What does the body of Christ look like? Sometimes it is a friend you have not seen since college, stepping out onto a balcony at the beach to take your heartbroken phone call at 8:30 a.m. A very deep, committed Christian did that for me this morning. She was the face of Christ in a true time of need. Ever since beginning this study on personal revival Satan has taken one shot after the other, most of them hard body blows. Much of my turmoil and hurt revolve around other people's perceptions of me. Have I hurt them in some way (sometimes I have)? Have I done something to destroy my Christian witness (most of the time the answer is 'yes')? Did they hear me use profanity (sadly, they may have, as I have a lifelong habit I am actively seeking to break)? Will I be okay if they reject me (my college friend seems to think so)? She stressed getting alone with the Lord and clothing myself in the armor of my faith. I will be okay. I reminded myself out loud while we talked (well, I cried and babbled incoherent things and she calmly spoke) that this whole walk with Christ is not about me anyway. I have to move forward. I have to get through this. Any time I have ever made a concerted effort to turn my entire life and being over to God for His purposes I have been treated to an unholy warfare that turns my world upside down. This time around, I am determined to find the secret place in God spoken of in scripture. "For in the time of trouble/He shall hide me in His pavilion;/In the secret place of His tabernacle/He shall hide me/He shall set me high upon a rock." (Psalm 27:5, NKJV).
If I am to perservere in my faith, I will have to keep my eyes fully on Jesus Christ, who God says in His Word is "the Author and Finisher" of my faith. I draw further encouragement from the following verses: "Teach me your way, O Lord, /And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies./Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;/For false witnesses have risen against me,/ And such as breathe out violence./I would have lost heart, unless I had believed/That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living./ Wait on the Lord;/Be of good courage,/ And He shall strengthen your heart;/Wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:11-14, NKJV) Our primary adversary who accuses us constantly is, of course, Satan. I have devised a new strategy against him when he brings condemnation, or perhaps leads others to heap condemnation on me. I will say, audibly if need be, "That is interesting. Yes, you may be right about all of those sins I have committed and weaknesses I seem to carry. Yes. However, the discussion is closed unless you can bring something that is strong enough to stand up to the BLOOD OF JESUS. Until then, I will be happy to apologize for things I have done to hurt others, but this booth is closed for shame and guilt. (Dusts hands. Smiles broadly.)
I guess, to summarize, I am beginning to see that a lot of my walk with Christ will be solitary. It will be me and Him alone in some of the narrows. I will have to seek Him with ALL I have. I can rest assured that He will be found That is comforting to an astronomical degree. When King Asa turned his heart and his nation toward God, the Word says: "but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them." (2 Chronicles 15:4, NKJV). And, finally, a favorite verse, one that gives us a peek into the loving, Father heart of God: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9, NKJV)
If I am to perservere in my faith, I will have to keep my eyes fully on Jesus Christ, who God says in His Word is "the Author and Finisher" of my faith. I draw further encouragement from the following verses: "Teach me your way, O Lord, /And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies./Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;/For false witnesses have risen against me,/ And such as breathe out violence./I would have lost heart, unless I had believed/That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living./ Wait on the Lord;/Be of good courage,/ And He shall strengthen your heart;/Wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:11-14, NKJV) Our primary adversary who accuses us constantly is, of course, Satan. I have devised a new strategy against him when he brings condemnation, or perhaps leads others to heap condemnation on me. I will say, audibly if need be, "That is interesting. Yes, you may be right about all of those sins I have committed and weaknesses I seem to carry. Yes. However, the discussion is closed unless you can bring something that is strong enough to stand up to the BLOOD OF JESUS. Until then, I will be happy to apologize for things I have done to hurt others, but this booth is closed for shame and guilt. (Dusts hands. Smiles broadly.)
I guess, to summarize, I am beginning to see that a lot of my walk with Christ will be solitary. It will be me and Him alone in some of the narrows. I will have to seek Him with ALL I have. I can rest assured that He will be found That is comforting to an astronomical degree. When King Asa turned his heart and his nation toward God, the Word says: "but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them." (2 Chronicles 15:4, NKJV). And, finally, a favorite verse, one that gives us a peek into the loving, Father heart of God: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9, NKJV)
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