With God All Things Are Possible Part 2

A Guest Post by Pat Quinn 

A Word from Bob: You’re reading Part 2 of a two-part blog mini-series by Pat Quinn. You can read Part 1 here: What You Signed Up for Is Impossible!

Hopeful and Liberating Truth 

In my last blog we looked at the story of the rich young man in Mark 10:17-27 to show that the kind of change that needs to take place in biblical counseling is simply beyond our power. We cannot move hearts to love God more than the world or radically change the direction of people’s lives. Jesus said:

“With man it is impossible.”

This is sobering but necessary truth. But he also said:

“All things are possible with God.”

This is hopeful and liberating truth. We’re going to look at the life and teaching of the apostle Paul to show how God does the impossible to change lives.

The Life of Christ in the Life of Paul 

Paul had all the advantages a Jewish man could want to seek acceptance with God: ritual purity, ethnic heritage, tribal status, political correctness, religious zeal, and legalistic blamelessness (Philippians 3:4-6). But as is so often the case, Paul corrupted these advantages by trusting in them as his righteousness (Romans 10:3). His self-righteousness led to an entrenched pride and fierce hatred for Jesus and his followers:

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

Could there be a less likely follower of Jesus imagined? Could change ever seem this impossible?

What happened? Paul met Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3-19).

The resulting change was so profound that later, this once violent persecutor, said:

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:7-9).

Jesus and the gospel had the power to do the impossible: change Paul from a hater and persecutor to a lover and missionary.

“All things are possible with God.”

So what might this look like in ordinary lives?

The Gospel of Christ in the Teaching Of Paul 

Ephesians 2:1-10 is Paul’s beautiful exposition of the power of the gospel to change lives. Notice how it flows from his own experience and how it gives great hope for personal change in our own lives and in those we counsel.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

7 Gospel Reminders 

How does Paul explain the impossible change God brings about in peoples’ lives?

1. In his rich mercy and great love He raises people who are “dead in trespasses and sins” to new (not merely improved) life in Christ. New Life.

2. He redirects people from following this corrupt world and its dark prince unto destruction in order to follow Christ Jesus the King unto eternal life. New Lord

1. He transfers our destiny from this present destitute world to the riches of the coming ages. New Destiny.

1. He liberates us from the slavery to our sinful passions and desires by His sovereign grace to walk in Christ-like obedience. New Freedom.

1. He transforms our identity from children of wrath to future rulers. New Identity.

1. He replaces our former misdeeds with good works that He has prepared for us. New Behavior.

2. He rescues us from proud self-sufficiency to humble gratitude. New Orientation.

Total transformation of heart and direction and identity and lifestyle and destiny. All by sovereign, free, irresistible, invincible, God-exalting, Christ-treasuring, Spirit-empowered grace.

“All things are possible for God.”

And He chooses to use us as His agents, ambassadors, instruments, and co-workers. This is profoundly humbling yet deeply encouraging:

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Questions for Reflection

1. Which part of Jesus’ saying do you more resonate with as a counselor: “With man it is impossible” or “All things are possible with God”?

1. Why are both statements necessary for effective counseling?

Posted at: https://www.rpmministries.org/blog/

With God All Things Are Possible

Pat Quinn

8 Biblical Counseling Insights from Mark 10:17-27

1. The rich young man was eager for “counsel” from Jesus. He “ran up and kneltbefore him.” Sometimes people eagerly seek our counsel as well.

1. He had a clear counseling goal: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” His goal was not only clear, it was intentionally spiritual and he was ready to get to work! This makes counseling so much easier, right?

1. Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, met the young man where he was at: “You know the commandments,” although Jesus clearly had a deeper agenda for him. It also says that “Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” This has all the makings of a successful counseling encounter.

1. Jesus saw into the young man’s heart and revealed the one thing that was keeping him from eternal life: his wealth. Jesus wanted to free him from his idol—“sell all that you have and give to the poor”—and to unite him to Himself—“And come, follow me.” Jesus knew that the freedom and fullness the young man desired could only be found in relationship to Him. How wonderful to so quickly get to the true issue and set forth a truly helpful and hopeful goal.

1. As the counseling conversation unfolds, we see both a harmony between the young man’s and Jesus’ counseling goals and a profound dissonance. Both wanted the young man to have eternal life. But the terms were radically different. The young man wanted to keep what he felt were doable commandments and also keep the wealth he found his identity and security in. Jesus wanted to free him from self-righteousness and love of wealth and give him true riches and abundant life. What happens when there is a clash of preferred outcomes?

1. Now comes the climax of the story: confronted by Jesus’ demand of radical discipleship, the young man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” It’s striking and instructive that Jesus didn’t go after him or lower His demand. He let him walk away sorrowful. Has this happened to you, that what you offered as a biblical counselor was not what the counselee wanted?

1. Here’s where the title of this devotional comes from. Twice Jesus exclaimed “how difficult it is” for those who are rich to enter the kingdom. His disciples were dumbfounded and cried out, “‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’” What you signed up for is impossible.

1. There we have it. If we are aiming at the same things Jesus is in our counseling— a new heart orientation and life direction—we will find it humanly Humbling and sobering. But possible with God. Encouraging and hopeful.

Why is biblical counseling “impossible” for man and only “possible with God”?  John Piper says it well:

“This is the hardest work in the world: to change the minds and hearts of fallen human beings, and make God so precious to each other that we count it all joy when trials come, and exult in our afflictions…. The aim of our ministry to each other is impossible. No techniques will make it succeed. ‘But with God all things are possible.’”[1]

Paul Tripp has called biblical counseling “the counseling no one wants.”

I would add, “and the counseling everyone needs.”

God has called us to the glorious and messy work of changing hearts and lives for the glory of Christ. What we’ve signed up for is impossible for us but gloriously possible for God.

The Rest of the Story 

In my follow-up post, we’ll look more closely at how this is possible for God.

Questions for Reflection 

1. What have you learned about God, yourself, and others from your counseling experience?

1. What would you say to a young overconfident counselor?

1. What would you say to a weary disheartened veteran counselor?

Pat Quinn: Pat is the Director of Counseling Ministries at University Reformed Church, where he applies his love for the gospel to counseling, training counselors, serving as an elder, consulting, preaching, and occasional worship leading. He has degrees from Michigan State University (BA) and Calvin College (MAT) and received counseling training from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Pat has been a member of URC since 1974 and has been married to Judie since 1976. Pat and Judie have two grown children and six grandchildren. He is a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and part of the blogging team. In addition to his responsibilities at URC, Pat leads the Mid-Michigan Biblical Counselors group.

[1]John Piper, “Counseling with Suffering People,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling, 2003, p.19.

Posted at: https://www.rpmministries.org/2019/05/what-you-signed-up-for-is-impossible/

What Makes Biblical Counseling Truly Biblical?

by Bob Kellemen

I just finished teaching a one-week biblical counseling small group lab class (BC 611) at Faith Bible Seminary. I asked my students to craft a 25-word response to the question:

What makes biblical counseling truly biblical? 

We each had about 10 minutes to develop these—so consider them “working definitions.” With their permission, I share their responses for your edification. Response #1 is my “working definition.”

Response #1 

Biblical counseling involves lovingly journeying with one another as we relate the whole gospel story to the whole person’s whole story. 

Response #2 

Truly biblical counseling is when the Scriptures are the primary method of diagnosing, treating and developing a perspective that addresses man’s need to glorify God and exalt Him forever.

Response #3 

Biblical counseling is biblical when the purpose is to glorify God, the goal is sanctification, Christ is central, and the Scriptures are sufficient and authoritative.

Response #4 (Notice the Acronym “Counseling”) 

Christians with

One another,

Understanding the 

Nuanced ministry of 

Scripture and 

Empathy,

Leading to

Intentional, Incarnational ministry,

New life in Christ, and

Growth in grace

Response #5

Biblical counseling is truly biblical when it emerges from Scripture, interweaves the person’s story with God’s story for sanctification, one-anothering with truth and love.

Response #6

BC embraces the pain of the sufferer; provides hope using Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s work; who then embrace the forgiveness and growth toward Christlikeness-subsequently encouraging the church family.

Response #7

Biblical counseling is biblical when the counselor, counselee, and the church are committed to growing in their love and obedience to the two greatest commandments.

Response #8

Biblical counseling uses Scripture to show the beauty of God’s redemptive story through Jesus Christ, who redeems His broken brothers and sisters by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit, to live their lives for His glory and not their own.

Response #9

Biblical counseling is biblical when it recognizes Christ, the gospel and the Scriptures as authoritative and sufficient to address all of man’s non-physical problems.

Response #10 

Foundation of solutions/causes (Bible)

Diagnosis of root issue (Sinful heart)

Motivation of man (Please God)

Method of change (Holy Spirit)

View of God

Response #11

Authentic believers ministering to others as they encounter sin and suffering with the love and truth of God for His glory and their eternal good.

Response #12

Counseling that uses biblical principles to not only help sufferers to heal, but also helps them reconcile to God and grow spiritually for God’s glory.

Response #13

The use of Scripture, and its principles to help the whole person, connecting their life with the gospel story to bring wholeness into their life.

Response #14

Biblical counseling recognizes that it is the Word of God united with the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that truly changes a needy soul.

Response #15

Using the biblical story of redemption the Savior, and gospel promises to fulfill the mission of filling up what was lacking by incarnating Christ for the church.

Join the Conversation

If you had 25-words-or-less (and 10 minutes), how would you answer the question:

What makes biblical counseling truly biblical?

Posted at: https://www.rpmministries.org/2019/01/what-makes-biblical-counseling-truly-biblical-2/

The Language of Forgiveness

by Steve Bezner

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”—Luke 23:34

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:8

Believe it or not, a discussion about grammar led me to rethink forgiveness.

I was listening to a sermon by Jon Tyson when he mentioned Jesus’ words at his crucifixion: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Tyson noted that the tense of Jesus’ speaking—imperfect—opened the possibility that these words could have been something Jesus repeated over and over during his own execution.

I had previously thought of Jesus making this pronouncement from the cross—using it as a moment of teaching to those onlookers who had witnessed this gruesome act. Now I was confronted with a new thought—what if Jesus breathed these words in prayer repeatedly, even as the nails were being driven through his body? What if Jesus declared these things over those who killed him, even as they were in the midst of the act?

What would such language declare about the nature of my God?

Several years back, I found out Russell (not his real name) was talking about my leadership, and he was doing it to anyone who would listen.

Churches are interesting organisms, often built on ginger trust. Church members tend to trust their pastor—even if the relationship is fairly new—because the church’s health depends upon those in the congregation allowing the pastor to teach and lead with at least a modicum of latitude. Any sense that a pastor cannot be trusted is serious because it means the church may be headed towards dysfunction.

Russell was doing his best to drive my relationship with my church to ultra-dysfunction.

Surprisingly, or perhaps un-surprisingly if you’re familiar with the way churches operate, he had never mentioned any of these things to me, despite the fact we saw one another multiple times a week. Several church members had dutifully informed me of what he was saying. It wasn’t kind, to put it mildly. So I did what any spiritually mature pastor would do: I whined and complained to my wife.

To be honest, I was furious. In fact, even now, years later, I can sense my blood pressure rising simply thinking about some of the things he said about me. They were lies. Then again, Satan is the Father of Lies. He wants to divide the church. But I digress.

My point is simple: I eventually got around to forgiving Russell, but not until I had essentially hit back at him with as many hurtful words as I could muster. I had to vent, complain, yell, and weep. Then I could begin the reconciliation process. Yet Jesus prayed for forgiveness while the spikes were entering his wrists.

My problem? I tend to think God forgives like I do.

When I betray the Lord, I tend to intuitively think I need to wait before seeking forgiveness. And if it’s a really big betrayal? Well in that case, I need to wait quite a while before I’m ready to approach the throne of grace with any confidence.

But that’s not our God.

Abortion has been in the news quite a bit lately. I’ve counseled countless women who believe that their seeking the termination of a pregnancy puts them beyond the beautiful grace of Jesus. But he was forgiving them even as they pulled up to the clinic.

I’ve counseling countless couples who have experienced marital infidelity. They believe that God could not forgive them until time has passed. But he was forgiving them even as they met their lovers.

I’ve sat with criminals, addicts, embezzlers, liars, abusers, and even a couple of murderers. How long must they wait for forgiveness? No time at all. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Over. And over. And over. And over. Even while you were sinning, he was forgiving.

Paul writes, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

While you were sinning, Jesus was dying for that sin. "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." When we understand the depth of God’s love and forgiveness, we’ll stop living from shame and start embracing grace. We’ll allow ourselves to receive the grace God has freely extended—the grace given even while we were sinning sinners. Perhaps we’ll even be able to extend it to those around us. And, if we’re truly blessed, we’ll extend it even as they hurt us.

Posted at: https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/the-language-of-forgiveness

Jesus' Encouragement to the Hopeless

Andrew Gilmore

If you are a human, no doubt you have felt hopeless at times. You’ve endured seasons in your life when everything around you seemed to be crumbling, and you couldn’t do anything about it.

If you are human, you’ve probably felt helpless a time or two. You may have believed that nothing you could do would make any difference no matter how hard you tried.

If we’re not careful, these seasons of hopelessness can morph into an ongoing outlook on life; we begin to expect the worst to happen. We believe things are already decided against us—and there’s nothing we can do.

It’s almost impossible to turn on the news or swipe through social media feeds without seeing some sort of horrible incident played out. With so much devastation and injustice around us, it is tempting to give up and resign ourselves to the evil around us.

But Jesus offers us hope and a fresh perspective on the darkness in our lives. While we are finite, time-bound people, Jesus is infinite and timeless and can see the larger picture of our lives.

Jesus Dwelt Among the Hopeless

Jesus taught a radically different approach to the corruption and brokenness of this world. He knew his followers would struggle with these very issues so he made sure to address the defeatist mindset.

If anyone had reason for pessimism, it was the first century Jew. Oppressed by Rome with crushing taxes and an obligation to Caesar, Israel couldn’t have what it most wanted: sovereignty. Sure, the empire allowed for a bit of freedom in the religious arena, but their designated “king” Herod the Great was corrupt and a Roman sympathizer.

Ditto for his sons and sister whom Rome appointed tetrarchs of Israel after the king died. It seemed as if there were no reason for optimism.

With this context in mind, we can better recognize the gravity of Christ’s teachings on the subject. And though he taught these lessons over 2000 years ago, they speak directly to the hopeless and pessimist inside each one of us.

3 Things Jesus Wants You to Know

If you struggle with any of these attitudes you’re not alone. Jesus took on our form to speak directly to the problems we face—including hopelessness. Here’s what he says:

Suffering is temporary for those who place their faith in him.

No matter what you’re going through, Christian, God will see you through it. There is an end in sight. Sometimes relief occurs in this lifetime, but if not Jesus will bring restoration when he returns to earth. As John wrote in Revelation:

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (21:4)

It may sound like a cop-out to say suffering will cease when we enter heaven, but no one knew this truth better than Jesus. He endured the cross despite unspeakable pain from the whip, the thorns, and the nails because he understood his suffering was temporary and God would restore him.

Jesus told his disciples he had to die but that he would return to set everything right. But why wait to return? Why not restore everything to order right now, just as the Jewish people expected of their Messiah? Peter tells us why. He wrote:

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Did you get that? God allows suffering and sin to continue for a time as he waits for the maximum number of people to turn to him. He does not delight in judging and condemning people, therefore he’s giving them every opportunity to repent.

Christians can be light in the darkness.

Though things appear dim, Christians can make a difference. God is sovereign, but he chooses to use us, leveraging our faith to carry out his will.

When you feel helpless or overwhelmed, remember that Jesus said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (Luke 17:6).

Do you really believe that? This was no lesson on how trees grow, but rather a reinforcement of something Jesus said earlier: “All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).

These are not just empty words! This is the power of God working through our faith to destroy the darkness in a corrupt world.

Persist despite corruption and persecution.

When faced with infidelity, child abuse, embezzlement, rape, natural disasters, and all the rest of the horrors the world throws our way, don’t give up. Persist in your faith. Easier said than done, right? How do we do it? Consistent prayer.

Jesus told a parable about a widow who needed governmental intervention to right an injustice perpetrated against her. Just one problem: the judge was an unrighteous man.

The first-century widow had little value or leverage in society. Since the judge was immoral, he had no incentive to listen to her. There was nothing in it for him. Nevertheless, the widow came day after day to the man, pleading her case. Day after day the judge ignored her, until finally one day out of frustration he relented and gave her the justice she sought.

What’s the point? Our father is righteous, so how much more should we approach his throne with our petitions? As Jesus said, “Will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily” (Luke 18:7-8).

Jesus told this parable to his disciples so that they would not lose heart. Once he was dead, it would be their turn to pick up his mantle and suffer persecution. He knew things were about to get rough for his followers, so he used this parable as a reminder that God grants the petitions for justice of his people.

We Are All Beggars

When you feel down and out think back to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in which he said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This is an excellent reminder that we are dependent on God for everything.

I’ve heard it said this way, “Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.”[1] Spiritually, we are all beggars, who must rely on grace from our father. Once we embrace our spiritual poverty, it causes us to rely on him for sustenance—our daily bread.

In doing so, God fills our spiritual bellies, giving us enough to make it through the day. So take heart when you feel hopeless or helpless. Turn to God and he will restore you.

[1] D. T. Niles, as quoted by David Black in the New York Times, May 11, 1986: https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/11/magazine/the-callings.html

posted at: https://unlockingthebible.org/2019/05/jesus-encouragement-helpless-hopeless/

How To Find and Achieve Your Purpose

Logan Murphy

Graduation is a happy occasion, an important moment in life, and a big achievement. But, it is also a crucial juncture in life. When I was asked to speak at a baccalaureate service for local high school graduates, my message, quoting John Piper, was simple: 

Don’t waste it. Don’t waste your life! 

This message is important for us all. I’m sure, however, that wasting your life is not at the top of your to-do list. If you are wasting your life, you probably don’t mean to be! 

You might be wondering then—am I wasting my life? How do I know? Well, in order for something to be wasted it must be spent in such a way that it does not accomplish its intended purpose. 

Your life does have a purpose. And if you don’t want to waste your life, you need to know what your life is meant for.  

Where to Find Your Purpose 

The Bible, as God’s word spoken to you, is the place to turn to find your purpose. And I’ll make it even simpler: you can find your purpose in one short verse. 1 Corinthians 8:6 says:

For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.  

We are made by God, and we are made for God. That’s the answer. You exist for God. Your purpose is to spend your life for God, with Jesus at the center of everything you are and do. Unfortunately, there are two ways you can fail to do this. 

Two Ways to Miss Your Purpose 

Way 1: Spend Your Life on Nothing (No God) 

I met Chris in 6th grade, and we were friends through high school and even through college. In high school and his early college years, Chris was bright, fun, creative, artistic, and well connected. But later in college, Chris became aimless, isolated, and joyless; one of the last times I talked with him he was stuck in a dead-end job that was not related to any of his talents, education, or his passions. 

Over the course of our friendship, we had a few spiritual conversations. Chris was involved in youth band at church, he went on Christian retreats, and once when we were camping he told me that he believed in some higher force or the possibility of a god, but it was clear that Chris had no faith in Jesus Christ. 

Chris’s problem was that he hadn’t come to terms with 1 Corinthians 8:5-6. He didn’t know what he existed for, or rather who he existed for. He had no passion for something greater than himself. No vision past the present. 

Maybe this describes you, too. A missing purpose, fading passion, a lack of commitment to Christ. Reader, find that passion by spending your life—and spend it for the sake of Christ! Spending it for something else leads up to the second way to miss your purpose: 

Way 2: Spend Your Life on The Wrong Things (False gods) 

If the first way to miss your purpose is to drift aimlessly with no target, no goal, no purpose, no intentionality, the second way is to be motivated, driven, passionate, and laser-focused on entirely the wrong goals. You can achieve all the wrong goals.  

You can attain the American dream, you can climb the corporate ladder, but Jesus tells us that to spend yourself for this is foolishness.  

In a brief parable, he tells us about a rich man who had so much stuff he had to build even larger barns to put it all in. He was fat and happy. Living large. But God calls this man a fool because he can’t take these riches with him when he dies. What’s more, all the wealth in the world wouldn’t prepare this man to meet God, because he spent his life serving himself. 

Money will be spent, beauty will fade, power will be limited, fame will be forgotten, and entertainment and pleasure-seeking will fail to provide the joy that you long for in life. Don’t miss your purpose in life by spending it on the wrong things!

The Way to Achieve Your Purpose

The good news is that your life has real meaning and purpose, and you’ll find it in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, God the Son, died in the prime of his life – only 33 years old – never having sinned: not one impure thought, not one hateful word, not one white lie. A life perfectly dedicated to God.

That is a valuable life. A meaningful life. And the Bible says that Jesus laid down his own life for you and me. He sacrificed his perfect, meaningful life so that it could be applied to our imperfect and (seemingly) purposeless lives if we believe in him.  

This is what we call the gospel – the good news of Jesus. Jesus spent his life for you so that you could spend your life for him. When you trust Jesus to save you from your sins he will do so, and he will give you a new life with incredible purpose and meaning. And there is great freedom to be found in this good news.  

The measure of your life lies not in what you accomplish, or how much wealth you have accumulated, but in what Christ has accomplished, and in the riches of God’s grace. You can exist for God, through Jesus, whether you are mopping floors or marketing pharmaceuticals. In fact, the world needs both floor moppers and pharmaceutical marketers who will spend their lives to display the glory of God in Jesus Christ. 

So, how will you spend your life? I pray you will spend it for Jesus. 

Posted at: https://unlockingthebible.org/2019/05/how-find-purpose-life/

Waiting When God Seems Silent

BY RANDY ALCORN

In a time of suffering, David engaged in righteous self-talk about how he should respond in light of God’s goodness: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

The call to wait on God is an invitation to trust and hope. It entails believing that one day—even if today is not that day—He will make all things right. In times of waiting, as we seek God in prayer, we must learn to listen to Him as well as talk to Him—to shut out the clatter and quietly wait as He unfolds to us His person, purposes, promises, and plan.

But what about when we wait and listen, and God still seems silent?

God Is Near

In Deserted by God? Sinclair Ferguson discusses what our Christian forefathers called “spiritual desertion”—the sense that God has forgotten us, leaving us feeling isolated and directionless. But through faith, we can affirm God’s loving presence, even when He seems silent and we feel deserted. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8) is a promise God will not break, despite how we feel.

Several years ago, for no apparent reason, I went through four months of depression. I had to learn to trust God for His presence despite what I felt. Eventually, as I continued to open His word daily and seek His face, while still in that depression, I gradually regained my ability to sense and hear Him.

Many of us have walked the Emmaus road (Luke 24:13–32). Overwhelmed by sorrow. Plagued by questions. We wonder where God is. When, all along, He walks beside us.

Is This Your Best for Me?

A pastor friend told me about his experience after his teenage son’s death: “Nearly every morning, for months, I screamed questions at God. I asked, ‘What were you thinking?’ And, ‘Is this your best for me?’ And finally, ‘Do you really expect me to show up every Sunday and tell everyone how great you are?’ Then, when I became silent, God spoke to my soul. He had an answer for each of my questions.”

Waiting on God involves learning to lay our questions before Him. It means that there is something better than knowing all the answers: knowing and trusting the only One who does know and will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Trusting God when we don’t hear Him ultimately strengthens and purifies us. If our faith is based on lack of struggle and affliction and absence of doubt and questions, that’s a foundation of sand. Such faith is only one frightening diagnosis or shattering phone call away from collapse. Token faith will not survive the dark night of the soul. When we think God is silent or absent, God may show us that our faith is false or superficial. Upon its ruin, we can learn to rebuild on God our Rock, the only foundation that can bear the weight of our trust.

His Silence Is a Matter of Perspective

There’s a sense in which God is never silent. He has already spoken in His Word and by becoming man and dying for us on the cross, purchasing our eternal salvation. This is speech, and speech is not silence! What we call God’s silence may actually be our inability, or in some cases (certainly not all) our unwillingness, to hear Him. Fortunately, that hearing loss for God’s children need not be permanent. And given the promise of resurrection, it certainly won’t be permanent.

Psalm 19:1 tells us the heavens shout about God’s glory. Romans 1:20 shows how clearly creation proves God’s existence. God speaks not only through His Word, but also through His world. When my heart is heavy, walking our dog Maggie or riding a bike through Oregon’s beauties is often better than listening to a great sermon or reading a good book.

Still, when we can’t hear God, we can keep showing up and opening His Word, day after day, to look at what He has already said—and done—and contemplate and memorize it until we realize this is not silence but is God speaking to us. Naturally, there remains a subjective sense in which we long to hear God in a more personal way. God spoke to Elijah in “a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12).

The problem with low whispers is they’re not easy to hear—especially when all around us the wind is howling! Why does God sometimes speak so quietly that it’s hard to hear Him? The answer may be to bring us to the end of ourselves. To prompt us to be still and seek Him. And to build our faith and eventually speak more clearly or heal our hearing problem.

When Life Goes Dark

Martin Luther’s wife, Katherine, saw him discouraged and unresponsive for some time. One day she dressed in black mourning clothes. Luther asked her why. “Someone has died,” she said. “Who?” Luther asked. “It seems,” Katherine said, “that God must have died!” Luther got her point. Since God hadn’t died, he needed to stop acting as if He had.

What can we do when God seems silent and life is dark? We can pray with biblical writers who cry out to God:

To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. (Psalm 28:1)

O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! (Psalm 83:1)

I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me. (Job 30:20)

We also can remember that, however long the silence seems, God promises it is temporary. Consider Zephaniah 3:17:

The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, he will be quiet in his love, he will rejoice over you with shouts of joy (NASB).

Just because we can’t hear God exulting doesn’t mean He is not rejoicing over us with shouts of joy. A blind or deaf child may not see her father’s face or hear his words, but can learn to sense his love and affection nonetheless. The blood-bought promise states that this brief life will be followed with an eternity in which His children “will see his face” (Revelation 22:4).

My Soul Waits for God

My wife, Nanci, while going through chemotherapy treatments that ended several months ago, read me this from Andrew Murray’s Waiting on God: “It is God’s Spirit who has begun the work in you of waiting upon God. He will enable you to wait. . . . Waiting continually will be met and rewarded by God himself working continually.”

“For God alone my soul waits in silence . . . my hope is from him” (Psalm 62:1, 5). If we lean on Him while we wait, God will give us the grace to wait and to listen carefully as we pray, go to trusted Christ-followers for encouragement, and keep opening His word and asking Him to help us hear Him.

Posted at: https://www.epm.org/blog/2019/May/24/waiting-when-god-seems-silent

12 Life Giving Bible Verses for Depression

 Stephen Altrogge

Are there Bible verses for depression?

It depends what you mean.

The Bible is not a dispensary that we come to for our daily dose of inspiration or good feelings. The Bible is primarily the grand story of God’s plan to redeem a people for himself for the glory of his name.

Nevertheless, the Bible does speak directly to the depressed, which is good news for people like me who often find themselves engulfed in the darkness.

So yes, there are Bible verses for depression and hopelessness. These verses shine light into dark places, give hope to the hopeless, and allow the depressed person to have God’s perspective rather than their own dismal view.

If you’re depressed, burn the following verses on your heart. Print them out. Think about them and rejoice in them. They can be life to you.

Now, one thing that’s really important to note as you read these verses. You probably won’t FEEL any different after reading these verses.

There’s this weird idea in some Christian circles that the moment you change your thinking your feelings will also change. That as you read these Bible verses for depression, the gloom will suddenly lift.

This couldn’t be further from the truth, especially when it comes to mental illness. But here’s the good news: all these promises are TRUE. They don’t depend on you. They’re all about God and his mighty works on your behalf.

As you read these, thank God that they’re true, regardless of what you feel.

Here are eleven bible verses for depression. May these give you hope and strength as you wait for God to lead you out of the Valley of Darkness.

1. Deuteronomy 31:8

2. Isaiah 41:10

3. Psalm 40:1-3

4. Psalm 3:3

5. Psalm 34:18-19

6. Isaiah 40:31

7. Isaiah 42:3

8. Matthew 11:28-30

9. Romans 8:38-39

10. Psalm 34:17

11. Psalm 42:11

12. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Bible Verse About Depression #1: God Will Never Leave You

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Don’t be dismayed because God is with you! Just as he swore to never desert the people of Israel, he will NEVER leave you or forsake you because you are in Christ. You are his child, and like a dad clearing a path through the woods for his small child, so God is going ahead of you, clearing the way.

Bible Verse For Depression #2: God Will Strengthen You and Uphold You

 …fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

In your depression, you feel like you can’t hang on to God. Like your weak and helpless, unable to do anything. Sometimes you can’t even get out of bed. The last thing you feel is “spiritual“.

Good news! You don’t have to hold on to God because he is holding to you. When you fall, he will uphold you with his righteous right hand. When you are weak, he will strengthen you. Even if you don’t have assurance of your salvation, you can be assured that God has a firm hold on you.

The reality is, you ARE weak, you’re just feeling it more acutely now. Take heart, because God loves to sustain the weak. God’s grace is sufficient for you, even in these deep, dark times.

Bible Verse About Depression #3: God Hears Your Cry

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God (Psalm 40:1-3).

God hears your cries and sees your tears. He is not ignoring you and his heart breaks over your suffering. He takes no delight in the suffering of his people.

You can be sure that God will respond to your pleas for mercy. Maybe not when you want or in the way you want, but he is your loving, merciful Father, and he can’t ignore the cries of his children. He will put a new song in your mouth and set your feet upon the rock. Joy will come in the morning.

Bible Verse For Depression #4: The Lord Is Your Shield

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head (Psalm 3:3).

God is your shield when you are weak, helpless, and hopeless. He is standing over you, guarding you, protecting you, keeping watch over you. Even though you are broken by depression, the almighty God is your shield.

He will lift your head out of the dirt and set you on your feet again. He will move you to sweet places and green pastures. You can trust HIS sustaining, protecting power even though you have no strength in yourself.

Bible Verse For Depression #5: God Is Near To The Brokenhearted

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:18-19).

When you are sunk into the depths of depression, you feel constantly brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. The soundtrack of your life is in a minor key.

God has a special place in his heart for the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. When you find yourself under a crushing burden, God draws near to you. He sees you in the midst of your affliction and moves toward you with deliverance. Even though you can’t feel his presence, God is nearer to you now than ever, and he is working on your behalf.

Bible Verse About Depression #6: The Lord Will Renew Your Strength

…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Few things sap your strength like depression or feeling anxious. Everything seems overwhelming and impossible. Even the most mundane acts require a massive amount of effort.

The good news is that God is in the business of giving strength to those who have none. He loves to sustain those who are fainting and give life to those who feel completely depleted. Wait for the Lord and he will give you life. He has promised to renew your strength even though you don’t feel it now. He has good things in store for you.

Bible Verse For Depression #7: A Bruised Reed He Will Not Break

…a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3).

A bruised reed is one that that is on the verge of breaking, and a faintly burning wick is a flame that is almost entirely extinguished. That’s a very apt description of depression. You feel as though you’re about to be completely broken or totally extinguished.

And though others may judge you because they don’t understand what you’re experiencing, God most certainly does not.

Posted at: https://theblazingcenter.com/2018/02/bible-verses-for-depression.html

But doesn’t break bruised reeds or blow out flames that are sputtering and smoking. Rather, he nurtures them and heals them and brings them back to life. God doesn’t despise you in your bruised, broken, smoldering state. Rather, he is near to you, nurturing you and sustaining you.

Bible Verse About Depression #8: Come All Who Labor and Are Heavy Laden

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Jesus gives rest to those who are crushed by the weight of the world. He is gentle and lowly in heart, and he doesn’t rebuke those who find themselves laboring under the overwhelming yoke of depression.

Come to Jesus in your depression and find rest for your soul. Let him carry the heavy end of your burden. Confess your utter weakness and frailty and let him be the burden bearer.

Bible Verse For Depression #9: Nothing Can Separate You From God

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

When you’re haunted by the specter of depression, you feel very cut off from the love of God. Everything seems dark and bleak, as if there will never be another good thing in your life. You feel as though God has left you to wallow in the mire.

Nothing could be further from the truth. You are not outside of God’s sovereign will and gracious love. Because you are in Christ, nothing can separate you from God’s love. The only way God will stop loving you is if he stops loving Jesus. Though you may feel alone and unloved, there is absolutely NOTHING, including depression, that can stop God from loving you.

Your body may be a broken down temple, but that doesn’t diminish God’s love for you one bit.

Bible Verse About Depression #10: The Lord Hears Your Cry

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17).

When you are sunk into the valley of depression, it feels like you are totally and completely alone. Like no one cares, like no one is listening. You feel isolated, cut off, and like God has abandoned you.

But has not, and could never abandon you. When you cry to him for help, he hears and delivers. Maybe the deliverance won’t come tomorrow, but make no mistake, it will come. God does not leave his people to wallow and blunder their way through depression and hopelessness.

He hears every cry you utter, sees every tear that rolls down your cheek. You are not alone. You have a good Father who is with you and for you.

Bible Verse For Depression #11: Hope In God

Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God (Psalm 42:11).

Depression and hopelessness cause turmoil deep within your soul. You feel crushed, broken, downhearted, overwhelmed, and like there is no hope for tomorrow. But even though it feels like you have no hope for tomorrow, you DO have hope.

Why do you have hope? Because God is your salvation. If your hope depended on you and your ability to pull yourself up, you would have no hope. But your hope depends on God. You shall again praise him, even though it feels like that day will never come. Hope in God and trust him to lead you out of the dark valley you find yourself in.

Bible Verse About Depression #12: Comforted By God

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

When you’re in the midst of a bout of depression or hopelessness or anxiety, it feels like you’re all alone. Like no one understands and like no one cares about you. But there is at least one person who deeply loves you and desires to comfort you, and that is God.

God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Run to him in the midst of your brokenness. Flee to him for comfort and grace and strength. He desires to meet you and to comfort you and refresh you.

Don’t try to make it through the darkness of depression on your own. Run to the God of all comfort. Take shelter in the Father of mercies. He is for you and on your side.

Fear Not The Storm

Charles Spurgeon, who was no stranger to depression, said:

Love letters from heaven are often sent in black-edged envelopes. The cloud that is black with horror is big with mercy. Fear not the storm. It brings healing in its wings and when Jesus is with you in the vessel the tempest only hastens the ship to its desired haven.

In the midst of your depression, all you see are clouds that are black with horror. Remember, it is God himself who controls the storms and Jesus is with you in your boat. You may not feel his nearness and it may seem that he is asleep in the stern, but he is with you nonetheless.

When the moment is right, he will deliver you. Until then, hold fast to these verses.

43 Quotes About Prayer To Inspire Your Prayer Life

Stephen Altrogge

When I need inspiration to pray, which is often, I regularly turn to quotes about prayer.

See, here’s the thing…

There are few things more powerful than prayer. Through prayer, God does staggering, miraculous, overwhelming things.

And yet so often I forget all that God does through prayer.

Can you relate to me?

To encourage you in your prayers, I compiled 43 of the BEST quotes about prayer. I pray that these quotes about prayer encourage you to pray faith-filled prayers that accomplish great things for God.

43 Profound Quotes About Prayer

1.”Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado

2. “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” – Martin Luther

3. “True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Charles Spurgeon

4. “If you believe in prayer at all, expect God to hear you. If you do not expect, you will not have. God will not hear you unless you believe He will hear you; but if you believe He will, He will be as good as your faith.” – Charles Spurgeon

5. “Prayer makes a godly man, and puts within him the mind of Christ, the mind of humility, of self-surrender, of service, of pity, and of prayer. If we really pray, we will become more like God, or else we will quit praying.” – E.M. Bounds

6. “Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.” – E.M. Bounds

7. “God can handle your doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions. You can bring everything to him in prayer.” – Rick Warren

8. “Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.” – E.M Bounds

9. “Prayer delights God’s ear; it melts His heart.” – Thomas Watson

10. “It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.” – Hudson Taylor

11. “To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.” – Billy Graham

12. “Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue; God’s voice is its most essential part. Listening to God’s voice is the secret of the assurance that He will listen to mine.” – Andrew Murray

13. “To desire revival… and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another.” – A.W. Tozer

14. “I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.” – George Mueller

15. “Our praying, however, needs to be pressed and pursued with an energy that never tires, a persistency which will not be denied, and a courage which never fails.” – E. M. Bounds

16. “God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.” – John Wesley

17. “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” – Oswald Chambers

18. “Search for a person who claims to have found Christ apart from someone else’s prayer, and your search may go on forever.” – E. Bauman

19. “Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down.” – John Wesley

20. “God will do great things for you if you will wait for Him. Yield to Him. Cooperate with Him.” – John Smith

21. “A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power.” – Edwin Harvey

22. “Quit playing, start praying. Quit feasting, start fasting. Talk less with men, talk more with God. Listen less to men, listen to the words of God. Skip travel, start travail.” – Leonard Ravenhill

23. “None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience. It is a great matter when in extreme need to take hold on prayer.” – Martin Luther

24. “You know the value of prayer: it is precious beyond all price. Never, never neglect it.” – Sir Thomas Buxton

25. “Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister. Pray, then my dear brother; pray, pray, pray.” – Edward Payson

26. “It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer; and further we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us, and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing.” – George Müller

27. “Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!” – Andrew Murray

28. “The reason why we obtain no more in prayer is because we expect no more. God usually answers us according to our own hearts.” – Richard Alleine

29. “Satan cannot deny but that great wonders have been wrought by prayer. As the spirit of prayer goes up, so his kingdom goes down.” – William Gurnall

30. “The devil is aware that one hour of close fellowship, hearty converse with God in prayer, is able to pull down what he hath been contriving and building many a year.” – Flavel

31. “Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things ‘above all that we ask or think.’” – Andrew Murray

32. “If we would pray aright, the first thing we should do is to see to it that we really get an audience with God, that we really get into His very presence. Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him.” – Dr. R. A. Torrey

33. “What is love if it be not fiery? What are prayers if the heart be not ablaze? They are the battles of the soul.” – Samuel Chadwick

34. “Mind how you pray. Make real business of it. Let it never be a dead formality…plead the promise in a truthful, business-like way…Ask for what you want, because the Lord has promised it.” – Charles Spurgeon

35. “Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit; where there is much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing prayer.” – Andrew Murray

36. “A godly man is a praying man. As soon as grace is poured in, prayer is poured out. Prayer is the soul’s traffic with Heaven; God comes down to us by His Spirit, and we go up to Him by prayer.” – Thomas Watson

37. “Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.” – D. L. Moody

38. “There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom of Christ as by prayer.” – Jonathan Edwards

39. “As it is the business of tailors to make clothes, and the business of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray!” – Martin Luther

40. “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” – Martin Luther

41. “Intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren.” – C. H. Spurgeon

42. “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” – Samuel Chadwick

43. “What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men who the Holy Spirit can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not come on machinery but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer.” – E. M. Bounds

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Be Stirred To Pray!

My hope is that these quotes about prayer have stirred your heart to pray big, audacious prayers to God.

To take hold of God by faith and not let go until God answers.

Because when we pray, things happen. God moves. Circumstances change. Our hearts conform more to his will.

Prayer does mighty things.

Posted at: https://theblazingcenter.com/2019/05/quotes-about-prayer.html

Find the Point of Entry

Stephen Kneale

We’re coming into that time of year when we are under attack. I don’t mean spiritually; Satan doesn’t particularly abide by the seasons. No, our house is currently under attack from ants. Every year, they find some way in. Through some crack in the wall or gap in a floorboard. Every day we hoover them up and, the next, come down to find them swarming in again.

As I was trying to remove the latest incursion, I was given some simple but effective advice. Find where they are coming in and focus preventative measures on the point of entry. I was able to follow a line of ants to a tiny gap near the front of our house. We have initially put down washing up liquid (they seem not to like it) which is keeping them at bay. This is tiding us over until we can get some ant powder to ensure they don’t keep coming back.

But sin seems to have a similarly persistent habit of encroaching on us. We may find ourselves falling into sin again and doing little more than the spiritual equivalent of hoovering up the ants. We sin, we repent, but the very next day, there it is back again. We think we have dealt with it, we think we have resolved the problem, but really we have only cleared up the mess left from the latest iteration. And so, unsurprisingly, it happens again, and again, and again. It’s not that we don’t want rid of it, it’s just that the only tool we ever reach for is one that deals with the problem after it has arisen.

Just like with our ant problem, we need to find the point of entry and enact some preventative measures. If we know we are prone to particular sins, its not much good simply clearing away as and when it happens. We might be repentant, and genuinely mean it, but its not going to do much in the long run to stop it happening again. And if we know we are prone to such sins, genuine repentance means more than just cleaning up after the fact but putting ourselves in a position, and putting things in place, to limit the possibility of it happening again.

In other words, we have to find the point of entry for the sins to which we are prone and lay the spiritual equivalent of ant powder to prevent it getting in. There comes a point at which, knowing we are tempted to certain besetting sins, we are dicing with death if we aren’t willing to inconvenience ourselves enough to stop falling into it. That is not to say you will necessarily never see that sin again – just as my laying ant powder doesn’t mean I will never see another ant inside my house – but it does make it that much less likely and evidences a desire to mortify it.

If Jesus can talk seriously about hands chopped off and eyes gouged out if they cause you to sin (cf. Matthew 5:29f), why should we be any less serious about it? If your internet connection causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Better to lose your ISP than to enter Hell with your wifi password. It’s no good insisting that you need the internet (or even, your computer) for your work. The prostitutes who came to Jesus, no doubt, had similar concerns. If your ministry is causing you to sin, stand down and do something less visible. Better to end your ministry than to enter Hell with your pastor’s contract. It’s no good insisting your church will probably fall apart if you leave. No doubt the early church viewed the apostles as they were martyred similarly.

We are, by nature, self-justifying creatures. Any sin to which we are prone may come with excuses. The circumstances under which we repeatedly find ourselves falling can readily be justified as necessary. Yet a repentant heart would do what is practicable to inconvenience itself enough to minimise repeat occurrences. There comes a point at which, if we’re not willing to do so, we are proactively giving sin a foothold and evidencing a heart that is happy to indulge sin. And that, dear reader, is a treacherous path indeed.

We will all have besetting sin this side of glory. None of us will free ourselves from sin influence in this life. As such, we must find the points of entry and take preventative measures before we find ourselves infested. Some of that will be positively stepping into our time with the Lord, being honest with him in our prayers about our struggles, seeking to surround ourselves with those who will encourage us to press on in the church. But some of it might involve placing ourselves in positions where the sins to which we are prone will have a much harder time gaining entry. It may mean doing what some would consider drastic because we don’t want to dishonour the Lord.

If we’re frequently failing to honour the Lord in our existing circumstances, we have to ask whether we love the Lord more than we want the thing causing us to sin. A genuine love for the Lord will mean we want to honour and glorify him more than we want anything else. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Posted at: https://stephenkneale.com/2019/05/22/find-the-point-of-entry/