Why Do This?

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Why would anyone do Kingdom work? It’s a difficult endeavor, the pay is horrible and there is opposition in the physical and spiritual realms. Why would you sign up for that?

Paul encourages the church significantly! Being remembered is treasure to the hearts of people. To hear that you are being prayed for is very encouraging! Paul then frames the motivation of their hearts for ministry – Faith, Love and Hope. Faith produces the work they’ve accomplished already. Love is the motivator and Hope gives them courage to continue, in spite of the opposition.

I certainly resonate and am encouraged by Paul’s words to the church. There is continual opposition in Kingdom work and you can question ‘why do this?’ all the time. Oh yeah, the Gospel of Jesus. I believe it is true! And if it is true it has the greatest ramifications for humanity. This Gospel has changed my life and God’s love has been poured into my heart (Romans 5:5). Love compels me to share this News (2 Corinthians 5:13-15). And when times are hard, it’s the hope of heaven that encourages me to continue (Romans 8:18).

Help From Heaven

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the LORD grant all your requests.

Psalm 20:1-5

I can imagine David writing this Psalm, this blessing, for one of his commanders or mighty men – like Joab. As Joab was leading others, extending the kingdom and engaging in battle against the king’s enemies, there would be times of distress. There would be moments of extreme stress when decisions would need to be made. David sings this prayer: ‘May the Lord answer you when you are in distress. May the God of Jacob protect you…’

The assumption is that those in the battle are praying. ‘May God hear those prayer and send help from the sanctuary.’ From the place of worship… from the location of God’s Presence help in on the way.

Is it possible that worship is the Command Center for the battle? It must be! Especially if the battle you are engaged in is God’s battle. If it’s conflict that He calls you to enter into for the sake of His Kingdom and His purposes, then from hearts of worship come the ability to strategically advance against God’s enemies. Yielding to Him is required! Thankfully He hears the prayers of His people and comes to lead and protect them. God is involved in the plans of men when He is worshipped and honored as God Most High.

David sings, ‘May god give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May the Lord grant all your requests… And we will shout for joy when you are victorious!’ What a great image of community - loving and rooting for each other!

I desire to see the Kingdom of Heaven advance more powerfully through me and my church family. I want there to be scores of people in heaven for all eternity because we were here in this place and time representing Jesus well. ‘Father, give me the desire of my heart and make all of our plans succeed!’

This is primarily a spiritual endeavor and we are wrestling with powers that cannot be seen. I have known distress, to be sure, and I need the God of Jacob to protect me. It has and will continue to be from this place of worship that God will bring strength and help to my heart. Daily worship, as well as corporate worship, are not luxurious options for me or any who want to successfully engage the battle

Worship is the Command Center where I hear the directives of the King. In His Presence help comes to me as my heart is encouraged and strengthened. It is here at His feet that I am reminded of God’s great love for me and that the battle is not mine but His! I am not ultimately responsible for victory – Jesus is! And guess what? He is already risen victoriously! I am simply His servant encouraging hearts and claiming the spoils of His victory over hell and the grave. It is in worship that I am reminded of this. It is in His Presence where I am given the help I need for this day. It is here that the desires of my heart or molded to what He desires.

Lord, give me the desires of my heart and make all of my plans succeed! Thank You for answering me when I am in distress and for protecting me from things I’ll never know. I trust in Your Name – Your awe-inspiring Name – this day.

Victory For The Upright

For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Proverbs 2:6-8

Wisdom comes from the Lord. Solomon says to pursue it! Seek wisdom like a treasure – it will pay! Knowledge, understanding, discretion, wisdom… it will all protect and save you. It will guard your life and spare you years of mistakes and the inevitable regret that comes with those mistakes. What’s more, wisdom will replace loss with victory!

There is a way that seems right to me but it leads to death. As I seek God and receive wisdom and insight from Him, there is victory. Knowledge and understanding from Him protects me from what seems right. I can know and do what is right because of the wisdom I receive from God.

Pretty cool!

Father, I seek You this morning. Teach me more of Your way. Give me the wisdom I need for this day and lead me victoriously! Thank You for the truth of Your Word. It is a blessing to be able to read Your thoughts everyday. I yield my mind and thinking to Your thoughts. May my thoughts reflect Your thoughts today, Father. Be glorified in my thinking and I know You’ll be glorified in my actions. You are awesome; the Almighty God. There is none like You. I worship You today.

Some Weeks

Ever feel like this? There are some weeks...

(That's gotta hurt!)

John Quincy Adams Quote

“I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once a year. My custom is to read four or five chapters every morning immediately after rising from my bed. It employs about an hour of my time, and seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day. In what light soever we regard the Bible, whether with reference to revelation, to history, or to morality, it is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.”

Loving Children

And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:5

Jesus had brought a little child into the middle of the disciples and told them that the greatest in His Kingdom would be like this child. In fact, unless they changed, humbled themselves and became like children, they would never enter the Kingdom of Heaven (amazing statement!). Jesus then adds verse 5! Welcome this child in my name (with my love, in my spirit, with the heart of God) and you are welcoming me.

Do I want to love Jesus in meaningful ways? Love children in His Name!

Thank You, Lord, for loving children. Thank You for loving me! Fill me with Your love today and allow me to love those little ones in my life, knowing that You are being loved through that. You are the King of the Universe, yet You love the little ones! How awesome and amazing You are!

Humble & Courageous

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me... test me... know my heart and my anxious thoughts. Observe any offensive way in me and lead me out of it. Lead me in Your way... the way everlasting.

What a prayer of humility and complete trust in God! For David to pray "search me" he was both humble and courageous. David was also honest to God enough to say "know my anxious thoughts." They are there. I have them! And then more humility to ask God to lead him out of any offensive way and into God's everlasting way.

This is also a prayer filled with hope. There is hope that God would do it and that David would be better because of it.