Reading notes - week 42 - Help has arrived...it's been here all along actually

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17
I believe with all my heart that one of the activities in Heaven is going to be for God to show us “behind the scenes” what was going on throughout our life. And then we will get to see how God protected us, guided us, and provided for us through His Heavenly messengers. That is going to be so very exciting! I sort of imagine that I might sit down with Jesus with a Heavenly bowl of popcorn in front of a screen stretched out across Eternity and watch with Heavenly eyes how the events of my life played out. And I’ll not only be able to see things I’ve never seen before but I also will view them through the lens of Eternity…I’ll be able to see what God was up to, how He was accomplishing His plan for me and through me. What a truly incredible showing that is going to be!
When I think about that, about what is going on around me that I cannot see, I find encouragement. Instead of feeling defeated by the battle I am in or discouraged by the attack I am under, I am strengthened by the assurance that God is fighting for me. And His warriors are stronger than those of the enemy.
Is there a battle going on in your life that has you scared, or at least worried? Maybe you feel panicked or even hopeless as a result of the attack. Maybe the enemy seems not only to outnumber you but also to be racking up victories at your expense. But the truth is, there is more that’s for you than against you. You just can’t see it when you’re in the midst of the attack unless God opens your eyes.
Like Elisha, we just need to ask. And then God will open our eyes to see that He is at work on our behalf in a thousand different ways. He is preserving us, He is unfolding His plan…He is not absent nor unwilling or unable to help. His warriors are all around us…ask Him to let you see with spiritual eyes what He is doing…how He is fighting for you…and the help He has provided.
And like the young servant, let that assuage your fear. Do not dismay. Do not give up. Help is here!

Heart surgery

It has been my experience that God will gently and graciously repeat Himself when something in my heart needs attention. Not that He speaks in an audible voice (although He can do that, too!) but rather I will notice sort of a theme in devotionals I read or sermons I hear or conversations I have with friends. When the same verse “pops up” several times over a few days, I have learned to give it my attention. It usually means the lover of my soul has a message for me.

Such it was recently with Psalm 86:11. Teach me Your way, Lord; I will walk in Your Truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name. Today that verse was repeated in a devotional I read for what seems like the umpteenth time. So I opened my Bible to Psalm 86 and asked God what He wanted me to hear.

Here’s what I see:

First, context. In reading the entire Psalm, verse 11 appears to be dropped in the midst of expressions of praise and pleadings for answered prayer. It’s as though those heart-cries opened his eyes to the reality of his need: for God to teach him, help him, and fix him.

Working backwards in verse 11, the psalmist realizes that the goal is to fear His name. That doesn’t mean to be afraid of God - rather it is an awareness that God is holy…and we are not. It is a recognition that our greatest need and the greatest possible blessing is to know that this awareness effects right living. Having the proper view of God changes how we live.

So that’s the goal. But the psalmist realizes he faces an obstacle to reaching that goal: his own heart. Specifically, a divided heart. That’s why he uses the phrase “unite my heart”. The one God kept bringing to my attention. This is not a longing to be in unity with other believers (although that is certainly a good thing!). No, this is an awareness that the biggest problem we will ever face is not a set of challenging circumstances, other people, or even spiritual warfare. The biggest problem we have to face is much closer: our own heart. For believers, the problem is not so much that our heart is wretched but rather that our heart is divided.

Divided into parts that war against each other. The conflict between our new self and our old nature. Flesh vs spirit. Longings that are in opposition to one another. Like wanting to be fit but also wanting to eat the cookies I just baked for someone else. Longing for the willingness to die to myself yet also craving the comfort of relaxation. Having the desire to open my heart to everyone but still smarting from recent hurts that sprout a sense of self-protectiveness. Wanting for God to receive all the glory and yet longing to be thought valuable and significant myself. Striving towards obedience in the area of forgiveness but still tempted to nurse a grudge against those who hurt the ones I love. And on and on. A divided heart. One that needs to be united. United to fear His Name.

So what are we to do?

I think the answer is in that chapter, in that one verse even. First, as we realize that our heart needs uniting, we cry out to the only one Who can remedy it. God alone can cure the divided heart. Thus, we ask Him to do what only He can do so that we will fear His name and arrange our lives accordingly.

What else are we to do?
The first part of the verse instructs us:

Plead with God not only to unite our heart but first to teach us His way. The Hebrew word for “teach” there means not only provide instruction but especially to “lay the foundation”. We need more than mere knowledge - we need for God to build wisdom into us, to lay the groundwork for our lives, to actually be the rock on which our lives are built. Yes, Lord, teach us Your way!

As we look to Him to unite our heart, to build us on the Rock, we see a great truth in the middle phrase. I will walk in Your truth. At first glance, it seems like a simple declaration of how I intend to live: walking with integrity and obedience. But a deeper dive reveals much more. Much much more. The word “truth” carries with it the meaning of steadfast faithfulness. THAT is what I walk in. The truth that God is ever faithful. Even though I am not! He is steadfast to provide what I need. Which means I don’t have to fight for my own comfort or satisfaction or significance. He will provide that. I am free to forgive and risk being wounded again, free to entrust those I love to the One who loves them more because I can be secure in HIS faithfulness, HIS trustworthiness. I can walk in that - goodness gracious, I can RUN in that!

Lord Jesus, I cry out to You to unite my heart! I acknowledge the divisions that are there and I cast myself on Your goodness, Your power, Your faithfulness to heal them. To build into me the character of Christ, the sure and strong foundation of Your Word. Oh, my Savior, how I long to fear Your name and praise you forever! Thank you for teaching me with persistence <3 Oh, how I love Jesus!

From the view of the Groom....

I have had the great honor twice of being the Mother of the Bride. It truly is an honor and a privilege - I am so thankful I have some daughters and get to enjoy all the joys a wedding brings for a Bride. (Full transparency - I do hope to also enjoy being the Mother of the Groom some day but that’s not what this post is about!)

The planning. The preparation. The parties. The people. And the pictures. It is all so very exciting, so very fun. To be truthful, there might also be some Maalox Moments but I admit that I had it easy. My girls were pretty independent and low-maintenance Brides. The overall atmosphere was joy and fun. Getting to celebrate the joy they each had been to their Dad and me was high privilege. Watching him walk them down the aisle to the one God had chosen for them was priceless.

I stumbled across a verse today that reminded me of a specific moment in each of my girls’ weddings. One I will hold onto forever, treasuring it in my heart. At every wedding, I always enjoy watching the face of the Groom as he sees his Bride coming towards him and, even though I wanted to grasp every second as my gorgeous daughters were escorted by my husband down the aisle, I did not want to miss experiencing the joy of my sons-in-law in that moment. I am glad I got that chance. The tears of each Groom seemed to be full of gratitude, delight, love and maybe even disbelief that this was happening for them. It was surreal and a forever treasure indeed.

So what is the verse that reminded me of these scenes?

Isaiah 62:3 - You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

When I think about Heaven, and being the Bride of Christ, I usually think in terms of what it will be like for us as the Bride. Free from sin and all its effects. Inexpressible beauty, peace, and joy. FULLNESS of joy - all we can contain! Enjoying Him - forever! No tears, no fears, no sickness. No pain, no inadequacies, no sadness. No tension, no strife, mourning. Just beauty and peace and joy - the presence of our Redeemer FOREVER!

This verse, though, made me think of our Groom. How HE will feel. How HE will view His Bride. Somewhat like my Jon and Andrew saw my Katie and Mary as they floated towards them on the arm of my handsome husband. Receiving a crown of beauty, a royal diadem - that is how He describes us! Unbelievable!

To know we are so valued, so treasured, so delighted in is a game changer, isn’t it? Knowing that love is why Brides are so beautiful on their wedding day - and we can live in that assurance all the time. The Apostle Paul longed for us all to have that, evidenced by his words in Ephesians 3:17-19 : so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.

It is HE who makes us valuable. It is HE who makes us lovely. It is HE who makes us a crown of beauty and a royal diadem. A treasured people for His own possession. The joy for which He endured the cross.

Next time you are a wedding, watch the Groom’s face. And remember that is how Jesus is gonna look at US!!