The Chair

I recently wrote a blog post about circus lions. Well, I have learned something new about them. Do you know why a lion tamer holds a chair when he's in the ring with the lions? The chair breaks the lions focus. The lion becomes confused and instead of focusing on the tamer, he tries to focus on all four legs of the chair. 

Our enemy the devil tries his best to break our focus. He holds up a "chair" and we, like the lion become confused. We lose focus and don't know what to do next.

A few years ago, I couldn't understand what was happening and why God had allowed so much confusion and pain. All my focus was on my situation and how confused I was. Confusion led to doubt and doubt led to unbelief. I felt as if I was sinking into depression. The enemy had me so distracted that I didn't even know how to pray. I also neglected God's Word during that difficult time. But praise God, even when we are faithless He remains faithful!

When I had lost my focus, God was faithful to send men and women of God our way to get my focus back where it needed to be. I told this woman of God how I was feeling. I felt like a failure and that I was fading away into depression. I won't ever forget what happened next. She stopped me right there in my living room and had me stand up and look her in the eye. She told me to never speak those words again. Then she told me to look at her and say "I am not a failure." That was so hard to say because I truly felt I was. Finally through tears I uttered those words. Then she had me to say "God is for me."  As truth was spoken to me and as I spoke truth, my focus moved back to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith. 

Our enemy wants nothing more than to so distract us that we take our eyes off of the only One who can help and comfort us. I learned my lesson, I will fight to keep my focus on Him no matter what "chair" the devil throws in my face to  confuse me and cause me to lose focus. 

God is not the author of confusion but of peace. Confusion leads to doubting who God is and that doubt eventually leads to unbelief. I can't afford to lose my focus! What "chair" is the enemy distracting you with? Will you hold fast to His truth and stand firm determined to keep your focus on Jesus? 

I love the Amplified version of Hebrews 12:1&2

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross,disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

We can physically see the "chair" in front us. Our circumstances and problems are most definitely visible but they are temporary. We are called to focus on the unseen things which are eternal and believe that God is able to bring good out of any situation.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Wind and the Spirit

I felt God beckoning us outside. It was a beautiful and cool fall morning. The boys and I watched the trees sway in the wind. We noticed some trees were moved while others remained still. Immediately John 3:8 came to my mind. "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus in this passage. Nicodemus, the one who slipped away in the night to know more about Jesus and talk with Him privately.  As Jesus was teaching Him, I wonder if they felt a cool night breeze while Jesus uttered those beautiful words.

We cannot see the wind, but we can feel it and we can see the tree that bends because of it. We cannot see the Holy spirit but we can most definitely see and feel the effects of Him.

I think about the disciples. Everyday was an exciting journey for they never knew what the day would hold. Of course they may have had a plan to travel to Bethany or another specific place but they most always stopped along the way. They stopped for people crying out to Jesus. They stopped when Jesus noticed someone out of the crowd who needed His touch.

I'm sure they didn't expect to see Jesus feed five thousand people that specific day. They didn't expect Him to be moved with compassion for the woman with the issue of blood who dared to reach out and touch Him to receive healing. They didn't expect to see Lazarus rise from the dead at Jesus' command. They didn't expect to see Him heal blind men who cried out to Him on their travels. They didn't expect to see Him walk on water and calm the wind and waves.

Maybe they didn't expect these things to happen, but I believe they did expect and believe something amazing was going to happen everyday! Why? Because they were walking with Jesus!

Our walk with Jesus should never be dull or boring either. It should be an exciting journey with our Savior. To be so filled with His Spirit that we expect Him to move and work through us everyday. We may not know how He desires to use us but we can expect Him to do something amazing everyday!

How often do I go throughout my day not looking for where He is working. At the grocery store, am I so consumed with my list and my schedule that I miss the person God has placed in front of me to minister to? What about the person who shares their burdens with me and I say I'm sorry and that I'll be praying. Shouldn't I stop right there to hold them and pray with them in that moment? Is that not what Jesus did? He was never in a hurry and always made time for those who cried out to Him.

Are we really that busy? Are our schedules really more important than the Lord's schedule and His work. I don't want to miss opportunities that He gives me to shine His hope and love into the lives of others. Oh that He will give us His eyes and His heart for those around us who desperately need Him. Oh that we will lay our wills and our desires down so He can have His way in and through us.

 I want to expect Him to do amazing things through me today and everyday! I may not know what He's going to do but I do expect Him to move. Let's ask the Lord to open doors for His message to be shared through us and see what happens! Walking with Jesus is an exciting journey!

Circus Lions

We took our oldest son to the circus years ago. We watched the elephants in amazement  and laughed at the clowns, but more than anything I remember the lions. The lion tamer stood in the center of a ring surrounded by ten or more lions. We watched closely as each lion would perform when prompted by the tamer. Some were more hesitant than others but they all obeyed his commands.

Then all of a sudden it occurred to me that we were not watching mere kittens perform, we were watching lions! Powerful, bold, fearless creatures! At any moment one of those lions had the power to take that man out in an instant.

What had happened to these lions? Had they forgotten who they were? Did they believe they had lost their power and boldness? How were they afraid of this man they could easily overpower?

For a moment there in my seat, I saw believers instead of circus lions. You see, some of us have forgotten who we are. Some of us have lost our boldness and bowed down to fear. Some of us are just going through the motions of life with no passion for those dying without Jesus. Some of us are sitting back feeling powerless and defeated as we watch satan wreak havoc in our lives and those that we love. Have we forgotten that the same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in us?

The God of heaven and earth has chosen to dwell inside of us! We will not be overtaken!  We are the righteous, we are the redeemed, we are children of the Most High King! We are a people filled with the Holy Spirit and His power. We are to be as bold as lions (Proverbs 28:1).

Greater is HE that is in us than he that is in the world. We are chosen, holy, and called to a divine purpose. Do you hear our roar? We are not circus lions! We are not satan's puppets, we are not defeated! No, we are more than conquerors and we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

 It's time, fellow lions that we wake up out of our fear and complacency and be who He has called us to be. He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind! It's time we pray like never before, we will win battles on our knees because our Father is faithful to hear and answer our prayers. May He fill us with His passion for those who are lost without Him and give us boldness to pull them out of the darkness. It's time to die to ourselves so that Jesus Christ may have full reign in our lives so He can do what He desires to do through us. Our confidence is in Him, He makes us brave, He makes us bold, He fills us with His power and His perfect love that casts out all fear. No, we are most definitely not circus lions. Let's step out of that cage of fear and never look back.

Below is the video to Jeremy Camp's song "Same Power." This song holds so much truth!