Blog

Children amaze me. They are not able to understand abstract concepts, but they can pick up on when mom or dad is sad or otherwise upset about something. They also sense mom and dad’s love for them and when they are proud of them.

When Connie was alive, we had a special connection where we could pick up on each other’s gestures, moods, and emotions. Of course, she was superior to me in that way. Typically, a male’s is like a buffalo, while a female’s is more like a butterfly, which quickly flies away if a raindrop lands nearby. Buffaloes, with their thick hide, are hardly aware of rain or hail.

Have you considered how sensitive our Father God might be? I suspect He is far more sensitive than we might imagine. Recorded in Matthew 13:54-58 and Mark 6:1-6a, on Jesus’ last trip through Galilee, He took the disciples to His hometown, Nazareth. The part that recently stood out to me in this episode was what Matthew and Mark recorded about it. He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58, ESV). Consider this. Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19a, ESV). This means the reason only a few supernatural things were done there was not because of the humanity of Jesus! His Heavenly Father was the decision maker here. We are talking now about God Almighty, or the Holy Spirit, who can supernaturally work regardless of the circumstances. Right? So, the question arises, just how sensitive is God or the Holy Spirit? Is He so sensitive that simple prejudice against a family or logic, something that may not even be verbal or super visible, will restrain His power? Really?? Yes really!! He is very sensitive to our thoughts and motivations and responds to them, as seen in this narrative.

 

If we fast forward to our world today and consider the pervasive lack of the awe of God, the mental questions about Him, even in our churches and even in our very own hearts; could it be that God is so sensitive, especially with those of us claiming to be Christ-followers, that He will allow our lack of deep respect or reverence for Him to inhibit Him from working in our lives or in the world around us? If you examine the passage, the people were blown away by Jesus’ teaching of truth. They had known Him for decades, yet their logic now leaped into action and led them to question Jesus’ authority or authenticity. We expect unbelievers to question Him. However, if each of us believed Him as we say we do, wouldn’t we esteem Him enough to search His Word to find the full truth about His values, righteousness, or how He expects us to live? Are we serious enough to take the time to carefully examine what the Bible says for ourselves rather than depend on a pastor/preacher/teacher to do the study work and make it colorful enough for us to enjoy? I now see that God is considerably more sensitive to our feeble respect and lukewarm passion for Him than I had thought.

God’s sensitivity to unbelief woke me up like a slap in the face. Our familiarity with the truth of the supernatural may make us indifferent, but God remains sensitive to our indifference and simply withdraws His power. Paul’s words speak to me, wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Ephesians 5:14b, NIV). God is prompting us to shift our value system towards prioritizing intimacy with Him, rather than indulging in enticing pleasures. Don’t forget, the greatest commandment is to love HIM with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Would others say your daily choices and behavior demonstrate the depth of awe He deserves?

I used to wish I could have been alive and in Israel when Jesus walked on the earth. I imagined that I could have seen and heard Jesus’ miracles and heard His teachings, I would have been a volunteer apprentice even if He would not have picked me as one of the twelve. Now I can see knowledge of Him would not necessarily have meant I would have believed in Him. Thousands saw and heard Jesus yet did not fully believe or trust Him. I suspect I may have been one who walked away when He said, “unless you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood you have no life in you”. (John 6:54-56) The point is, greater knowledge of God does not equal faith in Him. It can enhance your relationship with Him but can also veil your mind and heart and thereby keep you from a more complete truth.

The grave danger of knowledge, as is the case with giving, serving, or soul winning, is that deeds can become our goal rather than being intimate with our God. Jesus called the twelve to be WITH HIM first and foremost. Notice the sequence in Jesus’ words. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned (John 15:4-6, ESV) Jesus is saying to them make your home in me, as I make my home in you. To be an apprentice of Jesus is to so abide in Him that you become like Him and subsequently live as He lived. This with-ness to Jesus is the baseline of a believer’s entire life.

Brother Lawrence was a dishwasher in a monastery in the 17^th century who passionately loved God. He wrote a very small book called Practicing the Presence of God. He made it his life’s ambition to experience God in the midst of the chaos of the kitchen, with all its noise, distractions, and busyness—sounds like life today! He came to the place that busyness was no different from prayer time or taking communion. The point is that his holiest times were not doing spiritual practices, but constantly communicating with God in the midst of his chaos. The fruit of that transformed him into Jesus’ likeness.

How serious are you about being an apprentice of Jesus—one who will do whatever it takes for the Spirit to form Christlikeness into the fiber of their being? Two self-examination indicators: 1) In what ways have I been learning experiential knowledge of Him by making my daily home with Him and He with me? Keep in mind, we become more loving by experiencing love, not by hearing about it in a lecture or reading about it in a book. And 2) In what unique ways have my experiences in His presence been literally changing me to love and respond to people more as He did?

Be very careful not to confuse head knowledge, tradition, or behavior with faith in Him.

A 3^rd Century BC adage is ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. That means beauty is subjective, not objective (not universally agreed upon). While it names beauty, it also can be said of human truth, justice, ethics, faith or values. This is why there is such controversy over the accuracy of the interpretation of the United States Constitution and the Cancel Culture that has been stirring up such conflict. That conflict is minimized if truth had to be consistent with reality 1000 years later. All too much of what people consider truth today is nothing more than ideas birthed through the eyes of popular notions of the day. The cultural philosophies of today are not static, they will evolve as soon as the eyes of the next generations consider them.

In that light, Jesus gave the great commandment you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30, NLT2), which God also gave Moses for those in his day (Deut. 6:5). So, what did Jesus, or Moses, mean when they said those words? Was this command a threat (or else), an ideal (good thought but optional) or an invitation (into the best life possible)? In what ways might we read those words? Through the lens of today’s culture or the lens of a truth that still is an absolute, never-changing truth today? How you and I interpret those words today reveals to us, and all those around us, the depth of respect we have for God. If in practice, God has become a daddy or acquaintance, our respect for Him is more like that of a typical teenager’s respect for his parents. If we have an awe and deep respect for whatever He says, we will respond to them with the deepest of devotion and loving obedience. Hopefully, we would respond in a manner similar to what Jesus intended when He said to the church in Laodicea, Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20, NLT2). That was a very generous invitation, not a threat.

He also explained, I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of (John 10:10b, MSG). If you deeply respect Him and His words, and therefore are investing as deeply as you possible into a closer relationship with Him, you will experience as the Psalmist was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write, the way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day (Proverbs 4:18, NLT2). What a fantastic invitation! I often wonder how many believers’ lives are becoming more gratifying, satisfying each day—though not noticed until they look back six months. Again, so much depends on the progress you are expecting—if it is spiritual life change or material life change.

I’ve been very intrigued by the illumination of His invitation that Paul paints for us. After referencing how believers in the church are to be building each other up in their faith, he goes on to give us a glimpse into an indescribable life.  This (continual growth progression) will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13, NLT2). Incredible! He also wrote for those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29, ESV). If we take God and His word seriously, His apprentices, you and I can and will delightfully become more and more like Jesus! It is my prayer that you don’t see God’s word as a threat to your comfort or pleasure, an ideal (good thought but optional), but rather an invitation into a continued journey into a progressively brighter life in Him. Yes, it will have it bumps, but the Spirit uses bumps to brighten your inner being—so long as you don’t resist His loving work.

Whether we have been indoctrinated to fear God or have experienced a divine encounter that has left us with a healthy fear of God, most believers have a fear of not pleasing God. My mother-in-law feared God’s punishment for snitching some chocolate ice-cream at night. Others fear incurring God’s disfavor if they miss their devotions, don’t pray enough or go to church every Sunday. While others fear disappointing God, they dismiss their failure by hiding behind God’s grace. (Cf. Romans 6:1-2)

The truth is not every flub up we do that leaves us feeling guilty or imperfect is a sin which breaks God’s law written in our heart. Flubs are simply mistakes which are signs of immaturity. How many times does a small child fall down when learning to walk? How often do their parents discipline, berate, or shame them when they fall? Of course not, because they know their child will get right back up and press on. They will outgrow their childish ways. So why should we scold ourselves when we fall? What God is looking for in our flubs is how we respond AFTER we fall. Do we admit we fell short of walking like a mature adult, learn from it and get up to press on? …or do we justify our fall and try to act as if falling is no big deal, even if we have been a Christian for decades?

The writer of the book of Hebrews gave a very insightful warning. He wrote … since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us (Hebrews 12:1, HCSB). His distinction between a weight and a sin is insightful. Most are familiar with a sin, whatever is contrary to God’s laws or precepts. In contrast, by using an analogy of running a race, the writer uses the term ‘weight’ to describe anything that would slow a runner down in their spiritual race towards the crown of life. A ‘weight’ would be different for each person. It may be pride; vanity; worldly wisdom or explanations; an almost ungovernable temper; a shady imagination; insecurities, calloused heart, busyness, or the cares of life. Whatever it might be, it is like clothes clinging to around a runner’s legs. It wears them down and restricts their pace.

The Holy Spirit used the writer of Hebrews to urge each of us to strip off anything that will distract or otherwise impair successfully running the race of faith in God. While ‘weights’ are not sins, if there we refuse to remove a weight, innocent as it may be in itself, it will easily become an equal to sin that clings so closely around our legs that we get tangled up and fall.

This means it is vital that we cooperate with the Holy Spirit when He gently reveals to us the ‘weights’ that are continuing to inhibit our progress. This means we must forget comparison with other because no two believers are at precisely the same point in our faith journey. You and I can only seek God’s satisfaction with the continued changes we have been making in becoming more like Jesus. If He is pleased, all is well, so rejoice and give Him praise.

Remember, the fundamental thing God looks for in me is not flawlessness, because He can easily work out my flaws. But He cannot do a thing with clay that is hard, brittle, and crumbly. We normally take on those characteristics when we fail to surrender the hurts we received from others or ignore the Spirit’s whispers. Unforgiveness or willfully ignoring His gentle nudging blinds us and hardens our heart. We need to pay attention and respond as soon as you become aware of whatever He is drawing our attention to in our life. He will guide you and I into all truth.

While working on an assembly line at Wayne Manufacturing in Pomona, California, a black employee captured my attention. While the other employees fulfilled their assigned tasks, this guy was laser focused on efficiently doing quality work regardless of what others did or said to him. When I talked to him, He taught me how to leverage my weight to be more efficient. We became friends. This was during the Watt’s riots in Southern California, and I was harassed for befriending him, but that didn’t distract me from being a friend and doing what was right.

We allow so many things to distract us from being a good spouse, good parents, a diligent worker on the job, as well as completing our God-given task. In 1 Chronicles 21, Satan tripped up King David by seducing him to take a census so he would know how many subjects he had authority over—which God had forbidden a king to do. This led God to send a virus that killed 70,000 of his innocent men! David realized he had sinned, took full responsibility for his sin and repented, so the destroying angel of the Lord stopped the raging death toll.

Ornan (Araunah, in other translations), a farmer on the edge of town, was manually threshing his grain when he, and his four sons, saw this angel of the Lord. His sons were so terrified they ran for cover, but not their dad, Ornan. He was so focused on his work, he simply went back to threshing his grain. His response caught my attention. Have I been that focused on doing my God-given assignment that not even seeing an angel of the Lord would distract me?

It is interesting to note that David instantly understood the need to repent and make a sacrificial offering to express his remorse. So, he offered to buy Ornan’s land on which to offer his sin-offering. Please note this! Ornan had not sinned, so had nothing to do with God’s judgement on David. However, he was so dedicated to serving his king that after David had done such a terrible thing, Ornan told David that he could have not just his land but also his oxen and whatever else David needed to show repentance!

Wow! That is being laser focused on doing the right thing no matter what! Have I been THAT focused on sacrificial service to God’s leading in my life? What Ornan did here challenged me as I move forward in whatever God has purposed for the rest of my days? For the last months, and especially since Connie’s graduation, in my soul (mind and emotions) I have felt like a lost blind man, or a little child. In my spirit, my innermost being, I am fully confident God is holding my hand and will take me through whatever is ahead. However, my soul gets distracted from time to time and I forget He has my hand even though so many waves crash over me. To be nakedly honest, my greatest concern about tomorrow is becoming distracted by me—my humanity, my mind, emotions, circumstances, and what is still unknown. I desperately need the Holy Spirit to protect me from myself—from becoming so distracted, I inadvertently let go of His hand. I was recently reminded of Jesus’ parable of the seeds planted in the four soils. The seed in the third type of soil became distracted by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things (Mark 4:18-19, ESV). My sole comfort is in God’s character, His ways, His core values. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these comforting and faith-building words.  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6, ESV).  For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me. Colossians 1:29 (NRSV)

The word “faith” is tossed around so freely few understand its real meaning. It is mostly used to believe in a church doctrine or a trust in the verbal word of a professional doctor, banker, electrician, teacher, or maybe even the government. It can also refer to a mental or emotional agreement with someone. Biblical faith is what is commonly thought of as faith, but on serious steroids. It is intuitive than mental or emotional. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, ESV). It includes an element of risk taking. Its source is much deeper within you. In practice, what separates real faith from fantasy is how we respond in a crisis or a tragedy that only God can resolve.

This type of faith does not originate from what we have seen or heard; it comes from the Holy Spirit planting a gift into your innermost being. It is mysteriously planted in one’s innermost being. John wrote about faith as it relates to salvation when he said, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. (John 6.44a, ESV). God’s drawing is not something we can do for ourselves or anything others can do for us. This drawing is His impartation of faith that involves a revelation of what is possible when God is involved. Paul says it this way, for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8, ESV).  The only role we play in salvation is embracing the vision God has planted deep within.

When we believe the vision the Spirit implants in our hearts, God responds by regenerating us. We experience a positive traumatic experience that changes the trajectory of our life. We come out the other side with new desires for Him, new values, fresh hope for the future. This definition of faith is far more than a mental or emotional belief in what a salesperson may say in a sales pitch.

The key to you seeing a miraculous life-change is NOT a matter of pumping yourself up to believe for a miracle. Instead, it is acknowledging something only God can do, and having Him drop the faith Jesus had into your heart. Jesus said truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19a, (ESV). This explains why Jesus healed only one man when many were sick around the pool of Bethesda. (John 17) He only saw His Father heal that one. Remember, God the Father will always be all knowing, wise, loving and totally sovereign. As for our side of the equation, our desperate need plus God’s gift generates the opportunity that releases God’s supercharged power to create a life-change.

Most have seen lightning strike the earth, few have seen lightning originate on earth and split into the atmosphere. I saw a video (Google it for yourself) of a lightning strike from the New York City World Trade Center on April 1, 2023. One explanation was that the first strike from above happened, but we couldn’t see it. That strike then charged the WTC, which sent the strike from the earth to atmosphere. This explanation illustrates what happens spiritually. First, God drops His faith into man, which charges the person with God’s power, resulting in the supernatural happens!

Miraculous moments often arise out of the times when we face overwhelming problems or painful situations we typically avoid, like the plague. But would you respond that way if you knew those problems created perfect conditions for God to drop His faith into your heart and bring about a life-altering miracle or a revelation? The amazing news is, if God doesn’t work a miracle at that moment, He has something better waiting for you. Consider the three Hebrew guys in Daniel 3:18-30. If God is for you, who can be against you? Consider viewing the dark times in your life as opportunities for a life-changing experience. Lean into them rather than away from them.

Connie’s graduation to Heaven has given me firsthand knowledge of serious grief. I didn’t realize how much I had depended upon her intuitive relationship with the Spirit. Indeed, two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NLT2).

This experience has also positioned me to discover what I now see to be a critical factor in our relationship with our God. (Take a deep breath and relax so you can track with me on this.) Pain, of any sort, typically causes a person to think more about themself than about others, including God. For me, it results in a tendency to think more about my loss than on my attachment to Christ. God insists you must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you (Exodus 34:14, NLT2). Jesus went so far as to say, if you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26, NLT2). His point is, while we certainly are to love our spouse and children, our love for God must exceed our love for anything else, including our family. Remember, Jesus said there were two great commandments, and He said the FIRST was … you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength Mark 12:30 (ESV). This was a virtual quotation God gave Moses for those he led. (Deuteronomy 6:5) All means everything that makes you and me who we are—no exceptions. He went on to say the second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:31, ESV). This means serving God or others (including family) must not usurp the first commandment to love Him. Please keep in mind, this is not an either-or situation, but a both-and one.

God knows there will be times when our human frame can only manage one intense thing at a time, such as crisis or grief. He understands our grief distraction and helps us through it if we will allow Him to do so. The Bible shows us that He focuses on our heart and what our heart finally makes a practice of doing over time.

I have found in the low bounces of my grief, when I am able to get a grip and deliberately lean into reflecting on who God shows Himself to be in His Word and thereby entering His presence, it is not long before being in His presence brings me exceptional comfort, even joy which is like a healing ointment to me. What a relief it is! Why is that? It is because I worship Him first in my situation.

But here is the sobering factor. What about all the other distractions we daily encounter and routinely practice in or life? How often do we allow our favorite hobby or activity, making more money, satisfying a secret habit or even our family to trump our worship time with God? Consider this. God is our king, and we are His servants. Right? So why is it we come asking something from the King instead of truly being His servant and lavishing our worship on Him? Isn’t that backwards to what the Bible teaches? Of course, He wants us to ask of Him, BUT NOT MORE THAN we seek to know, love, and serve Him! Ironically, the enemy of our soul will trick us into substituting ministering for worshipping Him with our heart.

This unique discovery has caused me to reconsider the priority of my intimacy with God. Is my time with Him leading to life-change. Might these words provoke thought for you?

When our daughters were small, one would get frustrated with the other and hit them if they weren’t getting their way. We told them to tell their sister they were sorry for hitting them. But they would soon forget and do it again. So, what kind of ‘I’m sorry’ will cause a change in thinking and therefore behavior?

I have counseled and coached various forms of addicts, troubled marriages, people with ideals of living like Jesus and everything in between. Of course, initially I would see a spurt in their efforts to make necessary changes, but those spurts would drizzle down to them giving up. I discovered through the years my counseling or coaching, by themselves, would not change them. I continued to work with some for decades but getting the same results. Eventually I realized my skill sets were impotent to bring about a changed life, so I searched for catalysts that would lead to them changing their life.

In essence, it was obvious that if the needed change did not flow out of their own deep convictions, any behavioral modification or mental gymnastics would be futile. Paul described in his letter to the Corinthians what we might think of as a cause-and-effect matrix. He wrote, for godly grief [the cause] produces a repentance (effect: radical change of thinking) that leads to salvation without regret (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV). If there is only regret or sorrow for getting caught, the change would only be cosmetic or temporary. Old Testament writers revealed the spiritual dynamics of that principle. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18, ESV). The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15, NLT2). They also reveal the why part of the equation. Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (ESV). Another translation of that is people who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy (Proverbs 28:13, NLT2). Their pride leads them to hide their sin instead of allowing their hearts to become brokenhearted or crushed, which allows them to humbly confess their sin. Until a person addicted to alcohol, pornography, unhealthy independence, etc., is brokenhearted with their sin, no amount of treatment will be sustainable.

There is a significant difference between humbly admitting (owning) their core problem and only acknowledging they have a problem. However, no one can force another person to own their addiction, selfish attitude in a marriage, or their unhealthy independent attitude. So how can a person come to a place of authentic humility or brokenness? It requires each person to have a positive traumatic-like encounter with the God of the Bible. Before Saul became the born-again Paul, God met him. That divine encounter dramatically reversed how Saul thought about Christ. (Cf. Acts 9:3-6, 22:6-10) In the presence of a divine Christ, no matter how intense, sins become conspicuous. The revelation breaks their heart enough to change the direction of their life. The Spirit responds to that by breaking the bondage of their addition and healing of their wounds. Without it, their change is not sustainable. Usually, these encounters involve a series of steps that begin with curiosity or the urge to investigate the truth about the God of the Bible. Are you sensing an inner tug to know God more personally? If so, a divine meeting with God is ahead of you. I urge you NEVER to ignore His gentle drawing. Instead, chase after where it leads you. Fresh freedom and joy await you.

Contentment was described as a precious jewel by the Puritans in the seventeenth century. It is hardly such today. Now it is often associated with lethargy, laziness, or passivity. A college professor once told me he believed contentment was the millstone around the neck of Christians. Today, people tend to focus on vision, goals, initiative, and assertiveness. While these things may produce more product, it is at the cost of broken family relationships, division, increase in suicides, and diminishing mental health. The apostle Paul wrote, “true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” (1 Timothy 6:6, NLT2). Godliness, with contentment, produces more attractive and healthy fruit. I believe the word contentment deserves to be reconsidered.

Paul made an insightful statement about contentment when he wrote, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:11b-12, NLT2). We are born selfish, always wanting something more. That is why children fight with each other or drive their parents crazy in a store—always wanting something more from the shelf. It doesn’t change much with age. Contentment is counterintuitive; and therefore, must be learned before it is seen to be something of value.

During my wife Connie’s illness, there were moments when I grew weary of carrying the load of her prolonged terminal illness. In the darker moments, I felt sorry for myself. However, like an unexpected breeze of cool air on a hot day, I would sense I was in God’s presence. I felt a deep peace, a very healthy sense of spiritual well-being, even joy! I picture spiritual well-being as a small child jumping, laughing, freely frolicking in an open field chasing a butterfly. No stress!

Brief as those moments in God’s presence were, they certainly lifted my spirit for hours. I saw those moments as God’s love notes, answers to people’s intercessory prayers for me. The joy of being in God’s presence surpasses any joy from achievements or from completing monumental assignments. Such contentment raises a person above all circumstances, whether positive or negative. I cherish those moments. The longer they last, the better.

We experience true contentment when the cares of life around us lose their bloodthirsty grip on our hearts. Paul’s source of contentment was not external. It was so deep within that he could enjoy life with or without the most basic needs.

Once, on a mission trip to Africa, I watched children laughing and having fun with things as simple as a discarded plastic water bottle. They didn’t need the latest video game to be content and happy. The media has successfully made us think we need something more to be happy. The fact is, we only need God’s felt presence to experience joy-filled, abundant life!! I know from personal experience.

Rabbi Hyman Schachtel wrote that happiness is not having what we want. It is wanting what we have. High stress, envy, greed, and competition suck life and any remnant of contentment out of us. Aren’t we more blessed when we replace those joy killers with gratitude for what we have and listen to our heart sing? How might you be able to strategize getting off the treadmill and allowing yourself to “SON bathe” in the pleasure of godliness with contentment? Is it time to trade your stress for a contented lifestyle?

Have you mentally competed with, or challenged, the guidance medical doctors, teachers, or even speed limits have given you? Before my wife Connie graduated to Heaven, she was prescribed one pain med that made her feel really good; so good she decided to cut back 40 percent. The next morning, she woke up in severe pain again. She lost her mental dispute with her doctor’s prescription. The reverse would have been true had she exceeded the prescribed amount.

When it comes to us competing with God’s knowledge about healthy limits on the food we eat, our attitude towards money, or even His design for our sex life, we suffer the consequences when we think we know as much as He does. He supplies what we need for the essentials of life, but each gift comes with its healthy boundaries. Our independent nature tempts us to challenge His boundaries, just like we may be tempted to respond to doctors, teachers, speed limits, or other authorities. We think we know as much as He does; therefore, do whatever we want.

 

Satan has twisted healthy competition for his own purposes. He morphed its benefit into destructiveness, just as he has done with God’s limitations on sex, pride, or greed. Competition is one of Satan’s critical character flaws. A Bible passage describing Satan’s competition with God by saying, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High (Isaiah 14:14, ESV).

He passed that same character flaw on to Eve by lying to her about the forbidden fruit on a tree in the Garden of Eden, saying, “For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5, ESV). Adam and Eve’s son Cain, when competing with his brother Abel, for God’s approval, became so angry that his offering was not accepted by God that he killed Abel.

My point is a healthy amount of competition makes a task fun. But when competition begins to drive us, it hurts us and bruises family or friends. Competition and comparison are Satan’s most subtle traps we humans fall into.

Competition is a Pandora’s box that releases legions of negative feelings toward others. It leads to feel you need to be known as better than others. We must avoid the creed of comparison or competition. God has designed each person to be as unique as the formation of a snowflake, yet equal in value to Him. Leaning into that truth makes possible the lasting security, fulfillment, and gratification which each of us needs to be healthy.

Although I’ve fallen into Satan’s trap of competition far too many times, I am able to get out of it when I follow Paul’s advice: Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3, NLT2). I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how good they are! Their trouble is that they are only comparing themselves with each other and measuring themselves against their own little ideas. What stupidity! 2 Corinthians 10:12 (TLB) Jesus said, whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave (Matthew 20:27, NLT2).

Choosing to embrace God’s relentless love and dismissing comparisons restrains my insecurities. My greatest value stems from a close connection with the Almighty God, the Lord of Hosts, who created me. Are you letting Him fulfill your need to feel valued and cherished?