God Is Patient

 

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

—2 Peter 3:9

“Patience! What a virtue patience is! Oh, how I long for patience. But, I am dreadfully afraid to pray for patience because I know how God teaches patience. He does so by bringing trials into our lives. And, quite frankly, I have enough trials in my life right now.”

My friend expressed my sentiments exactly. Patience is, indeed, a great virtue. And, God is the one who shows the most patience. The Apostle Peter has captured this attribute of God in these words, found in 2 Peter 3:9:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Imagine how wonderful it is that God acts quickly to keep His promises. He is patient. He does not want any of those He has chosen to belong to Him to perish. And, He wants every one of those dearly loved ones to come to a place where they recognize their sins, ask forgiveness for their sins, repent of their sins, make restitution for their sins, and receive complete reconciliation.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we, relying on help from the Holy Spirit, exhibited that same kind of patience in our own lives toward others? I think it would. And perhaps, that should be our assignment for this new day: to display God-given patience toward others that they might sense from us the same love, caring, and acceptance that God shows toward us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Heeding Discipline

 

“He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”

—Proverbs 10:17

How do we react when someone corrects us? Oh, I imagine, if you’re like me, it depends on how the person correcting you goes about giving you that correction. If the person does so quietly and privately, we may well respond with appreciation and do our best to implement the correction. If the person who corrects us does it publicly or harshly, we may put all our energy in to rejecting the correction, even if the correction is proper.

There is great value, as disciples of Jesus, to accepting and applying the discipline—the correction—that God gives us when He reminds us of a sin that we’ve committed or a wrong that we need to make right. The word “discipline” certainly goes along with the word “disciple.” And, we who follow in the footsteps of Jesus are most certainly His disciples. Therefore, we need to expect and graciously receive His discipline.

King Solomon, a man of great wisdom, but also one who made his own long list of mistakes, took note of the value of discipline when he wrote these words, found in Proverbs 10:17:

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Graciously receiving and implementing discipline in our lives not only affects us, it also affects the people around us. How many times have you observed a child acting in a way that you just know he or she learned from his or her parents? Likewise, when God corrects our behavior, the way we receive that correction can influence how those who watch our lives will react to discipline in their own lives.

As we begin a new day, let’s remain open to the discipline that God brings into our lives. As His devoted disciples, let’s receive this holy discipline with humility and also with great joy. Why joy? Because the ones that God loves, He disciplines (Hebrews 12:6).

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Life So Amazing

 

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

—1 Corinthians 2:9

Sometimes, in the midst of the daily rush of life, we who follow Jesus tend to forget that the life we now live is but a foreshadowing of what’s to come. As important as our current lives may seem—and, after all, they are the only lives we know—this life is but a pathway to the next life, our real life, our eternal life with the triune God and with each other.

In writing to the very troubled church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul reminds the Christians gathered in that place using these words, as found in 1 Corinthians 2:9:

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Here, Paul quotes from Isaiah 64:4, one of the Prophet’s long prayers to God, acknowledging His greatness, His power, and His patience with the people of Israel. Peering into the future, Isaiah recognized that there was so much more to come than the people could possibly imagine. Paul echoes that sentiment.

As we begin a new day, it’s important that we acknowledge the fact that this life will someday give way to the next life—a life that is so wonderful we cannot possibly imagine all that God will provide for us. And, the greatest part of it will be our life in God’s holy Presence. We will see Jesus, face to face.

Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris have captured this time to come, that flows from our present lives, in this spectacular song:

 

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Wisdom Begets Humility

 

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

—James 3:13

We don’t often use the word “beget.” It’s a rather old word that indicates when some quality comes from another quality. It also is used in some ancient literature, including older Bible translations, to indicate who the father of a particular child was—as in, Saul begets Jonathan.

Writing his letter to the churches scattered across Asia Minor, the land we know today as Turkey, the Apostle James included these words, found in James 3:13:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Another way of stating this verse reads:

Is any wise among you? Does any have understanding? Let him (or her) show it by his (or her) good life defined by good deeds done in wisdom that begets humility.

The point is that true wisdom produces the quality of humility.

If you see someone acting in a know-it-all manner, with a haughty attitude that looks down on others, then you can be certain that person does not have wisdom. Why? Because wisdom begets humility. Said another way: genuine wisdom produces humility.

As we begin a new day, let’s ask God to give us true wisdom. Then, let’s see if the good things we do in the name of Jesus and because we belong to Him are done with a humble spirit. I think we’ll be surprised to see that the application of God-given wisdom will, indeed, produce a humility within us that will allow us to represent Christ to the world in a selfless and humble way.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Room for Know-It-Alls

 

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

—Proverbs 3:7

No one likes a no-it-all. There’s a certain arrogance that pervades the personality of a know-it-all. I think the current quintessential know it all is probably Sheldon Cooper of the television comedy Big Bang Theory. He is wildly humorous and disturbingly irritating all at the same time. He is a genius with an eidetic memory. He sincerely believes he is the most brilliant mind in all of Theoretical Physics. And, while there is no question that Sheldon is smart, he is also completely inept when it comes to personal relationships and common courtesy.

Self-declared “smarter-than-the-average-bear” people often approach life with a downturn look toward others. In contrast, people who are generally of high intelligence, but with the wisdom to go along with that intelligence, look on others with compassion and concern, even feelings of protection.

The Bible describes King Solomon as one who was highly intelligent, but with God-given wisdom. Solomon made some serious mistakes in his love life and in other interpersonal decisions, but He did keep a list of wise sayings on which we draw to this day. One of those wise sayings is found in Proverbs 3:7:

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

King Solomon would have done well to have consistently taken his own advice. But, at least he passed on this gem to us and we can learn from his mistakes and embrace the truth of this proverb. We do far better if we let other people judge the nature of our wisdom, knowledge, and insight. We do even better if we fear—that is, deeply respect—God and turn our backs on evil. In fact, as we begin this new day, let’s determine to do just that.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Detecting Offensive Ways

 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

—Psalm 139:23-24

“We are all jerks!” the chief said.

At 2:30 in the morning, we had rolled on a Box Alarm from what was dispatched as Box 22. This could be serious. Box 22 was the five-story women’s dormitory of brick joist construction. It was one of the oldest buildings on campus and one on which we had repeatedly drilled because it’s lowest level contained a high pressure steam boiler used to provide steam for the college’s milk pasteurizing plant. The lowest level also contained the main kitchen for the college dining hall.

At the time, I served as captain on Engine 29. We had a very well-drilled standard operating procedure. Our role was to stop at the southeast corner of the building and stretch two supply lines and connect our Engine to a hydrant located just beyond the northeast corner of the building. Engine 27 would stop at the southeast corner of the building, connect our supply lines to its pump, and stretch two 2 1/2-inch attack lines and two 1 1/2-inch attack lines to the building. Aerial Platform Truck 1 would position at the east side of the building and extend the aerial platform to the fifth floor window and install an escape chute to allow women on the upper floor to escape, if necessary.

I had inadvertently bumped the volume control on my radio, effectively muting the audio. Thus, I did not hear the frantic call from the chief telling me to not lay the supply lines—some 400 ft of 2 1/2-inch hose lines. You see, the dispatcher had misread the punched paper tape that recorded the incoming Box number. A piece of paper had slid onto the tray beneath the tape. Actually Box 23, not Box 22, had transmitted. In fact, this was the Box for the other women’s dormitory. One of the residents had lost her balance in the hallway, started to fall, grabbed for something to catch her balance, and accidentally pulled the interior manual fire alarm box, which actuated the Master Fire Alarm Box and transmitted the Box 23 signal to dispatch.

So, we stretched all that hose unnecessarily. To say the least, I was embarrassed beyond description. As soon as the chief caught up with me, I apologized and described myself as a “jerk” for bumping the volume control on my radio to the off position. That’s when the chief responded, “We’re all jerks!”

Every one of us does things, says things, and thinks things that are “jerky.” We all have behaviors and thoughts that we shouldn’t do or have. I truly believe that is what motivated the Psalmist to write these words, found in Psalm 139:23-24:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

As we begin a new day, let’s make this verse our prayer. By asking God to search us and know our hearts, He can help us find the peace we need to follow the pathway He lays out before us.

But, what about the end of the day?

A very dear Roman Catholic friend of mine, who has followed in the footsteps of Jesus for many years, recently shared with me a wonderful prayer technique for the end of each day called the “Daily Examen.” Quoting from https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/how-can-i-pray:

How Can I Pray?

A great way to pray is to look for God’s presence in your life. More than 400 years ago St. Ignatius Loyola encouraged prayer-filled mindfulness by proposing what has been called the Daily Examen. The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and to discern his direction for us. Try this version of St. Ignatius’s prayer.

1. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.
   
   
2. Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.
   
   
3. Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?
   
   God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Make note of these sins and faults. But look deeply for other implications. Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out to her in some way.
   
   
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.
   
   
5. Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

St. Ignatius encouraged people to talk to Jesus like a friend. End the Daily Examen with a conversation with Jesus. Ask forgiveness for your sins. Ask for his protection and help. Ask for his wisdom about the questions you have and the problems you face. Do all this in the spirit of gratitude. Your life is a gift, and it is adorned with gifts from God. End the Daily Examen with the Our Father (the Lord’s Prayer).

What a blessedly wonderful way to end our day. So, let’s begin with the prayer from Psalm 139:23-24 and end our day with the Daily Examen. It doesn’t get any better than that. Okay?

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Generous Wisdom-Giver

 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

—James 1:5

“He’s very smart, but not very wise.” That’s the description I once heard a professor give of one of the students in his class. He was referring to an individual who had a significantly high level of intelligence, but whose behavior in class and outside of class seemed to indicate that he did not know how to appropriately apply his intelligence in a wide variety of situations.

I was not this student. But, as I listened to the professor’s words, I sympathized a little bit with the student in question. I have spent most of my life showered with the gifts from God of being able to almost instantly understand how machines work, how people think and react, and how systems perform. But, I am painfully and startlingly socially inept. As a result, instead of people welcoming my help in dealing with problems they may face, they often avoid me as if I had some dreaded disease. In social situations, I usually hide in some corner of the room.

While my personal situation is quite different than the situation of the student referred to in the professor’s comment, I certainly caught the drift of the professor’s analysis. Here was a young man who had a high intellectual ability. But, he did not have the wisdom to apply that intelligence in the most fruitful and productive way. It didn’t matter how smart he was, he could not gain the most benefit from his intelligence because he lacked wisdom.

The lack of wisdom can certainly produce painful results when someone—anyone—is thrust into a role of leadership and simply cannot apply the knowledge he or she may have in an effective way. That is what the Apostle James learned, as he began to work with the leaders in the local churches that were springing up all over the then known world. Time and again, James was faced with leadership that was harming the spiritual formation of the people in those early churches. They lacked wisdom.

This is what prompted James to write these words in his letter to the churches, as found in James 1:5:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

God is the Wisdom-Giver. He is the One who will supply whatever a leader may lack in performing his or her duties in the best possible way. And, God’s desire to give wisdom applies to everyone who follows Jesus, not just to leaders. All of us need to have godly wisdom in order to represent the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in a way that the Holy Spirit will use to communicate with the people who cross the pathway of our lives.

At the beginning of this new day, let’s not hesitate to ask God to give us His precious wisdom. Then, let’s use that wisdom in proclaiming the wonderful qualities of the new life in Christ to those we meet along the highway of life.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Constant Prayer

 

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

—Acts 1:14

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Run and hide? Put your phone on silence? Shut and lock your door and refuse to answer if someone comes knocking? Or, do you immediately call a friend and pour out your troubles? Maybe you contact your psychiatrist or psychologist and ask for an appointment? Perhaps you call your pastor or priest?

When the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ found themselves in a state of confusion and concern, they banded together and prayed. Dr. Luke captures this moment in Acts 1:14:

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Prayer has great power. It takes us from our current situation and places us at the foot of God’s throne. There, God receives our prayers and moves to answer our requests. We gain comfort and consolation simply by taking the time to place ourselves in His Presence.

As this new day dawns, let’s remember that our first action following any difficulty that may come into our lives should be to gather with God’s people and pray. In fact, the very first thing we should do upon awakening each day is to bow our hearts and minds in prayer, thanking God for the new day, seeking His Presence in our lives throughout the day, and dedicating this new day to Him.

When we learn to tap into the power of prayer, we will have learned one of the most valuable lessons we can learn in our spiritual formation. Praise God that He always welcomes us and waits to lovingly hear and respond to our requests.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Price of Hatred

 

“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.”

—Proverbs 10:12

Fear, distrust, disappointment, and worry all eventually become the drivers that lead to anger. Anger that lingers often becomes intensified. Intensified anger generally leads to hatred. And, hatred leads to destruction.

If you think back over the course of your life, you will likely remember some incident where someone became very angry with you. Just for a moment, think about what led to that anger. Which of the four drivers listed above led to that anger? Was it fear? Distrust? Disappointment? Or maybe, was it worry? You should be able to discern which one, or combination of several drivers, led to the anger.

How did that anger play out? Did it dissipate or become intensified? If it intensified, did it lead to hatred? And, if hatred grabbed hold, did that hatred lead to some form of destruction?

Far too much of our society is affected by anger. If you think about the vast majority of the conflicts in our personal lives, our politics, our churches, our work environments, any other realm of our lives, you will find that anger controls just too much of what goes on around us. That’s why so much of life in this world always leads to destruction.

The antidote to anger is love. In fact, the most powerful antidote is not only love, it is God-breathed love. That is to say, love that comes into the hearts and minds of humans directly from God. The New Testament Greek language calls that God-breathed love “agape”—pronounced “ah-GAH-pay.” Some of the most beautiful passages in the New Testament that use the word “love” in the English language are using the New Testament Greek word “agape.”

King Solomon had both experienced and understood the power of God-breathed love. He had also experienced the destructive power of anger that leads to hatred that leads to destruction. Notice what he wrote in Proverbs 10:12:

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

As we begin a new day, it is appropriate to pray, asking God to fill our minds and hearts with His God-breathed love. It’s not too much to ask of Him. And, He lovingly waits to answer our sincere prayer. God wants us to be filled with His God-breathed love so that we can allow His love to flow out of us and touch the lives of the people around us.

It’s also a good idea for us to take stock of any anger that we feel. Most of the time, our anger is misplaced and quite useless, insofar as making any positive change in the world in which we live. Before we allow anger to consume and control us, we ought to weigh the importance of what is prompting our anger against the antidote of God-breathed love.

I think if we make that comparison, we will wisely choose God-breathed love every time that it really matters. After all, we don’t want to travel toward destruction when God has already set us on the joyful pathway toward eternal life and light.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

From Heart To Lips

 

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

—1 Peter 3:15-16

As we walk along the pathway set before us by the Holy Spirit, we believers in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ will often have the opportunity to say a word of hope, grace, and peace that might well give someone a boost. We do this out of obedience to Christ, as His ambassadors.

But, the words that come from our lips can only properly represent Jesus when they form in the depths of our hearts that we have devoted to Him. The Apostle Peter understood this when he wrote these words found in 1 Peter 3:15-16:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

By setting the Lord Jesus apart from all other concerns we may have, and by giving Him our utmost devotion, we will find that our obedience produces the fruit of being able to properly represent Him to a needy and dying world. By gently speaking words of truth, love, and grace into people’s lives, we will be able to be used by the Holy Spirit as instruments of God’s mercy.

As we begin a new day, let’s make certain we have given our Lord the fullest measure of devotion that we have. Then, let’s go forth into the world and, as God brings people across the pathway of our lives, let’s gently, tenderly, and lovingly share with them the hope that resides within us because of Jesus.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Wish and Goodwill

 

“To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

—Philippians 4:20 and 23

Just the other day, I offered some comments regarding the second verse in our Scripture passage for today. I suggested that, as he often did, the Apostle Paul offered a profound benediction. And, indeed he did.

Later, after posting that blog entry, I noticed that in the previous verses, Paul offers a closing statement to a particularly heartfelt assertion with the words found in the first verse of today’s passage. Here are those two verses from Philippians 4:20 and 23:

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

It occurred to me that we cannot have the second without the first. The grace of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—flows forth to us from the glory that is His alone. The Triune God is so full of glory, honor, majesty, and power, that His enduring grace flows forth from His throne into the lives of each one He has called to Himself.

That may seem a bit strange until we realize that the enormity of who God is extends well beyond our ability to comprehend. But, we see a shadow of His greatness by observing the magnificent grace He has given to each one of us who believe.

In literally every portion of Scripture, we see the grace of God poured out on His people. In Genesis, we observe His grace given to Adam and Eve, both before, during, and after their fall. In Father Abraham and the story of God’s Covenant People, the Jews, we see His grace providing for them every step of the way. And, in the New Testament, we see God’s grace given to the Gentiles, as well as to the Jews, through the precious blood of Jesus.

I have written many times in the blog about the importance of we Gentiles realizing that in God choosing us to belong to Him way back before the creation of the world, He knew that He would, in due season, graft us into the lineage of His Chosen People, Israel. His Covenant becomes a Covenant of Grace from first to last. And, that grace flows from His holiness, His righteousness, His greatness, and the enormity of His glory.

As we begin a new day, let’s be thankful that as all glory goes to our God, so He has, in turn, extended His marvelous grace to us through His Son, Jesus. How blessed we are. How blessed we are, indeed.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Listen Carefully to God

 

“I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly.”

—Psalm 85:8

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to develop the discipline of listening to what God wishes to tell us. Sometimes, we actually do sense what the Holy Spirit may be affirming for us in the depth of our being. But, the vast majority of the time, we will “hear” what God says through His written Word, the Bible.

That’s why our devotion to reading God’s Word daily is such an important part of our on-going spiritual formation. We need to intentionally set aside time to not only read a passage of Scripture, we need to study it and meditate on it. In other words, we need to think seriously about what we’ve read and what implications that portion of Scripture has on our daily lives.

The Sons of Korah described this truth in a special way when they wrote the hymn recorded in Psalm 85:8-9:

I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

God’s glory will dwell wherever His people give attention to what He has to say. That’s why we place such a high regard in Scripture. That’s why the reading of Scripture plays such an important part of our times of worship.

One of the things that I wish we did more often in our churches would be to stand when Scripture is read. I know that it is inconvenient for some—and with my disability, I am one of those. But, there is something very helpful when we stand to honor the words of truth read to us from the Bible.

Of course, not all congregations would feel as warmly toward that idea as I do. And, I certainly respect their decision in this regard. Nevertheless, in whatever way we can, we need to honor the reading of God’s Word, so that we will obtain the greatest benefit from what God says to us through Scripture.

So, when you hear the Word read in church, give careful attention. Listen to what God might be saying to you. If you do this simple discipline, you will find that what God says will become much more real to you.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Revive Us Again

 

“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”

—Psalm 85:6

Praying for the Holy Spirit to sweep over our land and bring a true revival is a most worthy prayer for every believer to offer to God. Revival means “coming to life again.” In terms of our relationship with God, both individually and corporately, revival brings a fresh wave of energy and devotion.

The Psalmist captured the beauty of revival when he wrote in Psalm 85:6:

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

Whenever I hear about revival, I think about the fresh spring rains that bring newness and vitality to our lands. A songwriter, D. W. Whittle, penned these words:

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

[Chorus] Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops ’round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

There shall be showers of blessing—
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

[Chorus] Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops ’round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

There shall be showers of blessing:
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come and now honor Thy word.

[Chorus] Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops ’round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

[Chorus] Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops ’round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

This day, and every day, we do well if we humbly ask God to send us a great, sweeping revival in our land. Such a movement would truly transform our nation and bring countless numbers of people back into fellowship with God. May our fervent prayer become a reality.

^{__________________}

Here’s a delightful rendition of this gospel hymn by the student musicians at Fountainview Academy. The Academy is located in Lillooet, British Columbia, Canada.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Guarding Our Pathway

 

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

—Psalm 121:8

I am one of the few people I know who appreciates, even applauds, the implementation of airport security. During my active work life, I traveled extensively throughout the United States. In fact, as I’ve reported on this blog previously, I amassed nearly two million miles on Delta Airlines.

I recognize that airport security poses an annoyance to most people. And, I also realize that many security experts believe that our airport security does little more than provide window dressing. I understand the points they make. In fact, I agree that it would be even better if we employed the same kind of tactics that Israel provides at its airports.

Nevertheless, I like to feel safe. I was comforted during the last years of my career that someone was guarding my safety as I traveled by air.

During my years at Houghton College (1965 through 1968) I worked at several jobs. One of them was as a nightwatchman. Although the principal purpose of nightwatch is to provide fire patrols through unoccupied buildings, we also took hourly walks through the dormitories, punching our regularly located key stations using a Detex watchclock. I often wondered, as I lumbered through the dorms, if the noise my heavy leather work shoes made on the squeaky wooden floors was annoying to residents trying to sleep.

One of my classmates cornered me after class one day and asked if it was true that I was one of the nightwatchmen. I admitted that I was. She told me how comforting it was to hear the steps of the mightwatchman coming down the hall. She said the presence of someone guarding the occupants while they slept offered a genuine sense of well-being.

I’m fairly certain that this same kind of a sense of security is what the Psalmist had in mind when he wrote these words found in Psalm 121:8:

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

God watches over us. He guards our pathway. He takes note of where we go and when we return. We should find that reality comforting, as we go about our daily tasks.

As this new day begins, let’s rest comfortably and securely in the fact that God’s love extends to us in many ways. His watchful care over us is simply one of those ways He shows us His great love for us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Slipping

 

“He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber…”

—Psalm 121:3

As we climb through the pathway of our lives, it’s important to do whatever we can to not slip and fall. I’m talking not only physically, but about “slipping” in regard to any of our four human modalities: heart, soul, mind, and strength—or, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical.

Sometimes, at least in the physical modality, we can take precautions in the kinds of shoes we wear, or the use of some ambulatory aid, such as a cane or walker or wheel chair. Taking steps to protect us from slipping in our emotional, spiritual, and intellectual modalities takes a markedly different turn.

Speaking of God, the Psalmist offers this helpful declaration, found in Psalm 121:3:

He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber…

As we begin a new day, let’s pray and ask God to keep us from slipping in all four of our human modalities. Then, let’s take whatever actions we can to avoid those situations where we might slip. After all, by relying on the Holy Spirit to keep us on the proper pathway of life, we can remain so much more useful to God, to others, and to ourselves.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

My Help Comes From The Lord

 

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

—Psalm 121:1-2

Trouble always finds its way into everyone’s life. Even if we’ve led relatively peaceful lives, full of health and well-being, eventually we will have a time of trial in our lives. That just the way life is—sometimes quite peaceful and at other times a raging battle.

In our times of trouble, it is always appropriate for us to turn to God for help. After all, He is the One who created us. He knows every detail of our lives. He is the “Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift.” He alone carries the destiny of our lives in the palms of His loving hands.

We are not alone in seeking help from God when trouble knocks on the doors of our lives. Notice these words of the Psalmist, found in Psalm 121:1-2:

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Today, as a new day begins, each of us knows the trouble that may plague our lives. And, if we’re fortunate enough to currently enjoy a time of peacefulness in our lives, we certainly know others around us who are battling difficulties in their lives.

Let’s take time today to ask for God’s help—if not for ourselves, certainly for others. If we do so, we will find the calm assurance that He is the source of true help. He will provide whatever we need. And, we will be able to echo the words of the Psalmist: “My help comes from the Lord…”

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Nourishing Words

 

“The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.”

—Proverbs 10:21

Have you ever felt badly about yourself only to have someone, who doesn’t know how you’re feeling, offer words of encouragement, even praise?

I have spent most of my life generally feeling badly about myself. Before you jump to conclusions and suggest I seek professional help, I’ve done that and found that so-called “help” was a flop. (I’ve written about my experience in other blog posts.)

My study of Psychology has allowed me to come to an understanding of the root of these feelings of inadequacy and failure. And, I have compensated for them all my life by becoming a relatively high achiever. But, in the deep recesses of my heart, I still have vestiges of these lifelong feelings.

On occasion, when I have felt particularly bad about myself, God has graciously sent someone across my pathway to speak a word of encouragement without even knowing how I was feeling about myself. Such words always bring a smile to my face and lift my spirits. That’s the power of nourishing words.

King Solomon understood how important a kind word can be to someone in need. Notice what he wrote, as recorded in Proverbs 10:21:

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

It’s true that when we speak words of encouragement and kindness to other people, we provide nourishment for their souls. That’s why we should never withhold our words of genuine appreciation. It is one of the opportunities that God gives us to show His love to others and to follow in the footsteps of His precious Son, Jesus.

Over the years, perhaps because I have felt about myself the way I do, I have learned to speak as many kind words to others as possible. I can even remember the first time I felt God nudging me to do so.

My dearly and deeply loved sister-in-law, now home with the Lord, was a wonderful, multi-talented artist. She was a kind person, a devoted wife, a loving mother, and was a truly beautiful person. But, I believe that she harbored a sense that she wasn’t quite as worthy as other people. I think she truly thought that she wasn’t as smart as other people. After high school graduation, she had gone one year to art school, but had not attended college.

Now, in actual fact, she was a very intelligent woman—far more intelligent than many of the people to which she may have compared herself. Her intelligence was expressed beautifully in her amazing artistic creations. But, I’m quite certain she never fully realized how intelligent she was. Her lack of formal education was not a hindrance in any way to her creativity and excellence expressed in her art.

Almost 50 years ago, I once overheard her remark about how dumb she felt. Soon after that, when I was alone in the same room with her, I had an overwhelming sense from God that I needed to say something that I had long felt. So, I said to her, in a very quiet voice, that I was so proud of her, of her art, of her role as a mom, of the way she was lovingly raising her children, of her obvious love and devotion to her husband, and of the way she treated everyone with such kindness.

I think my words probably embarrassed her a bit. She didn’t quite know what to say to me in response. But, I knew that I had been obedient to God in speaking the words He had prompted me to say. And, I learned a very valuable lesson that day. I learned that speaking nourishing words is one of the things God expects us, as His ambassadors, to do in this world.

As we begin a new day, let’s consider the opportunities that God may give us to speak words of encouragement to others. Let’s not hold back when God nudges us to say a word that might lift someone’s spirit—not words of false praise, but genuine words that express the feelings in our hearts toward that person.

We may never know how important our words of kindness might be to someone in need. And, we may never know how speaking such words may very well be one of God’s ways of bringing healing to our own needy hearts.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Simple, Yet Profound, Benediction

 

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

—Philippians 4:23

The New Testament writers of letters followed a tradition of Greek literature by ending each letter with a phrase of blessing. These benedictions were intended to serve a purpose similar to that of the best friend who ends a letter with the words, “In deepest friendship.” In some ways, it may seem like a simple gesture of politeness. But actually, these words of closing the letters from the Apostles meant a very great deal to those reading these letters.

Some of the words of blessing were longer than others. In closing the letter to the Christians gathered at Philippi, the Apostle Paul chose to use what at first may appear as a quite simple phrase. However, upon closer examination, we can see how profound these words really are.

Notice what Paul wrote, as recorded in Philippians 4:23:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Here, Paul is asking God to grant to these new and struggling Christians the very essence of His grace, expressed through the death and resurrection of His one and only Son, Jesus. And, Paul is asking for this blessing to fall upon the innermost being of these new Christians.

As we begin a new day, let’s take these words of Paul and accept them in our own lives. Let us receive the blessing of Christ’s grace in the very depth of our own spirits. And, let’s allow His grace to enable us to will and to do of His good pleasure, as we faithfully serve as His ambassadors.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Give Yourselves Fully

 

“Therefore, my dear brothers (and sisters), stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

—1 Corinthians 15:58

“The only way you will ever learn this material is if you give yourselves fully to studying it until it sinks into the core of your brain. That’s the way with anything in life that you truly deem as important.”

It was the first day of Advanced Placement Mathematics class during my senior year at Bradford Area High School in 1964-1965. The teacher, Fred Rehm,¹ handed us a thick textbook that contained an introduction to Calculus and intoned the above warning. His point? If we wanted to succeed in learning Calculus, we would have to intentionally determine to commit ourselves to whatever study was necessary to learn this higher form of mathematics.

Mr. Rehm was also right that, in life, to achieve any goal it becomes necessary to devote oneself fully to meeting the objectives that lead to satisfying that goal. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote these words found in 1 Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore, my dear brothers (and sisters), stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

As Christ’s ambassadors in this troubled and needy world, if we want to become the best possible representatives of our Lord, we must devote ourselves to the work of His Kingdom. Our devotion must be unswerving. We must invest time, talent, and ability if we are to succeed.

At the beginning of this new day, it seems worthwhile to ask ourselves this question: “Are we willing to give our all for God’s Kingdom?”

 

______________________

1 Mr. Rehm has always held a very special place in my mind and heart, even though my contact with him took place nearly 55 years ago. In the yearbook of my senior year in high school, Mr. Rehm wrote these words: “Knowledge of mathematics is of great importance to our growing world. But more important is the knowledge of the world. May you enrich this knowledge in some small way in the years to come. F.K.D. (Focus, Knowledge, and Discipline) are methods of achievement. But, F.I.G. (Faith in God) is a way of life. M.G.B.W.Y. (May God be with you.)” Over the intervening years, those words have certainly proven true in my own life. Thank you, Mr. Rehm.

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Victory in Jesus

 

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—1 Corinthians 15:57

Every time I read the verse highlighted in today’s blog post, I remember a gospel song that we often sang at Wednesday night prayer meetings when I was growing up. Written by Eugene Bartlett with a delightful melody, this song expresses the essence of this verse of Scripture found in 1 Corinthians 15:57:

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here’s that song:

I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.

Chorus: O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow’r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and bro’t
To me the victory.

Chorus: O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.

Chorus: O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

May our hearts resound in a song of victory this day and every day.

^{___________________}

Here’s an upbeat arrangement of this song recorded at a Gaither Homecoming event:

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No More Sting

 

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

—1 Corinthians 15:55

Honeybees have a well-earned reputation for having only one shot at inflicting pain. That’s because God created them with a barbed stinger that stays in the stung person or animal. Once they honeybees lose their stinger, they no longer pose a threat. In fact, in certain cases, the tearing off of that stinger results in the honeybee’s death.

Because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, death can only intrude into the lives of humans who belong to God just one time. When we pass from this earth to eternal life, that one-and-only sting is felt by all those we have left behind. But, for our own sakes, we are moving from this life to the next. We leave behind our sin-stained bodies and receive new life in Christ.

The power of the resurrection is expressed by the Apostle Paul this way in 1 Corinthians 15:55:

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

For believers, Christ has defeated death. He has overruled its power. He has turned darkness to light. And, we who belong to Him through faith receive a great benefit. So, at the beginning of this new day, let’s rejoice that death no longer has an eternal hold on us. Rather, because our Savior overcame death, sin, and Satan, we will find that death’s sting is gone forever.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Victorious

 

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

—1 Corinthians 15:54

How do we know when we’ve won?

When the buzzer sounds at the end of the last period in basketball? When the last out is made at the bottom of the final inning in baseball? When the last hole is played in golf? When the fastest runner crosses the finish line? When the king is captured in chess? When the shot is put the farthest at the Olympic games?

In most every contest in life, an endpoint arrives and a winner emerges. That’s true in our spiritual lives, too. Notice what the Apostle Paul writes, as found in 1 Corinthians 15:54:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

At the end of the age, when the reality of Christ’s resurrection is fully realized, we will see the dead in Christ rise. We who may remain alive will rise, too, and join the risen dead in the air. Thereafter, we will be forever with the Lord.

The Protestant Reformed theology described in The Westminster Confession of Faith puts it this way:

32.1 After death the bodies of human beings decompose and return to dust, but their souls, which do not die or sleep, have an immortal existence and immediately return to God who created them. The souls of the righteous are then perfected in holiness and are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory and wait for the full redemption of their bodies. The souls of the wicked are thrown into hell, where they remain in torment and complete darkness, set apart for the great day of judgment. Scripture recognizes only these two places, and no other, for souls separated from their bodies.

32.2. Those who are alive at the last day will not die but will be changed. At that time all the dead will be raised with the very same bodies and no other than the same bodies they had before, although with different characteristics, which will be united again to their souls forever.

32.3. By the power of Christ the bodies of the unjust shall be raised to dishonor, but by his Spirit the bodies of the just will be raised to honor and be made according to the pattern of his own glorious body.

As we begin a new day, let us rejoice that, as the old gospel song by Albert E. Brumley states, “This world is not my home. I’m just a-passin’ through.” Amen and Amen.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Will All Be Changed

 

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”

—1 Corinthians 15:51-53

You’ve likely heard of the mom who, with tongue in cheek and a smile on her face, painted the wall of the church’s nursery that faced the entrance door with these words from 1 Corinthians 15:51:

We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed…

Her wonderful sense of humor made many a parent smile as they brought their little one to the nursery on Sunday morning.

But, the thrust of this passage of Scripture has far greater implications in our Christian lives than a mere wink at the ambiguities of the English language. In fact, part of the greatest expression of our faith in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ is contained in these words of the Apostle Paul found, more completely, in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

For now, we live on this earth as Christ’s ambassadors. God has chosen us to belong to Himself. He has redeemed us from the penalty of our sin through the shedding of the precious blood of His one and only Son, Jesus. God has claimed victory for us over sin, death, and Satan through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

Once our sojourn on this earth is done, we will pass into glory and spend eternity with God. We cannot imagine what heaven will be like. Some believe that the Book of Revelation indicates we will actually spend eternity on this earth. But, it will be a new heaven and a new earth. All sin will be gone. Only light and life will remain.

Whatever eternity turns out to be for us, we know that spending it with God will be more marvelous than we can ever possibly imagine. So, as we begin a new day, let’s follow the instruction of the writer of the letter to the Hebrews, found in Hebrews 12:1-3:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Amen.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}