bible

in sight full

Posted on by Grace Day

That’s how I would describe one of my prayer walk partners and friends – insightful. There are other adjectives I could use as well, caring, funny, smart – but if I had to pick two that stand out? that would be courageous and persistent – both hugely important assets in life, both particularly necessary attributes for my prayer walking friend. I admire his persistent pursuit of Jesus, perhaps because I too am running that life race. And running that race requires courage and endurance. The apostle Paul advises us –

“Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

So we are prayer walking and running this race together, he and I, and others with us. Now as I said, running this life race requires of us the utmost courage and endurance. But I think even more is required of my friend and he has shown himself equal to the task. You see, dear readers, there is something I have thus far neglected to tell you about my friend. Probably because it is not the most relevant nor important thing about him, still it is something – something worth mentioning. My very insightful friend is blind. (pun and irony fully intended)

My friend, like the apostle Paul, has a “thorn in the flesh” to bear in this life. However, Paul’s thorn in the flesh, which God chose not to remove, did not disqualify nor deter Paul in any way from his calling in Christ. Paul carried out all that God gave him to do, sharing the Gospel, visiting churches, writing letters from prison, suffering for Christ – his thorn did not prevent him from submitting to God’s will for his life and in so doing, Paul lived out the life of purpose and meaning that God had planned for him.

I pray my prayer walking friend is finding this to be true for himself as well. His lack of physical sight in no way disqualifies or prevents him from finding his calling in Christ and from living it out. I feel like I’m still trying to find my way and my calling, and I have physical sight. But it is spiritual sight that is needed, spiritual sight that is essential actually to live this life in a Christ honoring way. After all, we are told –

“We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

My friend has learned this skill out of necessity perhaps, so he has a head start on the rest of us – BUT – walking by faith alone is an essential life skill that each of us must master at some point in our Christ following journey. Better sooner than later. You and I think sight so important, so necessary to our earthly lives – BUT consider this truth –

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Again, my friend is ahead of the game. Not distracted by temporary “seen” things now, he is freed up to focus or to “fix his eyes” on what is unseen, what none of us can see, but what all of us need to focus on – the eternal things of God, those things that matter most in the end. This is my prayer –

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

Again what matters is spiritual sight, rather than physical sight. It’s what Paul prayed for the Ephesians –

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Our culture may consider physical blindness a handicap, something that renders one weaker or at a disadvantage – BUT – the Lord said to Paul, when Paul asked to be healed –

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul’s response? whining, complaining, anger, giving up, running away, despair? No, Paul’s response to God’s refusal was this –

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Surprising maybe BUT – we know what God did with Paul’s handicapped, surrendered life! a lot! Reminds me of a modern day Christ follower, Joni Erickson Tada. She has served God her whole life, accomplished much for others and for the kingdom, all from the confines of a wheelchair. Some would call her handicapped, but her life says otherwise – it has been rich, full of purpose and accomplishment, more than most for sure. This is a reminder to me that –

“with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

I see the evidence of this truth in my insightful friend’s life. It takes courage and persistence for him to show up each day and navigate life’s challenges without physical sight. But he does and this must give inspiration and hope to others that they too can overcome the challenges that they face in their lives and be victorious. I am inspired by my insightful friend, remembering this truth from God’s word –

“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

There may be those who watch my insightful friend walking down the street with his rod out in front of him and wonder why? Jesus disciples asked the same question of Jesus once. This is how that conversation went –

“As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’ ” (John 9:1-3)

Such is the case with my insightful friend. His physical blindness creates in him a dependence on God, which allows the work of God to be displayed clearly in his life for all to see and for God to be glorified. God has given him inward sight in full measure, hence the term “insightful” seems an apt description for him. When he talks with others, he is able to listen to them, without being distracted by physical appearances. He “sees” others as they truly are simply by listening to them. Just maybe, it’s a little easier to listen to God’s voice too, without all the visual distractions of the world?

Someone told my friend that blindness was the hardest handicap to live with. I don’t know if that’s true or not. What I do know is that my friend doesn’t walk in darkness nor alone. Jesus made that clear when He said –

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

My friend may be blind, but he sees with the sight that we all long to receive from God – the sight the hymn talks about – “I once was blind but now I see.” Paul (then Saul) was made blind as he journeyed on the road to Damascus. The result? Paul was at last able to see clearly who Jesus really was. It changed his life forever. Sometimes we have to lose something of lesser value in order to gain something of greater value.

I know my insightful friend sees with the eyes that count, the eyes of the heart, the eyes of faith. He walks like I want to – by faith and not by sight. Sometimes when you have sight, it’s too easy to forget the faith part and rely solely on sight, therefore on self. My friend doesn’t have that option – he walks by faith twenty-four/seven. After all, what we need to see, can’t be seen with human eyes anyway.

“So we fix our eyes . . . on what is unseen. . . . what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

sincerely, Grace Day

captive

Posted on by Grace Day

alcohol

damaging, dangerous

drains life away, drop by drop

I stand helpless

watching them

die.

I wrote those words as a child, but they are just as real and as painful to me today, as they were the day I wrote them. Perhaps you, too, have lost someone you love to addiction? Addiction is a living death. Your captive loved one is still alive technically, but actually already dead in many respects, as they are not able to live in the fullness and the richness of life that our Creator prepared just for us and designed us to enjoy. Instead, we sell our souls into the captivity of addiction and enter into a lifetime of slavery.

But there is hope, even for those appearing to be too far gone to be revived. That hope of rescue and restoration is in –

“the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17)

This is good news! There is a Deliverer! Jesus said this –

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

and in Isaiah I read this –

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1)

captives set free – prisoners released from darkness – that’s good news! Alcohol holds many captive, but alcohol is not the only enslaver. New ones appear without warning even as we are busy doing battle with our old familiar captors. Fentanyl is a relatively recent, but very real enemy, a foe who fools its unsuspecting prey by not announcing its presence until it is too late.

And addiction is not the only enemy who holds us captive. Fear holds many people captive for a lifetime, while greed, envy and lies are also formidable foes who can hold us hostage indefinitely. Fortunately for us, we have a Deliverer who came to set us free from anything and everything that threatens to hold us captive.

To those who battle addiction He says –

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

To those who fight against fear –

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ ” (Romans 8:15)

To the greedy, Jesus asks –

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

To those consumed by envy and worry about what others have that they don’t have, Jesus says –

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? . . . So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ . . . But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:27-34)

To those in bondage to lies, Jesus declares –

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Knowing Jesus sets me free because Jesus is the truth!

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (John 14:6)

Jesus came “to proclaim freedom for the captives” – that’s you and me, dear readers – Jesus came to set us captives free! I don’t have to live as a captive to alcohol, drugs, fear, greed, worry, envy, lies or anything else, ever again, because I know –

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

You and I have our Heavenly Father’s promise –

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

from one liberated captive to any others out there –

sincerely, Grace Day

pain perks?

Posted on by Grace Day

That doesn’t sound right, does it? There’s an upside to pain? Well, there is the very familiar mantra – “no pain, no gain” which would seem to support the theory that pain does have its perks. Then there’s the saying – “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Again, this seems to imply that there’s an upside to pain. Athletes would probably agree with this theory. The road to an athlete’s success, no matter what the sport, is probably paved with considerable pain, in addition to dedication and sacrifice. If you are watching any of the Olympic sporting contests currently in progress, you are seeing the results which are only achieved through the painful process of preparation that all athletes endure in order to realize their goal.

Of course, theirs is physical pain primarily. However, not just athletes, but each and every one of us endure emotional, mental, physical and spiritual pain as a part of the process that enables you and me to run life’s race and be successful. The apostle Paul knew about this. Paul would have preferred to bypass the pain, but he didn’t get a pass.

Paul had, as he himself described it – “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me.” What did Paul do about this? We find the answer in 2 Corinthians.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ ”

Paul’s request was met with a definite “no.” How did Paul respond to having his request refused? Not in the way I would have expected him to do, nor in the way I think I would have responded. Paul didn’t pout or complain or argue or give up or walk away from his calling in Christ. He did just the opposite. Paul embraced his painful situation. How do I know this? I read Paul’s response after his request was turned down. Paul said –

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

I don’t know about you, but “delight” isn’t what comes to my mind when I am insulted, or when I am going through a tough time or when things are just so hard and painful that I want to give up, I want to quit. I prefer comfort to pain and ease over difficulty. BUT – if anything worthwhile is to be accomplished, pain and struggle will be a part of the process. Just ask any Olympic athlete – it is pain and having obstacles to overcome that lead to victory.

Paul had some things figured out in this regard. He endured many hardships in addition to his painful “thorn in the flesh.” Paul was shipwrecked, beaten and imprisoned many times. In Philippians, Paul shares with us his secret to enduring and even overcoming life’s painful trials and hardships. He says –

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul saying that he can do all things through the strength that God gives him, takes on a whole new meaning for me when I read Paul’s own account of the things he has experienced. Paul tells us –

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

That’s not a complete list, but you get the idea. Paul did not get the pain free life that Jabez requested and received. Still, Paul had no regrets. In fact, Paul said this in his letter to the church at Corinth –

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Paul’s been beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned – none of that sounds very “light and momentary” to me. Yet that’s how Paul describes what he’s been through, saying the outcome of enduring these things will be an “eternal glory” for him, an outcome which will “outweigh them all”, meaning the hardships he has survived and overcome. This victory will make all the pain and suffering Paul endured worth it. I bet that’s how these Olympic athletes feel when they make the team or when they win a medal and take the podium to stand and receive their reward. James agrees with Paul on this matter. James says –

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

So I can be joyful in painful circumstances because the outcome will be better for me than if I had not encountered and endured pain in this life? I think Peter would attest to the truth of this. How do I know? Well, Peter said this –

” . . . now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

And Peter also said –

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)

So the perk of pain is a good outcome – one that cannot be achieved apart from pain? It would seem to be so. Consider this –

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17)

No suffering – no glory. No pain – no gain. I can expect pain in this life. Jesus told us –

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. (John 15:20) Jesus also warned us –

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I can’t avoid pain in this life BUT – it does have its perks. What I endure, persevere through and overcome now, produces in me those things that my Heavenly Father desires, preparing me for what is to come. I want to be able to say along with Paul these words –

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Yes, pain has its perks. I am in the race of my life. I am in the race for my life. The pain of it is producing in me perseverance, as James said. Perseverance allows me to endure and eventually to overcome. Then I will receive that “crown of righteousness” Paul talks about. Definitely better than any Olympic gold medal! And we can each receive this prize – it is available to “all who have longed for His appearing.” So –

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, . . . Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

fighting the good fight, keeping the faith –

sincerely, Grace Day

living a lie

Posted on by Grace Day

“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

That’s what Jesus told His disciples. But what is truth? And how can we know it? Jesus answers this question saying –

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Jesus further tells us –

“Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) – this referring to God’s Word found in the Bible.

Which makes sense because Jesus is the Living Word – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1 & 14)

There’s that word “truth” again. Truth – what we are told will set us free. Truth – what we search for, what we long for, what we say we want to know. Or do we? Are there times we prefer our lies to the truth?

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

We are so easily deceived. Lies lead us into captivity and eventual death. Truth sets us free and leads to life. The choice is ours to make every day. But we have an enemy actively working to deceive us and to destroy us. Jesus warned us about this, saying this about the devil,

“He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

The battle between truth and lies continues in full force to this day. Satan hates what God loves. God loves us, we who He created in His own image, so naturally satan wants to destroy us by any means necessary. And if satan can get us to believe a lie and destroy ourselves, that just makes his labor to destroy God’s beloved creation that much easier. It started in the garden, when satan succeeded in getting Eve to doubt God’s goodness (the truth) and to believe a lie instead of the truth she already knew. Today the strategy of lies over truth is the same and it is still effective in destroying its victims – us, you and me and the people we love.

One inescapable example currently, is that of the transgender movement and its impact on individuals and on our culture. This ideology begins with a lie, is sustained by lies and ends with its victims living a lie. How does this happen? First, transgenderism starts with a false premise, in other words, with a lie. The lie? – that one is in the wrong body, that there’s been a mistake and we need to correct this mistake as soon as possible. Young impressionable children and mixed-up teenagers searching for their place in this world are particularly vulnerable to this lie, especially if they believe the further lie that – they will be happy and life will be better when they are in the body of whichever sex they are not currently. So if this is a lie, what is the truth? What truth does God’s own word (which is truth) tell us about this issue?

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

What else do we know to be true from God’s own word?

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)

and there’s more truth about us, about you and me, about who we are as God’s creation –

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Some translations say “masterpieces” but you get the idea – God doesn’t make mistakes. Each one of us is created in our Heavenly Father’s image. We are perfectly designed and wonderfully made by a loving Creator with His good purposes in mind. Knowing this truth gives each one of us a sense of identity and purpose – we can know Whose we are and where we belong in this world. Unfortunately, if we don’t know this truth, we will believe the lie, any lie put forth that sounds good or reasonable to us at the time.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

And like Eve in the garden, we are deceived by a lie, in this case multiple lies, the alluring lies and false promises of transgenderism. Starting with the assertion (lie) that one is unhappy because they are in the wrong body, the next step is to “correct” the mistake. Here the trans ideology is sustained by multiple lies such as – puberty blockers do no harm, (they do much long term harm) puberty blockers’ effects are reversible, (they are not) life will be better when I become whichever sex I am not currently, (life will still have pain, loss and its share of hardships) transitioning will solve all my problems, be they emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, etc.. (no, it will just create a new set of problems in addition to the problems I already have)

Then transgenderism ends in a lie, the lie of attempting to live as someone you are not – an illusion that has to be sustained and is only sustained by continuous use of hormones not natural for your body, hormones which must be taken for the rest of your life in order to perpetuate the lie. Often, this lie is also sustained by body altering and mutilating surgeries, which then necessitate further plastic surgeries to cover up the damage done. This leads to a lifetime of pretending to be someone you are not – living a lie – instead of living in the freedom and in the fullness of who God created you to be all along.

Ironic right? In the quest to live “their truth” or to be their “authentic selves” those that fall prey to the lies of transgenderism end up creating a false persona through drugs/hormones and through body mutilating surgeries, which remove otherwise healthy body parts. Then this supposedly authentic persona who is in reality living as a fake person, must be meticulously maintained via medical interventions for the rest of their lives. Hard to believe children are becoming life-long patients of medical professionals at such young ages, not to mention sterile and stunted in their growth if the counselors and doctors get the children into “transitioning treatments” early enough.

Transgenderism requires trusting in self, rather than trusting in Creator God. Transgenderism says we will recreate ourselves in our own image, because we know better than God what is best for us. And the end result of this rebellious quest is death – sterilization, no longer able to produce life, no longer able to be fruitful and multiply as God commanded.

Transgenderism starts with a lie and ends with its victims living a lie, rather than being their authentic/true selves. Instead, they are held captive by the very lie they are forced to live – the lie they chose – the lie they created for themselves.

Truth is what can and will set each one free. God is Truth – satan is “the father of lies.” Satan wants to destroy what God has created and loves – us! Lord God, You are our only hope against this false ideology of trans that is destroying so many children body, mind and spirit. We pray for Your Truth to be proclaimed and known and embraced about the goodness and the rightness and the perfection of all You have created, including us – Your children, created in Your image. May Your Truth set us free from the tyranny of the lies of transgenderism.

“We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. It is You who have made us, and not we ourselves.” (Psalm 100:3)

sincerely, Grace Day

fighting the good fight

Posted on by Grace Day

I have lots of favorite movies. One of them is “Akeelah and the Bee” probably because one of my all time favorite lines comes from this movie. It’s a memorable line not only because I didn’t see it coming, but also because it changes everything, including the outcome of the story. The words took me totally by surprise and instantaneously changed my opinion of the character who said them – probably because the words were so “out of character” for the person who said them. But in order to appreciate the line, you first need to know something of the backstory that precedes the character speaking those words.

So I’ll give you the short version of this movie’s plot. In this movie, Akeelah, a girl from a poor public school in L.A., wins her local spelling bee and eventually she makes it all the way to the National Spelling Bee. One of her competitors is Dylan, a boy who has been to the National Bee before and is expected to win this time. Dylan is very competitive, and in the movie, we see the pressure Dylan’s father puts on him to win at all costs. We assume Dylan shares his father’s vision of success and how to achieve it.

That’s why what happens when Akeelah intentionally misses her word toward the end of the spelling bee, when only she and Dylan are left in the competition, is such a surprise. Dylan knows Akeelah missed her word on purpose, essentially giving him the win. I expected Dylan to take the win and never look back. As Akeelah returns to her seat next to Dylan, she tells him, “it’s yours now.” BUT – Dylan replies, “You missed that word on purpose. Either you do your best, or I don’t want it!” Wow! I did not see that coming.

Dylan then proceeds to purposely miss his word too, so they are both still in the competition. From there they go on to become co-champions of the spelling bee, because neither one misspells another word. What surprised me was that Dylan didn’t want the win if he didn’t earn it outright. Boy did I misjudge Dylan! I thought he wanted to win at all costs and didn’t care how he got there. But as it turns out, Dylan didn’t want the win “given” to him by his competitor doing less than her best.

Apparently Dylan isn’t the only one who feels this way about competition and winning. I am reminded of another favorite movie of mine, “Brian’s Song.” This movie tells the true story of two Chicago Bears football players, Brian Piccolo and Gayle Sayers. They are teammates but are competing for the same position on the team. Sayers is playing with great success until he gets injured in a game. This gives Brian the opportunity to play and sets up the scene I remember from the movie. Brian encourages Sayers in his recovery. He brings a weight machine to Sayers house and Brian also works out with him. Brian pushes Sayers to keep going during their workouts together, saying, “I’m going to beat you, Sayers, but you have to be at your best.”

Piccolo didn’t want to get playing time in the games by default, because his competition for his position was injured. He wanted to earn his playing time outright, by true ability and hard work – by beating out the best of the best, not some weaker, injured opponent. Piccolo didn’t see any honor in beating someone while they were down or at their lowest point. So he helped his competition, Sayers, to grow strong and be at his best. Otherwise, a win had no value, no true meaning for Piccolo.

This brings me to a third recollection that is inescapable at this point. It is the true story of what happened at a women’s softball game between Central Washington and Western Oregon in April 2008. A batter for Western Oregon hit a home run with two runners on base. But as Tucholsky, the batter, was running, she missed first base, went to double back and her right knee gave out, leaving her unable to run the bases and score the home run which she had just hit. (the first in her four year collegiate softball career) The only option was to allow a teammate to take her place on first base and count her hit as a single. BUT – two players from the opposing team (Holtsman and Wallace) offered to carry Tucholsky around the bases, allowing her to touch each base and home plate with her foot, thereby allowing the run to count. The rules prevented the batter’s own teammates, trainers or coaches from doing this. Only players from the opposing team are allowed to do this, which they did, making it possible for the batter’s homerun to count.

This story has always been memorable to me because it goes against everything one would expect in an athletic contest. Why would you help your opponent in their moment of need, knowing that it will only add to their score and increase the likelihood of your defeat? Yet that is precisely what the two young women from the opposing team did for the batter of their rival team. They knew she had hit the home run, they watched her do it. They saw clearly that she was injured and unable to run the bases on her own, and they knew the rules. Her own teammates could not come to her assistance. If they did, it would be an out.

The decision was the opposing players’ alone to make. Putting aside any self-interest, two players from the opposing team, Holtsman and Wallace, came to their competitor’s assistance and made sure she got the credit for the home run she had just hit, even though she was clearly unable to run the bases on her own strength. Those two young women, with their act of kindness, of courage, of compassion, of empathy, of fairness – with their desire to see the right thing done, turned an otherwise forgettable college softball game into an unforgettable memory, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire others for years to come. They may have lost the game, but they gained the opportunity to gift the world with their real and lasting picture of a true win for everyone.

Maybe winning at all costs isn’t the best mantra to live by after all? Maybe sometimes the cost of winning is just too high – especially when that cost is the loss of human lives, lives caught in the crossfire of the competition to win, no matter the consequences to others. We all witnessed this as a nation, not too many days ago now. When did wishing harm to and doing harm to our competitors become acceptable? When did wanting our opponents dead become an alternative to the process of competition – be it in academics, sports, business or politics?

I think we all want to live in a world where we feel safe enough to attend an event, whether an athletic competition, a worship service or a political gathering where we can hear for ourselves what a candidate has to say. If the world is not safe for one, it is not safe for any of us. If I am wishing harm to others who I perceive as believing or thinking differently than I do, I am essentially wishing harm to myself as well. If I want the freedom to support a particular candidate without fear of repercussions, then I must ardently desire that same freedom for those supporting an opposing candidate to be able to assemble in safety and peace without fear.

John F. Kennedy said, “A rising tide raises all boats.” We all share in the legacy of freedom left to us by our founding fathers through the Constitution. It is something we would do well to cherish and to protect. We are either all free, or we will all be slaves to fear and divisiveness, which will be our downfall. Those that want to see our country fail will never have to fire a shot. We will do their dirty work for them.

But I refuse to see others, even opponents and competitors as enemies. Competition is supposed to make us stronger or better. Athletics and business are examples of this. We strive to be the best version of ourselves or to make the best product or to provide the best service. However, we could take a lesson from Dylan or the other examples and not want to win because our competition is injured, but because we have achieved a level of excellence in our particular arena.

Politics, like athletics, is a competition. But it should be about who has the best ideas for our country – not about vilifying one’s opponent. I don’t want to hear how bad the other guy is, I want to hear how good you are at your job. Let it be a competition of competence and excellence vying for the public trust, rather than two enemies attempting to annihilate one another. Nobody wins in these situations and we don’t get good leaders this way.

With all the divisiveness that surrounds us, we can be persuaded to see enemies in people that are simply our fellow Americans. And we can feel surrounded by evil as well, when events happen like the one last weekend. What to do? I will take these words of Paul in Romans to heart and let them be my guide.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)

That’s it. If I am fighting against evil, I can only overcome it by doing good. Paul gives some other instructions about how I can fight the good fight of faith. He says –

“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. . . . Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:9-16)

No matter what happens in this world, I am called to fight the good fight of faith. These instructions in Romans make clear how I am to go about that. I am to “overcome evil with good.” That’s all I can do – continue to fight the good fight each day, which means loving God and loving others. If I do this, one day I will be able to say along with the apostle Paul –

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

fighting the good fight, keeping the faith,

sincerely, Grace Day

another unexpected encounter

Posted on by Grace Day

There is an old (undoubtably outdated) saying – “another day, another dollar.” This saying originated from American sailors, who in the 19th century, were paid a dollar a day on long voyages, where each day was pretty much the same as the day before it had been and therefore their days at sea were fairly monotonous.

Not so, however, my daily prayer walks. Now you might think that my walks would be the same each day, just like the sailors’ days at sea. And I do usually walk the same route around the neighborhood at about the same time each day. (you would think I would get bored and mix it up a little, but no, I tend to be a creature of habit) Yet even with keeping to the same route and the same schedule, no two walks are ever the same. Of course, the weather is constantly changing, but it is much more than that.

It is the joy of the unexpected encounter, which always takes me by surprise, then leaves me uplifted and thanking God afterwards. I receive these “chance” encounters as gifts from God, as reminders of His constant presence with me and with others, wherever we are. Today’s encounter was pure joy. I came upon another walker who appeared to be on her phone as she walked (not unusual) although she was listening rather than talking. We had said “hello” in passing a few times previously, and today was no different. Well, no different at first, and then it was.

Turns out she was listening to “Our Daily Bread” which I recognized as a daily devotion from God’s word. So I walked with her and we listened together to God’s word to us as we walked. What a great way to start a new day – breakfast with a friend! I guess I should explain that one. There’s a reason this particular daily Bible reading is called “Our Daily Bread.” In Matthew, Jesus says something interesting in His response to satan, when satan tempts Jesus in the desert, after Jesus had been fasting for forty days and forty nights. Their conversation goes like this –

“The tempter came to Him (Jesus) and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:3-4)

Get it? God’s Word is our daily bread. We need to eat physical food every day. We need God’s Word every day. Food gives my body the strength and energy I need to be able to do everything that the day will require of me. Likewise, God’s Word gives me the wisdom, direction, teaching, hope, truth and inspiration I need in order to deal well with every situation and person I will encounter that day. I can’t survive long without either one – physical food or God’s Word. God told the Israelites as much when He told them this –

“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you – they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

God’s words are life to you and to me! In John I read this –

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. . . . The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-2 & 14)

The Word – the Living Word – that’s Jesus! No wonder Jesus said this about Himself to His disciples –

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.’ ” (John 6:35)

Jesus is the Living Word – which explains why we are told we aren’t meant to live on just physical bread alone, but truly by “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The first is simply survival. The second leads us to the life that God intended for us – the life that Jesus talked about when He said –

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Every day I am hungry for physical food and I am intentional about eating the food my body needs to keep going. There are even favorite foods that I crave. I will go to great lengths to find, purchase and prepare these foods. But I have to ask myself, am I as intentional about being fed from God’s Living Word? God’s words are life to me. They feed my mind, my heart and my spirit. God’s Word sustains me. Apart from His Word I grow weak and weary and I lose my way. Jesus told His disciples this –

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63)

There it is again – God’s words are life. No wonder when I turn to God’s Word, His words fill my heart with hope, they renew my mind, they light my way, they lift my spirit, they give me life. As I walked with my new found friend, the two of us listening together to God’s Word being read out loud, I realized how hungry I was for God’s word, starving actually. His word fills all those places in me that the world cannot fill, that the world cannot satisfy. My mind, my heart and my spirit long to be filled with His Living Word daily. Nothing else will satisfy the longing of my heart and soul.

What a special time we had in those few moments of feasting together on God’s Word, my new friend and I had. We discovered we had much in common in addition to being sisters in Christ. I gave my Heavenly Father thanks for His gift to me of another unexpected encounter of the very best kind – breakfast with a new friend from His Daily Bread. It’s like Jesus told His disciples –

“I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:48-51)

sincerely, Grace Day

I’m no Jabez

Posted on by Grace Day

Twenty some years ago, a book entitled, “The Prayer of Jabez” became very popular with people everywhere, no matter their particular religious affiliation. This book made the name of Jabez a household name, even though prior to the book being published, I have to wonder how many people were familiar with the name of Jabez or knew anything about him? I can’t say that I did. I certainly didn’t remember Jabez from any childhood Bible stories.

As it turns out, there was probably a good reason for my lack of knowledge about Jabez. He is only mentioned in three Bible verses total, those being 1 Chronicles 2:55 and 1 Chronicles 4:9&10. So why the modern day obsession with Jabez and his prayer? I turned to 1 Chronicles to read his prayer for myself in an effort to belatedly discover what all the fuss has been about in recent years. I read this –

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

That’s it. That’s all we know. Jabez is never mentioned again in the Bible. So I assume since “God granted his request” that Jabez did indeed enjoy an enlarged territory and that he was protected by God’s hand and lived pain free. Doesn’t sound like my life or the life of anyone else I currently know. I feel like these words of Jesus to His disciples more accurately describe life today for me and for those around me.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

So why don’t I just pray the prayer of Jabez? It certainly worked for him. Well, I just can’t bring myself to do it – especially the “enlarge my territory!” part. Maybe it’s because I’m mindful of these words in Luke –

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” (Luke 16:10)

So I have to ask myself, am I currently faithfully using all that God has already given me, be it my money, my talents and abilities or my time in God’s service? And if not, meaning if my money, abilities and time are not fully surrendered to God now for His purposes and for His glory, why would I ask for more? In other words, if I’m not being a good steward of what God has already given me, why would I ask Him for more of anything?

Now it did say that “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.” Perhaps this description tells us that Jabez had indeed fully surrendered all of his territory to God and therefore he was ready for and desiring of more territory, which he would also dedicate to God, to be used for God’s purposes, not his own. God must have trusted Jabez to be faithful with more as Jabez had shown himself faithful with what God had already given him, because we are told – “God granted his (Jabez’s) request.”

Why don’t I pray Jabez’s prayer? Because I’m no Jabez. If I am honest, I would admit God has given me much, certainly more than I deserve, because of His great mercy. But I don’t think “my territory” – and all that is within it, my time, abilities, finances, my heart, mind, soul and strength are fully surrendered to God twenty-four/seven. Until I learn to fully and completely surrender all that I already have, there is no reason for me to ask God for more.

I can stop looking around at what other people have and thinking that I should have that, too. I don’t want to waste time petitioning God for something more or for something other than, something different than He’s already given me. When I’m focused on what I don’t have or on what I think I should have, I ignore or I forget what God has already given me. I neglect to use, to steward and to be grateful for all that God has already placed within my territory. I fail to do what God has put right in front of me to do for Him today. I don’t need a larger territory. I need to take better care of the territory God has already given me to steward for Him. I’m no Jabez.

Then there’s Jabez’s other request – that he would be kept from harm and live “free from pain.” Even Jesus didn’t get a pass from pain while He was living here on Earth. And Jesus did ask God for that pass, so I guess it’s okay for you and I to ask also. Jesus asked this of God when He prayed in Gethsemane saying –

“Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)

Jesus was asking God to take the pain of His upcoming crucifixion away from Him. Yet even as He did this, Jesus simultaneously surrendered His will to God’s will for Him. I think I would do better to pray as Jesus prayed in this regard, rather than Jabez. Although who wouldn’t want to live life pain free? However, Peter does say this about pain –

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)

And James says this –

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-3)

Then I read in Corinthians this –

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Peter also says this about the pain you and I experience in this life –

“though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

So my pain will actually result in “praise, glory and honor” to Jesus when He is revealed! And in Romans I find another positive outcome of the pain I endure now –

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17)

The privilege of sharing in Christ’s glory – that requires sharing first in His suffering. There are things that a pain free life cannot teach me. A pain free life will not conform me to the image of Christ, nor strengthen my faith, nor give me empathy, perseverance, courage or trust. The apostle, Paul, did not get a pain free life, but had his “thorn” which God did not take away from him, even when Paul asked God to remove this painful thorn. Paul understood pain and wrote these words in his letter to the church at Philippi –

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him,” (Philippians 1:29) and –

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)

Sharing in Christ’s sufferings will not be a pain free life BUT – quite the opposite. After all, Jesus told His disciples –

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20)

I will pray with King David –

“grand me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” rather than pray with Jabez that I might be exempt from all pain.

After all, I’m no Jabez. I will experience life’s pain along with its God given joys.

I’m no Jabez. I don’t need and I would be foolish to ask for, a larger territory. I still need to learn how to faithfully steward the territory God has already entrusted to me, lest that, too, be taken from me. My prayer?

Lord, shrink my territory and bring on the pain. After all, I’m no Jabez.

Lord, help me to faithfully care for the territory You have given me. Thank You for Your abiding Presence with me always. May I know Your comfort in my pain, Your peace in uncertain circumstances, Your light in this world’s darkness, Your mercy in my mistakes, Your hope in my despair, Your strength in my weakness, Your wisdom in my foolishness, Your truth in a world of deception, Your provision in my want, Your protection when evil and enemies surround me, Your voice in the stillness and in the clamor – may I know – You.

sincerely, Grace Day

has God forgotten me?

Posted on by Grace Day

Do you ever wonder what God’s up to? I mean, He said He’s coming back for us and that He will set all things right – but that was centuries ago when Jesus made those promises. The days are certainly evil. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are floods and famines. But that’s been true of life here on earth ever since Eve made her choice in the garden. It was the same condition of life Jesus found us living in when He came here two thousand years ago. And since the time Jesus ascended into heaven, things have continued in their sorry state. So it’s understandable if we humans are growing weary in the wait these days, even as we long for Jesus’s return. To us it may seem as if Jesus is being unnecessarily slow in returning to rescue us from the mess we’ve made of things. But Peter reminds us –

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

So what I perceive as God’s slowness or even indifference to our current human suffering, is actually God’s mercy and compassion, giving each one of us more time to come to faith in Jesus and receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

During this extended period of proffered grace, God is not dilly-dallying while we are enduring the hardships of this life. No He is busy on my behalf and on your behalf, dear readers. We know this because Jesus told His disciples –

“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)

So Jesus is busy preparing a place for me. BUT – He’s also doing something even more important simultaneously. Jesus is preparing me, in order that I might be made ready to inhabit the place that He is getting ready for me. Somehow, I think the former task is infinitely easier than the latter one. It is a really hard, painstaking process getting me prepared to take my place in heaven. No wonder Jesus is taking so long – I need a lot of work done in order to be ready for His return! Is that the case for you, too? Jesus does that work for us, described this way in Ephesians –

“. . . just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

That’s the preparing work Christ is doing in you and in me now so that we can be “holy and blameless”, when He comes, ready to take our pre-prepared places in heaven. But getting all my stains, wrinkles and blemishes out is quite a painful process – it is the process called “life on planet Earth.” When I am feeling overwhelmed by life’s hardships, hurts, and heartaches, I remember these words –

“For our (my) light and momentary troubles are achieving for us (me) an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

My preparation though painful, has a greater purpose and a good outcome. It’s like Job said when he was in the midst of a painful life trial, having lost everything, with no end in sight and no hope on the horizon –

“But He (God) knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Job felt like God surely must have forgotten about him because his circumstances were so dire and they continued on, even getting worse, for so long. But even so, Job trusted God to bring him through the painful preparation he was experiencing. Job believed that he would “come forth as gold” – having been cleaned from all stains and blemishes and dewrinkled – Job was now prepared to receive what God was preparing for him all along. Peter had the same kind of faith, saying this about the preparation we experience –

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Here again I see that my suffering “grief in all kinds of trials” is part of the process, preparing me for what God has in store for me. God is refining my faith. It’s not pleasant, but it is necessary. And I have this promise from my Heavenly Father –

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

Interesting that both verses refer to “suffering for a little while” because it seems much longer to me as I wait for His work to be completed in me. Does it seem that way to you, too? Still, I have this assurance –

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

You and I are being transformed into Christ’s likeness! (after all, we were created in His image) That’s hard work. Transformation takes time. God is continually at work in our lives, preparing you and I for the place He has already prepared for us. He does this work in order that you and I might be transformed and conformed to the likeness of Christ.

In the middle of my dark nights and painful trials, I can know that my Heavenly Father hasn’t forgotten about me at all. On the contrary, He is right here with me and I can know that –

“it is God who works in me to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

Has God forgotten me? Never! I have this promise, this assurance from His word.

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

God is working on me. Actually, God is working in me and I have His promise that He will complete the work! God will not abandon me, nor will He give up on me. I need to remember that truth when things get hard, so that I will not give up on myself and I will not give up on other people. If God doesn’t give up on us, we have no reason to give up on ourselves or on each other. After all,

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)

God hasn’t forgotten me. And He hasn’t forgotten you either. He’s working on me even in the worst of my circumstances – refining my faith, building something beautiful out of the ashes of my life, washing away the stains, ironing out the wrinkles – then He will clothe me in His righteous robes when I am finally ready for the room He is preparing for me even now. God’s doing the same for you, too, dear readers.

“For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,” (Isaiah 61:10)

sincerely, Grace Day

the battle rages

Posted on by Grace Day

“In this world you will have trouble; but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Jesus spoke those words to His disciples shortly before He was falsely accused, arrested, tried, found guilty and put to death on a cross. I wonder if His disciples recalled those words as they mourned His death following His crucifixion? At that moment in time, it certainly wouldn’t have appeared to His disciples as if Jesus had indeed overcome the world. His body lay in a tomb. It looked as though the world had won the battle.

However, only three days later, the disciples’ situation looked very different. The tomb was empty! Jesus was spending time with them! The disciples had been grieving Jesus’s death. Now they were celebrating His return, His presence with them! In seemingly an instant, everything changed. The tomb was (and is) empty. Death had been and is defeated. The disciples went from despair to hope, from doubt to faith, from disillusionment to fulfillment, from grief to joy, from fear to courage, from being abandoned and adrift to becoming bearers of the Good News. They were now Christ’s ambassadors, entrusted with carrying out His Great Commission to “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.” The disciples were to let the world know the battle was won! Jesus had defeated death!

It is true, Jesus has defeated death, BUT – the battle is still raging today. My battle is still raging today and I’m guessing maybe yours is too? I see it and I feel it all around me. I am fighting it. I see those around me fighting it too. It is a battle fought on all fronts – physical, mental and spiritual. After all, we are triune beings, created in the image of a triune God, our Heavenly Father. So of course the enemy of our souls attacks our bodies, our minds and our spirits. I read in 1 Peter –

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

And that is definitely true today. Many around the globe live in countries where they are being persecuted for their faith even as I write these words. There are famines and wars and rumors of wars all around us. The battle rages around us and within us. I might as well get used to it because this will continue until the day of Christ’s return, when He will set all things right. Jesus said the outcome of the battle is secure – He has overcome. But until He comes again – the battle continues to rage on all fronts.

The apostle Paul was familiar with doing battle – both external and internal. He described His internal battle in this way.

“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. . . . When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:18-25)

No wonder I am weary! I am fighting a daily battle within myself (basically I am fighting with myself) and I am fighting many battles without, simultaneously. I would wager you are too, dear readers. While good and evil face off within me, I must also face physical illnesses and challenges, (as do so many I know), face interpersonal challenges (being called to love your enemies is hard work, as is just getting along with friends, family, coworkers and strangers alike) and battle the lies of this world (which enslave) with God’s sword of truth. My Heavenly Father knows the battle is raging. That’s why He provides armor for me to wear and a weapon for me to use.

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)

As I watch those I know and love battle illness, loss, loneliness, lies, hurt, fear, depression, anxiety, persecution etc., I watch our world battle with hatred, cruelty, violence, lies, poverty, fear and persecution simultaneously. There seems to be no peace from the battle at present anywhere I look. BUT – it makes a difference where I look. When I look to Jesus while I am in the midst of the many battles I seem to be fighting today and every day, I can “take heart” from these words of Jesus, spoken to His disciples before He sent them out into the world where He knew they would face many battles – trouble, hardship, persecution, rejection, unbelief –

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Yes, the battle is raging all around me BUT – Jesus tells me not to be troubled or afraid. My Heavenly Father doesn’t call me to live my life in fear, but rather to live my life with courage, as I face and fight the battles that surround me. After all, He has given me His sword of the Spirit with which to fight each lie, each loss, each assault and accusation. I can know –

“For our (my) light and momentary troubles are achieving for us (me) an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

I have His instructions for battle from centuries ago, still applicable for today –

“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’ ” (Exodus 14:13-14)

A good battle plan for me and for you, too – don’t be afraid, stand firm, wait on God, trust God, be still, let Him fight for me, let it be His strength, His way and His will that wins all the battles in my life. Let the victory be His alone!

I have His promise –

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

I remember that –

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:2-3)

yes, the battle rages – BUT – I will put on the full armor of God, stand firm, be still, trust God, wait on God – the battle is His –

“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . . You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)

As I fight my many battles, I need to remember these words from Chronicles. I don’t have to be discouraged or afraid even though the challenges and obstacles are many. (they seem like a vast army for sure) God simply asks me to show up – to take my position, to stand firm, and then I will have a front row seat to witness God’s deliverance. God calls me to face the enemy, (be it illness, lies, hatred, injustice, cruelty, division, betrayal, persecution) while assuring me that He will be with me when I do.

After all, my Heavenly Father is a God who does the unimaginable, the impossible – even when the battle rages. King David knew this, which may be why he said this about God-

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)

King David knew a thing or two about fighting battles. He fought the giant Goliath as well as many physical battles with horses, chariots and armies of men. He fought interpersonal battles with members of his own household and he fought spiritual battles within himself, eventually crying out to God –

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

As for me, when all my battles have ceased, I want to be able to say –

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

today, while the battle rages, I will stand firm, I will take up the sword of the Spirit with confidence, knowing Jesus has said – “but take heart! I have overcome the world.”

sincerely, Grace Day

the gift of an unexpected encounter

Posted on by Grace Day

That’s what I had this morning on my solitary prayer walk – an unexpected encounter of the best kind. I say this because there are “unexpected encounters” that do not make our day better, but instead make our day more difficult or more painful than it otherwise would have been without the encounter. However, this was not one of those encounters that brings one down, leaving you discouraged or even distraught. No, this encounter was pure joy, just the encouragement I needed on this ordinary day, this mundane morning, to lift my soul in thanks to God for His unexpected gift of this encounter.

You see, I was walking weary – not weary of body but weary of spirit. I was weary in prayer because the needs are so numerous and the burdens so heavy – alone it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This in spite of the fact that I know “nothing is too hard for God.” I was feeling weak until our paths crossed (literally) and everything changed. Now full disclosure, our paths had crossed once before just recently, where I had acknowledged to her that I wasn’t talking to myself as I walked, but to God. I guess I felt the need to explain my odd behavior to a stranger so I wouldn’t be thought weird.

To my surprise, I received complete understanding instead of a bewildered or a judgmental response. Turns out, she’s a prayer walker too! So, no explanation needed. Which brings me to this morning, when our paths crossed again and she remembered my name! We talked briefly. She shared a prayer request which gave me the courage to share a prayer burden of mine, so close to my heart that it is too painful to share with others, so I don’t. But I shared it with her this morning. My load was lightened. My burden wasn’t gone, but it was borne by another besides myself. Reminded me of this instruction from Galatians –

“Bear one another’s burdens; and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

I walked on feeling lighter, while thanking God for this good gift, this unexpected encounter. As I continued walking and talking (which is to say praying) I was reminded of something that happened to Moses that seems relevant to me today. The story is told in Exodus about Joshua and the Israelites fighting the Amalekites. It happened like this –

“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.’ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” (Exodus 17:8-13)

Moses was weak, he grew tired from having to keep his hands raised while the battle went on below him. But Moses wasn’t alone. Aaron and Hur were with him. They lifted him up. They fought the battle with him. That’s how it is with prayer. We lift each other up to God in prayer. When the enemy seems to be winning and I feel too defeated, too tired, too weak to pray, I am sustained by the knowledge that others are praying for me until I can again take my place on the wall and cry out to God.

This I do gladly for others, praying for those weak and wounded souls who are too weary to pray for themselves, feeling far from God until they come to know just how near He really is. This morning, I felt my faith strengthened, knowing someone else was praying with me for a specific, impossible mountain to be moved. I think this is something the enemy of our souls fears – us bearing each other’s burdens in prayer. Probably because he knows our faith, even if only a mustard seed amount, moves mountains and he knows –

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

We all have mountains in our lives that need moving. It is prayer that will move them. What a privilege to pray with others for their mountains to move even as they pray with me for the moving of my mountains. When I pray with and for others, I am essentially holding up their hands to God, when like Moses, they have become too weary to raise their hands themselves. And I am grateful for all the times others come alongside me in prayer, holding up my hands when I am too tired to continue holding them up to God myself. I am told to –

“pray continually” and “always keep on praying for all the saints.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 & Ephesians 6:18)

I thank God for my unexpected encounter today, encouraging me in my prayer walk to keep on praying, never giving up, knowing that someone else is praying too. Together we are calling down the kingdom as we pray individually and collectively –

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Today, I encountered a stranger and found a sister! (we even share a favorite movie, “War Room”) Thank You, Heavenly Father!

sincerely, Grace Day