Tag Archives: abundant life

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Where the Wind Blows

Photo by Khamkéo Vilaysing on Unsplash

“Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.  He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; who makes lightnings for the rain, who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.” Psalm 135:6-7

A few days before Veteran’s Day, I was driving in an area where American flags were displayed on utility poles up and down the main street.  The city does this every year for this holiday as well as Independence Day.  It’s a beautiful sight, and always brings a smile to my face.

On this particular day, while stopped at a red light, I was looking at the flags and noticed something interesting.  Some of the flags were waving proudly, while others hung there limp.  Although the flags were all on the same street, some were being moved by the wind, and some were not.  It had nothing to do with the flags, but everything to do with the wind.

“He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.”  Psalm 147:18

We are the same way. When we are being filled and led by the Spirit, we move where the wind of the Spirit blows us.  Some will move with fierce intensity, while others will have a slower, gentler motion.  Some may not appear to be moving at all.  The Lord uses just the right amount of wind to move us into different seasons of life, and to new places within a season.  In Him we live and move and have our being.  It won’t look the same for any two of us. As long as we’re willing to be moved, we’re being used by the Lord, and the Kingdom of God advances.

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:8

There have been many times where it felt like I was barely hanging in there.  No visible wind, just hot, stale air.  It’s not something I enjoy, but I believe it is necessary.  Sometimes we are in a time of waiting for the Lord to do in the background what we can’t see with our eyes, and sometimes we simply need to rest.  And then God, at just the right time, breathes on us and sets us in motion again.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

Are you feeling stagnant?  Ready for a new season?  I know the Lord hears when we ask Him to breathe new life into us.  I believe He delights in it!

Photo by Johnny McClung on Unsplash

Sometimes a new season can seem scary.  There is so much unknown to us.  We want to see the whole staircase, but the Lord only gives us enough light for the step we’re on.  Then, at the time of His choosing, He shines the light on the next step.

“When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’  Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’  And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.  And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’” Matthew 14:26-33

I’m so struck by Peter’s courage to get out of the boat and walk on the water with Jesus, Yeshua. He wanted to be with Yeshua! He wanted to do the miraculous! And he did! Then he took his eyes off of Yeshua, and the next thing he knew, he was sinking. As soon as he called out to the Lord, the Lord took hold of him and brought him to safety. 

Are you afraid? Afraid that if you step out of the boat, you’ll sink? I’ve been there, too. If you call out the Yeshua, though, He will rescue you, just as He rescued Peter. He loves you dearly, and His hands are outstretched toward you. He is so faithful. I have learned that it’s better to walk in the midst of a storm with Yeshua than remain safely in the boat without Him.

I want to be bold like Peter and walk on the water with Yeshua. I want the Spirit to blow so strongly in my life that no one can look at me without seeing Yeshua and His mighty power at work in me. Take a step of faith. Allow the wind of the Spirit to move you out of the boat and onto the path that God planned for you before you were even born. His plans are good, because He is good.

He raised the dead to life. He healed the brokenhearted and set the captives free. He breathed new life into Israel. He will certainly do the same for us.

“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.  He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry.  He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ And I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’  Again He said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones and say to them, “O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.”  ‘Thus says the Lord God to these bones, “Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.”’ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.  And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.  Then He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.’”’  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.”  ‘Therefore prophesy and say to them, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,’ declares the Lord.’”’  Ezekiel 37:1-14

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Dip Your Toes In

Photo by Christopher Sardegna on Unsplash

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.  For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”  Psalm 36:7-9

Isn’t that passage just absolutely wonderful? There’s so much there. God’s merciful love, protection, abundant provision, bountiful gifts, life-giving presence, and holiness. It shows the Lord’s involvement in our lives, His deep care and concern for all of our needs, and His great generosity with His children. It’s enough to make you want to just jump right in, doesn’t it?

I have had a picture in my head all week that just won’t leave. It’s a picture of the priests at the Jordan River as the Israelites were ready to cross into the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering through the wilderness. 

“You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” Joshua 3:8

Like the Israelites, I have spent some time in the wilderness, too. In the beginning, all I could focus on was getting through and getting out. Many times, I cried out to the Lord, begging Him to hurry and get the lesson over with so I could learn it and move on. I didn’t understand then that the focus was never supposed to be on the destination, but on Who was on the journey with me. 

As I attempted to navigate through that strange, unwelcomed place, I found myself reading God’s Word more and more. I spent a lot of time in the Psalms and grabbed onto every promise I came across. I spent hours with Him daily, not necessarily because I wanted to at first, but because I had to – because it was the only way I could make it through the day.  

During that time, I read a devotional by Amy Carmichael that spoke about the Lord turning our pain, our desert places, into something beautiful and useful. The verse she used was for Israel, but I knew it was for me, too, and it gave me hope.

“Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of a melody.”  Isaiah 51:3

Back to the Israelites. The time spent in the wilderness had finally ended. The Israelites had learned to go when God said go and stop when God said stop. The hope of the promise was about to be fulfilled as the Israelites stood ready to cross the Jordan. The Lord required something of them first, though. It was not enough to stand there and wait for the Lord to part the water. They knew He could do it—He had done it before. No, this time, they had to literally step out in faith. As the priests stepped into the water, it parted, and as before, the Israelites walked across on dry ground.

What a picture for us!

Are you walking in the wilderness right now? May I encourage you to let the Lord comfort your waste places, too? He can take what is dry, broken, and lifeless and nurture it back to life. You will live again, you will laugh again, and you will sing again. The Lord is faithful, and He always keeps His promises. You will say with Job, “My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen you.” 

Maybe you’ve already come out of the wilderness, feeling as if you’re standing on the bank of a swiftly moving river, wondering how you’ll ever get across. If so, pray for direction, seek wise counsel, and then step out in faith. Dip your toes in and watch the Lord do the miraculous. 

“The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them.  I will open rivers on the bare heights and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land fountains of water.” Psalm 41:17-18

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People of Courage

Photo by Dylan Hunter on Unsplash

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Fear. It can steal our sleep, health, career satisfaction, family harmony, and make us stagnant. It can prevent us from savoring the life that God has gifted to us. “There’s no thief like fear,” sings Jason Gray, one of my favorite musicians. Did you know you don’t have to let fear control your life? I didn’t.

Growing up, and throughout nearly all of my life, fear was a constant companion. It was all I had ever known, and because it was such a part of me, I didn’t see it for what it was, or know that I could be free from it.

As far as I know, there wasn’t any traumatic experience that caused my fear. I wish it were that way for everyone that experiences it, but sadly, that is not the case. For me, what started as shyness ended up affecting every aspect of my life. 

After going through a painful divorce, I desperately clung to the Lord and tried to make sense of my life. I spent hour upon hour with Him, finding solace in His presence and written Word.

Gradually, the Lord started opening my eyes, through Scripture, sermons, and books, to the truth that many of my thoughts and decisions were rooted in fear. Now that I knew this, what to do about it?

Then one day, while sitting in church, the Lord showed me something:

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

God’s Word commands us countless times to not be fearful. So…if it’s a command, then that means we have a choice, right? We can either choose to be afraid or choose not to be. How had I never seen that before? Then and there, I made a decision that would change the rest of my life. I made the decision to not be afraid.

Daily, we are overwhelmed with messages meant to instill fear in us. Everywhere we turn, we’re being bombarded with these messages – on social media, TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. The enemy of our souls uses fear to create discord in our homes, cities, and countries. But there is a better way.

The Bible is full of promises made by God. I refuse to be afraid and choose to speak those promises out loud instead.

“Your Word says that You will never leave me nor forsake me, so I will not be afraid.” Or “Your Word says that You are my refuge and my strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble, so I will not be afraid.” You get the picture.

The more I proclaim God’s Word aloud, the less often fear even tries to take over. I no longer live in fear, and you don’t have to, either. The Bible says that perfect love casts out fear. The more we spend time with God and meditate on His Word, the more He fills us with His love, and it weakens fear’s grip.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

One of the main characters in the movie Courageous said, “Where are you men of courage?” But I also have to ask, where are you women of courage? Although the movie was about fathers accepting their God-given roles and responsibilities, women have vital roles to play as well.

Everything suffers and our priorities get jumbled up when we live in fear. The state of our spiritual lives can have negative effects on our health. It can have devastating consequences on our families. Other things in our lives unravel in the process.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

It is never too late to break the fear cycle. You can do it today. The Lord is faithful. He came to heal the brokenhearted. He can bring good out of all of our past mistakes and transform ugliness into something beautiful.

My favorite words in the song Courageous are, “The only way we’ll ever stand is on our knees with lifted hands.” Amen. Come to Jesus, Yeshua, and let go of your fear. You will find forgiveness, renewal, strength, restoration, and peace. May He make us people of courage.

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6