Posted on July 17, 2022 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
Greatest Of All Time: Will It Work Out For Me?
By Lisa Zulke
God is who he says he is. God will do what he said he was going to do.
Doubt. Illness. Job change. Job loss. Financial crisis. Heartbreak. Conflict. Broken relationship. Identity crisis. There are so many ways that life can turn and we can wind up tied in knots. Knots of fear, anxiety, hope, faith.
How to untangle the knots? I include hope and faith in with the knots of fear and anxiety becuase I experience them in my tangled web. Hope and faith are part of my tangled web because when life turns sideways one of the struggles I have to sort is moving hope and faith from my head to my heart to my hands and feet.
Fear and anxiety so quickly move in and overshadow my thoughts and my actions. I become definsive, putting up barriers of protection, and removing myself from the crisis or conflict if I can. I know in my head who God is, and the promises he has made. But what can I do when my faith is trapped in my head, and not being experienced or accessed through my heart and my actions?
When I hit a rough patch I have thoughts, mantras, and practices to help me begin to untangle. I meditate on the truth that God is who he says he is, and will do what he said he was going to do. That would apply well to this promise: God works all things together for good. I might go for a walk, get out on the water, or head to the mountains. The practice of getting outdoors and allowing myself to be awestruck grounds me in who God is. And, it right sizes me and my thoughts and fears. I might write or sketch or seek input and encouragement from a friend. Knowing that God has shown up in the past through these thoughts, mantras and practices helps me untangle faith and hope and begin to push back the darkness that lingers nearby. Truth be told, I might yell and argue with God. Have you not seen? Where are you? Why aren’t you working in this?
Right now I’m in the midst of relationships that have gone sideways, and a situation that I feel very little ability to move or influence. My prayers feel weak, unheard, and the problem feels immovable. I’ve sought the prayers of a good friend, and received a bold encouragement, also from the Bible:
Jesus replied, “Listen to the truth. If you do not doubt God’s power and speak out of faith’s fullness, you can also speak to a tree and it will wither away. Even more than that, you could say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and be thrown into the sea’ and it will be done. Everything you pray for with the fullness of faith you will receive!”
Matthew 21:21-22 (TPT)
Now, to be sure, I read this verse and immediately resonate with doubt, and fear of disappointment. My faith feels shattered, not full. But the beauty of the promise God makes, to be working all things for good, compels me to keep trying. So I return to the things I know to do to increase the flow of faith and hope from my head to my entire being.
God is who he says he is, and God will do what he says he is going to do.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Where and how do you anchor your faith and hope in Jesus? When times are hard, how do you increase the flow of trust, belief, faith and hope in your life?
{action idea}
If you want to practice increasing your engagement with Jesus, join us for Day With Jesus, August 5 or 6. This is a self-guided time with a workbook we provide that is designed to help you spend extended time reading, pondering, praying and connecting with Jesus. We will kick off and wrap up on Zoom, and give you two hours on your own to work through the exercises. CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up.
{bible reading plan}
This month we are focusing on the many promises of God. Each day you will have the space to consider one promise, and how it has impacted your life, or could impact your life should you choose to follow Jesus. We’d love to hear from you and share in what we are all learning together. You can email us at story@heartlandchurch.org.
How actively am I seeking God? Am I making intentional time to spend with him, to talk to him? This promise says that if I am seeking him and learning to follow him well, he will provide what I need in his eyes, in his time. The secret here seems to be active communication. Take a moment today to consider how you are doing with engagment and conversation with Jesus.
I love paths! Trails, creeks, rivers, roads…all are paths leading to someplace new and filled with potential! When I trust God and try to understand what he is asking of me, he will show me the path to follow. Where has God met you, and provided a clear path to take? Take some time today thanking him for that experience.
God…even more than you or I…wants to give good gifts to his kids. "…to those who ask…" Sometimes we evaluate our prayers or asks, don’t we. This one is minor, this one wouldn’t matter to God. That one, I’m afraid to ask for. What things are you holding back from God that you might consider asking?
This short verse again focuses on the magnitude of God’s provision for you and I. He sacrificed his son, Jesus, for us. And yet the implication is he continues to want to offer more. Can you imagine that?! Take some time today to thank God for that incredible gift.
Weary? Heavy burdens? Rest for my soul? Yes, please! As I head into a week of backpacking at high altitude, I long for all of this promise! Read these verses and note what we are asked to do to receive the promise. Then, take a moment to locate where you are at in the process described. What is one thing you might do this weekend that would increase the "shared load" promise of God?
Who is the thief mentioned in this promise? Who is the speaker making the promise? How might you increase your trust and experience of the provider of a rich and satisfying life?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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