encouragement from someone who has been through the fire

Category: Uncategorized

  • Let us not neglect Your Word

    Let us not neglect Your Word

     “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word… I delight in Your decrees. I will not neglect Your Word.” Psalm Chapter 119: verses  9-16 

    So often I walk past my bible in the bookshelf and don’t pick it up. I have started leaving copies around the house and even placed one in front of the TV, in-an-attempt to draw me back from the distractions of home life. I use my smartphone a lot and have various bible apps installed, sitting on the home screen for ease of spotting and opening. And yet I often still neglect the Word. I’m not sure when this started with me. I guess I have lived with a lot of distractions for many years. Perhaps I squandered some of the years that I should have been learning self-discipline and  aiming to be heading towards some more maturity and godly direction. For me it was in the form of violent computer games, questionable music and internet choices and withdrawal.

    Maybe it’s been a similar story for you. Maybe you still live with constant distractions that mean the bibles stay where they are, unopened and unread. It’s understandable, we have lived in a post Christian part of the world over the last number of years. But with the news about quiet revival happening around the UK and other parts of the world, I really feel challenged to get on board and really get to know my bible, and my Lord, in a much fuller way.

    The verses at the top of this post have long been a favourite of mine. The whole section from Psalms, Chapter 119, verses 9-16 (named Beth) speak of a deep yearning for more of Jesus. The kind of yearning that I often lack, but get glimpses of every so often. I want more of that. I want to stop more at the bookcase; flick through the bibles there; pick up my bible from in front of the TV before I reach for the remote; and to head for the bible folder on my phone before scrolling through to my favourite games. Like I said, every so often it feels natural to do this, but I guess progress does not normally feel natural.

    I’ve been reminded again about the sword of the Spirit, which is the learned and spoken word of God. The “scriptures made aggressive” as the late, great Derek Prince often commented. We need to know them, meditate on them, speak them, soak ourselves in them. We need to be able to quote relevant parts of the bible in the need of any given moment, in-order-to defend ourselves and others from attack and to strike back against darkness. We can’t do this as easily if our bibles are sitting in our bookshelves, or even in front of the TV, gathering dust and leaving us unarmed and vulnerable. I am really challenged when I ponder things like that and when preachers, bible commentators and Christian friends and family prompt me to the Word too.

    Our bibles need to come alive in our lives, for me as much as anyone else.

    ‘Lord, Let me not neglect Your Word.’

  • Battle ready

    I experienced interesting pictures while in quiet time this morning with my wife. We had been reading and praying about new beginnings and fresh starts in the Word and devotional notes. We had spent time chatting about this topic earlier this morning too. The pictures were of a knight putting on armour and his armoured metal helmet went on last. It was very vibrant and strangely real. In the next picture there were strange, frightening monsters being rounded up and locked away in a cell. As we prayed more and I spoke of what I had experienced a few minutes earlier, I felt that one interpretation could be of me ( or us) putting on our spiritual armour as described in        Ephesians: 6.10-18. The helmet of course covers the head, and is described as protection for the mind. The monsters were perhaps intrusive thoughts, dark whispers, demonic attacks. With the full armour on, these monsters no longer have any power or influence. They are disarmed and taken away by God.

    Another verse that came to mind was about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:5.) and I thought that this tied in with the monsters being locked away. This verse also talks about repenting of ungodly thoughts and surrendering instead to obedience to God.

    Much of this was vaguely familiar to me, and people tell me often to put my armour on. I try to listen, and I do pray it on when I remember. I’ve been reminded these last few weeks of the consequences of not doing it though. The whispers are deceitful and persuasive. I often get taken in by them, and they get louder as I pay them attention.

    We prayed a lot about strategies for being more alert and driven to be closer to Jesus. We have made a choice to pursue this relationship more. Not making grandiose goals or plans to have it all as we expect it to be in record time. Just small baby steps with our Father in heaven, to be led into a better place, closer together and closer to Him.

    In this battle that we all find ourselves, it is easy to think that even with the full armour we still do it by our own strength. Even strength in numbers through house group or church, which of course is essential too. But we are reminded that not only is the battle the Lord’s, but the victory is not dependant on success through any current struggle, problem, or battle in daily life. It has already been won at Calvary. We serve the One who is all-victorious. We serve the King.

  • A whisper in the dark

    Most of the time I don’t know what to type for this blog. I try to write short poems, some rambles. Some things seem to work, most don’t. I pray to be led by the Holy Spirit and ask for words to flow. For something that will bless others, something that will touch a heart or two. This is especially true in the moments that I feel that bits of my story could help someone. Well, that’s what I try for anyway.

    Yet there is usually silence from God. Maybe he has nothing for me just now. Maybe I am not listening right. Maybe this sort of thing takes practice. Whatever the reasons or purposes yet undisclosed, I do feel the need to share something.

    My story is one of great personal and family struggles. Of some very dark moments, some glimmers of hope, some more darkness. Lots of not listening for God’s voice and not looking for help in times of need and distress.

    There have been encounters with all sorts of people, from those who sought to destroy me, and those who showed me unconditional love through pained rebellion. It has not been easy, even when blessings have been bountiful, my attitude and focus has often been on the negatives. I do regret that. I’m working on changing that. But I do know that Jesus is patient, and his forgiveness is always on offer.

    To anyone going through shadows or sadness. To anyone lost in despair or hopelessness. I know what it’s like. I often sink back into it and let the lows take hold. But I have also known the beauty of God’s grace, a voice calling out to me to let Him help and mould me into the man that He made me to be.

    He wants to mould you too, whether you already know Him or not. He doesn’t promise things will be easy. I know that all too well. But the calling is to trust the maker of all, with all you have, and all that He will teach you, as He is gradually teaching me.

    He’s calling you home.