Set as Flint

Lately I have noticed at a new level that whenever God is doing something great in a body of His people, the enemy brings an onslaught of attacks as a result. At Ellerslie this summer, many of the girls talked about how they just felt so tired whenever we were in session but were fine out of session.  Some people also had an increase in bad dreams, while others dealt with various attempts of the enemy to distract them.  These would come at crucial moments in the semester, when we knew that we needed to be engaged and fighting the battle but were being barraged by the enemy. However, once we recognized that they were attacks coming from the enemy to get our eyes off Jesus, fixed upon ourselves, and thusly not allowing God to accomplish the work He was wanting to do in us, we began to fight and saw vivid and great results.

I have noticed something similar here at college lately, also. We have been meeting for prayer every night for a while now. We have been pressing into prayer for the salvation of those around us and for campus revival. The enemy knows, of course. Today I suddenly realized that many of the girls I have talked to recently have been experiencing distractions in a greater measure in their lives than earlier in the semester.

While it is difficult to fight these battles, raise up walls of fortification, and not allow the enemy to have an inch of ground in our lives, we should also count it a great privilege. It simply means that God is doing great things, and the enemy is trying to stop it. I think it may have been William Booth that said, in talking about sending people out to do the work of the Kingdom, “Go and take the devil with you.” Every true work and movement of God will have the opposition of the devil along with it. Spurgeon said, “There was never a revival of religion without a revival of satan’s opposition.”

So, while we consider it all joy that satan sees the mighty work God wants to do in us, let us also be on our guard. He must not be allowed to distract us, to move us, to get our eyes off of Jesus. Jesus wants to do something mighty in our lives, so let us continue to look to Him, with our swords drawn, ready to fight any spiritual power of darkness that would seek to thwart His purpose!

This morning, I was struck by the phrase in Acts 11: 23, “with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Let us set our hearts to seek the Lord, and set our faces as flint (Isaiah 50: 7) in this battle. We will not be distracted, we will not be moved, we will not be deterred. For King and Kingdom!

A heart full of love...

Continuing my post from last week, here is a list of things I am thankful for today...

1. Sweet time with friends over the weekend...

2. Improvising because of the whole no-oven-in-the-dorm- rule and making puppy chow instead...

3. Colorful pens...they help make my assignment book so much more festive, fun, and feminine! 

4. My wonderful space heater that keeps my warm when the room is cold...

5. The fact that I have the privilege of going to a prayer meeting every night with a group of people truly seeking after Jesus...

6. HIS love...

A Lily Among Thorns

This week I have been meditating upon and studying Proverbs 31. While I have heard the chapter quoted many times in my life and deeply love it, I felt a need to meditate on it and do a deeper study of it this week. While my thoughts are definitely not all inclusive by any means, these are just some characteristics that I came up with that describe the Proverbs 31 woman and how it applies to women today:

        *   Her sword is always drawn, ready to fight any spiritual foe that may seek to conquer what God has already won in her soul or in the souls of those around her. The word “virtuous” in verse 10 is the same word used to describe David’s mighty men.
      *        She is truly a lily among thorns (Song of Solomon 2:2). She is rare, and her price is far above rubies
      *        Her husband trusts her and has absolute confidence that she will guard and steward well that which he has earned and gives to her (verse 11).
      *        She seeks to do her husband good…even before she even meets him. She is set apart for her husband, loving him, honoring him, and seeking to please him, even during her single years (verse 12).
      *        The word “willingly” in verse 13 means “with delight and pleasure.” She does her work for her husband and children with delight and pleasure. It is not a burden for her to do. She loves to serve those around her and counts it her greatest privilege and honor.
      *        She seeks to provide her family with the best and is willing to work long, tedious hours to do so, never grumbling or complaining about it (verse 14-15, 18, 21-22, 27)
      *        She doesn't take any thought for her own comforts, luxuries, or pleasures. Her desire is to pour herself into others (verse 15, 18)
      *        She possesses mystery (verse 14). That which is sacred is kept sacred within her, not to be flippantly given to those who have not proven themselves worthy or have no claim to it. I remember reading that it was said of Elisabeth Elliot that guys in her classes at college would just sit in class and wonder what she was thinking about, for she was a “garden enclosed” (Song of Solomon 4:12)
      *        She is strong with the strength of Jehovah, ready to fight any spiritual foe that would wreak havoc on her soul or the souls of those entrusted to her care (verse 17)
      *        She cares for the needy and seeks them out (verse 20). It is not her spiritual “obligation” or “duty” to serve them. She sees them as Jesus does: royalty.
      *        In verse 21, “scarlet” could be translated “clothed doubly.” She wants the best for her family, no matter how much “extra” work it costs her
      *        She does not dress seductively, sloppily, or haphazardly. She dresses and carries herself with feminine grace and dignity (verses 22 and 25)
      *        She waits and preserves her heart for a godly man, who can lead well (verse 23 and compare Job 29)
      *        She is clothed with the strength of her God. She knows that she does not possess strength in and of herself. Therefore, she clothes herself with the all-sufficient strength of God in order to be able to govern her house and children well, never allowing a moment of “down-time” or “me-time,” constantly and consistently focused on the needs of those around her (verse 25).
       *        She honors those around her. She gives honor to her husband, giving him place to be a man, lead the home, and edifying him with her words. She honors her children by listening to what they have to say and pouring into them. She honors the “least of these” by serving them and treating them as royalty (verse 25).
      *        She laughs at the days to come (verse 25). She is not afraid of the future. She does not give an iota to doubt, fear, or anxiety. She trusts the future to her God and knows that He has it handled, no matter how circumstances around her appear. She has a joy and peace that are beyond all earthly explanation.
      *        She speaks words of wisdom and kindness. Her tongue is Spirit-governed. Her words are not gossipy and don’t bring others down. She edifies those around her and points them to Jesus (verse 27).
      *        She watches over her household. She is constantly attentive to the needs of her family (verse 27).
      *        She doesn't give time for herself or to laziness. She is constantly engaged, vigilant, and sober minded (verse 27).
      *        Her life and servant heart incite the praise of her husband and children. She inspires their respect (verse 28-31).
      *        She is clothed with a “meek and quiet spirit” (I Peter 3: 4). She has an inward beauty that radiates Jesus and that will never fade, for it is His very beauty within her (verse 30). She does not chase after the fleeting beauty of this world, nor give into its pressure. She is confident in Jesus, not in herself. She does not look inward or to herself for true beauty. She looks to Jesus and knows that all true beauty comes from Him alone.
      *        She will be rewarded and honored (verse 31).

Now, I realize how impossible this type of life sounds. However, it is the life that God calls us to. Proverbs 31 is not to be explained away or compromised in any way. This life is entirely possible – to a woman who has yielded herself fully to Jesus Christ and is leaning upon His strong right arm. His grace will supply every need that we have. We are not to attempt to live this impossible Proverbs 31- woman -life in our own strength. Only He can live it in and through our surrendered lives. 

Abounding with love and thanksgiving!

My heart has just been abounding in joy and thankfulness to my great Jesus today! Here are a few things that I have just stopped and marveled that He has been so gracious to give me:

 Himself! How can I ever thank Him enough that, not only did He die for me and purchase my forgiveness, I get to be intimate and close to Him, dwelling with Him every moment of every day?! He has so wooed me today-- my heart cannot contain its love toward Him!

 

Though it may seem small, hot chocolate has helped to keep me warm on this chilly  November day, not to mention: it's very tasty!

The college He has blessed me with and the sweet, sweet friends I have made here. 

The beautiful times of intercession He has pressed me into, as well as the amazing times of praying with friends here. 

All things pink, frilly, feminine, and flowery. In case you haven't noticed, I just relish being a lady. :)

The new issue of Set Apart Girl magazine came out last week, so I am gotten to dive into that for the last few days! It is such a blessing and encouragement! 

There are many more things that I am thankful for that will be (hopefully) coming in the next couple of days!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and bless His Name. For the LORD is good. His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." Psalm 100

Surrender: Access to Joy

A concept that Jesus has been pressing on my soul lately is the concept of true surrender. A picture He has used to illustrate to me what this really looks like is found in John 12. Mary had a bottle of perfume, and it was worth a year’s wages. This would be around $50,000 today. A word connected with “spikenard” isn’t translated into our English Bibles, and it’s pistikos. This word means “object of faith.” This little bottle of extremely costly perfume was the object of Mary’s faith. She had security because she had this perfume. She had something to fall back on. However, what did Mary do with this little perfume?

She lavishly spent it on Jesus, pouring it out at His feet. This action showed that Jesus was worth more to her than anything, no matter how much security or pleasure it brought. The same question faces us today. Mark 8: 34 commands us to take up our crosses, deny ourselves, and follow Him. When Jesus first called Peter and Andrew to him in Matthew 4: 18-20, they didn’t hesitate about following Him. They simply left all that they had ever known and followed. Then, in I Kings 19: 19-21, Elijah, the prophet of God, recruits Elisha. At first, Elisha wants to go back and kiss his father and mother. However, he returns and kills the oxen he had previously been tending, demonstrating that he would never return to his old way of living.

Are we willing to lay everything upon the altar? Jesus gave everything for us.  He asks for everything in return. The Christian life is not one in which we accept His forgiveness and now just get to go to heaven in the end. The Christian life is one in which we give up everything in radical and complete abandon to Jesus. There is no such thing as a “super Christian,” who has given up everything and is passionate about Jesus Christ, while every other “Christian” lives a normal, mediocre life, fitting in with the rest of the world with just slightly higher morals. Jesus asks us for everything. We must deny ourselves and die daily. This means that nothing we have belongs to us anymore. It’s all His.

Samuel Rutherford said this: “Some would have Christ cheap. They would have Him without the cross. But the price will not come down.”

Then, this summer while I was at Ellerslie, Nick Thompson said, “There is no such thing as a Christianity without a cross. There is no such thing as a Christianity without a cost. It costs everything.”

Though giving Jesus everything is hard, it’s also the only way to get true, lasting joy. He has brought me to a point in my life in which I honestly don’t desire to control my life. I don’t want to make my life decisions. I know that when I do, I only mess them up. He has far more beautiful and fulfilling plans for my life than I could ever concoct myself. So, I leave the choice in His hands. And, oh, what joy there is in complete surrender!

A very godly woman I know named Annie Wesche said, “I have found no adventure so great or joy so full as bringing death to my own life and living in His!”

Truly, a life of surrender is a life of the fullest joy!

The Gospel: Victory over Sin

Growing up in the church, I was taught to abide by good “Christian rules” of living. I knew that I shouldn't cuss, drink, do drugs, sleep around, etc. However, this was all I knew about the Christian life. I figured it could just be summed up in, “be a slightly better moral person than those around you who aren't Christians.” So many times in churches and just with Christians in general, you hear the exhortation, “just do your best.” The popular teaching is that we are to try to do our best, and what we can’t do, God will supply us with the rest of the strength that we need.

This is not the Gospel. The truth of the matter is that every single one of us who have ever tried to be “Christian” or live the Christian life as God calls us to live has discovered that it’s impossible.

God commands us not to worry. Impossible. God commands us to be completely pure, in thought and deed. Impossible. God commands us to love our enemies and forgive those who hurt us. Impossible. God commands us to be perfect as He is perfect. Impossible. And we all know it.

We fail time and time again. That’s where the modern concept of grace comes in. “Well, God knows that you’re just going to keep on sinning. He never meant for you to actually have victory. That’s why He forgives you of your sins.”

Jesus did not just come and die so that we could be forgiven of our sins. He came and died so that we could be rescued from the problem of sin itself!

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.  How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Do you not know that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”  Romans 6

When Christ died upon that cross, we died with Him. We have entered INTO Christ. Therefore, our old way of living, our “old man” is dead. We do not have to give into sin anymore. This is the glorious Gospel: when sin and the old man come knocking, you can command “NO!” in the Name of Jesus. Sin does not have to have dominion over us.

Verse 11 says, “Likeness, reckon also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Reckon is an accounting term. Say you need $20 to get into some event. However, you do not have the $20. You can’t get in. You’re lost. However, I tell you that I give you my $20 that you can have and use to get in. My $20 is in my car, and I tell you that you must go to my car, which is unlocked, and take the $20 for yourself. The $20 may be yours, but you can’t actually use it, and it is not actually efficacious for you until you go to the car and take it.

So it is with this concept. You must reckon yourself to be dead indeed unto sin.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.” Romans 6: 14

Grace is not merely the “hug” of God that covers over your sin. Grace is the enabling power of God to accomplish in you that which you can never do on your own! The true Gospel is that we can’t live this life. We must completely surrender to Jesus and allow Him to live this impossible life through our yielded vessels.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8: 2