Have you ever noticed that when those award shows are on television, people are very interested in “who” they are wearing? Clothing has a lot to say about what kind of person you are. Clothes carry a price tag which says how wealthy you are or how wealthy you are not. Clothes have a style that gives voice to your personality. Certain clothes are worn to show the work you’re involved in like that of a nurse or an athlete. Clothes can also carry a sense of pride like that of a fire fighter, police officer, or military personnel. If we really think about it, clothes puts us into a community to which we want to belong. Clothes give us identity and we identify certain clothing with certain types of people. Many people will spend lots of time and resources building the identity they desire to have.

Clothing is also a commonly used illustration in the New Testament about our spiritual identity. Paul writes to the church in Colossae about this concept of “putting off” our old sinful identity and “putting on” our new redeemed identity (Colossians 3). Putting on means “to be clothed in, to dress ourselves with, to wear.” Paul says in Romans that we must “put on,” or clothe ourselves with, Jesus Christ and “put off,” or lay aside, our deeds of darkness (Romans 13:12-14). This is not a description of how to get salvation, but how to live out that salvation.

The tendency for us as Christians is to continue dressing ourselves as though we haven’t accepted Jesus as the Savior of our sins and the Master of our lives. The attitudes that we wear on our face and the actions we involve ourselves in, they are our clothing. So we have to ask ourselves: what are our attitudes and actions saying about us to those who are watching? It’s why Paul encourages us to “clothe” ourselves with compassion, kindness, goodness, generosity, mercy, gentleness, love and patience (Colossians 3:12). These things are fruits or evidences of a life filled with the Holy Spirit. I heard someone once say “if you’re happy and you know it, tell your face.”

One of the problems is that we often don’t think much about what we are wearing spirituality. James likens it to wearing dirty and soiled clothing in James 1:21. Many of us would be embarrassed to be caught wearing filthy clothes day after day, yet why do we do this day after day spiritually? We need to spend some considerable time and resources on wearing this identity of being with Jesus. The challenge for us as we leave the house tomorrow and walk down the red carpet of life, would be to ask ourselves: “Who are we wearing?”

For about a year now I’ve really hung onto and preached, when I can, this statement:

“Always believing that God is doing something in you, through you, with you, and for you.”

I really believe that we can get down about life when we stop believing in these truths.   Remember getting notes from a friend of that cute boy or girl that simply said “______ likes you. Do you like him/her? Circle ‘Yes’ or ‘No’”? Like early teenagers, we get excited when we find out that someone likes us. But when it comes to our relationship with God, we have lost the wonder of that note, or don’t really know how to answer it anymore. It’s something that I have to tell myself over and over as well. Since my wife and I left my previous church employment, church family, and place to live, we can get down and “lost in the fog” since we have yet to see God’s “next” destination for my employment. God has still shown us much ministry though.

We visit with people who get lost and can’t see what God is up to in their lives. We visit with people who believe God just doesn’t seem to be interested in their hurt. We visit with people, like ourselves, that often lead others with a limp. If I can confess, there are times that I’ve stop believing God is doing something in me, through me, with me, and especially for me.

To get over this dangerous road or rut creation, I’ve clung to God and His Word. I cling to the truth of God’s statements, to the truth’s of His love note. I cling to words like hope, living hope, love, and joy. I cling to descriptions of His plan and salvation. I cling to the reality that little on this earth matters in the scope of knowing Him and knowing the exceeding great power of God that raised Jesus from the dead. I cling to the promises that He will abide in me and love me, that He will never forsake me, that He who began a good work in me will complete it, and that it is He who provides a hope which does not disappoint. I cling to the reality that there are many others who need such encouragement.

I wanted to pass on these two messages that I recently watched because I know there are countless others who need a little nudge in believing God is up to something good in their lives. Make sure you watch both messages by pastor Steven Furtick.

http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch/found-favor/1

Reading the Bible, hearing a message at church, or having spiritual conversations with friends ultimately end with an answer. The answer is whether or not you believe it enough to do something about it. And in reality, whatever you do minutes, days, or months after those moments is your answer. You could choose to do nothing. And nothing is an answer.

There’s a story of Jesus telling certain people that they weren’t there when He needed them. Confused, they asked when that happened. He responded by saying that it happened when they failed to meet the needs of the poor around them or failed to visit those in prison. For when they failed in helping those who needed them, they had actually failed to be there for Jesus.

The writer of James in the New Testament tells us that our true faith is evident when we respond appropriately to God’s Word and message. We can’t just listen. We must also do. For example, if someone comes to our door looking for help, but we tell them we will pray for them and send them on their way without attending to their need (when we actually have the resources to do so), we have answered incorrectly. To say we have faith in God, but lack in responses to show it, then we are spiritually deceived. James says that even the demons are convinced of God and tremble.

God’s message is always awaiting our answer. We aren’t going to get condemned for our incorrect answers. This isn’t about doing good things in order to gain salvation. This is merely about putting your money where your mouth is. This is walking the talk. This is reflecting the One we say we believe in.

As you enter and leave your time of Bible reading, or hearing a message at church, or having a spiritual conversation with a friend, be ready and eager to listen to what God is saying and asking of you. He’ll be looking for our answer, our response. He’s not eager to smash us if we mess up. He’s eager to rejoice in our desire to respond with evidence of our love and belief in Him.

Learning and teaching go hand in hand. One often learns by watching or listening to someone else. However, merely listening or watching is not the same as learning. That’s why parents may ask their children: “are you listening to me?” To really learn, you have to be able to apply what was taught. This is not always so easy. In fact, even after watching or listening from the expert, we can still end up learning a lesson “the hard way.” Learning is both knowledge and application. Knowledge is essential. Without it, we won’t even understand what needs to happen. Yet, knowledge is only potential just as listening or watching carries the potential for learning.  Application is always key and understanding when those moments of application arise is just as important.

A wise person recognizes that they are always in need of wisdom themselves. Only fools think they don’t need wisdom. Those who are able to teach do so because they are avid learners. When you have to teach someone else something, you have to relearn it for yourself. You begin to look closely at what you are teaching to make sure it is actually what should be learned. You begin to understand things on a whole different level. You may begin to gain insight into connecting more dots of your life to those thing you once learned. You begin to know why you believe what you believe. Rather than having the ability to regurgitate knowledge, you have the ability to discern. Discernment produces the guidance most people are looking for in life decisions. We just often want someone to simply tell us the answers.

In a sense, once you begin to teach, you also begin to learn. One needs to be able to teach themselves, before they can really teach others. This doesn’t mean that they’ll always be able to do the right thing. (We know many people, including teachers and preachers, who are full of wisdom and can easily teach others wise principles, but who don’t follow their own advice.) Knowing you have people who are watching you, learning not only from your words, but from your actions as well, puts added pressure to make sure you can “walk the talk and talk the walk.” As you teach, you may begin to find yourself saying “oh, that’s why my mom/dad/mentor/teacher/pastor/friend said that.”

To go to the next level in learning, try teaching someone else. What would you say to them if they were asking for the same advice? Or what are you telling them that you have yet to apply yourself? There’s much to learn and much to be taught.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young–
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance–
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. (Pro 1:1-6 NIV)

As much as there are things that help us strengthen our faith, there are things that we may have to work on which stand as obstacles to our faith. We often don’t like to talk about these things because they are focusing on our “weaknesses” or seem opposed to being positive. Yet ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. They may actually be driving forces in your life.

Apathy – It’s very hard to change and move towards any particular direction when we don’t care about that destination. We fix our eyes on what we want, which means our eyes are most likely not fixed on what is necessary. Apathy about change is often the reason we continue to do the things we know stands in the way of a stronger faith. We don’t care about giving up what feels good to us. Apathy can be caused or enhanced with some of these other obstacles.

Past Hurt – There are circumstances that move us closer to God and circumstances that stand in our mind as blockades to trust God or to care about our relationship with God anymore. These past hurts stand in the way of believing God was doing something in us, through us, with us, and for us. It’s easier to think God was against us or not interested in our lives.  Rather than seeing the past hurt in a truthful and godly manner, we may have thought that we just need to “get over it.” However, carrying it with us will most likely come back to bite us because we really never left it to begin with. We may have to go back (first in our minds) to let God and His Word redeem (“to win back” or “to set free”) that pivotal circumstance.

Comfort and Security – This has to do with being blessed to the point of self-sufficiency. The Israelites in the Old Testament didn’t want to overcome obstacles to gain God’s promises because these obstacles didn’t seem worth the giving up of current comfort and security. Sayings like “life is good” and “God is good to me” can be key ingredients for being complacent with our connection with God. Not that this is a bad place to be, or that we have to be in some sort of struggle to learn. Nor does this mean that we aren’t being thankful for what God has done in our lives. We can often get too comfortable which leads to a drifting away from that deep longing of an abiding relationship with God. It’s the cautious side of being blessed.

Lack of Comfort and Security – When every environment is full of turmoil, hardship, and poverty that it leaves little time or a place to retreat your heart and mind for refreshment, that is an obstacle. We can’t avoid hardships in life.  When we do experience them, we are to be disciplined and focused to remain deeply rooted in God and His Word to withstand the “storms” of life. But even the wise writer, Agur, prayed that God would not make him poor so that he wouldn’t be compelled to steal and do violence to God’s reputation (Proverbs 30:9). Perhaps the first order of business is to find a place and time where we can get alone with God. Perhaps the first order of business is to ask for help. There’s no shame in needing help.

Lack of Knowledge – Sometimes we don’t know how to get somewhere because we don’t know how to get somewhere. That’s why a map or a GPS is so helpful in getting to a place that we’ve never been to before. Lacking in knowledge about God, His Word, and His ways puts us at a disadvantage to strengthening our faith. Education is good. Having the tools to complete the job is as important for our faith as much as it is in any other realm.

Lack of Mentoring Relationships – It’s often easier for someone from the “outside” to notice what’s really going on. We have our own presuppositions, ideals, and desires that cloud our judgment. Becoming stronger in our faith was never designed to be a solo endeavor. It’s good to have people who can share the load of decision making, provide wisdom, and fight on our side to not let obstacles stand in our way. Satan wants to attack those who are hurt and are separated from the pack.

Insecurities – Many of us have a lack of confidence for no reason. Often the culprit is comparing ourselves with someone else. We may not be as smart, have the same connections, or have the same family genetics gifts as someone else. We view ourselves as less than we should. We make ourselves the judge of value instead of God doing that task. But God prepared in advance for all of us to good works for Him. Rather than trusting in ourselves or comparing ourselves with someone else, get out there and begin flaming the passion that God did place in our hearts to do.

Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.

When the clouds are full of water, it rains. When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls. Don’t sit there watching the wind. Do your own work. Don’t stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.

Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, So you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does.

Go to work in the morning and stick to it until evening without watching the clock. You never know from moment to moment how your work will turn out in the end (Ecclesiastes 11:2-6).

What other obstacles would you include? And how many of these obstacles do you see happening in your life right now?

With Valentine’s day around the corner, men and woman, boys and girls are finding ways to let their special someone know how they care about them. With feelings of excitement, anticipation, eagerness, delight and pleasure, they are hoping it to be a meaningful time towards strengthening that relationship.

Even if you have that special someone or not, everyone should think about God with the same emotional sentiment. We often don’t equate feelings of “romance” with God. God is more often seen like a friend, a father, a boss, or this mysterious stranger that you don’t know how to approach. Yet, over and over again the Bible calls us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37).

In the first Psalm, we are told than the person who possesses blessings is the one who delights in the law of the Lord.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psa 1:1-2 NIV)

A person who is emotionally and intellectually finding delight in God and His ways will be blessed. Delight in this verse does carry that emotional excitement, eagerness, and pleasure that is so easily identified when we talk about a romantic human relationship.  Delight leads to thinking about that person and what you could do for them and the things that they like. You think about those things all day and night.  You schedule time and spend some money, all to show those loving feelings you have for them.

So not to sound blasphemous or out of bounds here, think about taking God on a date too. You can do this in the form of setting aside time reading His Word, praying, reaching out to a hurt relationship or spending some money towards something you know makes Him pleased.

Sometimes, we (or at least me) can be anxious about knowing the details of what we need to do in life and overlook the structure and framework of what God does tell us. For some reason, reading the Bible, praying, and following His daily wisdom in dealing with Him, other people and even ourselves don’t seem “practical” enough. We lack in obedience because we doubt its ability to “work for us.” We want something specific and when we don’t see it happening, we say “I tried the whole church, bible, God thing and nothing happened.”

Being obedient to His instructions isn’t a burden to follow, a secret code to get the details unlocked, or a prerequisite to having a relationship with Him (Jesus already paid the sin penalty, restored that relationship – we have to believe that it is true by faith – and redeemed the direct access to our Creator).  Being obedient to God’s word is first and foremost a matter of faith and trust. Being obedient is not based upon the circumstances turning out just as we want them to be.  That doesn’t mean the circumstances are always rough and hard to deal with.  It’s not like watching paint dry or licking dirt. I like what Dave Harvey says in Rescuing Ambition:

“Pursuing Christ isn’t about withdrawing to a cave somewhere so we can contemplate his grandeur. Pursuit means passion, purpose, and action” (p. 30).

God doesn’t leave us hanging around and wondering about what we can expect when we obey. I’m always struck by the way the Scriptures describe the one who is doing what God wants them to do.  Psalm 1:3 says:

 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (NIV)

Being obedient to God results in steadfastness, unflappability, firmness, strength, and assurance because we are right next to the constant and never-ending source of refreshment. We feel alive and vibrant when we are obedient to God. And during the right time, we can see evidence of our hard work slowly taking shape and growing into something refreshing for others.

Likewise, Jesus finishes His great sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7 with a description of the ones who are obedient:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Mat 7:24-27 NIV)

The difference between the “wise man” and the “foolish man” is not access to the right tools and knowledge.  The difference is obedience. The wise man put into practice what he heard and learned. The foolish man blew off the instruction and put his fundamental trust in something else. That something else wasn’t as solid as God’s. The Bible makes it clear over and over that everything you’ve ever needed and wanted for a long and satisfying life (as well as an eternal life with Him) is found living a life with God, in God, and through God.

“You don’t know me.” “You don’t know what I’ve gone through.” ”You don’t know what it’s like.” “You’ve got it all wrong.” “It’s not like that at all.”

Can someone really be able to understand who you are and what is going on inside? Don’t you know yourself better than anyone else?

Speaking wisdom into someone’s life is a delicate thing. It takes a wise listener to weed through the situations, attitudes, reactions and the facts to get to the “heart of the matter.” It takes a willing talker to expose their heart in a way that share their inner workings of thoughts and beliefs.  It takes a willing talker to then become a wise listener to the reality of their own heart and to the advice being applied.

In one sense, we do know ourselves more than anyone else. There are many things that we might rather keep a secret. There are things that we would rather people not know about us. Our thoughts and motives are some of these things. Fear of exposing them would hurt our image. Yet, sooner or later, these become such a part of who we are that we also have a hard time grasping them to change them. That’s why it’s important to have a counselor, coach or person that can really help identify the issues and give you the accountability, resources and love that it may take to see it through. Proverbs talks much about counsel. Here are a few:

“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” (Pro 20:5 NIV)

 

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Pro 15:22 NIV)

 

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.” (Pro 27:9 NIV)

Having a counselor, coach or that close and honest friend goes a long way, not only for yourself, but for those around you. There’s a great example of this in the Old Testament of Moses and what his father-in-law noticed. Check it out in Exodus 18:13-27.

But the biggest thing in all of this is not to stop here.  More than having a counselor, coach or an honest friend, we need to go to the ultimate counselor, coach and honest friend: God. So many times, God is left out of the picture.  So much advice without a connection towards God leaves something lacking in the end. The process might have moved us towards a better place and being a better person, yet I wonder what kind of change it can actually be without God? God, after all, does know us better than anyone else, including ourselves. Humans can look on the outward behaviors and what you are willing share, but God knows the inner thoughts and motives. He alone can take it to a whole new level.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind…” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV)

 

“Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.” (Proverbs 8:14 NIV)

 

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.” (Heb 4:12 NET)

That is why my advice to you would be to have the advice of God. This is more than about living a wiser life.  This is more than about living a more productive life.  This is about living a life that is truly living. That only happens when we allow God to speak to us as the One who knows us better than we do.  He has the power and understanding to actually make a change difference.

What I like about blogging is that I can look back at what I wrote a year ago. Blogging is like my “Life Journal”, yet without the extreme sharing of personal feelings. I can look back and see how God has been working in my life.  I can look back and see if I’ve changed in any way.  I can look back and see if this year is too much like the year before. All of us desire to have years of growth -whether spiritually or in wealth. To many of us, it seems like we get years of rut-defining repeats.

And as the saying goes, “if you want different results, you have to do something different.” Losing weight is often the first goal or resolution of the new year, yet I’m pretty excited to see many people talk about wanting to get closer to God in 2012.  All of this remind me of what Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:8

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (NIV)

Just like defining workout plans and creating time to actually get at it, what kind of plans are you creating to ensure training for godliness? I want to suggest 4 spiritual workouts:

1) Spend Actual Time with God -

There are many ways to spend time with God. Primarily, we have to get into reading His Word, His letter, His story for us – the Bible. Yet, buying a Bible or downloading the Bible app to your device and not using it is like buying a treadmill or a gym pass and thinking that’s the hardest part. The hardest part is actually carving out time to open it and read it. You are going to have to plan a specific and repeatable time to create a “spend time with God” rhythm. The truth is that all of us can create even a few minutes a day to do this. Maybe it’s getting up earlier? Maybe it’s getting the Bible on CD or MP3 to play during your commute? Maybe it’s putting the Bible on top of the TV remote, causing you to catch up with God before you catch up on the news? It’s time to change the classic icon of the bible to an opened one, versus only seeing the words “Holy Bible.”

2) Fast -

Just as exercising and eating whatever you want don’t mix, spending time with God can’t be just something you add on.  We have to cut out the junk and go to the source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.  Fasting is a way for us to feel “hungry for God.” Fasting isn’t some type of self-righteous test or temptation boot camp. Fasting is about coming to a place of uncomfort and filling our appetite with really getting to know God more.  We fill our appetite with prayer or more bible reading or reflection or journal or confession, to name a few. It’s putting us at a place where we know we need God. The truth is that most of us are comfortable in our lifestyles. We have plenty of food to eat.  We have a car, a house and plenty of entertainment devices. Almost anything we want is right at our disposal. Maybe it’s cutting some of those comforts out as well?

Proverbs 30:8-9 “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (NIV)

3) Journal -

Those who are serious about exercise keep track of where they are at in reaching their goal. They get on the scale and record the weight.  They track how many miles they ran and how long it took them.  They count every crunch and bicep curl.  They count every calorie. Keeping a log of repeat temptations and moments of celebration is a great way to monitor your progress.  It holds yourself accountable if you begin to “slip”a little. You may also begin to notice how you get upset over the smallest things. Keeping a journal allows you to step back and see your week or month as a whole. It’s also a great place to record some really great Bible verses or quotes to look back on and teach yourself what you may have already forgotten.

4) Get a Coach and a Cheering Section -

Every great athlete had people pushing them to be better, stronger, faster. Spiritual coaching is no different. We all need people to prod and push us.  We all need people to encourage and support us. Spiritual coaching happens at church, in a small group or One-to-One with a mentor or friend. God has not designed spiritual growth to happen without someone else. The early church had to be told this truth only several years from it’s beginning in Hebrews 10:24-25:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NIV)

Whatever your goals are for 2012, I’m praying they will transform you as God works through you, with you and in you.

I’m not ususally one to reminisce about the past. I did often think that it was a sign of not growing, just looking back at the “good old days.” The mentality of today is to keep your eyes on the future, your dreams, your hope, and your goals. But there is value in looking back. After all, “this is your life. Are you who you want to be?” (song by Switchfoot).

We should look back to connect the dots of where we have been to where we are now.  We look back to help explain how we came to the place that we are now (physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually). The bible does this a lot. Each gospel account of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) describes how things started out or how Jesus fulfilled prophecy of hundreds of years before. The Bible as a whole is a story, a narrative of the development of humanity and God.  My favorite New Testament book, Ephesians, does this right from the beginning. Paul talks about how he was an apostle “by the will of God.” Paul talks about how God has worked from the beginning of time for our salvation.  Paul is connecting the dots for us. And I like how Paul puts it in Ephesians 2:10. Check out the NIV and Message version:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)

“No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” (MESSAGE)

This passage talks about our lives before Christ and how God has brought us salvation.  It also talks about what this salvation then brings.  Salvation is not the end.  It’s a point along a great journey.  For those of us who believe in Christ as the Lord of our lives and the Savior of our sins, we are God’s piece of work.  Each day is not just “another day, another dollar.” Each year is not to be a repeat of the one before.  Events, experiences, and relationships all play into God working in us, through us and with us to do the things He has already designed and prepared for us to do.

That blows my mind to think that not only does He care and love enough to die for my sins, but He cares and loves enough to work with me, develop me and allow me to be a part of His great work. Look back over this past year and see the events, experiences, relationships and things you’ve learned that helped shape you into what you believe and why you are who you are today.  These things will help drive your desires and passions.  These things help you understand and watch for the experiences, opportunities and relationships that God could be preparing you to do His great work in this next year.  And if you want to get crazy, begin to look further back in your life to see God’s handiwork in you over the long haul and perhaps, even over the generations.