The Power of Christ in You

     Lately, I have had to make a number of trips to various appointments that were canceled due to COVID.  I really don't mind because I enjoy driving my vehicle.  Of course, if something should ever break down on it, I would not have the faintest idea of what to do next except to call my husband or roadside assistance.  When it comes to understanding the lovely engine that sits under the hood, I am clueless but I certainly enjoy the get up and go that the engine provides.  I often think that those of us who claim the name of Jesus Christ are somewhat like that when it comes to understanding the power of Christ that resides within us.  We know we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit when we committed ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ but beyond that, we often take it for granted.  So here are some Scriptures to think about regarding the power of Christ in us.

     One of my favorite verses of Scripture comes from 2 Peter 1:3:  "...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."  Being in Christ means that we are equipped for the daily walk He has called us to.  We have everything we need for life and godliness.  Thats a "WOW" factor.  We are not incomplete in any way when the power of Christ dwells in us.  The world may try to tell us that we lack something or fall short, but God's Word says we have what we need on our journey.  This is the fuel for our spiritual engine.  God is our source, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

     In addition, the power of Christ gives us a boldness to go forth in His name.  2 Timothy 1:7 tells us:  "But God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind."  The Holy Spirit gives us a soundness of mind in the decisions we make when we seek God first.  As we go to Him in prayer, and seek wisdom in His Word, He will give us the assurance we need to move ahead with the plans He has shown to us.  There is a stability in Christ that we cannot get in this world.  Satan brings confusion, fear of failure and uncertainty but when we are filled with the Spirit, we have assurance which leads to  peace in the decisions we make.

     Another feature of the power of Christ in us is that even when we face areas of weakness God is there to make us strong in Him.  2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us:  "And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Paul, like many of us, had a thorn in his flesh.  We do not know what type of chronic condition seemed to hold him back.  He prayed many times for this to be taken away.  However, God used it in his life to keep him humble and to demonstrate His almighty power in and through Paul.  What God did for Paul, He does in each one of us in the areas where we are weak that His glory may be seen.

     Finally having the power of Christ living in us means that we will one day be in heaven to dwell with Him eternally.  Likewise, as Christ's body rose from the grave, so our bodies will also be resurrected and we will be fitted with a new body imperishable.  What a glorious thought.  Romans 8:11 says:  "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."  No more sickness, death or tears will we have to shed because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  His power resides in us so that we might live with Him for all eternity.

     We should marvel and thank God each day for all that He has given to us by the power of Christ living in our hearts.  He did not leave us as orphans when He ascended to the Father in Heaven.  Rather, He has provided His abiding power that enables us to live and walk daily in this world.  My car gets me where I want to go because I trust that my engine will do its job.  Likewise, we need to think about what the power of Jesus Christ living in us means for our daily walk with the Lord.  We have what we need to make this journey of life.  Do not let the enemy of your soul tell you otherwise.  No matter what the world may throw at us today or tomorrow.  They are no match for the power of Jesus Christ that lives in everyone who confesses Him as Lord and Savior.  Selah!

You Are My Hiding Place

     One of my favorite verses from the Psalms is found in Psalm 32:7:  "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."  This verse was set to music and I first heard it on a Maranatha Praise album.  They added a concluding sentence to the verse by singing:  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in you."  Never have we heard such beautiful words from the Lord and a reminder that no matter what we are going through He is with us.  Certainly, in this upside down world in which we are walking, we need Him to be the shelter in the storm more than ever.

     There was a time when this verse and song became front and center for me.  My husband and I had gone to Canada to join his father and mother at a fishing camp.  They spent their summers there and enjoyed a time of relaxation.  Before we left for a day trip on the lake, I remember my husband saying that when we go fishing, we had to take rain gear because his father fished through the rain.  So we gathered our gear and headed out.

     Our destination was "Elephant Lake" which was a bit of a drive on a gravel road used by logging trucks.  Of course, the area we were in was not heavily populated, and once we got out on the lake, there

were no houses around.  The fish camp knew where we were going and if we did not return by evening, they would send out a search party for us as was their custom.  My father in law knew the lake very well and no longer needed a guide to navigate it.

     In the first half of the day, we had pleasant weather and moderately successful fishing.  However, by afternoon, a sudden storm came along.  We put on our rain gear and hoped it would blow over but the sky grew darker and darker by the minute.  As lightening began to crash, my father in law said we needed to head in to the docking area a number of miles away.  We started on our journey back as the wind picked up and the rain began to fall.  The lightening was vicious and all I could do was hang on to the boat seat through the rough waves and pray.  Over and over again in my mind, I remembered the Psalm 32:7 and the tune I had heard that went with it.  Truthfully, I did not know if we would get back to our safe haven, but I just kept singing the song in my heart.

      After what seemed like forever, we made it back to the docking area, and all of us breathed a sigh of relief.  God had been our hiding place in this time of trouble, and He was truly our deliverer.  My father in law later admitted that he wasn't certain we would get back safely as this had been the worst storm he had ever seen on this big lake. Yet our Father God had other plans for us and kept us in the hollow of His hand through the storm raging all around us.

     Our lives are a lot like that small boat we were in.  We go cruising along enjoying our daily routine and suddenly, a storm comes up.  Often it takes us by surprise.  We thought we were prepared, but then the lightening begins to hit around us shredding our confidence little by little.  If we have taken the time to draw near to God through His Word, we will not fear the circumstances even if they look scary.   We need only call to remembrance the verse in this Psalm.  We can pray it, sing it and recite it over and over again until His peace fills our heart.

     Another Psalm I memorized as a child and often find myself repeating is Psalm 23.  Again, the comfort of knowing God as our Shepherd lifts us out of the dark pit of depression and self pity.  The only way we can trust God more as we face the hard places in life is to seek Him in His Word.  There we meet Him face to face.  His love casts out all fear, and this is what we need at a time when it seems we are in deep danger.

     Make no mistake dear friends, as Satan's time on this earth is shortened, we will see more and more

wickedness, personal attacks and persecution of our faith.  Yet, God has promised to be our hiding place and our Shepherd.  He is the one who protects our hearts.  We need to pack our rain gear (the Bible) and take it with us so we can weather any storm that arises.  He is the best pilot of our boat, and He will safely get us home again.  Selah!

In Times Like These

     After what seems like forever, the world is slowly coming to life again for businesses and individuals who have a steady job.  No one could imagine that leaving your home each day would be such a privilege.  For some of us who are older and have health issues, though, we still cannot get out
the way we would like to do.  On top of that, the last week has been a scene of destruction. looting, vandalism of our national monuments all in response to a tragic death in Minneapolis.  Protesting is a guarantee if done in a peaceful manner, but what we witnessed did not fall into that category very often.  When we put these two things together (the Pandemic and rioting), it does not lead to a peaceful feeling in our hearts.  Yet, we know that God is sovereign over all the affairs of men, and we are to encourage one another all the more as we see the day drawing near of Christ's return.
     No one should be surprised at the many struggles in this world.  It is a good versus evil tug of war.  In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul gave us a picture of what would happen in the last days:
"1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy3:1-7).  This is quite a picture of  what we are now seeing play out before our eyes.  Knowing that this is what we face, how can we encourage one another and build up the body of Jesus Christ?
     As Paul goes on to encourage Timothy in this letter, he speaks to him about continuing in the teaching which he has been given since he was a child and concludes with these precious words in verses 16-17 of chapter 3:  "16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."   Timothy knew the Word of God as a result of his mother and grandmother so the first place we need to turn when we face hard times is to the Bible.  In its pages are peace, comfort, solace, the love of God and words of wisdom to guide our walk.  If we want to be better in our chosen job or an equipped parent, we need only look into the Word and meditate on it day and night.  It has what we need.  This world claims to be full of wisdom, but it does not offer us the heart changing words of God.
     Secondly, we can encourage each other by praying together.  The old adage, "The family that prays together stays together" is true.  Uniting our lives before the throne of God in Jesus' name has power.  I enjoy praying with people over the phone, when I worked in my husband's office as well as in person.  When all seems overwhelming, prayer works and settles our heart before God. King David knew this well and many of the Psalms we read today were his songs/prayers to God.  Just reading them aloud as a prayer has often been my comfort in time of need.
     Finally, we all know that fellowship is essential.  While we cannot all be together like we used to at this present time (especially if we have health issues), we can call and talk on the phone.  We can write notes of encouragement to others or send them a card.  We can also meet up at an outdoor park as I did with a friend this past week.  It did us both good to get out of the house.  We could social distance but at the same time, we could also share our hearts and pray together.
      Certainly, these days are difficult, but God has not left us as orphans.  He is with us, in us and works through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, we can overcome those bumps in the road if we will seek to build each other up in the faith as often as we can.  Our citizenship is in heaven, and we are just passing through this world.  What we see here is temporary but what will come is eternal.  Therefore, let us be busy looking to strengthen our faith just as the Apostle Paul told Timothy. In Christ, we have all we need for life and godliness in times like these.  Selah!

Our God of All Comfort

     As a grandmother, I have the privilege of kissing “boo boos” when they happen while I am
babysitting one of our grandchildren.  Somehow, having a hug and kiss heals a hurt much quicker than any medicine, but how my own mother survived my childhood is an amazing story in itself.  Being a daredevil, I managed to fall on steps twice and the metal frame of a roll away bed requiring three trips to the ER for stitches all near my left eye.  Then, impatient to get in the house on a cold day while my mother was vacuuming the carpet, I pounded on the glass of the door so hard that I put my hand through it.  Yes, another trip to the ER.  Then, pretending to be Tarzan, I was swinging on a tall frame of a gateway only to lose my grip and fall on a wagon below fracturing a vertebrae.  All of these times were insignificant in light of my fight with Poliomyelitis in 1955.  Through it all, my parents never left my side.  They were there to comfort me, assure me that all would be well again, and wipe away my tears.  I felt protected, loved, and affirmed, but this type of care is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
 
      Some of my favorite Bible verses come from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:  “3 Blessed be the God and

Our sweet Grandson on the day of his baptism

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”  There are two important take aways in these verses that we need to remember.
     First, Scripture plainly tells us that it is God who provides us His comfort and mercies when we are facing difficult days.  He cares about us and holds us in the hollow of His hand when life hurts.  He walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:5-6).   He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).  Furthermore, when we mourn, Jesus said we will be comforted (Matthew 5:4).  In addition to these promises, the Lord also told us that He would never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5).  So why is it that we need His comfort?  This brings us to the second point.
     Becoming a Christian does not mean we will not face trials, loss, heartache, depression or a myriad of other difficulties in this life.  We live in a fallen world, and remember what Paul wrote in the verses I quoted above:  “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”  We will walk through painful experiences, and we should not be surprised by them.  Jesus said that we would face tribulation because we are going against the flow of a sinful world.  However the difference is that we are promised comfort during those trials, and once we come through them, we are to comfort others with the same loving comfort which God has given to us.  This is the beauty of fellowship in the body of Christ.  Just as my mother and father were there for me every time I fell down, needed help, or faced illness, so brothers and sisters in Christ are there to offer the comfort with which God comforted them.
     When I hear someone say that they wonder why they are facing so many hardships, it just may be that God is preparing them to minister to others in the future.  Rather than despair, we must recall that the Lord is the source of all comfort when life hurts.  Then, we are to pass that comfort along to others in His name.  This is the glory and privilege of the Christian life that we are never alone in our afflictions for we have a God of all comfort!  Selah!