Read: Nehemiah 6
“My God, think on Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear.” Nehemiah 6:14
Examine:
In this chapter Nehemiah’s enemies switch tactics. Instead of using outright threats they move into the realm of deceit. With each encounter, Nehemiah stood strong because he would only take cues from God; not man.
Apply:
There are three weaknesses in me that open the door for Satan to take me down in deceit. The first is fear of man issues. Fear of man does not mean that I sit around and tremble or that I become afraid of a person. Fear of man means that I allow the opinions of others to shape me because my pride doesn’t want to appear foolish in front of them. Fear of man means that I allow the words of others to take precedent over the voice of God in my life.
Wanting an easy way out is the second weakness that allows me to be deceived. The Bible says that the road that leads to life is narrow. A mission from God takes time to develop, requires much growth in me, and demands the sacrifice of my life. Satan litters the pathway with promises of relief and rest. If my heart is seeking a way to lessen the cost, then I am a sitting duck for the enemy.
Not knowing God’s desire of me is the final weakness that opens the door for me to find myself blinded by deception. My God is not silent. He speaks, He draws near, and He leads. He is not a God of confusion or chaos. The problem lies in that I do not always hear what He is saying. Competing demands drown out the voice of God. Finding clarity from God demands margin to sit still and necessitates me putting aside all things to pursue His will.
Pray:
Today it is all too much. That is the voice that I hear stirring inside of me. The pressure of all that is before me has captured my focus and I find myself sinking in a sea of doubt and anxiousness. This is a familiar place. As I learn to walk on water I often make the mistake of losing sight of You Jesus. From this place, I turn my eyes back to you and extend my hand.
Lift me up today Jesus. Take away my fear of man, stir in me a resolve that does not look for shortcuts, and give me the power to subdue any thought that competes with the will of our Father. You and I are joint heirs. You are my Savior. You are my advocate. You are my model. The cup that I carry is Yours, the yolk on my shoulder is the one You have given, and the passion that stirs in my heart is Your heart for those You said I should give my life to serve. All things in heaven are available to You and You challenged me to be so bold as to ask for the things needed to accomplish the will of our Father. So I am calling on Your word today. You know the size of my lack and the enormity of my task. I am calling on You to tangibly close the gap today and strengthen my heart to continue to run after You.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Two Expressions of Anger
Read: Nehemiah 5
“I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.” Nehemiah 5:6
Examine:
The Word teaches that anger is not always sinful. Leaders have to understand Holy anger and how to use it.
Apply:
There are two expressions of my anger. It will either manifest itself in passion or rage. Passionate anger has the ability to defend others, cast vision, and overcome hardship. Passionate anger is what sets captives free, starts revolutions, and overcomes huge obstacles. Passionate anger captures my attention, destroys my apathy, and forces me to get involved. Passionate anger harnessed into a righteous response is a good thing.
Rage on the other hand serves no purpose for good. It only destroys me and harms anyone it touches. Rage exploits others, justifies anything, and hardens my heart. Rage will take me places I don’t want to go, keep me there longer than I thought I’d stay, and cost me far more than I ever would have imagined. Rage is arrogant, vicious, and its thirst cannot be quenched. Rage hiding under a false veil of righteousness is among the most destructive of evils.
Pray:
Holy Spirit, I call to You this morning. I want my anger stirred over things that break our Father’s heart and once stirred I desire nothing else than to see it be channeled into a passionate response that honors the name of our Great Father. Rage is the friend of no one, but passionate anger channeled into a righteous response sets captives free.
I also need Your discernment over what really breaks the Father’s heart. The line between righteous indignation and my flesh just being ticked off is difficult to see. In the Name of being Righteous I can justify a lot of behavior and say some really nasty things. I hate that part of me and confess it to You. I have destroyed relationships, held on to bitterness, and exploited others all under the false banner of protecting what is right.
You also know how we are struggling right now. Brandy and I face uncertainty that we have never before experienced. It is hard to stand in the gap for those who have lost hope and not lose our own. This creates a pressure that makes containing my anger difficult. I beg for Your wisdom to guide my thoughts and actions today. Make my hands strong, my feet fast, and fuel in me a great resolve to see this task through to the end.
“I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.” Nehemiah 5:6
Examine:
The Word teaches that anger is not always sinful. Leaders have to understand Holy anger and how to use it.
Apply:
There are two expressions of my anger. It will either manifest itself in passion or rage. Passionate anger has the ability to defend others, cast vision, and overcome hardship. Passionate anger is what sets captives free, starts revolutions, and overcomes huge obstacles. Passionate anger captures my attention, destroys my apathy, and forces me to get involved. Passionate anger harnessed into a righteous response is a good thing.
Rage on the other hand serves no purpose for good. It only destroys me and harms anyone it touches. Rage exploits others, justifies anything, and hardens my heart. Rage will take me places I don’t want to go, keep me there longer than I thought I’d stay, and cost me far more than I ever would have imagined. Rage is arrogant, vicious, and its thirst cannot be quenched. Rage hiding under a false veil of righteousness is among the most destructive of evils.
Pray:
Holy Spirit, I call to You this morning. I want my anger stirred over things that break our Father’s heart and once stirred I desire nothing else than to see it be channeled into a passionate response that honors the name of our Great Father. Rage is the friend of no one, but passionate anger channeled into a righteous response sets captives free.
I also need Your discernment over what really breaks the Father’s heart. The line between righteous indignation and my flesh just being ticked off is difficult to see. In the Name of being Righteous I can justify a lot of behavior and say some really nasty things. I hate that part of me and confess it to You. I have destroyed relationships, held on to bitterness, and exploited others all under the false banner of protecting what is right.
You also know how we are struggling right now. Brandy and I face uncertainty that we have never before experienced. It is hard to stand in the gap for those who have lost hope and not lose our own. This creates a pressure that makes containing my anger difficult. I beg for Your wisdom to guide my thoughts and actions today. Make my hands strong, my feet fast, and fuel in me a great resolve to see this task through to the end.
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