Wisdom

A Dove on Your Shoulder

“We are 100 percent responsible for the pursuit of holiness, but at the same time we are 100 percent dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us in that pursuit.” ~ Jerry Bridges

If you’re like me, we have our devotional time in the morning, reading our Bibles and praying. Then the day begins and it’s hard to turn our attention to God.

So, what can we do to draw ourselves again and again into the realm of the spirit where Jesus lives, where God can speak, and where we can find power and direction for our daily lives?

Sometimes we engage our holy imaginations. In her book Soaking in the Spirit, Carol Arnott reminds us that the Holy Spirit is referenced in Scripture as a dove. So she suggests that we imagine Him as a dove sitting on our shoulder. Maybe that’s not so odd considering the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit is the paraclete, meaning “one who comes alongside”. Sometimes it’s translated as helper, counselor, or advocate. Imagining that Holy Spirit Dove alongside me has been a reminder to me to talk to him all day long – to look for his approval and listen to his guidance about what I do, say, and even think.

Maybe that idea is too “way out there” for many of you, but it has helped me. What do you do to remind yourself to talk to our God all day long? To look to him for direction and empowerment? Feel free to post a method that works for you. Your “tip” may help someone else walk in step with God’s Spirit.

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.” – Isaiah 11:2

Hearts on Fire

“All change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out the changes that understanding creates in your heart.” – Timothy Keller

If you live in the United States, as I do, you are buried under political discourse and, almost always, it laments the condition of our world and claims one political party or the other can make it better.

As Christians, though, we realize only God can make lasting changes, and he has designated Jesus as the ruler of this world. The problems around us are beyond the ability of mere humans to fix – though we shouldn’t give up trying!

But let’s envision something much bigger than government or politics: A people of God so committed to him that they stand out as being different from the rest of the world. Those who understand both the promises of eternity and the joys and sorrows of living in the here and now, and, somehow, they live fully into that tension.

Don’t you sometimes hunger to have a passion for God that changes everything? A burning deep inside you that has to praise him and overflows with love for others? If everyone who claimed Christ as Savior had that kind of passion for him, our world would be changed – not through politics or revolution, but through Jesus’s people showing him and his love to the everyone around us.

When the hearts of Jesus’s followers are right, the real needs of this world will be met, and God will be glorified. I’m praying for revival within the hearts of the followers of Jesus – starting with me. Are you in?

I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. – Isaiah 57:15b

Is it time for a change?

“How would my life change if I truly believed the Bible’s astounding words about God’s love for me . . ?” – Philip Yancey

Every now and then in our lives, we long for change – wanting something new, different, challenging, inspiring. It’s natural at those times to try to find the satisfaction we need by adjusting externals: rearranging the furniture, taking a trip, or changing jobs. Those things, though, are superficial compared to an internal change that will truly make a difference.

It might be wise at times of dissatisfaction to pause and ask God if there is something in our lives he wants to change. His ideas of what we really need are surely better than our own temporary fixes. I had a friend who daily prayed, “Lord, meet me at the point of my deepest necessity.” That’s the kind of change that will fulfill the longings we have. Only he knows our “deepest necessity.”

I can’t possibly say it better than Paul:

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2 The Message)

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19

Maybe there’s more to the story.

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating.  By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace to which others are just as entitled as we are.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Have you ever judged someone just by the way they look? Or how they worship? Or how they vote? Have you ever assumed motives behind what someone said and later found they meant it in an entirely different way? It’s so easy to label people or to misinterpret a comment, text, or post.

We too often assume we know more than we do about another person’s beliefs, motives, or actions. Maybe that’s why the Bible has many cautions about being quick to judge. Think of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. She desperately wanted children, but she and her husband had been unable to conceive. She was despondent and out of options. So, she went to the tabernacle to talk to God. She wept and prayed quietly – her lips were moving, but no sound came out.

Eli, the priest, saw this and was immediately filled with disgust. He assumed she had been at the festival and was drunk – in this holy place. So he confronted her, and she responded, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.” Eli quickly saw she was telling the truth and reversed his judgment, offering her a blessing instead of a rebuke.

Judging is so easy to do! Let’s be wary of it by committing to these attitudes instead:

  • Assume the best motives unless or until proven otherwise.
  • Don’t be too easily offended.
  • Sometimes just let it go.
  • Love and be loved.

Life will be better. God will be pleased.

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”- John 7:24

The Monks’ Two-Minute Rule

“Thinking Christianly is thinking by Christians about anything and everything in a consistently Christian way – in a manner that is shaped, directed, and restrained by the truth of God’s Word and God’s Spirit.”
– Os Guinness

High up in the mountains of central Greece sits Meteora, a monastery representing retreat from the world and all its temptations. However, the monks realized, as isolated as they were from worldly allurements, they still had problems with evil thoughts – things like vengeance, lust, envy, anxiety, and pride. The thoughts just seemed to come out of nowhere and, once planted in their minds, they began to savor them, engage them, and treat them as welcomed guests.

St. Paisos the Athonite, one of the great teachers at Meteora, heard their confessions and gave this advice: Essentially he said that an evil thought is like a hand grenade tossed into your mind. When it comes you have about two minutes to toss it back. If it stays longer, it will explode and cause great damage. It comes from the evil one. Throw it back to him!

We know from Jesus’s teaching that evil thoughts are where sin begins in our lives. If we are serious about our spirituality, we simply can’t accept them. We have to cultivate good thoughts instead: Those that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and excellent (Philippians 4:8) and those that are from above (Colossians 3:2).

It’s not sin to have evil thoughts come into our minds, but it is a sin to let them stay. And, if we do, they will lead to pain and destruction. The trajectory of our lives begins in our minds. Let’s protect ourselves by protecting our minds. Remember the monks’ two-minute rule!

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6

He had it all – and it wasn’t easy.

“By inviting God into our difficulties, we ground life—even its sad moments—in joy and hope.” – Henri Nouwen

David was a man God loved, protected, and used. He was handsome and strong and he defended his nation. He had a friendship which has become the epitome of all friendships. He had a wife who loved him. He was acclaimed by crowds every time he returned from battle. It seemed God gave him success in whatever he did.

But that didn’t mean everything was easy. King Saul grew to hate David so much he spent years trying to kill him. And, because of that, David fled for his life with his group of outcast followers. Later, David’s wife turned against him, his dear friend Jonathan died in battle, and his rebellious son tried to usurp the throne.

David was called of God to be king of Israel. He was empowered by God to do great things. But his life was filled with pain and suffering. It doesn’t make sense to us. It didn’t make sense to David, either, and we see that in his brutally honest psalms.

Many of us can relate. We’re trying to serve God, but there are struggles with relationships, finances, sickness, and loss. How do we deal with these things and continue trusting God? David asked similar questions in his prayers. We have the same outlet as we cry out to God for help, as we look for his will in every decision, and as we always find something for which we can thank him.

He has promised never to leave us, and he seems to accomplish something in our suffering that we will never understand completely. We just have to stay faithful, trusting his love. Somehow.

“Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!” – Psalm 30:10

Learning to Learn

“I am still learning.” — Michelangelo (at age 87)

Someone once told me, “Some people live and learn. Others just live.” I’m hoping we all want to be the first kind!

So, what do we need to learn? Sometimes it’s professional, like a new skill we need to develop in order to do our jobs better. Sometimes it’s personal like how to adapt to health challenges, financial pressures, growing-up children, aging parents, or relationship struggles. And, always, it’s spiritual. Every challenge we face and every mistake we make has a spiritual component – something we can learn.

How can we learn at whatever stage of life we are in? The first recourse, for those who are Christians, is the Bible. We need to keep reading it, following its wisdom and its Author.

Next, we need good counselors or mentors. There are always those who have already traveled the road we are on and can offer sage advice from their own experience. And sometimes books can be those mentors to us if we find quality authors sharing their wisdom.

Finally, we just need to pay attention. Friends and family communicate in words, deeds, and sometimes just body language. Our own bodies tell us what they need. Watch, listen, learn. We can never stop learning. We need guidance in every step of this journey through life.

As we learn, we live better: Serving where we are placed. Taking care of our bodies. Loving those nearest to us. Getting to know those who are farther away. Mourning meaningfully. Enjoying celebrations. Sleeping well.

Let’s learn something every day of our lives!

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long. – Psalm 25:4-5

The Unkept Commandment

“You will never have enough till you get Christ; but when you have him, you will be full to the brim. Contentment is the peculiar jewel of the beloved of the Lord Jesus.” – Charles Spurgeon

When God gave the Ten Commandments, we notice that the last one is different from all the rest. It’s about an attitude, not an action that is noticed by others: It says we are not to covet. Ignoring this commandment may have something to do with the breaking of many of the others. People can want something so much they are willing to steal, lie, or even kill to get it.

When a ruler of Israel came to Jesus asking how he could have eternal life, he boasted that he had kept all the commandments. Jesus didn’t argue with him. He simply told him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. Hearing this, the man was disheartened and sorrowful (Mark 10:22). His reaction showed the commandment he was not willing to keep was the one against coveting – wanting more, not less. We’ve all been there at some point.

Coveting is not always about things. Sometimes it’s about reputation, status, or relationships. And it’s dangerous: Coveting steals our contentment and replaces it with bitterness, resentment, and even hatred. Above all, coveting separates us from God and creates stress.

Luther says the cure for coveting is trading our worldly desires for holy desires. In other words, we have to look at what really matters: We have God’s love. He will never leave us. We have work to do in his kingdom. We have a glorious eternity. We already have what matters most. And contentment is the result of recognizing that.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

Saying More by Saying Less

“The most precious things in speech are the pauses.” – Sir Ralph Richardson

When we look at Jesus, we find that sometimes he preached long sermons. But, it seems that, quite often, he spoke only a few words at a time, but words that changed everything for the one or ones that took them in. Things like, “Follow me,” “Peace, be still,” (Mark 4:39), or “Child, arise” (Luke 8:54).

Bible studies or business meetings are a great place to observe people’s communications habits. There are those who dominate the discussion, eagerly sharing their understanding or ideas. That’s not bad. But the ones I like to see are those who sit through most of a meeting attentive, but quiet. Then, we hear them say something that ties everything together for everyone. They seem to process all through the session, and, in a few words near the end, bring everything to a point. Their words are few, but valuable.

At the empty tomb, Jesus said one word and, for Mary Magdalene, it changed everything. She thought he was dead. Someone must have stolen the body. Then she sees a man and thinks it is the gardner. That is until he spoke. He simply said, “Mary.” She couldn’t believe her ears. It was Jesus.! She fell at his feet and, then, she, too, said one word, “Master.” When he spoke her name, she responded with simple submission.

There is a time for listening, processing, meditating, pondering. After that, what we say will be helpful and, by God’s grace, maybe even powerful. I, for one, would like to practice saying more, but with fewer words.


“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:2

Things God Never Says #5

“All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me.” – J. I. Packer

We humans tend to think of God as human-like – just bigger, stronger, wiser, and holier. But that’s not good thinking. He is so, so different from us.

I hope this short series of “things God never says” helps us realize that God doesn’t say the things humans say or think the way humans think. Our Creator is different, and he’s outside of anything he’s created – including us.

So, when God, a being we cannot even imagine let alone understand, wants to communicate with us, is it any wonder we don’t always “get it”? Even when God took on a human body and came to earth to help us understand him and his plan for us, his disciples often misunderstood. They didn’t really grasp Jesus’s mission until after his resurrection.

God doesn’t give up. He continues to teach and reveal and guide. Jesus is the bridge between the knowable and unknowable God, the Holy Spirit enlightens us, and the Bible is God’s revelation of himself, and still he says, “. . . my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways . . .” (Isaiah 55:8).

But, what he never says to us as we struggle to know him is, “Why can’t you understand?” He knows all our limitations and views us with compassionate patience.

Paul says it’s like we’re looking into a mirror now, seeing images and reflections, but someday we’ll see face-to-face. Then things will become clear. Until then, we’re grateful that God still communicates, and that he’s patient with our dusty efforts to understand.

“As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.” – Psalm 103:13-14