Slowly but surely, I have allowed other things, circumstances, and people to take precedence over my relationship with God. Sure, I did the cursory devotional and scripture reading here and there. Sure I've had moments of fruitful prayer and worship, but it was all compartmentalized. I wasn't allowing His Spirit to fully permeate my existence. Isn't it interesting that it doesn't usually happen overnight? As each day passes I give the enemy a little rope--just an inch maybe--but after a few months those inches turn into feet, and yards and then I suddenly realize that I am all tied up with knots and tethered to a stronghold or two....or three. Joy becomes difficult to find. Apathy sets in. Doubt and insecurity spread like a cancer. Why did I let myself get in this place...again! Sure, its happened before. How can I get out of this slump? I knew I needed help. So, what does Kristin Hightower do? She buys a book. She actually looks at several different books (yes I am a bit like Hermoine Granger). One book in particular seems to hit the nail on the head: "When I Don't Desire God: The Fight for Joy" by John Piper. The title itself seemed to encapsulate my life experience at the present time. Its hard for a "good Baptist girl" to admit that I am not desiring God. But there it is...the truth. I haven't been desiring Him. Where is the joy of my salvation?
Enter Paul's letter to the Philippian church. I think I have probably read this epistle more than any other. I can quote more verses from this letter than any other, and I'm sure you could too. I wasn't even planning on teaching from Philippians in our college women's Bible study this semester, but God had a different plan. So, I have begun to delve into His Word. Because I haven't felt very confident about my Bible study skills of late, I turned to the Inductive Study Method (put forth by Kay Arthur and Precept Ministries). I have been using this method this time around and was reminded of how well it works. I was really looking at the text, asking questions, discovering truths without the help of commentaries and Greek dictionaries (well except on a few occasions). I was only relying upon the direction of the Holy Spirit, and you know what? He spoke. Loudly. Intensely. Clearly. For the first time in months a huge grin formed on my lips as I feverishly wrote down the revelations He was giving me. New revelations. I hadn't experienced this in months--maybe even years if I am honest. The fire was lit. The desire to meet with Him in His Word came alive. His Grace amazes me. He is faithful.
For the record, I don't believe in coincidences. This may ruffle feathers, but I just don't believe in them. As God would have it, a woman confided in me this week. She is really struggling with her faith in Christ. I was totally surprised as I never would have thought that she would have a struggle with faith that goes so deep. It totally took me by surprise. I have had many conversations before, but this one really made me step back and think. Then on that same day, as God would have it, the answers were given to me as I started delving into Philippians. My pen could not write fast enough as the answers were coming--flowing like a spring that never runs dry.
Two things gave me great pause as I read and analyzed chapter 1:
1) I was amazed at Paul's faith, perspective, and joy despite his circumstances. When I compare how I have responded to some negative circumstances of late and how he was responding to a much more difficult predicament I saw an ENORMOUS difference. We were polar opposites in our reaction to suffering and difficulty.
- He is in prison--unable to visit churches or plant churches. There are people out there who are using his imprisonment to their own selfish gain. He is receiving unjust persecution. He can't get out there and stop this from happening. Physically he is helpless to do so. But that doesn't stop him. He is so full of joy and PURPOSE! If he is killed, so be it. That is all the better because he will be with Christ. If he is allowed to live, then that means fruitful labor for the Kingdom of God.
- Have you ever really stopped to think about what it means, "To live IS Christ. To die IS gain?"
- I can say without hesitation that my life does not look like Christ right now. I have not been living as Christ--dying to self, dying to my own will and being alive with His Spirit. As far as death goes, I pray constantly against something like cancer hitting myself or a member of my family. To be honest, I prize my life on earth more than eternity in heaven with Him. I do. And unlike Paul, I don't see my life here on earth through the lens of eternity as I ought to. I let the temporal things of excelling at my career, success of my children, and pleasing everyone around me take precedence. I know in my head what is right--in my head I totally agree with Paul's assessment of our life here on earth and I do want that perspective. But my daily life 24/7 doesn't look like that. My choices, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions tell a different story.
2) Despite being in prison, Paul wasn't isolated. He had fellow believers around him that could visit and encourage him--which leads me to my second point. I have totally taken for granted that we as Christians are supposed to strive and struggle together DAILY in our fight for faith. This is the point that really hit me.
- Have we forgotten that as brothers and sisters in Christ we are PARTNERS in the gospel?
- We should be telling one another, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." We should say this to on another often. Especially when we see a brother or sister going through a crisis of belief.
- I truly believe now that if we would DAILY reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ with a word of encouragement and/or exhortation that said believer may not fall into a crisis of belief. We can actually help keep one another from sliding in to the pit I have fallen into these past months
- Did you know that as a believer in Christ, God has placed you here for a purpose:
- to exalt Christ in your body (Phil. 1:20). That means we are to make Him great to make him large in our lives. To magnify Him.
- to work for each other's progress and joy in the faith
- to stand firm as one on His truth
- to STRIVE together for the faith of the Gospel. Our enemy is not the person who wrongs us. It is not the person who says there is no God and presents very logical arguments against Him. It is not the person who has betrayed us. Our enemy is Satan. I think we forget that as Christians. The think he wants most is to destroy our faith and to keep us from striving together. Paul says, don't be alarmed by your human opponents. Fight the real enemy.
- We SHARE in suffering, and Paul actually describes suffering as a grace gift to believers. Ponder that one for awhile. That will be a post for another time.
Your faith is at stake.
Your faith is at stake.
Paul makes this very clear. So, my exhortation is:
1) Find a group of Christ following friends that can hold you accountable and that you can hold accountable.
2) Share one another's burdens.
3) Encourage someone today. I love Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another DAY AFTER DAY as long as it is called today." As Christians we should be encouraging one another. We need it. Write that email, send that text, post an encouraging word on Facebook, or better yet, pick up the telephone meet at a coffee house and encourage one another.
Your faith is at stake and it all boils down to faith.
More to come...
