Kaldet til din næste
Dette er en artikel udgivet på "Docks". Det er Haven Networks ressourceplatform, som tilbyder artikler og videoer, til at styrke, udfordre og inspirere dig på din vandring i den kristne tro – om du er skeptisk eller allerede troende. De er tilknyttet kirken Haven i Aarhus, som er en evangelisk frikirke.
Diakoni er en vigtig del af mit liv på syvende år. Det har haft indflydelse på min egen åndelige udvikling og hjulpet med at sætte mine egne kampe i perspektiv og bringe indre helbredelse, hvor jeg behøvede det. At sidde med åbenlyst brudte og forkastede mennesker har givet mig vokseværk på mange planer.
Selvom diakoni udleves af kristne i mange lokalsamfund rundt omkring i Danmark, er ordet ikke længere en fast del af de flestes ordforråd. Men det er endnu mere relevant i dag, hvor kirkens rolle i socialt arbejde kan underspilles på grund af de omsorgsopgaver, der er uddelegeret til staten. Bureaukrati i det offentlige sundhedssystem kan spænde ben for nærværet og udlevelsen af et kristent menneskesyn, og derfor har diakoni – gjort i Jesu navn og eksempel – stadig sin berettigelse.
Derfor vil vi sammen kigge nærmere på, hvad diakoni er, og hvorfor det er en vigtig del af at være Jesus-efterfølger.
Må det være til opmuntring og motivation for dig, der allerede er i gang med diakoni, og til inspiration for dig, der endnu ikke er det.
Hvad er diakoni?
Det græske ord diakonia betyder tjeneste og er brugt over 100 gange i Det Nye Testamente. Historisk set har diakoni været det centrale ord til at beskrive kirkens sociale ansvar og arbejde; hvordan evangeliet udleves i handling igennem omsorg for fattige, nødlidende og udstødte. Og at være Jesu hænder, fødder og stemme deles typisk op i to former – karitativ og profetisk diakoni.
Karitativ diakoni handler om barmhjertighedsgerninger, der afhjælper og lindrer et medmenneskes nutidige, presserende behov, som eksempelvis at tilbyde et måltid mad eller et bad til en hjemløs. Udover de utallige eksempler i evangelierne på Jesu spontane barmhjertighedsgerninger, opfordrer blandt andet Ordsprogenes Bog til spontan tjeneste for vores medmennesker: »Afslå ikke at hjælpe nogen, hvis du er i stand til det« Ordsprogenes bog 3:27.
Hvor karitativ diakoni handler om her og nu-indgriben over for et medmenneske, er den profetiske diakoni rettet mod at tale de svages sag, og stå op for retfærdighed, for at skabe en ny fremtid for dem, der ikke kan forsvare sig selv. Det kan være en politisk handling, eller andre måder hvor vores stemme bruges til at protestere, demonstrere og adressere strukturer, der skaber ulighed og fattigdom. Fx er et kendt eksempel på profetisk diakoni Martin Luther Kings borgerrettighedsbevægelse. Når Esajas profeterer om Jesus som Isajs rodskud, Davids søn, i Esajas’ bog, er det bare et af mange steder, hvor Jesus forsvarer de svage: »Han forsvarer fattiges rettigheder og dømmer de svage retfærdigt« Esajas 11:4.
Hvorfor kalder Jesus hver af sine efterfølgere til at udleve de her former for diakoni over for vores medmennesker? Her kommer fire grunde.
1) Troværdighed
Som Jesus-efterfølgere ønsker vi, at vores ord og handling går hånd i hånd – både det, vi siger, vi står for individuelt, og hvad vi bekender, vi sammen tror på som kirke. Derfor kan diakoni ikke bare uddelegeres som statens opgave, for troværdigheden af vores budskab vises gennem det levede liv hos hver enkelt troende: »I viser med jeres liv, at I er et anbefalingsbrev fra Kristus« 2 Korintherbrev 3:3.
Apostlenes Gerningers sjette kapitel beskriver den parring af ordets forkyndelse og diakoniens udrakte hænder til samfundet, der giver troværdighed til evangeliet og skinner et lys i mørket for udenforstående:
Efterhånden som flere og flere kom til tro, begyndte de græsktalende jødekristne i menigheden at beklage sig overfor de hebraisktalende, fordi de mente, at deres enker blev tilsidesat ved den daglige maduddeling. Derfor indkaldte de 12 apostle alle lederne til et møde og sagde: »Det er ikke godt, at vi forsømmer forkyndelsen af Guds ord for at tage vare på maduddelingen. Derfor skal I finde syv erfarne og åndsfyldte mænd iblandt jer, som har et godt ry. Dem vil vi give ansvaret for maduddelingen, så vi selv kan koncentrere os om bønnen og tjenesten med at forkynde ordet.«
De syntes alle, at det var et godt forslag, og de valgte derfor syv mænd: Stefanus (en mand, som var fuld af tro og Helligåndens kraft), Filip, Prokoros, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas og Nikolaos fra Antiokia (en græker, der tidligere havde sluttet sig til jødedommen). De syv blev så fremstillet for apostlene, som bad for dem og indsatte dem til tjeneste ved at lægge hænderne på dem og velsigne dem.
Guds ord nåede ud i stadig videre kredse, og antallet af disciple voksede stærkt i Jerusalem. Også en del af de jødiske præster kom til tro" Apostlenes Gerninger 6:1-7.
Her i den første kirke begynder en diakonal afdeling, hvor næstekærligheden bliver systematiseret, for at kunne afhjælpe behovet om enkernes tilsidesættelse ved den daglige maduddeling. Den første kirke forstår vigtigheden af, at den praktiske tjeneste ikke går ud over ordets forkyndelse. Derfor udpeges nye ledere til at stå for maduddelingen. Hvad der skete efter denne beslutning, er fantastisk; frugten er ikke til at tage fejl af. Antallet af disciple voksede stærkt og flere jødiske præster kom til tro.
Det er den effekt, vi kan have tro for, når vi skaber muligheder for medkristnes næste skridt i deres vandring med Gud. For mange vil næste skridt være at blive involveret i diakonalt arbejde, og bruge deres gaver der, hvad end deres gaver er at lede, tro, opmuntre, administrere, helbrede, hjælpe praktisk, udøve barmhjertighed, trøste, give af sit eget eller andet (Romerne 12:6). Ved at udleve evangeliet i handling og aktivt bruge egne gaver, går vi fra kun at være forbrugere til også at være bidragere, og det skaber modenhed og troværdighed: »Hvis troen står alene uden at give sig udtryk i handling, er den død« Jakobs brev 2:14.
Når vi står sammen som kirke i at elske vores næste, og i vores udadrettede arbejde også giver udtryk for vores indbyrdes kærlighed til hinanden, er det et fantastisk, troværdigt vidnesbyrd for dem, der følger med i vores liv fra sidelinjen. Og dem er der flere af end du tror – også andre end dem, der følger dig på sociale medier.
2) For din egen sundheds skyld
»Den, der giver til andre, får mere igen, den, der afhjælper nød, bliver selv hjulpet« Ordsprogenes Bog 11:25. Der er noget forfriskende i at tjene andre. Når vi får øjnene væk fra os selv og tjener en anden, der har det svært, er det fantastisk, hvordan det hjælper vores egen situation og hjerte. Min egen oplevelse med at blive involveret i diakonalt arbejde for 7 år siden var, at jeg gik fra at være selvoptaget til at blive selvbevidst. Før var jeg selvabsorberet og det satte mig i fangeskab at fokusere på alt, der var forkert med mig. Gennem diakonalt arbejde blev jeg i stedet selvbevidst og opmærksom på, hvordan jeg kunne bruge mine styrker og min frihed til at tjene andre i kærlighed (Galaterbrevet 5:13).
Det var en vigtig lektie at lære for mig, at jeg kunne bruges her og nu i et andet menneskes liv. Det kræver ikke perfektion at afhjælpe andres nød. Gud bruger os i vores svaghed. Paulus udfordrer os med, at det er i vores svaghed at Guds styrke fremhæves (2 Korinterbrev 12:10). Derfor er vores egen brudthed ikke en hindring for at blive involveret. Når vi er i kontakt med vores egen brudthed, får vi et mod til at træde ind i andres lidelser og bære deres byrder, fordi vi kan relatere til dem. Hvis vi ikke er bekendt med vores egen brudthed og hvordan Jesus møder os og lyser vores mørke op, er det svært at have håb for, at det kan ske midt i andres (ved første øjekast) håbløse historier.
Vær opmuntret! Diskvalificér ikke dig selv. Alt det kræver at lede et andet menneske (til Jesus, til håb, til liv, til visdom) er at være et enkelt skridt foran – hvad end det så er at være rigere på en oplevelse, rigere i modenhed, erfaring, ressourcer, venskaber, økonomi eller noget helt andet.
Ved at fortsætte på rejsen med at blive sat fri fra vores eget mørke, og vandre i det lys vi er blevet givet af Jesus, kan vi lyse vejen op for andre. Han er en lygte for vores fod og et lys på vores sti (Salme 119:105). Vi får privilegiet af at opfylde kærlighedsbuddet om at elske vores næste som os selv – i Helligåndens kraft – og proklamere over mennesker, “Bliv fri fra dit mørke”.
Et sundt legeme ånder både ind og ud. Det samme gælder for Jesu legeme; det både modtager og giver.
3) Fordi Jesus viste vejen
Korset viser os Jesu ubetingede kærlighed. Jesus viser os at ægte kærlighed er at ofre sig for og frivilligt forpligte sig til andre mennesker, som han gjorde for os på korset: »Jesus gav jo sit liv for vores skyld, så han kunne løskøbe os fra al ondskab og umoralitet og gøre os til sit ejendomsfolk, et folk, der ivrigt søger efter at gøre det gode« Titus 2:14.
På korset elskede Jesus os tilbage til livet, og når den kærlighedsgerning modtages på et personligt plan og bliver gjort levende, er det naturlige biprodukt at vi ønsker at omfavne folk midt i deres brudthed, ligesom Jesus fortsætter med at omfavne os. Denne usædvanlige kærlighed driver og opfordrer os til at ydmyge os selv og følge i vores Frelsers fodspor. Vi lever ikke længere for os selv. Vi lever for ham, og vores hjerter bevæges af, hvad Guds hjerte bevæger sig af – en brudt menneskehed.
Kristus udfordrer vores menneskelige natur, når han viser os at tjeneste ikke er en vej til storhed. Tjeneste er storhed. Det er en fantastisk byttehandel Gud tilbyder os. Som vi giver til andre, modtager vi. Når vi tjener, bliver vi kaldt mægtige. Når vi dør til vores egne ambitioner, bliver vi levende i Ham. Vi udøver diakoni, fordi Jesus viste os vejen.
Må hvad Jesus gjorde for dig blive levende (på ny), og må dit nye liv, der udspringer af Guds nåde og Helligåndens virke, vise andre vejen til Jesus.
4) Mission
»Prædik evangeliet. Om nødvendigt brug ord«. Sådan skulle Frans af Assisi efter sigende have sagt. Ord er nødvendige, men hvis der ikke er nogen handling bag, bliver de hule skaller. En del af befalingen om at “gå ud i alverden” er også befalingen om at gå til de brudte, de oversete og de forkastede. Gud kalder os med et “GÅ”, der trækker det ud af os som vi bærer på, så vi kan uddele det til andre.
Hvis du ikke ved, hvad din særlige mission er, er mission gennem kærlige, strategiske handlinger til velsignelse for andre mennesker et godt sted at starte. Gennem dem er vi jordens salt og verdens lys (Matthæusevangeliet 5:13-14): »På samme måde skal I lade det lys, I har fået, skinne for folk, så de kan se, at det, I gør, er prisværdigt, og så de kan give jeres Far i Himlen ære« Matthæusevangeliet 5:16.
Karitativ og profetisk diakoni koblet med sjælesorg er kraftfuldt, fordi det giver ære til Gud ved at fokusere både på menneskers fysiske, sjælelige, åndelige og fremtidige behov.
Esajas’ bog beskriver Jesu mandat herunder, og dét mandat er også dit. Jeg vil opmuntre dig til at læse det højt og minde dig selv om, hvordan du er kaldet til at følge i Jesu fodspor:
" Herrens Ånd er over dig, fordi han har udvalgt dig. Han har sendt dig for at bringe godt nyt til de afmægtige og genoprette dem, hvis hjerte er knust. Du skal forkynde frihed for de fangne og løse de bundnes bånd. Det bliver en tid, hvor Herren tager imod alle, som kommer til ham, men han vil også straffe de ulydige. Han vil trøste dem, der sørger. Ja alle, som sørger i Zion, vil han give festdragt i stedet for sæk og aske, glæde i stedet for sorg, lovsang i stedet for tungsind. De skal kaldes de retfærdige egetræer, og de skal stå som vidnesbyrd om Herrens herlighed" Esajas 61:1.
Må vi som kirker i Danmark bevæges til handling for vores næste ved intelligent og strategisk at kigge på behovene i vores lokalområde, og respondere hvor vi kan.
Gud velsigne dig.
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I am crossing over
Recently, I was thinking about the crossovers of life as I literally was on a boat crossing over from Sjællands Odde to Aarhus. On this particular crossover, there were high waves and it made me nautious. The weather was foggy and it was hard to see the horizon.
In the same way, spiritual, mental and emotional crossovers can be surrounded by lack of clarity about what's waiting on the other side. As we navigate the transitions of endings, in-betweens and new beginnings, it can make us a bit nautious too.
A snapshot of my own recent transitions include ending a two-year-season at an apartment and ending my season of six years of studying. Currently I am transitioning out of a study-job I've had for the last two years, and I am in the process of handing over Citycare while I'm on maternity leave, which is the social justice ministry in our church which my husband and I have started and have served at the last three years since we got married. I'm also waiting for my baby girl to arrive and our family to expand while searching for my first full-time-job. We just finished the in-between time of living with my generous parents for one and a half month, and now we've entered a beginning with a new apartment in a new neighbourhood.
All of these crossovers I'm experiencing are a natural part of progression in life. Some of the endings (that naturally beckon a new beginning) happened due to perseverance and diligence in finishing up an education for instance, and other endings happened because of intentional faith-steps that's part of the Christian pilgrimage journey.
If you are also navigating transitions with all its bends and curves, I pray that the following insight into the Israelites' transition - from captivity in Egypt to crossing over the Red Sea into their promised land - will help you in your transition.
🔑 Keep your mouth shut
In the in-between when we've left something behind and is moving over to something new, our season can seem odd to others, and even to ourselves. We might not know where the steps we're taking are leading. For the Israelites, the in-between caused some doubt, insecurity and distrust in their leader:
"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them!
They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness’” Exodus 14:10 MSG.
In the in-between, the Israelites spoke from a limited perspective because they couldn't see the full picture yet. Their words were full of complaint, blame and wishing themselves back to the past. The great part of their complaint was that they directed it towards the source, God, who can work with where we're at.
God's answer of reassurance and calm to their panic came through the Israelites' leader, Moses, whom He had put over them. Moses exhorted them:
“Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again.
God will fight the battle for you.
And you? You keep your mouths shut!” Exodus 14:13 MSG.
If you're doubting like the Israelites were, be comforted that this is normal in transition. But don't let that become an excuse for staying in a rut of negativity and distrust. If you don't know what to declare yet over your new beginning and how to explain it to others, simply don't.
*However, with new decisions, definitely talk them through with a counsellor in your life for perspective and accountability, and a couple of trusted friends.
Instead of focusing on how others perceive you and your life in the change, worship your way through the fog. As Moses counselled the Israelites, keep your mouth shut, lean back and see what God will do. Keep gathering the puzzle pieces of glimpses you do have into your future. The dizziness is normal as you cross over. It will all get clearer as you move towards the horizon.
God has got you. You are crossing over.
🔑Get moving
When we've gotten the revelation instilled in our hearts that ultimately God fights for us - that He'll make the way and prepare the land we're crossing over into - we don't have to justify, rationalise or explain what might not even be clear to ourselves yet - we'll have to then get courageous and start moving:
"God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground" Exodus 14:15 MSG.
Faith requires action. To cross over, we need to put one foot in front of the other. What can hinder us from stepping out and get moving is the awkwardness. The stretch and the unknown can look a little messy as we are walking where we haven't been before.
As you process how you'll get moving, what do you discern need to be crossed off your to-do-list and left at the foot of the cross instead? Not everything of the old can coexist with the new.
I've found that some giants in my life - some struggles that I've only gotten partial deliverance from - often resurfaces as I'm about to enter something new that requires faith. Even though the giant - in this case of old memories of rejection and pain - will try to make me shrink down from rising into the new, the resurface is actually a great opportunity to receive deeper healing so that the new God is birthing can be enjoyed in greater ways - with no yuck from the past trying to haunt me and ruin the new wine.
When the Israelites' went in to scout out Canaan - the new land God had for them - they noticed some giants in the new land too that made them shrink back and feel insecure, unworthy and incapable.
"There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight" Numbers 13:33 NIV.
No matter if the giant you're facing as you get moving towards the new is something old resurfacing or a new challenge trying to squeeze the courage out of you, continue moving! Know that this is only confirmation you're moving in the right direction, being courageous with your life. Other people's deliverance is tied to your obedience. Fight through with them in mind.
God has got you. You are crossing over.
🔑 Declare who God is
As you fight the urge to having to explain the change that's upon you - as you get moving with the directions you've got and conquer giants on the way - declare who you know God to be.
I love the context of the psalm below, by the Levite and musician Asaph. In the midst of the temple being destroyed in Jerusalem, Asaph is believed to have penned this Psalm to give praise and declare dependence on God in their hard situation. He is looking back at the Israelites' breakthrough in the past to be encouraged in what's in from of them now -the crisis of the temple being destroyed:
By Asaph's example, I'm encouraged to remember God's past gracious supplies and even search out others who have gotten a breakthrough in the area I'm believing to cross over into.
The cross has ensured that you can cross over - from death to life, from emptiness to a life beaming with purpose in your every step.
Remember, Moses led a whole people to cross over with only a staff in his hand. When God says 'go', go empowered in His strength and trust that what you have is enough!
God has got you. You are crossing over.
All my love,
Sandra.
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Encountering our own backyard
This Saturday was the day we had anticipated, prayed about and sowed into over Easter as a church! Our desire with the day was to show the cross equals love message in action in our own backyard! Items to cover some basic needs for a homeless person was collected and put in care packs with encouraging notes in each one of them. And off we went – as one team we gathered to then scatter to three different strategic locations in Copenhagen.
What met the street team was deep amazement all over. It’s amazing what a toothbrush can mean for someone who has not had his or her teeth brushed for 10 days. Wet wipes were immediately taken to use and body lotion applied on dry, cold hands. A woman was commenting how she saw this pack as her Christmas present as she did not receive one last year.
From Copenhagen over the bridge to Malmö, we visited a women’s homeless shelter, and a volunteer, Anett, describes her experience of sitting with a girl high on drugs. She was hard to reach with a distant look on her face, not looking Anett straight in the eyes, but as Anett started to pack up the pack and show her the items one by one, something happened. The girl started loosening up, looking Anett in the eyes and she even wanted to try the face cream. Anett says: “My heart cried when I looked at her. Somewhere did something go wrong where no one has been there to help her. I was so glad I could be “the one” to her that day as we held hands and gave each other a hug.”
Not only were the homeless people uplifted. We were too.
“Being able to stand in the park and chat and experience our shared humanity and how laughter connects us was eye-opening,” Lauren says.
We truly experienced that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed, and enjoyed the opportunity to practice living out God’s heart for the poor:
“It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor – what a blessing!”(Proverbs 14:20 MSG)
Our heart is to build relationships and love people to the point of them asking: ”Why do you want to do this for me… a stranger?”From that point on we have the invitation to share our story and the hope we have in Jesus!
For those friendships to be built, consistency is key! That’s why this Easter initiative is just the starting point of a regular homeless street team we are launching in May – simply because we care and because we can.
You can sign up here to be part of it: citycare.hillsong.dk
Thank you church for your amazing willingness to be part of the answer – it all matters!
Sandra Hultén
CityCare Coordinator
Published on www.hillsong.dk's blog, April 2017.
Keys to receive a blueprint part 2
You can read part one on blueprints: "A blueprint for the new year" here.
In the last post, I unpacked how a blueprint is more than a vision. It is a plan on how to live it out. There are countless examples of this in the bible.
God revealed to Noah how exactly the ark was to be built to carry out God’s rescue plan from the flood for the righteous: "This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high..." (Gen. 6,15 CSB) David received the exact blueprints from God to pass on to Solomon to build the temple of God: "The plans contained everything he had in mind for the courts of the Lord's house, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of God's house, and the treasuries for what is dedicated" 1 Chronicles 28:11 CSB.
And on and on the instructions go.
Like Noah and David, we can position ourselves to receive a blueprint for an assignment we've been given so we can partner with God and not only fulfill our assignment, but fulfill it in His loving, wise ways.
For you, God might want to give you a blueprint for the vision He has given you for 2019 whether it be for a certain project, a blueprint for your team structure, or your family's rhythms for example.
What were Noah, David and Jesus' blueprint for?
Noah's blueprint was for building an ark that could rescue the righteous from the flood God had sent to wipe away the wicked from the earth. The purpose was to partner with God for a reset on earth that would serve the future generations.
David's blueprint was for rebuilding the temple of God. After the Israelites had resettled in Jerusalem after the exile, they needed to reconnect with their identity as the people of God. The temple should direct them back to God's presence in their midst. The temple would later remind many Christians of the importance of the presence of God.
Jesus' blueprint on how to pray in Luke 11 served the purpose of intimacy with the Father and it showed the way for other people to connect to God.
In all three examples (the reset on earth, the rebuilding of the temple and the model of prayer), the blueprints helped serve other people, the future generations and forge relationship with God. 🔑
Let's look on some other keys in scripture that unlocked a blueprint from heaven:
- Ask 🔑
"He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray..." Luke 11:1 CSB.
A new testament example on a blueprint is Jesus teaching us a model for prayer in Luke 11. Before Jesus prayed, "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come..", he was asked by one of his disciples to be trained on the 'how to'.
Where do you need to ask God on the 'how' to carry out a certain assignment, face a challenge, or maybe reconcile a broken-down relationship?
2. Walking consistently with God 🔑
"Noah walked with God" Genesis 6:9 CSB.
Noah is described as a man walking with God and David's faithful heart towards God is also evident many places in scripture. When we walk consistently with God, He can align our hearts with His, and He can speak to us about the specifics on how to carry out His heart in a timely manner on the earth.
A blueprint is not about getting a plan and then moving on with the job without God. No, God shares His secrets with friends who consistently abide in Him.
3. Failure does not disqualify 🔑
"Then David prayed, “I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust; forgive my sin—I’ve been really stupid.” 1 Chronicles 21:8 MSG.
Before David received His blueprint he had just been seduced by the enemy to make a prideful leadership decision in counting his warriors.
The key is David’s hearts after his failure. He repents for his lack of trust in counting his warriors and in obedience he builds an altar to worship to God. Like Noah, He is walking with God, not perfect though, but with a repentant heart, willing to bear the consequences of his stupid choice. After David repented, he did not cut corners in building God an altar (1 Chronicles 21:18)
Failure does not have to qualify in partnering with God when we repent and in obedience goes forward with what He has called us to do, now done in His way without cutting corners.
4. A grateful attitude 🔑
In David's prayer (1 Chronicles 29:10 CSB), we see David go public with his honor to God: "Then David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly" and we see David explain how they had received provision from God to carry out the blueprint of the temple: "Lord, our God, all this wealth that we've provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand..."
When we do receive a blueprint from heaven, we can learn from David's example of telling his testimony publicly and recognising where the provision for the blueprint came from. A grateful attitude is pleasing to God.
Promises attached to the blueprint
1 Chron 28:19 tells how God not only gives David the blueprint on how to build the temple, but also the understanding on how to then carry it out: "By the Lord's hand on me, he enabled me to understand everything in writing all the detail of the plan."
That's a comforting fact. We can in the same way believe God not only to give us a blueprint but also to give us the understanding to carry it out.
Let's learn from Noah, David and Jesus and...
- Ask for a blueprint,
- Walk consistently with our Father
- Remember failure does not qualify when we repent
- Carry a grateful attitude
Bless you,
Sandra.
A blueprint for the new year part 1
Have you ever received a blueprint from heaven?
Synonyms for a blueprint is a model, design, strategy or template. Blueprints are used to describe the detailed, blue, photographic prints which architects used for their buildings since 1942. 🏠 I love the word ‘blueprint’ is also used in the paraphrased, modern translations of the bible.
A blueprint is more than a vision. It is a plan on how to live it out. There are countless examples of this in the bible.
God revealed to Noah how exactly the Ark was to be built to carry out God’s rescue plan from the flood for the righteous (Genesis 7). David received the exact blueprints from God to pass on to Solomon to build the temple of God. (1 Chronicles 28:11 MSG) Jesus taught us the blueprint on how to pray (Luke 11:1 NIV).
I believe in the strategies of heaven. I believe God has designated plans for us and I know He wants to share His secrets with His friends: “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him” Psalm 25:14.
With 2019 just around the corner, we can draw near to God to receive blueprints of heaven for our new year: 🎆
“Or, to put it another way, you are God’s house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ.
Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.” 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 MSG.
I love the analogy of our lives as a house, and I feel the weightiness of the scripture too. God is serious about the foundation and the materials the house is built with. Why? Because the house we are building with our lives is the home He dwells in, His sanctuary.
Therefore, regular heart-check-ups are healthy. Is our foundation still Jesus Christ? Are we co-builders of His house building something of eternal value? Are the materials we use silver and gold that will stand the test of fire?
Or is it rather hay and straw that will make our house come burning down by the exposure of time?
In The Passion Translation commentary, it says that “there is an allusion here to the temple of Solomon, which was built using gold, silver, and costly stones. Wisdom will build her house with divine substance (gold), redemption’s fruit (silver), and transformed lives (costly stones). See 1 Chronicles 22:14-16; 29:2.
Wood, hay, and straw are emblems of the works of the flesh, the building materials of men, not of God.
It is both quality and durability that God commends. Fire will cause the better material to glow brighter, but the inferior material will be consumed.
How we build and what we build matters to God. Note that it is possible to build on the true foundation of Christ but with wrong materials. We need God’s work done in God’s way.”
We need a blueprint to build something of quality and durability in 2019. Are we building with His wisdom, His insight, His understanding, His provision and His perspective?
I hope you are encouraged that God is a God of blueprints. God has a blueprint for the wicked (Job 20:29 MSG), God used wisdom’s blueprints to build the earth’s foundations (Prov.3:19 MSG) and God has a blueprint for your life and season! You are heaven's assignment. You are believed in and dearly loved, and your life has purpose.
With your wise strategy for 2019, you can wage war and confuse the enemy’s blueprint for your life. (Proverbs 24:6 TPT; Psalm 55:9 CEV)
Be encouraged to build your life on the foundation of Jesus Christ with materials that will last and stand the test of time:
“You will find true success when you find me, for I have insight into wise plans that are designed just for you. I hold in my hands living-understanding, courage, and strength. They’re all ready and waiting for you.” (Prov. 8:14 TPT)
Let's press in and receive what God has for us. He has exciting things in store!
Bless you,
Sandra.
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Retreat to advance
Have you ever felt stressed with the thought of Christmas approaching?
I think most of us have! I know I need heart and soul-prep for me to step into the lead-up to Christmas with a healthy mindset amidst the busy. I need small spaces for my soul to breathe. I need to retreat in order to advance. The definition of advance is to move forward in a purposeful way. That's what I want; purpose in my every step.
The challenge to tackle is, Christmas has been the time of year with most ministry activity and outpouring the last five years for me. For three years, it looked like December night shifts and Christmas dinners for women working in the sex industry. The last couple of years, it has been through leading our social justice department of church, Citycare, and setting the Christmas table for vulnerable people in our backyard.
Through trial and error, I've experienced how it can be a season not overwhelmed with the schedule, but overwhelmed with Jesus!
If you have the same experience of Christmas being an intense season of outpouring for others, this might help you:
Firstly, devote yourself
Have you settled in your heart that you are devoted to this season of your life? Have you counted the cost and the pain and discomfort that comes with sacrificing your own comfort momentarily so that others can be comforted?
As my pastor Thomas Hansen so wisely says, it is easy to find excuses for why it's not worth it. For me, a few obvious excuses not to make it a season about others would be that it's exam season, it's "hygge" season, I just want to focus on my own family etc. However, that's not how I want to live my life, 'cause there would then always be an excuse to find.
Therefore, it's important to settle your personal why before stepping into a new season of intentional, increased outpouring, whatever that looks like for you. What's your personal revelation of your why? Count the cost.
Each one on our Citycare team has their personal why. Our collective why this year is our belief that we are paving the way for generations to come to be part of a healthy church that have a natural overflow of love and care for others in our cities. Our collective belief is that our 'yes' will shape church history and set an example of church that's about rising up and daring to care for our backyard.
That kind of faith and vision is something worth devoting ourselves to.
Jesus modelled ultimate devotion when he went on the cross for the vision of being in unhindered relationship with YOU. He suffered great momentary pain on the cross, and volunteered to do it! Mind-blowing. Therefore, I know I want to follow His example and volunteer myself and sign up for helping others this Christmas despite the excuses that are easy to find. I can give up my comfort momentarily to comfort others this Christmas ❤
Secondly, put on the armour of light
Be prepared spiritually and practically for the warfare that comes with advancing and going forward. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and put on the armour of light! (Romans 13:12 NIV)
What weekly routines are you planning to make the Christmas season good? Is it a weekly one hour walk, daily journaling, a morning smoothie, getting your sleep in, remembering a Sabbath day? What does your prep look like?
Part of being prepared spiritually is protecting unity if you're part of a team you're serving with.
We recently gathered together as a Citycare key team, knowing that unity is key to what we're trying to accomplish at this time of year, and any time of year really. God commands a blessing where there is unity, and we need His blessing. Knowing we've been put together for such a time as this to serve the lost, hurting and broken and put the love of God on display through our kindness in action, we also know ahead of time the enemy will try to come against our common pursuit. When we are aware of his schemes, we can navigate through the small foxes that tries to spoil our bond of peace. We can do what's in our power to not give the enemy a foothold by quickly clearing out misunderstanding and offenses amongst the team, and we can fiercely protect unity by praying over one another.
My prayer our own team & yours is that we will not entertain what compromises our choice to:
"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing our labour is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV.
My prayer is that we all think about: "What can I personally do to contribute to a sense of unity where I'm planted?"
My prayer is that we will endeavour to see the individual through the eyes of Jesus, and knowing our sacrifice, when done in obedience, and placed in the hands of Jesus, will be worth it:
We will not grow weary in doing good 'cause in due time, we will reap a harvest if we don't faint (Galatians 6:9 NIV).
Let's be these prudent people Passion translation describes:
"A prudent person with insight foresees danger coming and prepares himself for it. But the senseless rush blindly forward and suffer the consequences.
Laying your life down in tender surrender before the Lord will bring life, prosperity, and honor as your reward" Proverbs 22:3-5 TPT.
In the commentary to these verses, it says wise people solve problems before they happen. Let that be our endeavour. There are beautiful promises attached to and unlocked with our surrender to what lies before us in the steps ordered by the Lord - life, prosperity and honour as our reward.
Your labour is not in vain, dear one. Be encouraged! Jesus paved the way for you and I. Let's pave it forward with Him this Christmas.
Let's devote ourselves, put on the armour of light & let's keep on running 'till we get that victor's prize. When we retreat, we can prepare to advance rightly with purpose in every step.
His steadfast grace will keep us firm and fixed.
Amen,
Sandra.
Nudged out of the nest
To watch and listen to the message, click here: Nudged out of the nest
Have you ever felt like you've been nudged out of your nest?
With your nest I mean that place that has become your retreat, refuge and resting place. We all need a resting place for refuelling to go back to and recharge. But we need more than that. We need risky faith and gutsy courage in order to grow our known zones and comfort zones and be about the purposes of God.
To step out of our comfort zone is necessary to mature in God and to start adulting! Childlikeness is awesome in the kingdom but our childish ways should be abandoned in order that we might be trustworthy and able to carry others to the throne of grace.
"My righteous ones will live from my faith. But if fear holds them back, my soul is not content with them!
But we are certainly not those who are held back by fear and perish; we are among those who have faith and experience true life!" Hebrews 10:8 TPT.
The scripture above tells me that my God is not content with me when fear holds me back. He is pleased with my faith. Therefore, I've experienced His gentle nudge out of the nest, my comfort zone, to trust the freefall.
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The definition of nudging is to gently push someone or something into a place or position. I experienced being gently nudged into a new place when I stepped into developing a new outreach department within my church.
Even though I was anxious as I can be about change in life, both God and myself knew I needed this transition to grow. So I gave Him my hesitant consent to take me where I had not been before, and trust He wold develop my wings on the way down; that His grace would carry me and give me wind in my sails.
Moses' freefall
Moses knew this gentle nudging of God as well. Moses' excuses to stay nesting were great (I'm not good enough, I don't have all the answers, people won't believe me, I'm a terrible public speaker and I'm not qualified - see Exodus 3 and 4) but he overcame his excuses and stepped out in obedience.
So can we.
Moses' obedience and courage even helped the next generation do the same. Through a song Moses wrote on his deathbed, the people of Israel, and their new leader, Joshua, were taught about God's faithfulness in the past. The testimony and wisdom from Moses gave them hope to step into the unknown freefall future without Moses by their side, and eventually they got to experience their promised land.
Moses' song has the potential to launch you into your promised land as well. It can help you put words to a season you are going through and courage to let God do and be the same for you as He was for Moses.
I have inserted 'me' in Moses' song below where it originally says 'him', referring to Moses and the people of Israel, for you to personalise and receive it for yourself:
"He (God) found me out in the wilderness, in an empty, windswept wasteland. He threw his arms around me, lavished attention on me, guarding me as the apple of his eye. He was like an eagle hovering over its nest, overshadowing its young, Then spreading its wings, lifting me into the air, teaching me to fly. God alone led me; there was not a foreign god in sight.
God lifted me onto the hilltops, so I could feast on the crops in the fields. He fed me honey from the rock, oil from granite crags, Curds of cattle and the milk of sheep, the choice cuts of lambs and goats, Fine Bashan rams, high-quality wheat, and the blood of grapes: I drank good wine!" Deuteronomy 32:10 MSG
This is who God was for Moses. He can be the same for you. He wants to lavish His attention on you. He can find you in your wilderness. He wants to protect you and discipline you; treat you like his beloved child. He is interested in your character more than your comfort. Therefore, He will teach you how to fly, even though it might be scary and there might be a long way down. If people do not or cannot stick with you to the next level you are going, you will be trained by God alone and learn that He is enough. God might allow you to let you fail temporarily but He will lift you up again and take care of your needs. He will give His finest to you because you are His beloved.
Name your nest
I do not know what your nest is called, but your nest can look noble and courageous in others' eyes and still be a nest for you.
My work as a team leader in a interdenominational café for sex trafficked women at night became a nest with time. There at night on my shifts, I was in my sweet spot, hidden away in a basement doing what I loved doing. But the grace also lifted from the work and I saw a mental picture of Jesus standing with a big watch on His wrist, pointing to it and saying to me: "Time is up, I am shifting the season."
As I transitioned into a new beginning ministry-wise and tried to navigate pouring new wine into new wineskins, I got this timely prophetic word that is strikingly alike to Moses' song in Deuteronomy 32:
"I feel like you need a little nudge. Yes a little nudge to push you over. It reminds me of the eagle pushing the baby out of the nest so the baby can learn to fly on its own. But the eagle as the Father lets the baby fall but the eagle/Father swoops the baby up before it lands. This process is done over and over until the baby learns to fly on its own."
This word might be for someone else too in your season if you feel God's gentle nudge to rise to what He is asking of you. And with rise, I simply mean to lean over the edge, and do the freefall, trusting that your Father will swoop you up before you land on the ground. He is developing deep trust in you. Trust in Him. Trust in your relationship; that you do hear Him rightly as He is calling you out.
Your perspective and trust might be tested when it feels like you are just about to land hard on the ground in the freefall, and your faith will probably soar as you experience the Deuteronomy 32-experience of God lifting you to the hill tops for perspective and provision. All the in-between feelings will probably arise too of doubt and insecurity when the roots developed back in the nest are tested.
His heart is not to shame you, humiliate you or push you away. Rather, He wants to teach you to face giants when it seems like you are on your own in the freefall; to trust His Holy Spirit is with you even when you cannot see Him. Your own prophecies over your life can be used as weapons as you wage spiritual warfare by faith and with a clean conscience (1 Timothy 1:18 TPT).
When you find it hard in the freefall, remember those days right after you saw the light - those were the hard times where you stood your ground for your new-found faith! Do not throw away your confidence. It has great reward and God delights in your faith, even when it is feeble.
As God is developing well-formed maturity in you, a confidence will arise that the roots developed in the secret place with Him, will carry you wherever He is leading you.
The future is so exciting. We've got this. Fall, we welcome you!
Love,
Sandra.
Your turn
- What is God asking of you that's pushing you out of your comfort zone?
- Where are you nesting when you are supposed to be flying?
- What is the first step you can take to jump and let God grow your wings on the way down?
- How can you trust the process and provision in the freefall?
- What can you do to actively remember the faithfulness of God? (Moses wrote a song that helped give him the confidence to leave the nest and develop wings on the way down.)
Having done all, stand
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Sometimes we just need to get eternal truths applied correctly to the situation that's making us unsure if we can keep standing steadfast in our convictions and assignments.
I can feel like the prophet Isaiah is uttering, that my wrongdoings pile up before God and that my sins stand up and accuse me! It's like my wrongdoings can stare me down, because I know in detail what I've done. (Isaiah 50:12-15 AMP)The most important truth we can let us be penetrated with, is that of our standing in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3 AMP). We stand on His salvation through faith, and not by our works. Such an amazing grace. We are safe when we desire like David to fall into the hands of the Lord when we are in great distress over our own mistakes. His mercies are very great! (1 Chronicles 21:13)
We want to fall down at Jesus' feet, because only when we put Him at His rightful place by worshipping Him, will we ever be able to stand victoriously:
This is how God tackled Israel's disobedience after Israel was defeated at Ai. He approached Israel's leader, Joshua, for his lack of standing, and He might say the same to you:"Get up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?"
God's questions are so tender and convicting at the same time. His questions remind us of our convictions about getting back up and stand tall, even when life-and kingdom battles seem to knock us down.
Like God exhorted Joshua and the people, I believe He is exhorting us today to rise up and consecrate ourselves, because God knows we cannot stand victorious before our enemies until we walk in obedience to what He has said to us. Get back up and take courage!
So divinely loved one, let's be on our guard, so we can stand instead of fall from our own steadfastness of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith. (2 Peter 3:17 AMP)
The two only places in scripture it's speaking about withstanding is concerning God's power that no-one can withstand! That's why we can stand. We can be secure and trust in the Lord's withstanding against evil. He will resist it and stop it's progress in our lives. The weapons will be forged but they will not prosper:
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]." Psalm 91,1 AMP.
Sanda.
⬇️⬇️
If you need an extra boost to STAND, whether it is to stand up for righteousness, to withstand the enemy or standing tall on your convictions and assignments, read these scriptures loudly over yourself and experience faith arise as you preach gospel to yourself: 💥💥💥
"Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail)." Psalm 55,22
"When He arrived at the place [called Gethsemane], He said to them, “Pray continually that you may not fall into temptation.” Luke 22,40 AMP."Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation]." 1 Cor. 10,12 AMP.
"A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But danger will not come near you." Psalm 91,7 AMP"I will set no worthless or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the practice of those who fall away [from the right path]; It will not grasp hold of me." Psalm 101,3 AMP
"For You have rescued my life from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from stumbling and falling." Psalm 116,8 AMP.
"You [my enemy] pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the Lord helped me." Psalm 118,13 AMP.
"Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy! Though I fall, I will rise; Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the Lord is a light for me." Micah 7,8 AMP
Photo by Lasse Hultén.
From watch-watcher to map master
Have you ever impatiently waited for the clock to turn to the time you wanted it to turn? When we are aching for a moment to come about, it feels like time can only go too slow.
At Easter I went with my family to Geneva where we visited the famous Patek Phillippe Museum. The museum showcases thousands of different watches. The first pocket watch was made in 1540.
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There is a market for watches, obviously because they can be pretty accessories and a fine piece of craftsmanship. But there is a market for watches because we all care about time! We don't like being behind or even too far ahead of ourselves. We want to be right on time. We are watch-watchers, watching the clock and waiting, dreaming and hoping for something to come to pass.
I think this desire to be right on time is godly. We are created to follow a rhythm of grace and a timing.
What is not godly is when we try to take the matter of time into our own hands.
Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1:7-8:
“You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”
Because timing is the Father's business, we'll benefit from loosing our glance on the clock and follow the directions of a map instead; the map of the word of God. <3
Psalm 19,7 MSG tells us that the life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
Proverbs 4:11 MSG also tells us, "I am drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns."
I personally know the pain of being a watch-watcher, staring down the clock for the minute hand to move in areas like starting to date, get married and finishing up studies.
The result has been the same - wasted time and ending up in blind alleys, as the Proverb above teaches us.
When I change focus from passively being a watch-watcher to actively studying the map of God's transforming word, I set myself up to receive what I'm hoping for in the Father's perfect timing.
Below are three keys which can help us see why and how we must go from being watch-watchers to becoming map masters:
1 - Sow your seed
"Go to work in the morning and stick to it until evening without watching the clock. You never know from moment to moment how your work will turn out in the end."
(Ecclesiastes 11:6 MSG)
This verse speaks about hard work and persistence. It speaks about us not needing to evaluate our job every single day to check if it's producing the fruit we are hoping to see from our labour. Instead of evaluating if we are getting the results we want, we are better off getting on with sowing the seeds that are moving us in the direction we are heading to. That will make sure we are not living short-sighted, but for the long haul. (even though getting regular wins are key as we move forward.)
As my pastor, Thomas Hansen, will often so brilliantly say, it's not our position in life but our direction that counts. As we sow the right seeds in the direction of God's principles mapped out in the bible, we will eventually get where we need to go in His timing. Our job is sowing the right seeds. His is the timing.
2 - Map it out
What do you already have in your hand that God has given you? For the Israelites, they had been given Jordan, their promised land, and a courageous leader in Joshua, who asked them to map the land, so the seven tribes yet to receive their inheritance could get their portion:
"So the men set out. As they went out to survey the land, Joshua charged them: “Go. Survey the land and map it" Joshua 18:8 MSG.
The bible speaks over and over about the principle of offering God what we have, and then God will add His miraculous power to it. So whatever you have been given, map out how you can best put it to use, just like the Israelites mapped out the land they had been given.
The meaning of mapping something out is with other words to outline, plan a route or course of action in detail, sketch out, rough out, block out, draw up, formulate, work out, frame, draft, plan, plot out, arrange, design, programme, think out, think through and to organise.
This is right in line with the scripture in Habakkuk 2:2 MSG that frames it this way:
"Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait. And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time."
When we map out our dreams and resources, we can do what God tells us. We can walk in the paths He shows us. We can follow the life-map absolutely. We can keep an eye out for the signposts, His course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then we’ll get on well in whatever we do and wherever we go (1 Kings 2 MSG).
3 - Expect His timing to be only good
When I fell into being a watch-watcher recently, I was tempted to doubt God's heart and if He even wants to give me what I purely and godly desire. When I started doubting in the waiting, my mum wrote out this amazing encouragement to me: "We must learn to trust that God will give us what we need, when we need it. He is ALWAYS timely."
That dream of yours you might be watching the clock to see happen, remember so much more is at play than you can even imagine! God is attentively, intimately aware of your heart's longing and aching in the waiting and at the same time He is working hard to connect all the dots. Because when your dream comes to pass, it will help a lot more people than you imagine! So many puzzle pieces will be put together for the kingdom to advance in and through you, and the testimony will be wild!
"What a Day that will be! No more cold nights—in fact, no more nights! The Day is coming—the timing is God’s—when it will be continuous day. Every evening will be a fresh morning." Zechariah 14:6-7 MSG.
The timing is God's for your life, and the timing is God's for the bigger picture it's speaking about in the verse above on that day when heaven comes to earth for good.
Our part is becoming great map masters of His word & revealed will, so we can align ourselves with what He has for us in the future.
His love is poured out for you and His timing is only for your good.
So let's dare going from being watch-watchers to becoming map-masters in Jesus' name.
In this together,
Sandra.
No doubt about it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv_8e8fSMNg
To watch the message, click above⬆
To read the message, continue below ⬇
Have you ever entertained doubt in your mind? Doubt about the future, doubt about your abilities (self-doubt), doubt about your relationships, doubt about your direction? Doubt can show up everywhere and it can be debilitating.
Doubt comes up for me, especially in waiting seasons. Big dreams and vision are awesome and without them, we perish. But in the in-between-space of dream becoming reality, our minds can easily spin into, 'Did God really say?', 'How will this come about?' and 'Have I missed anything since it has not happened yet?'
Rarely will these kind of questions do our heart any good. We'll start reason our way into a downward spiral, jumping to conclusions on how our future will become reality and we'll afflict our life with self-doubt about the seeming gaps in our lives.
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I think Jesus wants to ask some of us: "Faint-heart, what got into you?" Jesus asked this question to Peter as he started to doubt and sink down into the water he just so bravely walked out on to follow Jesus.
So sweet, amazing faint-of-heart-you, what got into you?
No matter what kind of doubt has taken hold of you, it's a gift for us that the topic of doubt is covered many times in the bible!
Let's look on three keys that can help us combat doubt when it starts to damage our day:
1. Simple trust
In this story below, Jesus is appearing for the first time to the disciples after His resurrection. Despite the disciples' doubt, Jesus had been true to His word. He was teaching them simple trust:
"While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, “Don’t be upset, and don’t let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it’s really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe (Luke 24).
When doubt arises, instead of acting on our doubt, let's wait and watch how God will come through. We might not see the bigger picture right now, but that's where we got to trust God's timing. A delay does not mean denial. Mark 9 tells us that there are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen. Therefore, watch in expectation what He will do.
Wait and watch for God - with God's arrival comes love, with God's arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it - He'll redeem you, He has bought you back from captivity to sin. (See Psalm 130:7)
3. Ask for help