Messages

My shirt was drenched with sweat. It was supposed to be a friendly, Saturday morning get-together with some people from church, but this three-on-three basketball game was rough. I didn’t know all of the best players would show up.

We only played about an hour and a half, but it was still an hour and a half too long for my weary body. The bumps, jolts, slaps and body slams took their toll on me physically. I needed rest.

When we finished playing, I glanced around quickly for a place to sit. The bench looked so inviting. As I sat down, my legs quivering, I sighed deeply. Ahh!

Rest is such a wonderful thing. Rest from a rugged game of basketball. Rest from a long day at work. Rest from a hectic schedule of activities and commitments.

What about rest for your soul? Rest from the intrusive thoughts and fiery darts of the enemy? Rest from the tug of war between fear and faith?

When you wrestle with fearful thoughts, your mind grows weary. Your emotions are tossed about like a rowboat in a raging storm. Is there rest? Is there peace?

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” (Psalms 62:1)

There is a secret place where your soul can find rest. It’s not a physical place–it’s a place where your Father waits for you. A place where God will wrap his arms around you and hold you close. It’s a supernatural place.

In this place, there is an indescribable peace. A peace that no matter what happens, God is there with you with his arms embraced tightly around you.

Trust is the key that opens the door to the secret place–to the quiet place where your soul can find rest. Open up your heart for God’s loving embrace. He will keep you from harm, as long as you trust him.

Prayer: Father, my body, mind and soul are exhausted from daily battles. I have tried to find rest on my own, and yet I still feel drained. Help me to trust you more, unlocking the door to my heart, so that you can take me to that secret place of rest.

Moses and the children of Israel had wandered around in the wilderness and camped out in the desert long enough. The time had come for them to cross over into the Promised Land.

For 40 years, they had been fed heavenly bread called manna every morning. They didn’t plant. They didn’t harvest. God sent them nourishment supernaturally. Each day, they followed a cloud of glory by day and the fire of God by night. Each day, Moses would speak to God for the people, and God would speak to the people through Moses.

His provision . . .
His protection . . .
His presence . . .
. . . were obvious every day.

However, once this new generation of people crossed over the Jordan, there would be no more manna, no more fire by night or cloud by day. Moses would no longer speak to God for them. It represented a new era of his provision, protection and presence. The Israelites had to simply trust God in this new land of Promise.

Moses instructed the people, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

These words ring true for everyone battling fear and panic. Our land of promise, our land of peace, lies before us. As we step across the river, there will be giants; there will be battles; there will even be set backs. We must be strong and of good courage. Why? Because God goes with us. He will not leave us nor forsake us.

Be of good courage for your Father goes with you.

Prayer: Father, I believe that you have prepared a place of peace for me. Help me to be strong and courageous, trusting that you will journey with me and fight the fear for me. Lead me to the Promised Land as you led the children of Israel.

In a land full of wickedness, where Ahab reigned with Queen Jezebel at his side, it had not rained in three and a half years. The prophet Elijah summoned 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah to meet him on Mount Carmel. There he challenged them to choose a bull, place it on the altar and call down fire from their gods. “The god who answers–he is God” (1 Kings 18:24).

After the evil prophets chose their bull and prepared their sacrifice, they prayed for fire from heaven. There was no answer. No fire. No display of power. Hours went by. They were crying out, screaming to their gods, even cutting themselves. Nothing.

Then, Elijah called the people together. He built an altar and placed the sacrifice on it. He prayed to God to answer by fire. “Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38).  God demolished the entire altar with an instant flash of lightning.

At this point, Elijah and his people gathered the 950 prophets and executed them. Following the mass execution, Elijah ran back to the palace. In fact, he outran all the king’s horses. But when he arrived, he found that Queen Jezebel was furious because of what happened at Mount Carmel and had ordered him executed just as her prophets had been. Elijah had just experienced a miraculous demonstration of God’s power, but listen to how he responded to the queen’s death sentence:

” . . . he arose and ran for his life . . . he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!'” (1 Kings 19:3-4).

What discouragement! What despair!

If God could demonstrate his power in such a mighty way, could he not also protect Elijah? So why was he so discouraged? First of all, he was probably exhausted after building an altar, calling down fire from heaven, killing 950 prophets and outrunning the king and his chariots. Secondly, he listened to the threats of a person, rather than trusting God.

When you are down and discouraged, cry out to God. Ask his Holy Spirit to encourage and empower you. God will always be faithful. God…encourages those who are discouraged (2 Corinthians 7:6a).

Prayer: Father, like Elijah I am battle-worn, drained from daily activities, fatigued from fighting this fear. Allow me to rest in your presence, renewing my strength, reviving my faith. Let me not lose confidence in your mighty power.

In today’s society, a person’s promise has lost its power. Contracts and legal documents have replaced promises. No more handshakes. No more verbal agreements. Why? Because so many people have come to a place where they cannot trust a person’s word–a person’s promise.

A few months ago, I was having some work done on my car. I wanted to pick it up before they closed, but I didn’t have my checkbook. I couldn’t pay until the next day. I thought, “I wonder if they’d let me have my car now and take my word that I will pay tomorrow?” Then, I had to laugh, Yeah, right!

Why is that? Has the world become so hardened to the power of a promise? Probably. Does that mean everyone breaks his or her promises? No.

But the world tells us, “No one can be trusted–not even God.”

Promises are only as dependable as the character of the person making the promise. If Jesus had some car work done in your shop and asked you if he could take the car home now and pay tomorrow, could you trust him?

If God promises you that he will take care of you, can you trust him? I challenge you today to trust God with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5). Trust him with something for which you’ve never trusted him before. Maybe it’s finances. Maybe it’s going to the shopping mall for the first time in years. Whatever it is, trust him. Let him reveal his faithfulness to you.

God keeps his promises.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20a).

Prayer: Father, help me to trust your promises. Help me to see that your promises are “yes” and “amen” in Jesus’ name! Show me that you can be trusted when you make a promise.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

While teaching elementary school, my wife told me about a student she had been working with. He wasn’t a serious troublemaker, but because of emotional battles at home, he continually faced disciplinary struggles at school.

One afternoon, my wife and I were at the movies. As we walked out of the theater, up runs this little boy and hugs my wife.

“Hi Mrs. Pond! Did you like that movie?” I watched as they chatted and swapped smiles.

As we climbed into the car, an overwhelming wave of compassion hit me. I wept and wept. I couldn’t help it. I kept telling my wife, “It’s not his fault. It’s not his fault.” It was as if God was allowing me to feel the emotional pain this little boy had experienced.

What I experienced that afternoon was just a taste of the compassion God has for each of us. He knows exactly what we are going through. He hurts when we hurt. It pains him to see us struggle. But, our Father doesn’t just stop at compassion. He is moved to act upon that compassion by comforting you.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”1

This scripture has become my mission statement in life: to comfort people with the comfort I myself have been comforted with.

When I saw that little boy, I wanted to find out how we could get more involved with his life. I wanted him to know that people love him and care about him. I was moved with the compassion to act.

God is moved by his compassion towards you. Do you hear your Father’s heart? Do you hear him weeping with you? Do you hear him celebrating your victories with you? Ask him. You will hear that still, small voice say, “I am.”

Prayer: Father, I know that you care so much for us, your children. Help me to see others through your eyes–eyes of compassion. Help me to get involved when possible to help those who are in need. I desire to be moved with compassion.