Tag: Tim keller

Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, Christian women, Faith, god, Jesus, Jesus Follower, prayer, religion, scripture, Transformation Prayer, Uncategorized, wisdom

Pruning for Fruitfulness

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In all this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6

You may have learned at some point that wildfires actually can be positive for burning out old, dead wood and allowing for new growth.  God’s trials are our great refinery.  Every one of us experiences it.  But only Christians have the promises and therefore the hope for truly brighter days.  Only we have the guiding, comforting light of the Holy Spirit to remind us He is always with us.  

As the faithful we are led to forgive those who persecute us.  Not only forgive but to love.  Our fruit of our faith is joy, peace, patience, love, gentleness, kindness, self-control and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22).

If during a trial you don’t have this fruit you have to ask yourself if you have truly surrendered to Christ.  Or are you, as Pastor Tim Keller once said, “Sitting in God’s seat”?  Meaning, are you the arbiter of “the ways things should and must be?”  Are you so angry, sad or distraught when, after you’ve determined what is best in your life, that it all goes so differently? You’re sitting in God’s seat. 

The secular world says, “There is no future so I must have all my happiness in the ‘now.’” When that inevitable trial or suffering comes, the worldly are thrown into despair.  They think life should always be good.  But as the faithful we should and must put our ultimate happiness in the eternal.  When suffering comes to us it is to be expected because we live in a fallen world.  On the flip side, when life is good, we should be thanking God for what is actually the “unusual.”

Gopher Holes

This garden we are all in has a lot of gopher holes that have been dug out by the world who live by fleshly desires.  Greed, selfishness, hatred, unforgiveness, unkindness, sexual immorality and more are the result of Satan’s pull on mankind.  And it all slams against us at one time or another.  Trying to pluck us from His hands.

But God.  

He gives us this beautiful promise: “And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20).  Jesus said this to the apostles as He sent them out to spread the seeds of the Gospel because He knew what they would face.  Death and persecution would follow them everywhere.

Is this all to just “get through” safely to eternity?  In one way, yes.  But remember those fruits?  We don’t have the fruit of fear and drudgery and timidity.  We have the fruits of what so many seek through self-help books and psychology.  Our trials help us learn to persevere and grow closer to God in trust.  They show us that He is truly worthy of all our praise.  He provides and protects until He calls us home.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Beautiful Blossoms

So again, I ask, have you come out stronger in your trials?  Has your faith beautifully blossomed?  If not, it’s time to reflect.  To ask yourself if you missed God in the suffering and in the calm.  If you missed an opportunity for peace in the pain.  If you still seek to control outcomes and sit in God’s seat.  Are your roots at the surface or are they grounded deep in the love and knowledge of God?

You will face something difficult again.  He is trustworthy and has a plan for you.  Through your tears, ask Him to reveal Himself at work.  In your anxiousness ask Him to make your path straight.  In your heavy burden take up His offer to turn it all over to Him.

I promise you, because I have seen Him at work through many people, including myself, you will see your faith grow by leaps and bounds.  And the world will have a difficult time pulling your deep roots from God’s rich soil.

This week’s question: What promise of God have you relied on during difficult times?

Next week join me as we delve into the truth and the beauty of obedience and submission.

Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, Christian women, Faith, god, Jesus, Jesus Follower, prayer, religion, scripture, Transformation Prayer, Uncategorized, wisdom

The Christian Traveler 

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For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I’m that Christian who had long convinced myself that I could never memorize Bible scripture.  I’m in awe of my friend Betsy who can roll out verses like a pro.  She doesn’t just know them; she uses scripture to comfort, encourage, convict and enlighten as she hikes her Christian path.  It’s what the Bible means by taking up the “sword of the Spirit.” (Eph 6:17).  

Earlier this year I finally understood this analogy.  Without scripture at my fingertips, I was like a soldier going into battle without ammunition.  Or as though I was on a road trip and forgot the most important thing to keep me going – snacks.  Realizing this, I set out to memorize Isaiah 26:3-4 which says, “You keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the LORD God forever for He is an everlasting rock.”  

When my mind strays to worries, fears and all the other things of this world that pull me away from God, I’m slowly using this new weapon as a reminder.  A reminder that perfect peace can only be found in the Lord. 

Last week, we looked at corporately attaining knowledge about our Christian faith to grow in sanctification. Through church participation or group Bible study we gain helpful insight into God’s Word.  Today, we will look at the individual means the Holy Spirit guides us on this holy journey.

Daily, personal Bible reading, whether through reading a book of the Bible, a teaching-style daily devotional, or individual Bible study book, is essential to gaining knowledge of the God we profess to be our King.  Without this, we close off an avenue for the Holy Spirit to work in us.  It’s our “sitting at the feet of Jesus,” learning His ways.

I’ve always recommended to fellow Christian travelers to do their Bible reading in the morning.  While we need to be careful not to become Pharisee-like in our routines, there’s a good reason I recommend this.  

The Right Path

Why do you already do the tasks in your morning routine?  You get cleaned up for the day, get energized and mentally review your daily schedule.  You might even exercise somewhere in all of that.  Keeping physically fit to “make it a great day.”  All that’s wonderful, until you hit rush hour traffic or you get a flat tire.  Or you get a giant project dumped on you that no one else wanted.  Maybe your child suddenly throws up as you’re about to take them to school.  It starts raining and you had a picnic planned.

You know, life happens and it’s only 8:30am.

I mentioned previously that my mom died suddenly last year.  I had just finished my evening prayers when I got the phone call.  Then, just four days later my 85 year old dad was given the news that his 10 year fight with bladder cancer had progressed to something much worse.  My life and my schedule were instantly thrown for a loop.  Each morning I did my studies and turned my schedule over to God. I began memorizing Isaiah 26. The Holy Spirit spoke through His Word encouraging me and teaching me.

On January 7, 2025 one of my devotionals used Genesis 6:22 to remind me of my purpose here on earth: “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” In other words, live in obedience to His will.

So, before you start your day let’s get our heart, minds and souls fed and strengthened.  Let’s get ourselves aligned on God’s road.  We then set out, wading through burnt toast, coffee spills, traffic, rain, clothing mishaps, annoying people, and lost phones with being tethered to God’s perfect peace.  We are fully stocked with all our favorite road trip snacks.

You may wonder where to start?  That’s really not the problem.  The problem is just starting.  I can recommend, however, reading the book of Mark.  It’s fast paced and gives an overview of Jesus’ ministry.  

Roadside Service

The other daily tether on our journey is prayer.

I heard a great sermon by Tim Keller where he looks at Psalm 1 as our introduction on how to pray.  Verse 2-3 says, “but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”  He explained how “meditating” is frequently misunderstood to mean gazing at our navel or the ocean.  But what it really means is having a conversation with God.  A two-way conversation.  Talking and listening. God speaks to us through the gift of His living Word, the Bible.

Here’s Dr. Keller’s example of how to mediate on the “law of the Lord” (meaning the entire word of God):

  1. Take a piece of scripture and read it a few times
  2. For 15 minutes or so write down 10 things you observe or learn in that scripture
  3. Circle two or three things that stand out to you or have special meaning to you at that time
  4. Think on those for the remainder of your day while talking with God

I guarantee if you do that a few times a week you will grow in your knowledge of the Lord.  You will see His beautiful promises, His truths, and His expectations for your walk with Christ.  

We don’t need flowery poetry to talk with God.  And God doesn’t need you to speak in tongues (He’s well-versed in whatever language you naturally use!).  You may have heard the Bible verse, “pray without ceasing.” That isn’t something that looks like being a cloistered monk all day.  It means when something good happens, you immediately thank Him.  When you are in a tough spot, ask Him.  When you sin, seek forgiveness and help.  In the morning seek His will, not yours, for the day.  And in the evening review how you saw Him at work in your life.  A constant “roadside assistance service” to our God.  The Holy Spirit is ready and waiting to fill you up with the knowledge and wisdom of God through answered (or even unanswered) prayers.

Friend, do you want to grow closer to God — meaning you are walking the path of sanctification?  If you want what the Bible calls “the mind of Christ,” it’s like any earthly relationship.  You need to get to know Him.  You must spend time with Him.  

Through private, quiet contemplation and study and congregational teaching and worship the Holy Spirit reveals our glorious God.  He holds your hand while you travel through this Christian life.  

I’ve learned a lot about how much God loves us and how to see Him throughout my day these last six months.  I’ve learned on my long drives home from my dad’s house after a day of doctor visits to thank God for all the ways He has helped and strengthened me.  And although I haven’t yet achieved “perfect” peace, I’m at least going in the right direction.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  John 16:13

This week’s question: What Bible scripture have you memorized that you use often?  Or which scripture would you like to memorize?

Next week: We plunge into seeking the joy of trials.