Yesterday or Tomorrow - Choose One

Over the last several months my personal world has been one of many transitions. Transition denotes change, which in turn can incite a desire to hold tightly to what we know is about to be removed from our life.

My husband and I watched a movie together last night which also involved a lot of transitions. The main character in the movie had lost his wife a couple years earlier and was currently living in a “stuck” stage. He was struggling wanting to move forward for fear of losing the memory of what his past held. In essence, he was a walking dead man, paralyzed to the point of total ineffectiveness.

This got me to thinking about life. Every day brings changes we must face whether we feel ready or not.

The only constant anchor we have is the God we serve: He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8).

My inability to comprehend the mystery of an unchanging God does not change God's nature. The truth of God’s Word is never-changing, just like Him.

There remains one thing, however, which we alone must decide: we get to choose if we will surrender our lives and trust God when change happens, or not. Can we trust the God of Yesterday to set us free from all that holds us back; His healing touch ushering us into Tomorrow with strength and wholeness, regardless our circumstances?

Yesterday or Tomorrow—choose one. 

We cannot set up camp at the juncture of Yesterday and Tomorrow. His relentless pursuit of our hearts inhibits us from straddling the line between the past and the future.

Our main character eventually arrived at the same crossroad. 

Either which way the winding road of Yesterday has taken us, one thing is certain—Yesterday always leads us in the opposite direction of Tomorrow. I would know, I have set up camp in Yesterday too many times to mention.

Apostle Paul had a past with many regrets. Before God reached the heart of Paul (known as Saul before his conversion) he held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:57-58). However, Paul didn’t wallow in the sin and regret of yesterday. He repented and was forgiven. His new heart was to know Christ. Paul went on to become a great missionary. He recognized the truth of who he was WITHOUT Christ but chose to live in the truth of who he was WITH Christ, “Not that I have already obtained all this (righteousness that comes from Christ), or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14).

Paul grabbed ahold of Tomorrow and let go of Yesterday. He recognized his inability to hold onto both and still fulfill the purposes of God for his life. 

We are no different! Closing yesterday’s door will require taking ahold of that for which Christ Jesus took ahold for us. If healing, ask for healing. If forgiveness, then forgive. If using talents which have been lying dormant, brush yourself off and move forward in the direction of your God-given passions. Do THAT thing which restores joy to your heart, peace to your spirit, and produces a life fully surrendered to the God of our tomorrows. 

Redemption is waiting in the sunrise of Tomorrow. 

Stay the Course…

Sheila

You Are My Hiding Place

(I would like to dedicate this blog to those people in my life, both past and present, who have encouraged me and prayed with me through some dark valleys. Thank you for not giving up on this bedraggled believer. Let's keep fighting for one another so we can cross the finish line together.)

I had an interesting, unexpected revelation last week at the chiropractor’s office, of all places.

After taking X-rays of my neck the doctor reviewed his findings with me and my husband. “It looks like you’ve had severe trauma to your neck—can you tell me what happened?” he asked. I couldn’t think of too many things that had happened but thankfully my husband remembered circumstances from many years ago that might have contributed to my current pain. 

“Oh!” I stated, genuinely surprised to learn that trauma experienced years and years ago could have anything to do with my current situation. As the doctor continued to explain how anything that has ever happened to the physical body, even in childhood, is not forgotten, I felt a nudge in my Spirit. A lightbulb came on as I realized that the same truth spoken by the doctor about my neck was also true about the other areas in my life that were in need of healing. Those unseen areas which, when triggered, continue to cause me great pain.

What a surprise to learn that the parts of our stories which we wish to forget, or to keep hidden, are not forgotten nor hidden from our Father. It’s His desire that we bring to Him the parts of ourselves which have caused us shame, pain, or what we may believe to be irreparable damage. 

He is our Hiding Place. He is our Healer. He has not forgotten our past, He will not abandon us in our present and He will be faithful in our future.

God sees and loves our true selves--He sees both the glory and the grime.The traumas of our past (memories we remember and those we have chosen to forget) are not hidden from our Maker:

 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139:7-12).

If like me, you have always believed that the past is best left in the past—Let me encourage you to take even that thought to your Father in the secret place of your prayer closet. Lay it at His feet—and ask the Spirit to reveal the truths which are hidden in the One who is always Faithful. His kindness and mercy will meet you. He will never forsake you.

As we acknowledge the sins, failures and hurts inflicted upon us by people in our past, He is faithful to strengthen us with a heart to forgive. In the same token we are given opportunity by the Spirit’s gentle prompting to seek forgiveness from God for those whom we have wounded with the sword of our own tongue. 

The Lord comes to us quickly when we set our prayers before Him like incense. 

Jesus, the very name which causes darkness to tremble, will heal the unseen traumas of our past, freeing our spirits so that we can step into the fullness of our adoption as sons and daughters of righteousness.

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:4).

Stay the Course…

Sheila

You're So Vain (you probably think this blog is about you!)

The story in II Samuel of Absalom, King David’s third son, is chock-full of valuable life lessons. 

Absalom had some terrific qualities though sadly most of them were external qualities—great looks, a charismatic personality, and beautiful hair to name a few. The book of II Samuel paints a clear picture of this handsome prince, “In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.” (II Samuel 14:25).

Sounds like the makings of a Hollywood star. 

We are told that Absalom’s hair alone weighed 5 pounds (II Samuel 14:26). Fabio ain’t got nothin’ on Absalom! The magnitude of Absalom’s hair is an important fact when we learn about how he died:

“He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.” (II Samuel 18:9). While Absalom was dangling from the oak tree by his gorgeous mane King David’s military leader, Joab, “took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.” (II Samuel 18:14).

Unlike his father, Absalom was a self-centered man. He was, well—so vain. Although people loved him, he lacked the inner qualities required to become a great leader such as personal integrity, wisdom, and patience. I guess one could say that instead of seeking after the heart of God, he kept his mane-thing the main thing!

In truth, we are all vain to varying degrees. Our sin nature is constantly competing with our God-given nature. In contrast to his son Absalom, King David sought after the heart of God. He made plenty of mistakes in the moments he took his eyes off of God such as his sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. But through his experiences David chose to live for God and not for self.

Even though Absalom plotted against his father to take away the throne, King David was shaken with the news of Absalom’s death, “He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he wept he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” (II Samuel 18:33).

King David, no longer in the first season of his life, had gained wisdom and knowledge from his own sins which in turn brought him much success in his latter seasons. His selfless love toward his son is evidence of Kind David’s maturity, character and integrity. David sought hard after the heart of God, the source of his affirmation, his confidence; his everything. 

Absalom’s life is a reminder to us that the antidote to vanity (also defined as “empty pride) is humility. Humility (I am learning) can only be found in one place: on our knees; and in one Person-the character and nature of Jesus. 

In the final seasons of our lives, when our looks have flittered away, our inner beauty should far outshine the beauty and vanity of youth. 

Our true beauty is not hidden from our Father. We have been fearfully and wonderfully made by the One who is to be forever feared and praised. The One whom we find when we seek. The One who cares more about pure hearts and clean hands than tan bodies and long lashes. The One who heals the scars of our past and removes the invisible arrows of shame, regret, heartbreak and betrayal. The One who knows us intricately, beholds us breathlessly, and longs for us desperately. The only One worthy to write a blog about.

Stay the Course…

Sheila