Riptide

A few years ago, someone shared with me the horrors he experienced after discovering he was being pulled out to sea by a riptide.

“It was dusk when I decided to hook up with one more wave before calling it a day. I was stretched out, face down on my surfboard, as I worked my way toward deeper water. When I passed the first line of breakers I turned my board toward the beach and waited. As I lazily floated on the water I lifted my head and noticed that the beach seemed much further away then I remembered it being a few moments earlier. I started to paddle, hoping to move my surfboard closer to land; however, instead of moving forward, I continued to drift further out to sea.
I paddled harder, but the beach only grew more distant. At that moment, I realized I was caught in the pull of a riptide. With the sun setting I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I would be heading out to sea in complete darkness. In desperation I cried out to God, ‘Help me!” In an instant, from out of nowhere, I saw a wave forming behind me. It caught my board with a mighty thrust and carried me all the way to the shore. I knew, beyond a doubt, it was the hand of God.”

A riptide is a strong surface flow of water returning seaward from near the shore. It can be extremely dangerous, dragging people away from the beach and leading to possible death as they attempt to fight the current and become exhausted. Hundreds of people are rescued from their clutches each year.

I believe there are spiritual riptides that can be a danger to our walk with Jesus Christ. Sometimes they can be subtle and go unseen, but once we are in their grip, they can pull us away from our peace, our joy, and our confident trust in the Lord. 

Riptides are stronger when the surf is rough as the result of a storm. When we go through rough times and difficult circumstances, the pull of the enemy can be the strongest. He can attack our minds with thoughts of fear, anxiety, doubt and worry. These thoughts can work like riptides as they try to bring us into the deep waters of discouragement, depression, or despair.

Riptides are also stronger when the tide is low. We need to guard our hearts whenever we sense we are emotionally or physically down. If we are not careful, we can be swept into the enemy’s riptide of lies when we are overworked, exhausted, physically weak, or going through great stress or disappointment.

If you sense you have been pulled into the enemy’s riptide, do not panic; do not try and fight your way out in your own strength. Instead, cry out to the Lord and ask Him to deliver you. In Psalm 34:6 we read, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” The Lord is your deliverer, your redeemer, your rescuer, your lifeguard. He is mighty to save; He will rescue you and keep you from going under.

Fret buster #11

How do you cast your care on Him?

1. Get out your “fishing pole of faith”
2. Take all your cares and put them on a hook.
3. Tie the hook to the line on your fishing pole.
4. Cast the line as far as you can into the sea of God’s faithfulness.
5. Cut the line to make sure you don’t reel back all your cares.

I Have Overcome the World

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]  John 16:33 AMP

I’m thankful that God is in control; that He is on the throne; that He is wise and good; that we stand upon a kingdom that can’t be shaken; that He knows His own; that He knows what He is doing; that our lives are in His hands; that He is working out His plan; that He has overcome the world!

A Servant Leader

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:41-45 NLB

There is a great difference between those who are living for themselves and those who are living for Jesus. This is apparent in the workplace. Consider these differences in the area of leadership.

A servant-leader is:
Someone who can set direction and inspire instead of being bossy. 
Someone who makes others successful instead of using them for his advancement.
Someone who is genuine instead of a manipulator.
Someone who motivates through encouragement instead of through fear.
Someone who takes time to listen instead of being set in his ways. 
Someone who builds others up instead of picking them apart.
Someone who creates loyalty instead of mistrust.
Someone who imparts vision and unity instead of confusion and dissension.

Father, I want to serve you with a true heart. Work in me the heart of your Son, the heart of servant who is willing to lay down his life for others. May I express before others the attitudes and actions that are a true reflection of your heart.

When the Answer is "No"

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
1 John 5:14 AMP

The other day, I pulled into a parking space, gathered up some papers that were on the seat next to me, opened the door and pushed the button that automatically locks all of my car doors. This time, however, the doors did not lock. I hit the button again, but nothing happened. “What’s wrong with this thing?” I wondered. As I was about to try the button for the third time, It dawned on me that I had failed to take the key out of the ignition. “No wonder the doors won’t lock. This car is too smart to do something that dumb!” I immediately removed my keys, stepped out of the car, hit the door lock button, heard the doors lock, and shut the door.

The more I thought about my car, the more thankful I became that it did not grant my petition to lock the doors. Somehow, it knew that if it had granted me the blessing I was seeking (the locked doors) it would have created a far greater problem for me (my keys locked inside the car.)

When we come to God with certain petitions, we can be eternally grateful that sometimes His answer is “no.” It is important for us to understand that His “no” is not based upon our lack of sincerity, but upon the greatness of His wisdom. He is much too wise to say “yes” to any prayer that would bring us more harm than good if it were granted.

Characteristics of a Servant According to God’s Heart

1. The presence of the Lord rests upon his life.
2. He speaks with power and authority.
3. He loves what God loves.
4. He seeks God’s purposes.
5. He’s fearful of displeasing God.
6. He inspires trust.
7. His word is true.
8. He is deeply identified with God’s feelings.
9. He is the same with everyone.
10. He does not minister legalism or licentiousness.
11. He is wise in his walk.
12. He takes people beyond themselves.
13. He despises anything that hurts others.
14. He proclaims his dependence on God.
15. He is well balanced.
16. He is efficient, but not at the cost of others.
17. His life is in order.
18. Jesus is his audience.
19. He knows how to bear injustice.
20. He loves the truth.
21. His goal is to know God, and make him known to others.
22. He is not satisfied if he doesn’t give his best.
23. He is an optimist, not a pessimist.
24. His greatest passion is Jesus.
25. He delights in giving.
26. Others say of him “That is how my God is.”
27. He doesn’t exploit others.
28. He respects other servants.
29. He is always learning.
30. His convictions are firm, although he can be flexible.
31. He loves being nothing.

This list is written by Don Lessin, a pastor and missionary in Mexico for over forty years. You can order Don's book Abba Cry from DaySpring.com

Fret busters #9 and #10

Fret buster #9:

There once was a man who worried all the time.
One day a friend noticed that he had stopped worrying.
“How did you do it?” the friend asked.
“It’s simple; I hired a man to do all my worrying for me.”
“How much did that cost you?”
“I agreed to pay him a thousand dollars a week.”
“How can you pay him? You only make five hundred dollars a week.”
“Well, I guess that’s his worry!”

Fret buster #10:

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

A Few Quotes

Let me tell you what real surrender is. It is simply resting in the love of God, as a little baby rests in its mother’s arms. –Fenelon

We are not often called to great sacrifice, but daily we are presented with the chance to make small ones—a chance to make someone cheerful, a chance to do some small thing to make someone comfortable or contented, a chance to lay down our petty preferences or cherished plans. This requires us to relinquish something—our own convenience or comfort, our won free evening, our warm
fireside, or even our habitual shyness, reserve or pride. –Elisabeth Elliot

Faith

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Hebrews 11:1, 6 nlt

Faith sees what your physical eyes can never see;
Faith knows what your natural mind can never comprehend;
Faith possesses what your physical arms can never hold.

Your faith in God today is your lifeline to His heartbeat. Faith is the hand that reaches up and takes hold of God’s promises and gathers in the spiritual treasures that are found in Christ. Faith sees the sunshine of God’s face, even when there are dark clouds all around.

From the DaySpring 365 DayBrightener, Today is Your Best Day

“Setting the Table”

Recently, our church was planning a special service with a focus on worship and prayer. As the time for the service drew near, I realized that we would be meeting on the same night as the Feast of Tabernacles. I shared this with our pastor and he asked me if I would bring a teaching that night on the meaning of the feast. I told him I would and began to study and prepare. 

When the night of our special service began I spent a few moments mentally reviewing the main lessons I wanted to share about the feast. Three of the things that came clearly into focus were:

1. The feast was a time of joyful celebration.
2. The feast had a strong emphasis upon water and the blessings of rain.
3. The feast was a time of thanksgiving for Gods abundant provisions.

Before I got up to speak, the pastor asked if anyone had a word to share. Three people responded and each one read a different passage from the Bible.

The first one read a Scripture that spoke about joy. As I listened, it blessed me to think that someone was led to read a Scripture that covered one of the things I wanted to share about the feast.

The second person read a Scripture that included these words about water, “God brings rivers in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Once again, it blessed me to think that someone was led to read a Scripture that covered something else I wanted to share about the feast.

The third person read a Scripture that spoke specifically about God’s bounty. By this time, I was totally amazed! 

As I got up from my seat and walked toward the front of the church to speak, I smiled inwardly as I thought about what God had done. It was His way of “setting the table” and preparing the hearts of His people to receive what He had for them that evening.