on your own understanding, you will acknowledge God.

If you acknowledge God, He will direct your paths.

If God directs your paths, you can trust that direction with all your heart.

If you then trust God with all your heart, you won’t lean on your own understanding.

If you don’t lean on your own understanding, you will acknowledge God.

If you acknowledge God, He will direct your paths.

If God directs your paths, you can trust that direction with all of your heart. 

Please help us to trust you with all our heart, lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways help us to acknowledge you. We believe, we trust that you will make our paths straight. May it be so, we pray in Jesus name, Amen.

Promises, promises

Matthew 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Continuing the themes of anxiety, fear we now turn to that of worry in the context of God’s promise. Many people will spend today planning advertising campaigns, selling clothes, promoting brands. Jesus does not question what is necessary for life but shows us how we can become preoccupied and distracted. Jesus sees that people easily become insecure, doubtful and disappointed and invites us to consider what is of real and lasting importance. 

Jesus shows us that worry undermines faith. I bring my worries before God and ask for help to bring them into a truer perspective.As a consumer, I may allow my values to be set by others. Perhaps I need review my wants and desires and ask God's help to be happy with the good things that I enjoy, to resist being wistful about what I am told I lack.

One day John Wesley was walking with a troubled man who expressed his doubt as to the goodness of God. He said, “I do not know what I shall do with all this worry and trouble.”

At the same moment Wesley saw a cow looking over a stone wall. “Do you know,” asked Wesley, “why that cow is looking over the wall?”

“No,” said the man who was worried.

Wesley said, “The cow is looking over the wall because she cannot see through it. That is what you must do with your wall of trouble—look over it and avoid it.”

Worry and prayer are both forms of meditation. When you pray, you are focusing on God. When you worry, you are focusing on something else. The answer to anxiety, although easier to say than practice, is to replace it with trust. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow.

Generous God,

in abundance you give us things both spiritual and physical.

Help us to hold lightly the fading things of this earth

and grasp tightly the lasting things of your kingdom,

so that what we are and do and say

may be our gifts to you

through Christ, who beckons all to seek the things above,

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Promises, promises

Next to fear, anxiety can stifle the life of the would be disciple. In Philippians 4:6-7 we read,  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s listen to 3 modern day anxiety quotes.

“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.”— Jodi Picoult,

“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” — Arthur Somers Roche

“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” — Swedish proverb

Without a doubt, anxiety often freezes our lives as disciples of Jesus. 

In his word, God tells us to not be anxious! That’s a command from the Lord, so every time we are anxious about life we’re actually demonstrating uncertainty towards God’s word. Let that sink in for a second. Instead of trusting in God’s promises we doubt His abilities or that He cares for us because we are going through a rough time. How silly does that sound, doubting the creator of the world? Yet I have been guilty of doing this all too often.

So, how do we shed our anxiousness? Well, God tells us that we should pray to Him with thanksgiving and make our request known to Him. Stressed out, pray. Worried, pray. Anxious, pray. I think at times our problems look so big because we have taken our focus off God and put all the focus on our problem. He is so much bigger than our problems. He's our healer, our provider, our shelter, our everything, sometimes we need to remember what we should be focusing on, or rather, who.

The Bible is full of examples of God providing for His people. Time and again the God of life promises to provide whether our need is land, food, shelter, comfort or hope.

God of peace,

cause us to rejoice in you always,

make us gentle to everyone,

keep us from being anxious about anything—

help us to ask you for what we need, with thanksgiving;

and let your peace

guard our hearts and minds

in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Promises, promises

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

What things cause your to fear?

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's OK--Jesus will be in there with you." Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: "Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?"

Mind you it is not only children who have an irrational fear. 

Louis Pasteur is reported to have had such an irrational fear of dirt and infection he refused to shake hands. President and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were so intimidated by the newfangled electricity installed in the White House they didn't dare touch the switches. If there were no servants around to turn off the lights when the Harrisons went to bed, they slept with them on. 

Joshua was facing significant opposition and pressure yet God’s answer to that situation was that this leader had to simply trust the Word of the Lord and act upon it. And we too are to know the truth of God's Word and to meditate on the promises of God, to trust in the truth of God's Word, and to follow the instructions that have been laid out in Scripture. We are to trust the Lord, believe on His Word, and stand firm in the faith that was once given to the saints so that we too can "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go... and His grace is sufficient."

My Prayer

Loving Father, I praise You that You have shown Yourself faithful to Your people, throughout all generations. Help me to be strong in the Lord, like Joshua. Help me to rely on You in all the problems of life that I may face, knowing that You are with me wherever I go. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

Promises, Promises

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

There is a prayer known as St Patrick’s Breastplate that speaks volumes to me on my Christian journey. Towards the end of the prayer it has some wonderfully encouraging words.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

In the Celtic tradition we speak of being encircled. One of my favourite Celtic spiritual practices is the “caim” or encircling prayer. The “caim” involves simply drawing a circle around yourself or another person physically or in your imagination. This encircling prayer is grounded in our awareness of the constant companionship and protection of the divine. It reminds us that God is in this place. Often, as they embarked on journeys or felt at risk, Celtic pilgrims would inscribe a circle around themselves as a reminder of God’s ever-present companionship and protection.

A Christ-centred life begins with realising that the source of everything we are is the Lord. He created us, he owns us, he gifted us with talents, he authors our story, and every blessing that we receive comes from him

We are surrounded by God’s promises, peace, protection, and power as we surrender to and walk in His will. The blessings and promise of God that flow in our lives will overflow and touch the lives family, friends and co-workers are all contingent or dependent on our walking and living in right relationship with God. We must maintain a right relationship God at all times.

Lord God of heaven and earth:

Please break out of the box that I keep you in.

Please break the cast that I have fashioned for you.

Please break the rules that I have put on you.

Please destroy the narrow ideas that I have about you.

Please reveal yourself far beyond the image that I have of you.

Build foundations of true gold in my life.

May you take pleasure in living in me in all your fullness.

Enable me to have a truly open heart to receive you in fullness.

Enable me to have truly empty hands to receive from you.

May you strengthen my knees.

May you warm my heart.

May Jesus be present in me.

May Jesus be glorified in me.

Lord God of heaven and earth,

Please …

Come … Amen 

Promises, promises

Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Have you ever been in a department store and seen a child separated from their parents? The fear is similarly evident on the child's  as well as the parents’ faces. It's a horrible feeling when the child turns around and can't find his parents. They frantically look through every nook and cranny and suddenly a sound of relief comes as they hear their name announced over the store intercom to come and retrieve their child.

You may have had a similar experience as a child or as a parent. Many parents have briefly lost a child in public. Maybe you have a memory from your childhood when you lost sight of your parent and you felt lost and alone.

I wonder if there has ever been a time in your life when you may have gone through some painful moments when you felt abandoned by God. It can be an empty and lonely feeling. You have heard me say and preach time and again how God says He will never leave us or forsake us. And it is so true. God simply wants us to feel secure as He assures us of His plan for us.

When understood in context, we discover that the words of Jeremiah 29:11 were spoken to people in the midst of hardship and suffering; people who were likely desiring an immediate rescue.  But God’s response is not to provide immediate escape from the difficult situation. Rather, God promises that He has a plan to prosper them in the midst of their current situation.

Christians facing difficult situations today can take comfort in Jeremiah 29:11 knowing that it is not a promise to immediately rescue us from hardship or suffering, but rather a promise that God has a plan for our lives and regardless of our current situation, He can work through it to prosper us and give us a hope and a future.

Furthermore, Christians can take comfort in knowing that God promises to be there for us in these situations. For in the verses immediately following Jeremiah 29:11, God proclaims through Jeremiah that when you “call on me … I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Almighty God,

across the ages

you have guided your people through the wilderness,

assuring us of a home in your eternal city.

Strengthen us along the way,

that we might not neglect our call

to serve the cities and towns where we live.

Help us to trust in your unfailing presence amid all of our fears.

Grant us wisdom to discern your way in this world

even as we hope for the next. Amen.