Tag Archives: Trust in God

Spiritual Maturity

Truth: The Divine Perspective

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Truth: The Divine Perspective

Truth is an incredibly significant concept.  Our view of truth shapes not only our personal lives but also our society.  It especially impacts our relationship with God including our view of Scripture.

Our definition of truth is affected by what we watch, what we read, and even the opinions of our friends.  Add to that the sway of social media, your “truth” is being adjusted with every post and tweet you receive.  Imagine there are 500 million tweets sent every day[1].  Scary isn’t it.

Let’s face reality!  We live in an age where we are being bombarded by varying opinions as to what is or isn’t truth.  Because of these deceptive trends, it is important that we have a reliable and trustworthy compass by which to navigate in this world.  We need guidance from God.  We need God’s divine perspective.

God’s perspective of truth

In the Old Testament, truth is rendered as true or faithful.  In either case, the Hebrew concept communicates reliability and trustworthiness.   This trustworthiness is frequently used to describe God’s divine faithfulness (Psalms 31:5; Jeremiah 42:5).

In the New Testament, truth emphasizes reality as God has revealed it in creation (Romans 1:18) and in the gospel (Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 1 Timothy 2:4).   God’s perspective of truth is given to us through His Word and through the Spirit of Truth—the Holy Spirit.  Armed with these divine gifts we are provided a continual source of truth.

Truth in action

Adherence to the truth was critical during the formation of the early Church. Pressured by the Judaizers to continue with the practice of circumcision, the church at Galatia was in danger of spiritual error.  They were rejecting the truth (salvation through Jesus Christ alone) to avoid persecution.  We at one time or another have been guilty of quietly accepting error versus being truth tellers.  That is to our shame.

In Galatians 5:7, Paul poses a question to this young church: “You were getting along so well. Who has interfered with you to hold you back from following the truth?”

Paul continues by stating emphatically, “This persuasion does not come from the One who calls you.”  When we drift from the truth that God has revealed, we can be assured of its origin—the puppeteer of deception and lies, Satan.

Coram Deo is a Latin phrase translated “in the presence of God”.  It has its origin is Christian theology which summarizes the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the authority of, to the honor and glory of God.  Truth is to be lived Coram Deo.

Practicing God’s divine perspective

Truth is to be practiced not only within the church but also outside its four walls. Imagine the impact that error has on every aspect of our society—in our homes, in the workplace, and in our institutions.  Practicing God’s divine perspective acknowledges the importance of sharing truth in every sphere of our life.

Using God’s revelation, we have access to reliable knowledge—divine truth—about God, about ourselves, and how we are to live in relationship with our fellow man.  Unfortunately, we often separate our “faith walk” from our “lifestyle”.  God’s truth should permeate every area of our life.  Practicing God’s divine perspective requires that we walk in God’s truth continuously. 

Dependency on the Divine

Our dependence on God’s truth is not based on emotional sentimentalities but firmly grounded in the nature of God (Deuteronomy 7:9).  We walk in accordance with His moral realities and act in harmony with His divine revelations (Psalms 26:3).   Practicing God’s divine perspective recognizes God’s trustworthiness.

Knowing the reliability of God and accepting the reality of God, we can begin to operate from God’s divine perspective.  God’s divine truth becomes the vehicle by which we can successfully navigate in this 21st century postmodern society.

[1] Brandwatch.com

Spiritual Maturity

Our Search for Truth

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Our Search for Truth

 

Truth by whose reality?

What is truth?  Truth is defined by Webster as that which agrees with reality. But whose reality do we, as believers, adhere to?   With all the political rhetoric, contentious debates, and social bantering, we need truth.  Behind the social messaging, news bytes and sound bits, is the world we live in redefining “what truth is and what it isn’t”.

What’s your truth source?

In decades past, people could depend on the media to communicate the “truth”.   Newspapers, magazine publications and newscasters were committed to operating at the highest ethical standards.  We could depend upon our local leaders—civic or religious—to offer us truth. But over time that has changed.

The sources of truth and information in the 21st century are growing exponentially and based on the “issue of the day”.  They represent many diverse voices and views. Decentralized digital platforms and social media offer opinions based on varying perspectives and preferences: personal, political, or popular.

Rapidly influencing our daily life is artificial intelligence (AI) and digital knowledge systems which people use to provide answers for their special situations and life, in general.  While AI provides access to vast amounts of information quickly, users may tend to over trust automated answers which could contain errors.   Could our dependency on AI have addictive consequences?

Why is Truth Important?

It is important because life has consequences for being wrong. Giving the wrong amount of a medication to someone can kill them.  Having an investment manager make the wrong monetary decisions can impoverish a family.  Boarding the wrong plane will take you where you didn’t want to go.

As Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias put it, “The fact is, the truth matters—especially when you’re on the receiving end of a lie.” And nowhere is this more important than in the areas of faith and religion. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.

The Apostle Paul warned the young minister Timothy of the dangers that awaited him as new converts would “turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:4).  It is important that we have a real-time, reliable, and trustworthy source to help us ferret out truth in the world.

Connecting with Truth

Believers face a major challenge to walk in biblical truth while living in a postmodern world.   Especially when that truth is measured against the authority of Scripture and the lordship of Jesus Christ.

As believer’s are reality is grounded in God.  We no longer follow the worldview—its influence was negated by the Blood.  Our meaning and reality is now realigned with God (2 Corinthians 5:15).   While there are many proposed definitions of the truth,  there can only be one

 More than ever before it is critical that we connect with the only True Source of Truth, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior (John 14:6).  God’s Word and the Spirit of Truth stand ready to silence the lies, myths and fables we might hear (2 Timothy. 4:3-4).  It is God’s truth that will guide our behaviors and our responses in this fallen world. God is the only source of truth for our lives.  More next week as we search for truth.

Spiritual Maturity

God Speaks Through Circumstances

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How are you really?

In our culture, it is not unusual for people to greet one another with the inquiry, “How are you?”  In response, a multitude of replies are available but my favorite is, “I doing fairly well under the circumstances.”  This is my opportunity to respond, “Why are you under your circumstances and what are you doing to get back on top?”

Circumstances are conditions or facts that affect a situation.  These can be either positive or negative.  They define a state in which an individual, group, or even a nation may find itself.  This week we will explore how God speaks to us through circumstances.

Biblical Examples

There are many biblical examples that illustrate how God used circumstances to speak to His people.  Circumstances dictated that Moses would be set adrift in the Nile.  It was there that he would be found by the king’s daughter and adopted into the royal household by the ruling Pharaoh (Exodus 2:1-10). God later spoke to Moses after his 40-year circumstance and re-directed him to deliver Israel from bondage.

In the book of Acts, we find God speaking to the early church by using the political and social circumstances around them.  Jesus had clearly articulated the scope of the church’s ministry:  “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  While it was within their “comfort zone” to stay in Jerusalem, God spoke through the circumstance of persecution to move the gospel to a larger audience.

Throughout the Bible we find God speaking to people through special favor, through personal loss, or through miraculous deliverance.  God spoke to them through their circumstances.

But does God speak today?

God still speaks today through circumstances.  He will use conditions and situations from our everyday life to place us in a position to hear His voice.  Does God create circumstances to make us do His will?  No, God has created us as freewill agents and desires that we choose to live within His divine plan. But God will allow circumstances to flow into our life to accomplish His glory and our good (Romans 8:24).

In addition, to conform us to the image of Christ, God will permit circumstances in our lives that will mature us and grow our faith (1 Peter 1:5-7).  What may appear at first to be a “stumbling block” may, in actuality, turn out to be a “stepping stone”.  God speaks through closed doors as well as opened doors; through delayed prayers as well as answered ones.

Why does God speak?

As believers proceed in this Christian walk, we must remember that the intent of our life is to glorify God and to accomplish His purpose on earth (2 Corinthians 5:15). That’s why it is important to be intentional in prayer and reading God’s Word especially during difficult and challenging times, regardless of the circumstance (Philippians 4:6-13).

As we develop our personal relationship with God, we will understand that He loves us and can be trusted with every aspect of our life. Then circumstances will not overcome us nor will we live “under them” (1 John 4:4).

Our Faith Walk

Throwback Wednesday: What’s with Watchfulness?

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Throwback Wednesday : Life Keeps on Life-ing

Watchfulness.  What does that mean to us in today’s world?  With the many events that are occurring in our world, it is imperative that we give special attention to the environment around us.

To watch is used over four hundred times in the Old Testament with the basic meaning of “take great care” and to “keep alert”.    In the  New Testament, the definition continues with the addition of the warning to “keep watchful.”

Jesus often used the concept of watchfulness in may of His parables to relate to His Second Coming . (Luke 31:26)  He also warned believers to be aware and prepared for Satan’s attacks.   (Mark 14:38).

Jesus’ teachings on watchfulness is especially relevant for us today.  Each day, we are challenged to carefully assess what is happening around us.  Not only for our physical well-being but especially for our spiritual health.

Therein lies the reason for this our Throwback Wednesday, “Practicing Watchfulness:  Be Prepared.”  Click on the “next post” to access  all the  Practicing Watchfulness series.   That’s how important we think watchfulness is needed right now.

Practicing Watchfulness: Be Prepared

 

Our Faith Walk

Hope that Won’t Disappoint

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Keep Hope Alive: True Hope

What we’ve learned about hope.

The believer’s audacity for hope is made possible by knowledge of God (Psalm 16:11), by continuous abiding in Christ (John 15:5) and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our audacity or boldness is built on a sure foundation based on the fidelity and faithfulness of God.  It is established on the immutability of His word (Hebrews 6:17-18), the certainty of His promise (Romans 4:16) and the assurance of His presence (Romans 15:13).  This is what gives us the ability to persevere.

This boldness leads us to our faith response to the challenges and trials of 21st century living.  Our faith becomes a key ingredient with hope to offer us peace, guidance, and unwavering hope.  It provides us with strength and solace in time of uncertainty.  This is true not because we are “optimistic”, but we believe that God is truly in control regardless of the circumstances we face.

Together, our audacity and faith results in our recognition and acknowledgement that God and God alone is the true source of our hope (Psalm 62:5-12).  A true hope that never disappoints.

Hope and the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path forward and guiding believers toward the fulfillment of God’s promises.  The Holy Spirit instills hope in believers by:

  • Reassurance of God’s Love: The Holy Spirit pours God’s love into the hearts of believers, providing a steadfast foundation for hope. This love is unconditional and everlasting, providing security and assurance even in the face of trials and tribulations. (Romans 5
  • Guiding and Strengthening Faith: The Holy Spirit strengthens believers’ faith, enabling them to trust in God’s promises and plans. This faith is the source of hope, as it allows believers to anticipate God’s goodness and believe in the fulfillment of His promises. (Hebrews . 11:1)
  • Empowering for Perseverance: The Holy Spirit empowers believers with resilience and perseverance, enabling them to endure challenges and maintain hope amid difficulties. This empowerment allows believers to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward towards God’s purpose. (Galatians 5:22-23)
  • Revealing God’s Plan: The Holy Spirit unveils God’s plan and purpose for believers’ lives, providing a clear direction and motivation for hope. This understanding of God’s plan instills hope for the future, as believers see how their present struggles fit into God’s overarching design. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
  • Interceding in prayer: The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers in prayer, expressing their deepest yearnings and hopes to God. This intercession ensures that believer’s hopes are aligned with God’s will and that their prayers are heard and answered. (Romans 8: 26-27).

The Holy Spirit becomes a source of strength and resilience, enabling believers to navigate the challenges of life with confidence and anticipation of God’s goodness.

 Hope that won’t disappoint.

For hope that is real in our life, it is important that we intentionally claim that which Christ has obtained for us through His sacrificial death and powerful resurrection.  Through Jesus’ sacrificial gift of life, we have a hope that “does not” and “will not” disappoint.

 Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (Romans 5:1-5)  

Bottomline, God’s hope won’t disappoint.  His hope is the only guarantee of security and assurance even in the face of trials and tribulations.  HE IS the steadfast foundation for hope. (Hebrew 6:17-19)

For hope that won’t disappoint, hold fast to  “the God of hope [who will] fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”  (Romans 15:13, Amplified)

Our Faith Walk

Hope: Our 21st Century Faith Response

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Keep Hope Alive: The God of Hope

 

How do we describe hope?

What metaphors do we use to express hope?  How do we encourage others to believe “there’s a path to good” even in bad times?   Here are a few we might have used.

  • “There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
  • “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
  • “The sun is peeking through the clouds.”
  • “Hope is an eternal flame.”

But let’s be honest, when we’re at the “end of our rope” and the “bottom of our world has fallen out”, metaphors about hope will not help us. We are looking for something that will ease our troubled souls right now!

Who needs hope?

According to the American Psychological Association [1], we all need hope.

A majority of adults (62%) disagree with the statement, “our children are going to inherit a better world than we did,” and 63% disagree with the statement, “I feel our country is on the path to being stronger than ever.” More than 3/4 of adults (76%) said that the future of our nation is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 68% said this is the lowest point in our nation’s history that we can remember. 

 Two in three adults (66%) said the culture’s current political climate is a significant source of stress in their lives. Further, three in five adults quote (60%) said that the current social divisiveness in the nation causes them stress. Slightly more than three in five adults 62% reported that the racial climate in the US is a significant source of stress in their lives.

Are these sources of stress going to go away?  Absolutely not!  And these stressors are larger than us and out of our control.  In this environment, we are also expected to manage the challenge of daily living and providing for our families: feeding, clothing, and housing.  We search out ways to balance the stresses of life while maintaining healthy relationships, and personal “sanity”.   We need to cultivate our hope because when we cease to hope, we jeopardize our future.

The worldview of hope

Hope has ALWAYS been something we humans have needed whether in ancient times or modern days.  Man’s ability to survive and thrive has been dependent on hope.  The challenge, however, continues to be our ability to identify the BEST SOURCE of HOPE.

Hope, from the world’s view, comes from a variety of sources that, when combined and strengthened, provide a foundation for optimism, resilience, and the pursuit of a meaningful and fulfilling life.  These include the following which we most commonly use.

 Relationships and connections: human connections and strong relationships provide a sense of belonging, support, and love, fostering hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

 Personal strengths and abilities: recognizing and utilizing one’s strengths and abilities instills confidence and a sense of empowerment, nurturing hope for achieving goals and overcoming challenges.

 Meaning and purpose: finding meaning and purpose in life, whether personal interest, family, community, or spiritual beliefs, provides a sense of direction and motivation, fueling hope for our fulfillment and meaningful existence.

 Spiritual beliefs and faith: for many, spiritual beliefs and faith in a higher power offer a sense of peace, guidance, and unwavering hope, providing strength and solace in time of uncertainty.

We do these things to cope and to relieve the uncertainty we face daily.  Like the television therapist, Dr. Phil, might ask, “how’s that working for you?”  Consider adding to this list: The God of Hope.

The  God of Hope

We often become discouraged when the things we do in our human strength fail to improve our situation.  We are stressed because when we look around there is “no light at the end of the tunnel” nor is the “sun peeking through the clouds.”

The reality we must come to grips with is that we live in a fallen world, where sin will continue to manifest itself in the brokenness and pain we see today.  Injustice, wars, corruption, and much more.  BUT THERE IS HOPE.

Our hope is built on the faithfulness and dependability of God.  We must rely on the “fidelity” of God.  God is reliable, dependable, and faithful.  God is true, truthful, and trustworthy.  His Word and His promises provide the “blessed assurance” we need to not only survive but also thrive in this world.   He is our sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5).

What is our faith response to the challenges of 21st century living?  We must recognize and acknowledge that God alone is the true source of our hope (Psalms 62:5-12).

[1]   Stress in America 2022, American Psychological Association.

Our Faith Walk

The Audacity of Hope, Part 1

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Why hope?

President Barack Obama authored a book in 2006 entitled, The Audacity of Hope. In the prologue, he shares his personal view of what the audacity of hope looks like.

The audacity of hope. That is the best of the American spirit. I thought it was having the audacity to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary that we could restore our sense of community to a nation in conflict.

Audacity is defined as the willingness to take bold risks, often characterized by confident, daring, or insolent behavior. It can mean courageous bravery or more commonly, disrespectful impudence.

To exhibit optimism amid wars and global conflicts, may be viewed as flip. Trusting God and living by faith when costs are escalating and wages are shrinking, might be seen as daring. However, that is where the audacity of hope comes in.

As believers, our hope is anchored in the Word of God and His promises (Hebrew 6:19). During these uncertain times, we can “audaciously” demonstrate our confidence in the God of hope. We have the assurance of hope.

The Assurance of Hope

The assurance of hope is based on our relationship with the Lord. In Romans 15:13, God is described as the “God of hope”.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

In the beginning of the verse, joy and peace are linked together. Joy is not a fleeting happiness derived from favorable circumstances. Rather, joy is the gladness of heart.

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but it denotes being in “right relationship” with God. This includes access by faith into the grace, in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

To abound in hope is the result of our relationship with the Holy Spirit.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to do things that can only be accomplished supernaturally (Philippians 4:13). Through these 21st century challenges, we can spiritually mature from our experiences, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope will not make us ashamed. (Romans 5: 3-5)

The Protection of Hope

We need the assurance of hope to hold back the troubles of the world and Satan’s attempts to frustrate us.  The intent of both is to cause us to “give up.”  John Elderedge in his book, Resilient, describes this state of mind as “Desolation.”

I suffered a couple of devastating emotional blows in the summer of 2021. There were things I felt God had promised me that, in heartbreaking ways, did not come through. I felt so betrayed and abandoned. But then, in my vulnerable state, something came over me—a dark cloud, a sort of suffocating fog that urged me to give up my life with God. The symptoms included a sort of dullness of heart, a poverty of spirit, and a bareness of soul. Disappointment, so understandable, collapsed into disillusionment.

 Neither hope nor joy comes easily. Hopelessness infects our faith. We must find the supernatural graces to guard our hearts against both Desolation, and the riptides that pull us away from God.

Giving up will result in missed blessings.  This includes failure to accomplish the purpose God has designed for us (Ephesians 2:10). Worst case, it may cause us to walk away from our relationship with God and His protection. When that happens, Satan has won, offering no replacement except more disappointment and heart break.

The audacity of hope is possible by:

  • Knowing God (Psalm 16:11)
  • Abiding in Christ (John15:5)
  • Filling by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

Next week, we’ll continue to discuss the audacity of hope, especially during these chaotic times.

Knowing God

What is God’s Story?

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Our View of the World

What is our view of the world today?  Where are we headed as a people?  How do we respond to the events happening real time in our individual lives, in our communities, and in our world?   More importantly, where is God in the mix of all these happenings?   With everything that is occurring, we might wonder if God really cares about us.  Never doubt, God cares! (Psalm 139:17)

There are those who have a cartoonish view of God and His relationship with His creation.  Some see God as “a man viewing an ant in a fishbowl”.  He is seen as distant, detached, and disconnected.  That may be how we feel as we view the world around us today.  But as I stated at the beginning of this teaching, God has a plan.

God’s Plan Unfolding

The Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) orchestrated their plan before the creation of the world.  That redemptive plan (Roman 5:2) has been unfolding through the history of mankind and continues even today in the 21st century.     It is by His divine power and grace that we live, and move, and have our meaning (Acts 17:28)

Redemption’s plan is set in the historical context of the world. As chronicled from Genesis to Revelation, God has an eternal plan that restores man’s fellowship with God by the creation of an escape from death’s curse (Romans 5:2) and the rediscovery of the spiritual life.  It is God’s plan to bring mankind to Himself (Ephesians 1:7-11) and ultimately to a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1).

Knowing God is sovereign is enough to give us a good hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16).  It assures us of our future well-being (Jeremiah 29:11).  Why is this important?  How is it relevant to us today?  As we face the many challenges of life, many times our faith is shaken to the foundation.  Understanding God’s plan, we can exchange our fear for bold confidence. (Psalm 20:7)

 God’s Plan and History

There are basically three frameworks for interpreting history:  biblical (God-centered), humanist (human-centered), and providential (divine-human partnership).  For purpose of this teaching, we will focus on biblical and humanist.

In humanism, history is the story of what humanity can achieve on its own. Humanism teaches that history is primarily shaped by human thought, power, and progress.  Humanity becomes the center of history.

In contrast, the biblical view, Scripture teaches that God acts within human history.  History is not random or purely human driven; it is God revealing Himself through human events.   God is active in the movement of human events and history (Acts 17:26-27)

The key differences are listed in the chart below.

         HUMANIST VIEW                BIBLICAL VIEW
Humanity writes history God authors history
Progress comes through human effort Redemption comes through divine purpose
Religion interprets human experience God reveals Himself in history
The future depends on human advancement The future unfolds through God’s kingdom

The biblical or God-centered framework helps to undergird our faith walk and trust in God’s sovereignty.  Who better can determine the direction and ultimate outcome of mankind than the Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth. (Revelation 4:10)

Which STORY will we accept?

What are the foundational beliefs that support our acceptance of God’s plan?  We can:

  • Embrace the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign and the supreme authority over everything in heaven and on earth (Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:10)
  • Accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Through Jesus’ sacrifice we now have access to God’s presence, promises, provision, and protection.  (Romans 5:1-5)
  • Understand historical events and personal struggles as part of “God’s Story”. They are for God’s glory and for the establishment of His kingdom on earth—the New Creation.  (2 Peter 3:10-14)

We are not ants in a fishbowl.  God loves us unconditionally and His love is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3).  As we embrace, accept, and understand God’s story, our faith will be strengthened.  Then we will possess the resilience needed to navigate difficult times.  We will prevail during the darkest of days because we know there is purpose in what we are experiencing.  Better yet, we can prevail because “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble”.  (Psalms 46:1-3)

Next week, well share how we fit in God’s Story.

Victorious Living

The Divine Through Time: Why Now?

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The Divine through Time

In “God’s Divine Time in History”, we introduced the understanding that God has ordered and designed the environment in which we operate.  This includes past, present, and future.  All three eventually become “history”.

History is actually “His divine story”—the divine fulfillment of God’s plan in the world.  What is that plan and how does it manifest itself in our life is the purpose in this short series entitled,  “His Story: The Divine through Time”.

 Why now?

It is important to continually reinforce our knowledge of who God is.  Knowing God is foundational in securing our trust and our confidence (Psalms 27:1-3).  This is especially true during difficult times when fear and doubt challenge our faith.  When that happens, we can stand firmly on what we know about God and those things which He has revealed to us.

Those things God reveals can answer persistent questions concerning not only our life but the lives of those around us, including our nation.   How we respond to things revealed become the entry point for God to provide His power, His provision, and His presence.

 For such a time as this.

This study is important “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) as we face challenges that seem impossible.  These challenges over time affect our mental health.[1]

In a nation grappling with polarization and uncertainty, the emotional undercurrents of daily life are becoming harder to ignore. The American Psychological Association’s latest Stress in America™ survey revealed that societal division is a significant stressor for many U.S. adults, suggesting loneliness and emotional disconnection have become a defining feature of life in America. In the survey — conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA among more than 3,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older — 62% reported societal division as a significant source of stress in their lives.

Through better understanding God’s purpose and plan for the world and our individual lives, we can reduce the fear and anxiety created by living in 21st century reality.

It begins with understanding God’s Sovereignty

It is important to understand God’s sovereignty as we begin our study of God’s story through time.  By embracing the fact that God is sovereign and the supreme authority over everything in heaven and on earth (Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:10), we can better navigate our challenges.

In his book, The Sovereignty of God, A.W. Tozer, pastor, author, and spiritual mentor, cries out for renewed understanding of God’s sovereignty.

Present day conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God’s omnipotence, God’s sufficiency, God’s sovereignty. From every pulpit in the land it needs to be thundered forth that God still lives, that God still observes, that God still reigns. Faith is now in the crucible; it is being tested by fire, and there is no fixed and sufficient resting-place for the heart and mind but in the throne of God. What is needed now, as never before, is a full, positive, constructive setting forth of the Godhead of God. 

Because of God’s sovereignty we can begin to access God’s power and presence.  This helps to strengthen our faith and build the personal resilience we need to persevere.  The uncertainties and insecurities we experience today can now be transferred to God who is the only one who can do something about them (2 Corinthians 12:9).

[1]   Mental health is the component of behavioral health that includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.  Mental health is a state of well-being that enables us to cope with the stresses of life, realize our abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to our community.

Victorious Living

A Better New Year’s Resolution, Part 2

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A Better New Year's Resolution, Part 2

A better new year

As we previously shared, new year’s resolutions are not the best way to create change in our life.  Strength of character and self-will, often fall short in taking us where we really want to be.  We determined that “the best way” to introduce real change in our lives is through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We must put on our “new man”.  In Christ we have a new identity.

Embrace our identity in Christ

When I began my Christian walk, the meaning of “in Christ” was a mystery to me.  I tried to understand it based on those things I was familiar with.  For example, I established membership in the local church.  I was in fellowship with its members to serve and glorify God in my life.  But “in Christ”, what did it mean?

In Christ is the present experience of the risen Christ indwelling the believer’s heart.  Through the Holy Spirit we take on the personality of Christ.  It is more than an imitation of the life and teaching of Jesus.  It describes the believer’s union with Christ as a result of the divine action of grace by God.  The result of that action is the believer is transformed into a “new man.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Renewed in knowledge

Knowledge is defined as general awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.

However, in Colossians 3:10 knowledge means “precise and correct knowledge”.  It is used in the New Testament of the knowledge of things ethical and divine.  It is this type of knowledge that is needed today to navigate the challenges of our times.

Paul tells the church at Colosse to “put on the new man” who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.  “New man” and “old man” were terms introduced by Paul to contrast the believer’s new versus old behaviors and lifestyle (Romans 6:6; Ephesians 2:15; 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-11).

So why did Paul tell the church to put on the new man? Because the new man has access to the “precise and correct” knowledge needed for righteous living (living in right relations with God and with mankind).  This knowledge is provided through the Holy Spirit living within the new man (John 16:13).  This is where transformation takes place.

In addition, this new man’s knowledge is further strengthened as a result of being created in the image of God.  In Christ we possess God’s divine nature—His DNA.  DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms.  It is the unique string of characteristics that make us who we are—physically and mentally.  In Christ, we have been given a new spiritual DNA that equips us for the purpose and plan God has created for our lives.

True Knowledge

In Christ, we not only have renewed knowledge but also “true” knowledge.  Paul describes this in 2 Peter 1:2-4.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Knowledge (of God) protects us against error and deception, regardless of its source.  It helps us discern and use God’s truth to guide our life.  True knowledge sharpens our spiritual eyes to see not only potential dangers but also the possibilities that God has in store for us.

Promise of a better year

If we want a better new year, we must be intentional.  Our aim should not be wasted on things that never work.  Our focus must continue to be on the Person who has the authority and power to “make all things work together for our good.”  (Romans 8:28).   That person is Almighty God (Psalm 97:1-2).

Our divine truth is this.  Being in Christ and knowledge of God will provide us with everything we need to be successful not only this new year, but also all the way to glory. Let us diligently seek the Lord more this year than last.  This is the best way to a better new year.