THIS WEEK was my first week of college classes. It's been a lot of fun to figure out the mysteries of the bus system and to pack my own lunch. My classes keep me busy but they aren't too hard, and my friend Sarah is the best room mate I could ask for.
In the process of jumping into the college scene, I have heard God telling me lots of different things through the situations I get into.
First is the importance of uncomfortable shoes. My college campus is enormous, and I live far away from my classes. On Monday I walked around everywhere in comfortable shoes because I hadn't yet figured out how the buses work. I'm grateful that I was able to understand it quickly, however, because I found myself limping around in very uncomfortable shoes a couple days later. I wore them because they are new, and if I don't wear them they will never become comfortable.
Think of the painful black flats as a new and uncomfortable situation. Maybe something is going wrong in life, or maybe God is calling you to do something you aren't used to. It's not fun. But one of the functions of faith is to do what God calls us to, even if it isn't fun at first, believing that He will use it to bless us and others. That's how I feel about my homework sometimes. It's all part of what God calls me to, but it gets hard and tries my patience. And I'm sure you have things like that to deal with in life too. Think of the buses as the presence of God. He knows it hurts, and He is there to pick you up so that your struggle is not overwhelming.
Romans 5:3-5 "[3]And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverence; [4] and perseverence, character; and character, hope. [5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose."
Next is the importance of friends. At the church that Sarah and I visited today, the pastor referred to Acts 2 as he spoke about the nature of fellowship. The early church was a great example.
Acts 2:44-45 "[44] Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [45] and sold all their possession and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need."
I don't know what I would have done yesterday without my friend Sarah. She drove me to the supplies store for my order without which I couldn't work on my project. Then she carried my big heavy drafting board all the way to the studio on the second floor. Later she and another friend came to get me after I was done in the studio so I wouldn't have to walk to dinner alone in the dark, and she stayed on the phone with me until they found me. I'm grateful for her and for all of my friends.
Because it's so important to have other Christians around us, Sarah and I have been looking for the right church and Christian group. I've been hoping and praying we could be around Christians who care about reaching our campus, because so much good can be done here.
That's actually the last thing I've been learning about. The importance, and power, of prayer. This came to mind a few days ago when I was walking from a class and didn't have anywhere to be for a few hours. I prayed right then that I would meet a friend, because I felt lonely. Not more than two minutes later, I met two friends I had met a few months ago. Later I found a friend from school at a bus stop, another friend at another bus stop, and yet another friend while I waited outside my next class. Through this I could hear God telling me to ask anything in His name, and it would be done.
John 14:13-14 "[13] And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14]If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
So I asked again that many people would be saved on this campus. I know it's His will, because He wants to give us the kingdom.
On Thursday I went with a few friends to hear Clayton King speak for the Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). It was a funny and powerful message about the beauty of God's grace, as He looks at our shame and rescues us when we are lost and in need of mercy. This spoke to us particularly because we had gotten lost and were half an hour late. When Mr. King was done speaking, he invited those who wanted the gift of grace to raise their hands in the air. With our eyes closed, we listened with elation and heard him count to ninety-four.
Ninety four. How hard would three thousand be? I know our prayers won't go unanswered. We are dealing with a God who can save anyone despite anything, and who saved ninety-four people in a night this week. There is no limit to what He will do.
I encourage you this week to do the uncomfortable, to be with friends and be a friend, and to pray with shameless confidence. there is so much more in God than we have yet to see, and He is about to do things we have never witnessed before. Have a miraculous week!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Dreaming Big
THIS WEEK I moved into college! Today is my third day in Gainesville, FL, and classes start early tomorrow morning. It's a beautiful campus with interesting people, and I'm making a lot of friends. My roommate Sarah and I will be visiting a lot of churches and Christian student groups in the next few weeks to see where we can settle in.
College so far is fun, but it's very hard to be away from my family, my church, and my city. Part of me wishes I could be back in Jacksonville, but I know this is where God has called me right now. Being put into such a new situation serves to cast me closer to God. It makes me depend on Him more, because I know I need Him to live. I've got big dreams for this campus and for myself which, when I look at them, I realize are completely dependent on God moving.
I want to be an architect. Specifically, I want to design churches. But everyone tells me architecture is the hardest major I could have chosen. Sigh.
I want thousands of people to be saved on this enormous campus in the next few years. But people's hearts are hard, and there are just so many! How could it be possible?
I want to be a part of a Christ-centered, active Christian group. But what if my classes leave me with no time to get involved?
These issues spring up in my mind. But then I look across the room at my roommate's painting of Jesus, and I realize that all these things, however troublesome, don't really scare me. I know my God to move in greater ways than we expect, and to show His power when we pursue the relationship He wants us to have with Him. I know my God to be greater even than death, and to have done miracles around me before. He's surprising and marvelous, and I find that my giants are small compared to Him.
Like last week, I still feel like I'm on a threshold into a bigger part of my life where I don't know where I'm going or what will happen. Amazingly, Pastor Russ addressed just that issue at a worship service, called "Engage the Spirit," this Wednesday before I left. He referred to Isaiah 50 and explained that those times of facing the unknown are meant to strengthen our trust in God.
Isaiah 50:10-11 "[10] Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon God. [11] Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled - this you shall have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment."
This means that when dark, or confusing, times come, when we don't know where we're going, God is going to speak and tell us what to do. But He offers us a choice. We could light our own fire, putting our trust in our own ability or in the things we devote ourselves to. Or we could just trust that God knows what needs to happen, and do what He says even when we don't understand. It's a blessing to live life following God's voice, but otherwise our full potential in Christ won't shine through. Life is fuller when we rely upon Him, because He understands much better than we do and wants the best for us.
I can't see clearly past this afternoon. I can't be sure I'll even make it to my first class on time tomorrow, let alone make a plan for my next six years. Yet I have a dream to see thousands of people devote their lives to Christ, and to increase in my own devotion. I am reminded of a song by Jesus Culture: "Blow, mighty breath of God. Move upon this place. Blow, mighty breath of God. Move in power and grace." God will use us when He does that, but because it's His work, I don't have to worry that nothing will get done just because of my limitations.
We can have faith that God can and will do the things He has promised to do. He promises to stand with us when we stand for Him. He says He will save anyone who will put his trust in Him, accept His grace and repent. He tells us He wants to save people, and He proves it with examples of huge numbers being saved because of a few people's faithfulness.
I was reading Acts 4 yesterday, and I found some real gems.
Peter and John were arrested after they healed a lame man in Jesus' name.
v. 4 "However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand."
That's awesome! I've been praying for months that God would save thousands of people on my campus, and this shows me that with a little faithfulness, God will do great things.
v.13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus."
This verse made it onto my dry erase board. I love that when we stand unashamed of our Savior, people see that we've been with Him. They see Him in us, even today. I hope that will happen now.
But Peter and John got put in prison! It's dangerous to talk about Jesus that way. Isn't it so much safer to just go to church each Sunday and keep Him to ourselves?
Well, yeah. But that would be pretty selfish. And Jesus tells us that if we're ashamed of Him before men, He will be ashamed of us before His Father in heaven. Who wants that? Besides, in 2 Timothy 3:12 Paul says "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." So what if some people don't like it? It's God's opinion that matters.
I get a lot out of Jeremiah 1:6-8. "[6] Then said I: 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.' [7] But the Lord said to me: 'Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. [8] Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord."
There's no room for shame in a place where change is about to happen. Serving can be done anywhere from behind a vaccum to in front of a crowd. What matters is doing as we're called to do. Right now I feel like I'm called to look into architecture. So even though people keep saying how time-consuming it is, I'm not scared. I love architecture, and God has given me inexplicable peace about things that would otherwise terrify me.
I'm dreaming big and expecting great things to happen here. In fact, I know God's already doing it all over the world. It's beautiful: when our faith results in action, He responds to our faith with action. And His action strengthens our faith even more. His love living in us has power. I'm excited to see what will happen, because I have a feeling God's about to move mountains.
Romans 5:5, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Have a miraculous week!
College so far is fun, but it's very hard to be away from my family, my church, and my city. Part of me wishes I could be back in Jacksonville, but I know this is where God has called me right now. Being put into such a new situation serves to cast me closer to God. It makes me depend on Him more, because I know I need Him to live. I've got big dreams for this campus and for myself which, when I look at them, I realize are completely dependent on God moving.
I want to be an architect. Specifically, I want to design churches. But everyone tells me architecture is the hardest major I could have chosen. Sigh.
I want thousands of people to be saved on this enormous campus in the next few years. But people's hearts are hard, and there are just so many! How could it be possible?
I want to be a part of a Christ-centered, active Christian group. But what if my classes leave me with no time to get involved?
These issues spring up in my mind. But then I look across the room at my roommate's painting of Jesus, and I realize that all these things, however troublesome, don't really scare me. I know my God to move in greater ways than we expect, and to show His power when we pursue the relationship He wants us to have with Him. I know my God to be greater even than death, and to have done miracles around me before. He's surprising and marvelous, and I find that my giants are small compared to Him.
Like last week, I still feel like I'm on a threshold into a bigger part of my life where I don't know where I'm going or what will happen. Amazingly, Pastor Russ addressed just that issue at a worship service, called "Engage the Spirit," this Wednesday before I left. He referred to Isaiah 50 and explained that those times of facing the unknown are meant to strengthen our trust in God.
Isaiah 50:10-11 "[10] Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon God. [11] Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled - this you shall have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment."
This means that when dark, or confusing, times come, when we don't know where we're going, God is going to speak and tell us what to do. But He offers us a choice. We could light our own fire, putting our trust in our own ability or in the things we devote ourselves to. Or we could just trust that God knows what needs to happen, and do what He says even when we don't understand. It's a blessing to live life following God's voice, but otherwise our full potential in Christ won't shine through. Life is fuller when we rely upon Him, because He understands much better than we do and wants the best for us.
I can't see clearly past this afternoon. I can't be sure I'll even make it to my first class on time tomorrow, let alone make a plan for my next six years. Yet I have a dream to see thousands of people devote their lives to Christ, and to increase in my own devotion. I am reminded of a song by Jesus Culture: "Blow, mighty breath of God. Move upon this place. Blow, mighty breath of God. Move in power and grace." God will use us when He does that, but because it's His work, I don't have to worry that nothing will get done just because of my limitations.
We can have faith that God can and will do the things He has promised to do. He promises to stand with us when we stand for Him. He says He will save anyone who will put his trust in Him, accept His grace and repent. He tells us He wants to save people, and He proves it with examples of huge numbers being saved because of a few people's faithfulness.
I was reading Acts 4 yesterday, and I found some real gems.
Peter and John were arrested after they healed a lame man in Jesus' name.
v. 4 "However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand."
That's awesome! I've been praying for months that God would save thousands of people on my campus, and this shows me that with a little faithfulness, God will do great things.
v.13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus."
This verse made it onto my dry erase board. I love that when we stand unashamed of our Savior, people see that we've been with Him. They see Him in us, even today. I hope that will happen now.
But Peter and John got put in prison! It's dangerous to talk about Jesus that way. Isn't it so much safer to just go to church each Sunday and keep Him to ourselves?
Well, yeah. But that would be pretty selfish. And Jesus tells us that if we're ashamed of Him before men, He will be ashamed of us before His Father in heaven. Who wants that? Besides, in 2 Timothy 3:12 Paul says "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." So what if some people don't like it? It's God's opinion that matters.
I get a lot out of Jeremiah 1:6-8. "[6] Then said I: 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.' [7] But the Lord said to me: 'Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. [8] Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord."
There's no room for shame in a place where change is about to happen. Serving can be done anywhere from behind a vaccum to in front of a crowd. What matters is doing as we're called to do. Right now I feel like I'm called to look into architecture. So even though people keep saying how time-consuming it is, I'm not scared. I love architecture, and God has given me inexplicable peace about things that would otherwise terrify me.
I'm dreaming big and expecting great things to happen here. In fact, I know God's already doing it all over the world. It's beautiful: when our faith results in action, He responds to our faith with action. And His action strengthens our faith even more. His love living in us has power. I'm excited to see what will happen, because I have a feeling God's about to move mountains.
Romans 5:5, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Have a miraculous week!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Cover Girl
THIS WEEK I turned 18. Yesterday I spent my birthday surrounded by my wonderful friends and family and getting good wishes from my friends on Facebook.
I am on a very unique threshold in life right now. On Friday this week I'm leaving for college, where I plan to study Architecture and Religion. This Wednesday night was my last night with my youth group, and I know there's something even better waiting for me in Gainesville.
God is about to move at my college, as He is moving all over the world. A magazine came in the mail earlier this week called "The Voice of the Martyrs" which focuses on persecuted Christians all over the world. On the cover the is a young girl from Laos. She wears a green skirt and a striped blouse, and she focuses intently on a Bible that is burned, melted, and stained almost to illegibility.
She is the only Christian where she lives, and her faith remains strong even though others tried to destroy her Bible. On the inside of the cover I read a quote by this girl, "My villagers still hate me and mock me like they mocked Jesus on the cross. It is the world's right to hate us or love us. But for me, I will follow Jesus because I read what He says, that the world will hate you." The magazine is full of stories about people like her, Christians who desire to honor Jesus more than they want anything else.
I hope one day to be half the Christian these people are.
I've been reading "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel, which discusses answers to several big questions about God. One section regarding church history included something I was surprised to learn.
"While most people think of the average Christian today as being a United States resident living far away from any danger for their faith, journalist David Neff set the record straight. 'The typical Christian,' he said, 'lives in a developing country, speaks a non-European language, and exists under the constant threat of persecution - of murder, imprisonment, torture, or rape.'"
I love that picture of the girl in Laos. Most of us are used to seeing girls on the covers of magazines at stores, usually thin with big eyes and low-cut tops and shiny hair. But this girl is a real cover girl. Her faith is uncomplicated and real, and her devotion to Jesus is astounding. She's a hero of mine.
When they realize what some people are going through in the world, many Christians feel bad about how good we have it. What right do I have to sit here and blog in peace when a Christian in China is sentenced to 15 years in prison for publishing an unauthorized Christian magazine? How can I be safe in my home while my sisters and brothers are dying? Is it wrong for me to be comfortable in this life?
I don't think so. We have a responsibility to take care of what God blesses us with. It's not evil for my family to have cars and air conditioning and free speech. But we shouldn't put our comfort above God's calling. We should be wholeheartedly concerned for people who are suffering, and we should take every opportunity to help them. Of course we should be as unashamed of the gospel as those heroes are.
"The Voice of the Martyrs" uses Hebrews 13:3 alot: "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them - those who are mistreated - since you yourselves are the body also." Those of us who aren't suffering that kind of persecution don't necessarily have to go move to Southeast Asia, unless that's where God calls us. We have to serve our God wherever and however He calls us to.
2 Timothy 3:12 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
A real Christian reads that verse, gets scared, and does it anyway through the strength Christ gives him.
As I said before, I'm on an important threshold in my life. I'm really excited about going to college because I feel like this is the place God wants me right now. He has given me a dream for my school of about 50,000 people. There's room for an enormous miracle, for thousands to be saved. And I believe something great is about to happen.
And to keep my mind on what's important, on the wall of my room at college I'll keep the poster that "The Voice of the Martyrs" sent to me, showing the countries in the world that are Hostile or Restricted against Christianity.
I am on a very unique threshold in life right now. On Friday this week I'm leaving for college, where I plan to study Architecture and Religion. This Wednesday night was my last night with my youth group, and I know there's something even better waiting for me in Gainesville.
God is about to move at my college, as He is moving all over the world. A magazine came in the mail earlier this week called "The Voice of the Martyrs" which focuses on persecuted Christians all over the world. On the cover the is a young girl from Laos. She wears a green skirt and a striped blouse, and she focuses intently on a Bible that is burned, melted, and stained almost to illegibility.
She is the only Christian where she lives, and her faith remains strong even though others tried to destroy her Bible. On the inside of the cover I read a quote by this girl, "My villagers still hate me and mock me like they mocked Jesus on the cross. It is the world's right to hate us or love us. But for me, I will follow Jesus because I read what He says, that the world will hate you." The magazine is full of stories about people like her, Christians who desire to honor Jesus more than they want anything else.
I hope one day to be half the Christian these people are.
I've been reading "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel, which discusses answers to several big questions about God. One section regarding church history included something I was surprised to learn.
"While most people think of the average Christian today as being a United States resident living far away from any danger for their faith, journalist David Neff set the record straight. 'The typical Christian,' he said, 'lives in a developing country, speaks a non-European language, and exists under the constant threat of persecution - of murder, imprisonment, torture, or rape.'"
I love that picture of the girl in Laos. Most of us are used to seeing girls on the covers of magazines at stores, usually thin with big eyes and low-cut tops and shiny hair. But this girl is a real cover girl. Her faith is uncomplicated and real, and her devotion to Jesus is astounding. She's a hero of mine.
When they realize what some people are going through in the world, many Christians feel bad about how good we have it. What right do I have to sit here and blog in peace when a Christian in China is sentenced to 15 years in prison for publishing an unauthorized Christian magazine? How can I be safe in my home while my sisters and brothers are dying? Is it wrong for me to be comfortable in this life?
I don't think so. We have a responsibility to take care of what God blesses us with. It's not evil for my family to have cars and air conditioning and free speech. But we shouldn't put our comfort above God's calling. We should be wholeheartedly concerned for people who are suffering, and we should take every opportunity to help them. Of course we should be as unashamed of the gospel as those heroes are.
"The Voice of the Martyrs" uses Hebrews 13:3 alot: "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them - those who are mistreated - since you yourselves are the body also." Those of us who aren't suffering that kind of persecution don't necessarily have to go move to Southeast Asia, unless that's where God calls us. We have to serve our God wherever and however He calls us to.
2 Timothy 3:12 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
A real Christian reads that verse, gets scared, and does it anyway through the strength Christ gives him.
As I said before, I'm on an important threshold in my life. I'm really excited about going to college because I feel like this is the place God wants me right now. He has given me a dream for my school of about 50,000 people. There's room for an enormous miracle, for thousands to be saved. And I believe something great is about to happen.
And to keep my mind on what's important, on the wall of my room at college I'll keep the poster that "The Voice of the Martyrs" sent to me, showing the countries in the world that are Hostile or Restricted against Christianity.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Be Confident
THIS WEEK was the first week of August, which is a very important month for me. A week from today, I'll be eighteen years old. And a week after that, I'll be at college. By the end of the month, I'll be settled into my first semester of college.
I have a few great books in my life lately. Two of them, in my view have a very opposite theme. One is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, a long and epic novel about a major railroad system and society's reaction to business success. I'm reading it so I can write an essay in the hopes of winning a scholarship, because college is expensive.
The other, which I ordered last week and have been reading for the last few days, is "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. It discusses the validity of faith and answers frequent questions about God.
How are these opposite? When I read them, I sense a very different emphasis. In the former, there is a focus on the concept of human greatness and competence, especially in the attitude held by the very successful protagonist Dagny Taggart. It's an appealing view: Even if she's not a very happy person, Dagny is able to overcome all sorts of business problems because she is a person of a unique level of competence and business ability.
In the latter, a former atheist investigates answers to questions that cause many people to doubt God's goodness, His power, or even His existence. He gets professional opinions that advocate for the power of faith, which is trust in a God who understands more than we do, and who keeps His promises.
I think I've been reading too much Atlas Shrugged lately. It's a great work of literature, and there's a lot of it to read, but it did something to my attitude that I had to ask God to help me fix. He reminded me of a phrase I had read in His word, but I had forgotten where it was: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Later that day, I read a psalm that my friend referenced to in her Facebook Status, Psalm 51, and it contained that verse.
I think it's important to understand that we shouldn't be unconfident and down on ourselves, but we shouldn't have ultimate confidence on our abilities. People have truly amazing skills of incredible variety and extent. But why? God gave them to us. We have a strong God who cares for us very powerfully. He values humility and encourages confidence. Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart - these, O God, You will not despise." He wants us to be humble before Him. In fact, knowing Him and being humble before Him always involve one another.
God has never disappointed me. But I have. In my experience, whenever I try to be the source of my own strength, I'm too weak. And whenever I lean on Him, things turn out for good. Proverbs 3:5-6 pretty much say it: "[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
God isn't shy about making promises, because He always keeps them. There are more than I can count, but here are a few that I've encountered just this week.
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life."
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 54:10 "'For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you."
These are just to name a few. By reading His word, we learn that God is faithful and strong. He loves His people like a Husband, cares for us like a Father, and protects us like a King.
Compare those promises about God to these promises about us:
Romans 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting."
Matthew 6:26-27 "[26] But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: [27] and the rain descended, the floods came,and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Based on these promises and on the fact that they turn out to be true, do you think it makes more sense to be confident in ourselves, or to be confident in God? Should we consider ourselves strong, we who are the size of dust on the surface of a speck of beautiful dust in this enormous universe? Or should we consider God strong, who made us and the whole universe? Should we climb the mountain ourselves or sail above it with Him?
I say we pray with an attitude like this: Psalm 37:3, "For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me."
I would be thrilled if a brilliant lady like Dagny Taggart would put her trust in God. She's successful in business, but she definitely doesn't have any peace or personal fulfilment. On the other hand, a book like "The Case for Faith" just gives me more reasons than ever to put my confidence in God, instead of on my own understanding. It's wonderful to know that He doesn't disappoint.
I have a few great books in my life lately. Two of them, in my view have a very opposite theme. One is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, a long and epic novel about a major railroad system and society's reaction to business success. I'm reading it so I can write an essay in the hopes of winning a scholarship, because college is expensive.
The other, which I ordered last week and have been reading for the last few days, is "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. It discusses the validity of faith and answers frequent questions about God.
How are these opposite? When I read them, I sense a very different emphasis. In the former, there is a focus on the concept of human greatness and competence, especially in the attitude held by the very successful protagonist Dagny Taggart. It's an appealing view: Even if she's not a very happy person, Dagny is able to overcome all sorts of business problems because she is a person of a unique level of competence and business ability.
In the latter, a former atheist investigates answers to questions that cause many people to doubt God's goodness, His power, or even His existence. He gets professional opinions that advocate for the power of faith, which is trust in a God who understands more than we do, and who keeps His promises.
I think I've been reading too much Atlas Shrugged lately. It's a great work of literature, and there's a lot of it to read, but it did something to my attitude that I had to ask God to help me fix. He reminded me of a phrase I had read in His word, but I had forgotten where it was: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Later that day, I read a psalm that my friend referenced to in her Facebook Status, Psalm 51, and it contained that verse.
I think it's important to understand that we shouldn't be unconfident and down on ourselves, but we shouldn't have ultimate confidence on our abilities. People have truly amazing skills of incredible variety and extent. But why? God gave them to us. We have a strong God who cares for us very powerfully. He values humility and encourages confidence. Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart - these, O God, You will not despise." He wants us to be humble before Him. In fact, knowing Him and being humble before Him always involve one another.
God has never disappointed me. But I have. In my experience, whenever I try to be the source of my own strength, I'm too weak. And whenever I lean on Him, things turn out for good. Proverbs 3:5-6 pretty much say it: "[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
God isn't shy about making promises, because He always keeps them. There are more than I can count, but here are a few that I've encountered just this week.
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life."
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 54:10 "'For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you."
These are just to name a few. By reading His word, we learn that God is faithful and strong. He loves His people like a Husband, cares for us like a Father, and protects us like a King.
Compare those promises about God to these promises about us:
Romans 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting."
Matthew 6:26-27 "[26] But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: [27] and the rain descended, the floods came,and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Based on these promises and on the fact that they turn out to be true, do you think it makes more sense to be confident in ourselves, or to be confident in God? Should we consider ourselves strong, we who are the size of dust on the surface of a speck of beautiful dust in this enormous universe? Or should we consider God strong, who made us and the whole universe? Should we climb the mountain ourselves or sail above it with Him?
I say we pray with an attitude like this: Psalm 37:3, "For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me."
I would be thrilled if a brilliant lady like Dagny Taggart would put her trust in God. She's successful in business, but she definitely doesn't have any peace or personal fulfilment. On the other hand, a book like "The Case for Faith" just gives me more reasons than ever to put my confidence in God, instead of on my own understanding. It's wonderful to know that He doesn't disappoint.
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