THE POINT OF PRAYER

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. -- James 4:8

God is never far away. 

(From a theological perspective, it would be impossible after all, since he is by nature omnipresent.) 

There are times however, when we feel God is absent, or at least distant. Sometimes in our struggles or fear we do not sense his presence. At times of darkness or loneliness we are unaware of his nearness.

Three truths:

#1 We cannot hide from God's presence. 

David wrote:

Where shall I go from your Spirit? 

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

-- Psalm 137:7-10

#2 We learn to seek God most when his presence is felt the least. 

We don't seek out what is right in front of us. We take it for granted. But when something we need seems lost (picture your keys, wallet or phone), we seek. We search - until we find. We are to seek this God who is present, yet is at times hard to find; this God who is near, yet seems distant. Because in the seeking he is quietly building a character of perseverance and hope within us (see Romans 5:1-5). 

#3 The point of prayer is not to tell God stuff he is unaware of, or to ask him for things we need or want (and all of these are fine - but not the point). The point of prayer is to get to know God. 

James writes:

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions... But God gives more grace. Therefore it (the scripture) says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God... Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

-- James 4:3-8 (selected)

God is never far away.

Humbly draw near to him. He is closer than you think. 

God, I will draw near.

For now...

D

WISDOM

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 
-- James 3:17


We make choices every day, moment by moment. And each of our choices individually - and even more so, cumulatively - affect both our lives and those of the people around us. These choices are based on our perspective... our judgement... our wisdom.

The Apostle Paul writes that we are to ...have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ (Philippians 2:5). He adds that as believers, ...we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Therefore...

• our perspective - what we (choose to) see...
• our judgement - how we think and discern...
• our wisdom -  the understanding upon which we base our perspective and judgement...

...Are to be shaped and molded by Christ himself. 

As 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is a description of Godly love, so James 3:17 is a description of Godly wisdom. (And isn't it odd how closely these resemble each other... and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23?)

Godly wisdom is not the norm of our times. Look again at the description...

pure... peaceable... gentle... reasonable... merciful... 

producing good fruit... impartial... sincere...

One need only to watch 15 minutes of television to see these qualities are in short supply; and worse, that they are not valued. 

However, these qualities - this wisdom - is attractive and compelling. It is especially so to those who are hurting, to those who are worn-out by life, to those who understand their need for something deeper and more meaningful. To them, this wisdom, this love, this fruit is a promise of peace and rest. It is also a challenge to purpose and greater destiny. 

Let our choices be truly based on the wisdom from above. It is promised to those who seek. 

God, let my choices be yours.

For now...

D

Excuses are like...

Saw this on the gym wall this morning.

One problem... It should say:

"Let YESTERDAY be the last day.."

Now I need to make those words real!

For now...
D

THE MERCY OF FAITH

Mercy triumphs over judgement.
-- James 2:13

James famously lays out an argument for true faith in the second chapter his letter. Faith, he says must do. It must produce. True faith - living faith always does. Faith that does nothing is dead faith. It is not faith. It is anti-faith.

True faith does. 

Remember for a moment that in the original writings there were no chapter designations, there were no breaks with subheadings (and for that matter, there was no punctuation!). Read verse 13 again and immediately move into verse 14. 

One of the products of true faith is mercy. A mercy that is powerful and triumphs over judgement. Faith is the bridge of relationship to the One who has loved us, and loves us. And it is in this relationship with the lover of our souls that we truly understand mercy. God is merciful to those who seek mercy. He is merciful to those desperate for mercy. And we receive his mercy by faith.

And the full circle:

Those who most need mercy... 

those who long for mercy... 

are those who receive mercy.

And they who have received mercy...

Extend mercy.

And in doing so...

Live their faith!

God, be merciful to me; and give me faith to be merciful.

For now...

D

LACKING NOTHING...

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.     -- James 1:4

Happiness and joy are related. But they are distant cousins. One is a result, the other a cause. One is a feeling, the other a choice. One is emotion, the other a state of heart.

The root of the word happiness - hap - was an ancient word basically meaning luck, or fortune. One of the "cousins" we get from the word is happenstance. The idea is that at times (and on some) luck smiles and fortunes are good. At other times (and on others), a frown. The result is that the person being smiled or frowned upon is happy, or not, according to forces completely beyond his control. Therefore, at its origin happy was most closely akin to lucky. 

I am going to make two contradictory statements, but hopefully we can reconcile them. 

• Statement 1: Unlike happiness, joy is not conditional. In other words, it is not based on circumstances.

• Statement 2: Joy is conditional. Struggling with the contradiction? Stay with me. Joy is conditional in the sense that it is based on the condition of our heart. And it is based on our perspective. 

Happenstances, by definition, happen; many within our control, most beyond. Joy however, is within our control. And joy is not based on outward circumstances or conditions (i.e. happenstances). 

Jesus said this about a joyful perspective:
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these other things will be added to you. -- Matthew 6:33
To this Paul added that we are to run the race of life and faith by, ...fixing our eyes on Jesus. 
This is the JOY PERSPECTIVE. 

Jesus said about a joyful heart:
"Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" -- John 7:38
This is the JOYFUL HEART. 

So back to James chapter one. Joy perseveres through all circumstances; through the roller-coaster emotions of happiness and grief. Joy overcomes because it is subject only to our perspective - our focus on Christ;  and our heart - his presence within us. 

I once heard a preacher say:

No Jesus... No joy

Know Jesus... Know joy.

(Not bad)

God, I choose joy.

For now...
D

ACT LIKE MEN...

...stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 
-- 1 Corinthians 16:13

I can vividly picture in my mind a full-page illustration from the first Bible I owned as a child. A menacing and armored giant of a man with a scowl and raised sword loomed over a much smaller young man. The simple young man, with an undeterred - and unimpressed - expression had a resolution that spoke of confidence and courage.

Obviously, the illustration was of the epic, though brief, battle between David and Goliath.

The fact is that Goliath, at nine feet tall, and with hundreds of hand-to-hand kills under his belt, had zero chance. David had weaponry that Goliath couldn't defend. David had courage that Goliath had never faced. David had faith that made Goliath minuscule.

David ... stood firm in the faith, he acted like a man, he was strong.  (To this day multitudes of baby boys are named David, I can only think of groupers named Goliath.)

Paul wrote (and lived), "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Philippians 4:13). And though there is a specific context to the verse, there is also a universal principle at work:

What God calls us to...

He empowers us for.

(and I am perfectly aware of ending subsequent phrases with prepositions)

The plain truth is there exists a desperate void when it comes to Christian men. Real Christians... Real men! There exists a need in the church and the world for true men of faith and action. Bold men who, when called upon stand before undefeated giants with sling in hand. Men who ...stand firm in the faith, act like men, are strong. 

God, count me in, and strengthen my heart.

For now...

D

THE POWER OF VISION

Therefore my beloved, be steadfast, immovable... knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. -- 1 Corinthians 15:58

Vision is a powerful thing. Without it, Solomon stated, "the people perish," (Proverbs 29:18). We'll come back to a possibly better translation of the ancient proverb in a moment.

A compelling vision helps us to stay the course in the midst of adversity. It drives us to risk and to attempt. It both stretches and grows our faith. As the author of a jesusculture.com article put it, "Vision gives pain purpose."

A man without a vision is a man without a future. 

A man without a future will always return to his past. 

-- P.K. Bernard

Vision is not just what we see, but how we choose to see it. Impaired vision is not a condition of the eyes, but one of the heart. I say this because first and foremost, the focus of our vision is to be Christ himself.

The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

... let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, 

and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus... 

-- Hebrews 12:1-2

Back to that famous Proverb (29:18). It might be better translated:

Where there is no revelation - of God himself and his purposes - 

the people lose heart and are discouraged.

(My transliteration considering multiple versions). 

Let's turn the verse around:

When we look to Christ, and seek to know him and his purposes, 

we find joy, meaning and passion. 

1) When our eyes are fixed on Jesus self-focus and selfishness diminish.  

2) When our eyes are fixed on Jesus comparison with others dies. 

3) When our eyes are fixed on Jesus we are powerfully and immovably about our purpose and mission. 

God, open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you.

For now...

D