External Gauges

I am learning – not as fast as I would like – to embrace the giants that God allows to come my way. Well, maybe I shouldn’t use the word “embrace”, which gives the picture of a warm welcoming “happy to see you” hug. Maybe I am just willing to shake hands, or give it a chest bump.

I am also learning to be more acutely aware of the difference between the pressures I am walking through due to His discipline verses the fellowship of His suffering verses a simple act of his refinement. Each of them requires a different response. There is also an enemy, who wants to take me down, but I am not his child; nothing comes my way without the authorization of my Father. My enemy is only successful to the degree I choose to yield to my sin nature, instead of obeying the spirit.

I think the grace with which we walk through challenging situations reveals our level of trust in His ways in dealing with us. By grace, I mean our attitude and speech, which reveals our heart (Luke 6:45). I am not saying that we need to live in delusion about our trials by not acknowledging them. However, a good indicator of the focus of my heart is the ratio between the communication (speech and attitude) of my “giant” and the supremacy of His sovereignty. This works from the inside out because our communication only reveals what is on the inside. It is not simply an external act (I will just speak faith-filled declaratives) in order to produce a heart that is full of faith. What comes out of us is simply a gauge for what is an internal, spiritual reality. If we do not like what we see, then, by an act of our will (motivated by our spirit), we come to the Father who alone is able to ignite the faith in our spirit, of which He is the author. The result is a hope-filled perspective of our trials that manifests in the natural. It is also a blaring testimony to the world.

I haven’t arrived yet when it comes to this area of faith. There are far too many times that I rant, experience self-pity, fight the wrong enemy, or withdraw form the battle. But I press on to and embrace the Apostle Paul’s challenge when he said:

Philippians 4:4-8 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.