Bare Heart before God's Word

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.



Pictures taken (without permission) from www.goodshepherd.sc

Discipline

Hebrews 12

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Worship in Disappointment

The greatest joy comes from the deepest sorrow. When we are let down by the world, by our own expectations, by our desires... In that moment we face decisions on how to respond. If you are a God-fearing, God-believing individual, you might shake your fist at the sky, asking "Why???" You might also reason that it was never God's will, think that God does not have your best interest in mind, and grudgingly go on your way. Or you can worship.

I was touched by my friend Pete's testimony 2 Sundays ago about how David dealt with the emotional ebbs and flows of his life. I forget exactly which Psalm he referenced, but the pattern of frustration followed by refrains of truthful praise is evident throughout the Psalms.

It just so happens that I was in a state of disappointment this morning. I won't go into the details, but I was hoping that something would work out for me and it's just not going smoothly. In fact, it seems like God is closing the door on that option.

I felt like I was about explode - I absolutely needed to write. So I wrote a short piece in my journal. It started out with the "WHY? WHAT?" I mean, what is the appropriate response to this situation?

I've been at this crossroads before and it's led to months upon months of resentment and faithlessness. I've been hurt by lies, and I didn't want to do that again.

The first thing I did was DENOUNCE the lies in my head. God is not the disappointer. This followed up with TRUTH. God is for me. He's been faithful to me. He sees my situation beyond my visible horizons. He holds my hand in His hands. He holds your life, too. Trust.......

The unexpected consequence was worship. Not perfunctory worship. Like WORSHIP in my heart, songs of praise, remembrances of past faithfulness, His adoption of me as a son, picking me up and dusting me off. WORSHIP.

and.... JOY. Thank you, Lord. I can wear a real smile today because I know You love me, care, and are for me, though I can't see what my future holds. He is in control. YOU ARE IN CONTROL.

Psalm 13
1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."