Quote of the day

"In seeking the will of God, I risk everything that is safe and secure about my world. But in doing the will of God, I find an even greater security."

-Charles Ringma

Tomorrow

"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4:13-15)

The truth is...you aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Time is either a merciful friend or a deadly enemy. As Christians, we are really good at making "plans". I'll do this or that tomorrow. Procrastination can sometimes just be another fancy word for disobedience. We have such "good intentions" sometimes...but sadly, they never get much farther than that...an intention...and not an active reality in our lives. We say....'I'll give of myself tomorrow. I'll serve the Lord tomorrow. I'll read my Bible tomorrow morning. I'll love my neighbor tomorrow. I'll give food to the homeless or give him a place to stay next time it's convenient. I'll visit the nursing home next week. I'll help the preborn scheduled for abortion later. I'll give a tract to that familiar grocer next time I see him. "I'm sure they'll be another time when someone isn't in line behind me." Or maybe that man sitting beside me on the bus. "I'll catch him later." "I'm in too much of a hurry today to stop and talk to that lonely man sitting on that park bench." I'll stop and make time for others tomorrow. I'll rid my heart of secret sin next altar call at church. I'll let go of bitterness in my life later. I'll forgive that person before he dies. I'll spend time with my family tomorrow night. Or that friend that needs encouragement. I'll open my home to hospitality next meal. Tomorrow...tomorrow...tomorrow. I'll do it all tomorrow.'

I'm only 22 years old...and I've already realized how short my life actually is. Days...months... even years seem to pass by so quickly. It's sobering. I honestly think it is a subtle tool of satan to keep Christians distracted with the things of this world...and to forget the real value of time. To forget that it is precious...as it is short. To forget that tomorrow doesn't belong to us yet. To forget who it really does belongs to. Christ! And that we are His servants...here to do His will. Not our own.

I've decided to start making time for what is most important in my life. I've realized that unless you purposefully choose to take the time...it won't just fall into your lap. Life is short. Tomorrow is unknown. Hell is real. People are dying. Babies are being murdered. People are starving for truth. For love. And there's a heaven with eternal consequences and value.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:11-12)

Let's wake up! Let's honestly evaluate our lives! Let's seek the Lord while He may be found! Let's be about our Father's business! Let's understand His will and do it! Whose with me?

Quote of the Day

"God only is holy; He alone knows how to lead His children in the paths of holiness. He knows every aspect of your soul, every thought of your heart, every secret of your character, its difficulties and hindrances; He knows how to mould you to His will, and lead you onwards to perfect sanctification; He knows exactly how each event, each trial, each temptation, will tell upon you, and He disposes all things accordingly. The consequences of this belief, if fully grasped, will influence your whole life. You will seek to give yourself up to God more and more unreservedly, asking nothing, refusing nothing, wishing nothing, but what He wills; not seeking to bring things about for yourself, taking all He sends joyfully, and believing the 'one step' set before you to be enough for you. You will be satisfied that even though there are clouds around, and your way seems dark, He is directing all, and that what seems a hindrance will prove a blessing, since He wills it." 

 Jean Nicolas Grou

Daily Strength for Daily Needs, p. 232

Quote of the Day

"Interpose no barrier to His mighty life-giving power, working in you all the good pleasure of His will. Yield yourself up utterly to His sweet control. Put your growing into His hands as completely as you have put all your other affairs. Suffer Him to manage it as He will. Do not concern yourself about it, nor even think of it. Trust Him absolutely and always. Accept each moment's dispensation as it comes to you from His dear hands, as being the needed sunshine or dew for that moment's growth. Say a continual 'yes' to your Father's will."

Hannah Whitall Smith (Daily Strength for Daily Needs p. 169)

Surrendered Stones upon the Wall of His Purpose

Spiritual Lessons

Surrendered Stones upon the Wall of His Purpose

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2: 19-22)

“Slowly, through all the universe, that temple of God is being built. Whenever, in any world, a soul, by free-willed obedience, catches the fire of God’s likeness, it is set into the growing walls, a living stone. When, in your hand fight, in your tiresome drudgery, or in your terrible temptation, you catch the purpose of your being, and give yourself to God, and so give Him the chance to give Himself to you, your life, a living stone, is taken up and set into that growing wall. Wherever souls are being tried and ripened, in whatever commonplace and homely ways; - there God is hewing out the pillars for His temple. Oh, if the stone can only have some vision of the temple of which it is to be a part forever, what patience must fill it as it feels the blows of the hammer, and knows that success for it is simply to let itself be wrought into what shape the Master wills.”

(Phillip Brooks, Daily Strength for Daily Needs p. 158)

I loved the imagery of this particular quote. Stone after stone, being placed upon the wall of His divine purpose. Our lives make up the stones. Each part, each detail, small and great, is a stone. Our dreams. Our hopes. Our Goals. The desires He’s placed in our hearts. The ministries He’s given us to do. Our daily chores. Our work place. Relationships. Authorities. Talents and abilities. Our home life. Even our very hindrances, are all “stones”. Things that make up our life as we know it, and the people that shape who we are and what we do.

Each stone must be surrendered to His purpose. For we are His temple. We are the workmanship of His hands. He is the builder.

1Corinthians 3:16 says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

And Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

He is hewing out pillars for His temple. Building up walls for His glory. He has a finishing plan and purpose.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

He is the author and the finisher. Sometimes, the process looks odd. Sometimes it looks ugly. It feels humbling. We compare our temple project to those around us. We question why He might place a stone here, or remove another one there. Sometimes the stones He chooses, aren’t the ones we would choose for ourselves. It feels rough on the outside. But He sees the finished product. Take heart, dear soul, and trust the Master at His work. He knows what He is doing.

When our plans are foiled, when disappointments arise- He is building His temple.

When heartaches encamp us and sorrows descend- He is building His temple.

When hindrances hold us captive, when our prayers seem unanswered- He is still building His temple.

And when doors are opened, when opportunities arise- He is building His temple.

When blessings surround us, and sweet joys flood within- He is yet building His temple.

When prayers are answered, when our desires and hopes He chooses to fulfill- He is building His temple.

He is the Corner Stone. And He knows just how to build our lives exactly fit for His glory and His Divine Purpose. We can trust Jesus, with what we do not understand. He sees the finished project. We don’t. But to get a glimpse of what He is doing! To trust that it is good! That is sweetest rest. That is glory.

Quote of the Day

"There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God."

St. Francis De Sales, Daily Strength for Daily Needs p. 146

Quote of the Day

"We are ready to praise when all shines fair; but when life is overcast, when all things seem to be against us, when we are in fear for some cherished happiness, or in the depths of sorrow, or in the solitude of life which has no visible support, or in a season of sickness, and with the shadow of death approaching,- then to praise God; then to say, This fear, loneliness, affliction, pain, and trembling awe are as sure tokens of love, as life, health, joy, and the gifts of home: 'The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away'; on either side it is He, and all is love alike; 'blessed be the name of the Lord,'- this is true sacrifice of praise. What can come amiss to a soul which is so in accord with God? What can make so much as one jarring tone in all its harmony? In all the changes of this fitful life, it ever dwells in praise."

(H.E. Manning, Daily Strength for Daily Needs p.130)

Quote of the Day

"Study to follow His will in all, to have no will but His. This is thy duty, and thy wisdom. Nothing is gained by spurning and struggling but to hurt and vex thyself; but by complying all is gained- sweet peace. It is the very secret, the mystery of solid peace within, to resign all to His will, to be disposed of at His pleasure, without the least contrary thought."

R. Leighton (Daily Strength for Daily Needs p. 98)

The Sword of His Will

Spiritual Lessons

The Sword of His Will

“Yet more and more this truth doth shine

From failure and from loss,

The will that runs transverse to Thine

Doth thereby make its cross:

Thine upright will

Cuts straight and still

Through pride and dream and dross.”

 W.M.L. Jay

This is something I'd like to call "The Sword of His Will". Which is, to present yourself before the Lord in full surrender and allow Him to tear away from your heart whatever you hold within you that crosses with Himself. It is a painful undertaking, but a worth while one! It bleeds and stings like nothing else, but the result is a sweet savor. It is to be committed all the way. To put place yourself completely in His care. To trust Him with everything. And nothing is more sweet, more precious, or dear to Him. Nothing can compare to the bonding it forms between me and my Saviour. And nothing is worth holding onto that separates that closeness. I hope this is a blessing, dear reader, and that you wouldn't hesitate to open your heart completely to the one who first opened His heart to you. 

I lay myself down on the cold stone

I asked Him to place me here.

But as a once silent prayer becomes my reality,

All I can sense is my own gripping fear.

My heart within me pounding

Like a heavy drum, it beats;

With every part of me shaking in terror,

My Great Physician meets.

“My child, it is time to cut through this dross

So to replace it with the best;

Someday you will yet come to understand the reason,

But for now, be still and rest.”

He knows just where to place the knife,

Cutting deep, the right incision He makes.

Clear through my dearest desires and dreams,

My heart, He deliberately breaks.

The pain within me, overwhelming

How it aches and stings and bleeds!

But still one thought returning,

“Lovest Thou me, more than these?”

How the sorrows of loss compassed me!

My eyes, heavy laden with tears;

Weary and wounded, I cry out to Him-

Only silence; Yet, I could sense His presence near.

Still He continued to tear me

All earthly pleasures severed and crushed;

The hopes once hidden away in my heart,

Like blood from my veins, now rushed.

Such silence disquieted my soul

But His touch was still gentle and sweet.

For no one else knows me like He does,

All my deepest needs, He alone can entreat.

His smile towards me was reassuring

Though His face with anguish seemed worn.

I felt secure in His strong grasp; But still wondered,

Why, with such heaviness of tears, He did mourn?

For behold, He too was standing there bleeding!

All my pain and grief to bear;

And it was then, I knew that He loved me

What great compassion! My death to share!

Lord Jesus, You gave all Your life blood,

“The Man of Sorrows”, became for me;

And so through Your grace and by Thy power,

I'll lie here and bleed for Thee.

Still, He won't leave His helpless victim,

Lying shattered and lifeless and wasted to be;

But He comes in quite different apparel

Jehovah-Rapha- "I am the LORD that healeth thee."

Such peace floods my soul!

He's a healing balm to my open wounds;

What joy overflows me; He mends the broken heart again!

Whatever the losses I feared, my thanksgiving now consumes.

It is good that He did afflict me

For He only is able to fully use;

Those things which are willing to be sacrificed,

And a heart that is broken and bruised.

     -Lynea Bickish   January 2014-

God Ordained Authority (Part II)

I would like to continue just a few thoughts on the subject of God ordained authority. If you have not already, please read my previous post on this subject as well, God Ordained Authority Part I.

God Ordained Authority

Part II

Last post, I stopped with the fact that, in trusting our authorities, we ultimately are trusting in the Lord.  God almost always chooses to use men, in one way or another, to perform His will for His people.

 In Ezekiel 22:30 the Bible says- “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

The Lord chose to use Joseph to provide through Egypt’s famine; Moses was called by God to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; Caleb stood against the multitude; Joshua fought the battle of Jericho; Gideon smote the Midianites; Asa cried before the Lord and the Ethiopians fell; even rebellious Jonah eventually went and spared Nineveh their destruction. In Romans 10:14, we see where the Lord proclaims that He needs men to reach the lost. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” God chooses to use ordinary men. The men of the Bible did not possess any “special power” because they were from that time period. The only difference was their faith.

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:17-18)

God chooses to use our authorities in the same way. To say that my authority isn’t an “Elijah”, doesn’t hold water my friend. Just as He chose to use Jeremiah to prophesy to the people, He chooses to use our authorities to direct His will for our lives; whether that is through our fathers, a father-figure, our pastors, or maybe our husbands. It can honestly be a hard concept to swallow. But it’s Biblical. I’ve seen where too, the Lord has used my authority, even when he was wrong. Seriously wrong. I’ve learned that the Lord sees beyond this. In spite of my hopeless dread of a situation, His ways are still above it all. The Lord is still greater than any wrong authority. He can still turn a king’s heart. He turns the worst situations into blessings. I have no idea how He does it; but He does.

Prayer is such an importance here too. There have been many times I’ve honestly been tempted to just “tell my dad how it is”, but instead, chose to pray. And you know, the Lord heard. In giving it all to Him in prayer, it helped me to keep a right attitude and a submissive heart, while allowing the Lord to deal with my authority. I don’t have to say something, or let him know he’s wrong, or even tell him how I feel about it. I have a mediator. And I can trust the Lord with my authorities’ decisions.

I remember once, when my sister and I were helping someone in town for an extended period of time. This person seriously needed and appreciated our help, while she was still recovering from having had a new baby. We were happy to help. However, we received a call a few days earlier than expected. It was from my dad, saying how he wanted us to come home tomorrow. We both knew that we weren’t needed at home, nearly as much as we were needed in town. It was hard to submit to my dad in this, when I knew that another person was actually counting on us for help. How could we just “drop everything” and go? My authorities’ decision seemed wrong. And even worse, it felt selfish. So we just prayed. God knew. The next day, we went home as we were asked. And to the credit of an almighty, all knowing, and all sufficient Saviour, this person actually was ready for us to leave when we did. This was an answer to prayer. God provided a way, even when my authority was wrong.

Proverbs 4:1 says- “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”

“Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.” (Proverbs 4:13)

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” (Proverbs 8:33)

I would like to use the example of David for just a moment. David was a shepherd boy who became a mighty man of valor. God eventually made him king. Although he was strong, he also had a soft heart towards the Lord. He was an example of a godly man. Did he do everything right? No. Certainly not; but God did say that he was a man after His own heart. One thing that is admirable about David’s character is that he submitted himself to authority. And this wasn’t just to any authority; but to a selfish, violent, wicked, and ungodly ruler. To an authority that actually tried to kill him, more than once. When Saul disobeyed the Lord in sparing the best of the sheep and the oxen, God then rejected Saul as king. Incomplete obedience amounts to complete disobedience and the Lord sought to make David king in his stead. However, Saul wasn’t just willing to hand over the kingdom. (You can read more about this in I Samuel) David fled for his life, even down to hiding in caves, because Saul wanted to kill him. David was a threat to a kingdom Saul could not hold onto. Not only did David not retaliate towards Saul, but he still upheld him as his authority. When Saul eventually was killed in battle, David wept. David loved Saul and still upheld him as his king. In all rights, Saul wasn’t supposed to be in a place of authority over David. God had chosen David to be king, not Saul. What an example though. He submitted to someone who was not only selfishly hoarding what was rightfully his, but also to someone who tried to kill him over it. If this isn’t an example of a bad authority, I’m not sure what is. And God blessed David for it.

Hebrews 5:7-9 says- “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

I am amazed by this verse. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;” If Jesus had to learn obedience, how much more do we? No one is exempt from authority. And even Jesus Christ the Lord submitted Himself to the Father.

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)

Jesus submitted His will to the Father, and He was GOD. Before Jesus went to the cross, in the garden of Gethsemane, we see Christ’s submission to the Father’s will. “And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:40-42)

“…the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11)

Christ is our example. We are told to walk even as He walked. (I John 2:6) He is also our Lord, our Master. Matthew 10:24 says- “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”

 Submission can be very humbling. It is letting go of our will and accepting the will of someone else. It requires death to self. This isn’t joyous; this isn’t fun. It also requires trust. And if you cannot trust your authority figure per se, you can still trust the LORD to work through that authority. His hand is not shortened that it cannot save. His ear is not heavy that it cannot hear. Jesus knows. And He makes a way. He gives the grace to bear. He gives the power and the ability to overcome. We can submit, even to an ungodly authority, because it is right; because He has supplied all we could ever need for victory!

God Ordained Authority (Part I)

Spiritual Lessons

God Ordained Authority

Part I

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good.” (Romans 13:1-4)

Authority is ordained of God. As natural flesh controlled humans, we rebel against it. We would rather not answer to anyone for what we choose to do or not do. We want our own way and we resist the idea that we must be under a higher powder or authority. We are rebellious by nature. However, these “natural tendencies” aren’t exactly practical and most certainly not Biblical. As a citizen, we answer to the law. As an employee, you answer to an employer. As Christians, we answer to God. And as in churches, we answer to pastoral authority. A wife submits herself to her own husband. Children are commanded to obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right. And maybe reading that seems completely obvious to some, but I believe that it is actually very important to understand. Without God-given authority, chaos reigns. There would be confusion on every side. Like in the time of the Judges. Every man did what was right in his own eyes. But it was evil in the Lord's sight. The Lord has built up certain chains of authority for good reason.

And while not all authority is practiced Biblically, authority is still a principle of God’s Word and is a righteous command. 

All of the examples I just gave you, are good examples of authority and while I’m sure we might all benefit from discussing them, the chain of authority I would more specifically like to address is to daughters. Being her father’s child, a daughter is subject to her father’s authority. Also, this is the area I could probably relate to the best, being myself a daughter in my father’s house. The Lord has given me many opportunities to practice this principle, little to my enjoyment of the lessons at the time. J And it is my desire to hopefully encourage you, reader, and more specifically fellow “daughters”, in what the Lord has taught and continues to teach me in this important and certainly needed subject of Biblical authority.

Although liberal feminist women would heartily protest the idea of a woman being under subjection to any man, it is God’s divine plan for her as a woman of Godliness. And truly, it is a fulfilling and beautiful design. It is her place as a daughter to be accountable to her father, and when she is given away in marriage, by the father’s hand, it then becomes her place as her husband’s wife. The God-given responsibility to which the father held for his daughter is now placed upon her new husband. I don’t believe widowhood is necessarily an exception here either, although the chain of authority to which she would be accountable to could be different depending on the circumstances. (In I Timothy 5:16 you’ll find that churches are commanded to take care of the believing widows indeed and in James 1:27- “to visit the fatherless and widows”.)

When I read through my Bible, I find that it is the rare exception when a daughter was not actually living directly under her father’s roof. This is where Abraham’s servant found Isaac’s wife, Rebecca. She was serving from under her father’s roof. Rachel and Leah were both at home. And even Esther with her uncle Mordecai. And while some things change by culture, Biblical principles do not. Also, it wasn’t until these daughters were given away in marriage, that they left this God-given place of protection. And while there are exceptions, I believe it is under a father’s roof that a young girl finds the best place to practice such Biblical principles. However, regardless whether a daughter is living directly under her father’s physical roof or not, she is still subject to her father’s authority. In Deuteronomy 22 you’ll find that it was actually the father that was accountable for a daughter’s purity. When the young bride’s purity was questioned by the bridegroom, he went to the daughter’s father. Why? Because he was accountable for her.

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

(Hebrews 13:17)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

We are commanded to obey our authorities because it is right, but it helps to understand that we are also commanded this for our own good. “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.” Father’s are in a place of authority for a daughter’s protection. It isn’t to destroy the “good works” we would choose to take part in, but the “evil”. And again, not all authority is practiced in Godliness. There are exceptions in certain situations and circumstances where it would be wrong or maybe unsafe to stay under a certain authority. But as I said, these are exceptions. I am not speaking to daughters of such exempt circumstances in particular, but to daughters in general. God has designed our father’s authority for our own good welfare. “That it may be well with thee.” He isn’t a vindictive chauvinistic God who enjoys seeing women beat into subjection, as some might imagine. As females, we are said to be the weaker vessels. I Peter 3:7 says- “…giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel”. We are more emotional, more vulnerable, more sensitive, and much more delicate. This isn’t a downgrade. It is how we were made. And there is a reason for it. As women, we were made to compliment a man. To be a “helpmeet”. This is what a man needs. The husband was commanded to honour his wife in this, not use it to his own advantage. God has given us godly protection in our fathers, our brothers, our pastors, and someday, in our husbands. Simply said, we need it.

I have been amazed, over and over again, how many times the Lord has used my dad for my own protection. Especially in the small things. And really, the small things can be just as important as what we might call the “big things.” Because it is the little foxes that spoil the vines. (Song of Solomon 2:15) Times where all my dad could tell me was- “I can’t explain why, but I don’t have peace about this.” And guess what? If not but a little while later, I was thankful that I listened. Was it always easy? No. Certainly not. But it was always right.

I remember one instance in particular. We were away from home at the time, traveling along with friends for a special church meeting. The opportunity presented itself for me and my sister to stay a few extra days with some of these friends to go up to Edmonton afterwards. I really wanted to stay. It sounded like such fun and what could be the harm in it? So, I asked dad. (Chain of authority) I was rather disappointed when he hardly took much thought to this “wonderful idea” and simply said “no”. I remember feeling both deflated and very frustrated. At least, if I was going to go through the trouble of asking, he could think about it. My flesh revolted and my rebellious heart felt uncared for, unappreciated, and unloved. What about me? What about what I wanted to do? Not to mention, that as a 21 year old “adult” this was somewhat embarrassing. Most of these friends going were even younger than I was. But the Lord rebuked me for my attitude. He reminded me that I was not my own. That my life was to be hid in Christ Jesus my Lord, that I was His servant, and not free to do what I considered my own good pleasure. To submit to His ordained authorities. And for good reason too. That very Sunday after we had come back, the Lord was working in our church at home, and the Lord used my sister to help lead one young lady to salvation in Christ. Amazing! And what was this worth? An extended trip with friends? My own desire to have fun? Definitely not. If we had stayed, I don’t know what might have been different. The Lord used my authority. Proverbs 12:15 says- “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Our ways, are not always the right way. Isaiah talks about His ways being higher than our ways. And His thoughts than our thoughts. When the Lord speaks through our authorities, we need to listen.

I would like to add here, that I am not advocating that girls never make decisions for themselves. I don’t think that would be balanced. There are many times my dad has let me decide things for myself. But again, it is still a chain of authority. Biblically my dad has the right and command to use this authority. And as a daughter, I am subject to obey it. Although Ephesians 6:4 says- “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” It isn’t an authority to be abused for selfish means. It shouldn’t be to provoke you to wrath, but in the admonition of the Lord. Yet still, even if a father’s authority is being used for selfish gain, I believe that the Lord sees this. He looks on with a righteous and perfect heart. HE is still just, even in injustice. Romans 12:19 says- “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Ultimately, in trusting our God-given authorities, we are trusting God.

It would seem easier to say we are only going to trust “God” on a subject matter, given who He is. Perfect. His justice is perfect. His love is perfect. His wisdom is perfect, and not to mention, all knowing. He is safe and never once fails. Trusting just Him, would seem easier. But, God works through our authorities. He chooses to use our fathers, our pastors, or eventually our husbands. He gives counsel through men. He chooses to use fallible men. And ultimately, we have to trust the Lord with the outcome. Romans 8:28 says- “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” When the Bible says “all things” I don’t see much room for exceptions. Do you? Not even through the decision our authorities make, which certainly do affect us. I have always been encouraged through the verse in Proverbs 21:1. 

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

If the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, how much more is my father’s heart? Especially if my earthly father is also a child of THEE King and seeks to do the Lord’s will as any good earthly father would. If the Lord turneth the king’s heart to do HIS will, how much more can the Lord turn my authorities’ heart to do HIS will? He most certainly can and we must trust the Lord in it.

Spiritual lessons

Here I would like to introduce you to guest writer Melissa Bickish  .  She is a dear friend of mine, who has some really good thoughts on the will of God to share with Maid Arise readers.  I received such a huge blessing out of reading this, I know you will too.  Please make sure to leave your comments!

Just a few thoughts on the Will of God

For several months I have been pondering the idea of God’s will. The idea that He reveals things to some of us, and seems ‘unwilling’ to reveal things to others. I know that this is a very DEEP topic and I do not intend to get into the why’s and wherefores, or to delve deeply into His permissive and perfect wills… etc. This is just a few ideas that have come to my mind from either reading books or the Bible, and I hope that they are helpful to others as well.

At the very beginning we must define what I mean by God’s will. I here begin to quote S.D. Gordon…

 “ God’s will is His desires, His purposes, that which He wishes to occur, and that to which He gives His strength that it may occur…. His plan is the most wise, pure, loving plan that can be thought of, and more.”

First of all, is the thought that GOD ACTUALLY WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIS WILL. I don’t know if anyone else had this experience, but I remember when I grew up in church hearing all the time about “The will of God” in hushed reverent, almost spooky tones, as though it were too ‘mysterious’ to be truly understood, or that the simple Christian couldn’t discover it without ‘great’ seeking. I don’t know where this mistaken notion has come from. In my limited 25 years on this earth, I have discovered that God wants me to be in His will. He wants me on the right path… and is desirous that I REMAIN in His will.

The first thing to note is a Bible verse, one that very aptly describes God’s desire for us to know His will.

“ Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephs. 5:17

“ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Col. 1:9

If we are to be wise and understand then that means that we can understand.

“If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

John 7:17

“ If a man’s will is really set on doing God’s will, that is, if his heart is given up to do it, and he as a consequence does it as far as he knows it, he shall know what God has further to teach him… doing is the one condition of truly knowing. And so obedience, the doing of God’s will as far as we know it, and the will and the vow to do it all as He reveals it, is the spiritual organ, the capacity for receiving the true knowledge of what is God’s will for each of us….”

 ----Andrew Murray---( With Christ in the School of Obedience.)- great book by the way-

I believe that herein lies the key. I wonder if we truly ‘will’ to know what God wants because it might, perchance, disagree with what we desire for our own life. God promises in this verse that if we ‘will’ or desire to know His will that we shall know.

God’s will is not arbitrary. He does not seek to ruin you by following Him. He says of His will in Ephesians 1 verse 5 --  “ according to the good pleasure of His will.”

“ How slow we are to believe that God’s will always means our fullest joy!... Let God’s will be done, and done from the heart; and then His creatures will know what true rest and happiness mean.”

---E. H. Hopkins---

Christ as our example said of Himself in Hebrews 10:7 -- 

“ Then said I, Lo, I come ( in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do Thy will, O God.”

He also said that He did NOTHING of Himself!

Our greatest aim and desire for our life should be to find God’s will for our life and stay in that path.

Secondly, I’d like to address those of you who have felt that God has left you in the ‘dark’ concerning your futures. There is a cross that includes knowing your future because you then have your faith tested over and over and have to fight doubt all of the time. 

The second cross is in NOT knowing your future. It can be very difficult to not KNOW what lies ahead…

If God hasn’t revealed His ‘future’ will or plan for your life --- then REST--- because you are then right where He wants you to be! Ask yourself, “ Am I seeking to know His will or get a glimpse of my own future life, because I dislike not ‘knowing’?” If it isn’t His will to reveal His future plan for your life then you are asking for something CONTRARY to the WILL OF GOD. That is not seeking His will, but your own desire to KNOW! Rest in the face that “He will reveal even this unto you” if something needs to be shown to you, or if you’re in the wrong place. He wants you in His will more than YOU want to be in it! If you are in the wrong ‘place’ or feel you have ‘erred’ it is HIS RESPONSIBILITY to reveal it to you… and if He hasn’t then you can SAFELY rest in the place you are at knowing it is His will for you right now.

Thirdly, I’d like to address those who do know something of there futures…. 

Oftentimes, God has revealed to me what I believe to be ‘future’ sorrows that I shall face. If this is the case, Don’t fear future sorrows. The Lord didn’t reveal this future to you so you could spend the proceeding years leading up to it petrified with fear.

 The Bible says,

“Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer”. ( Rev.2:10) 

This could be anything that God has shown you that is labeled with a “price-tag” called LOSS! The fear of the future can be paralyzing to your faith. Fear is bondage! The Lord didn’t give you that information so you could lock yourself in a prison of bondage, but so your faith could be strengthened. “Fear none”- in the context of this passage the sorrow listed is that of being martyrd! You’d think if there was one thing we would be ‘permitted’ to fear it would be being killed for Christ’s sake… but NO, God says, “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Death for LIFE! Isn’t it precious that the martyrs crown is called the crown of life! So, even if you are martyrd one day God says, “for he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

“The future is not ours: we may never have a future; or, if it comes, it may be wholly different to all we foresaw. Let us shut our eyes to that which God hides from us in the hidden depths of His wisdom. Let us worship without seeing… .what matter, so long as He is glorified, and His will is fulfilled in us?.... Live quietly from day to day, without thinking about the future. Even the present is not really yours, and you must only use it as is consistent with the will of God, to whom it actually belongs.” ---Francios Fenelon----

Fourthly, I’d like to discuss God’s will in the everyday. (which is just a piece of life and how life is lived… day to day) This subject is where the rubber meets the road so to speak.

When was the last time your conscience pricked you about something ‘small’ and you convinced yourself it wasn’t worth ‘bothering’ about, or it was so small that it didn't matter, or it wasn't worth all the ‘fuss’, etc? If you deny the Spirit of God revealing His will through your conscience then you won’t be told ‘greater’ things. “faithful in little… faithful in much!” If God can’t trust you to correct little things, how can you expect Him to reveal larger areas to you?

I had a very funny experience with this same idea a few months ago. I had just purchased a large tub of Hummus from Costco… it wasn’t really expensive, but it was something that I ‘could actually eat’ as my diet had become so limited. Lizzy and Jeffrey (sister-in-law and brother) were coming over that night and as I got into the fridge for some other item, I spied my tub of hummus sitting ‘right out in the open’ for ‘grabs’. Lizzy and her girls and Jeffrey all LOVE hummus… and I knew that if it sat there ‘exposed’ they’d eat some. So, I very selfishly put the hummus at the back of the fridge behind some other items of ‘less value’ to me. As soon as the fridge door closed, the Lord pricked my conscience and told me to put it back where it had been. So, I obeyed…. not without first thinking of what a sacrifice this was! Hahah This story is comical to me know… but at the time it was very ‘close’ to home. Can God trust you to hear His voice in the every day and that you’ll obey His will when He shows it to you?

Fifthly, Have you ever stopped and asked GOD if there was anything in your life that is contrary to His will for you? It could be something your parents allow, that you’ve allowed for years- but it may not be in line with God’s personal, specific, will for you! Are you willing to have different standards than your siblings or even your parents if it is God’s will for you? Are you willing to be thought ‘weird’ even by your own family to be where God wants you? Are you sensitive to God’s leading in the ‘small’ everyday things of life?

“ I am not conscious of keeping anything that is displeasing to Him. But the first point is : Have I made diligent search? Have I come to God and honestly asked Him to search me? There may be recesses in my being which I know have not been brought under the penetrating power of His holy light. There may be corners in which ‘doubtful things’ are still lurking, and which would no longer be doubtful, if I honestly asked God to show me His will concerning them. The fear lest such a surrender of one’s being would involve a complete clearing out of a multitude of things may still be keeping the soul back in a state of partial consecration.”

---E.H. Hopkins---

“ There may be many things which you have been accustomed to think lawful or allowable which your Father wants different. To consider it settled that they are the will of God because you and others think so may effectually shut you out form knowing God’s will on other things.”

---- Andrew Murray---

“If I am holding something in my life that the Master does not like, if I am failing to obey when His voice has spoken, that to me is sin. It may be wrong in itself. It may NOT be wrong in itself. It may not be wrong for another. Sometimes it is not the thing involved but the One involved that makes the issue. If that faithful quiet inner voice has spoken and I know what the Master would prefer and I fail to keep in line, that to me is sin…. There are a great many things that can be proven to be not wrong, but that are not best, that are not His preference.”

--- S.D. Gordon---

The more you seek to know His will, will to will, and OBEY His voice the more God has the liberty to speak to you! You can hinder Him with your unbelief and unwillingness to obey His leading. If He knows you aren’t intending to obey, will He speak? God allows Himself to be limited by our unbelief.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief…. today if you WILL hear His voice, harden not your hearts..” (Heb. 3)

You must have a soft, willing heart in order to hear the voice of God in your life.

Let me encourage you not to compare yourself with anyone else, because if you do, you’ll begin to wonder why God spoke to ‘that’ person, and not to you. Each of us has our own path and they are never the same.

God WANTS you in His will and the ‘place’ He has chosen you to be in.

“ Any uncertainty about God’s will makes a joyful obedience impossible. Believe most confidently that the Father is willing to make known what He wants you to do.” 

--- Andrew Murray---

“The highest possible ambition for a life is to reach God’s plan. He reveals that to us bit by bit as we need to know…. I must keep in touch with Him so He has an open ear to talk into. I must delight to do his will, because it is His. “ 

---S. D. Gordon---

The Lord says in Hebrews 13 verse 20-21…

“ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

So, in conclusion let me just encourage you, He has a desire and a thought toward you and His thoughts are always thoughts of peace. One of my favorite words in Psalms 119 is God’s JUDGMENTS. These are His decisions… His plans, His choice for your life… ultimately, His will.

“ the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” Ps. 19