“In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” Romans 8:26-27

• 

This week begins Lenten season. Perhaps because of all that has been happening in the world or because I miss in-person worship so much, my approach to this season this year is more intense than it has been in the past. I have a deep need to make a personal connection with God through my prayer life for a variety of reasons that span from personal issues and development to the broader context of what God is doing in this season with the church that I serve. I am not alone. A recent meeting with church leadership revealed that others have deep concerns about the future of the church to which my only response was we need to pray. The problem is that I am not sure exactly what it is we need to be praying about.

Sometimes, I think we approach prayer in such a way that it becomes a request list. We tell God what we think needs to happen or what we think He should do and then we expect everything to just fall in line. Other times, we pray and then we expect a voice from the sky to point us in the right direction or we expect something significant to happen that we will perceive as a sign from God. In preparing for Lent this week, I pulled out a book by Mark Batterson, DRAW THE CIRCLE: THE 40 DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE and stumbled across a short jewel, “pray about what to pray about.” (p.11) That short sentence summarized how I felt about the church dilemma. I don’t know what to pray, but I know that prayer is the answer. Then I was reminded of the verse above. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit, who can understand what I don’t know how to verbalize, who can translate the concerns of my heart and take them to the throne of Grace. And when God is ready to answer, He sends the Holy Spirit back to us with an answer, a knowing, a Word that directs our paths. God’s messages are always just what we need to hear at just the right time, like a ‘thinking of you’ card from a distant friend or relative that shows up in our mail box.

That’s why this text in Romans means so much to me. I don’t always know what I need to pray about, but I have the assurance of knowing that if I just begin to pray, He can read the thoughts of my heart and spirit and respond with a divine message that reveals His will, His character and His Word. Sometimes it comes special delivery and other times it feels like snail mail, but He never fails to answer and it is always just what I need in the moment.

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Rom. 8:24-25

The last few weeks where I live have been cold, dreary and rainy. The forecast for the coming week is not much better. In between these days was one cold but bright morning. Though the ground was covered with frost, something in the atmosphere held the possibility of Spring. Now I know that Spring will inevitably come and that in the coming days, there will be warmer days, robins returning and early flowers blooming which will be the confirmation of Spring’s return. But buried in the heart of this dreariness, the breath of possibility was all that I needed to face the coming week and give me hope that this dreariness will pass. Spring is the season of hope. With each new budding leaf, it lifts up the anticipation of new beginnings, fresh starts and renewed life. God knew what He was doing when He placed Spring behind Winter.

Paul’s discussion in the verses above are centered on the understanding that our salvation is hinged on the fact that we believe Jesus died for our sins. Our confession of sins and our belief in this are all that is required to obtain eternal life in heaven. We don’t get an admission ticket. There is no physical guarantee or contract; it is just that internal knowing we believe this as true. It guides our decisions on how to live and helps us endure trials and tribulations, knowing that one day, when this earthly body will die, we will obtain that heavenly body that is fit for eternity in heaven. This is the what we patiently wait for. It can be complex and difficult to explain, but for those who have been saved, it is like that atmospheric promise I felt on that cold, frosty morning. I can’t see it or feel it, but I know it is coming. The possibility of heaven drives me to move forward even when life is difficult, just like the possibility of Spring lifted my spirits in the face of a dreary forecast.

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor. 9: 25-26

I wholeheartedly embrace the value of spiritual disciplines. I know that practicing spiritual disciplines like Bible Study, prayer, fasting, meditation, solitude and the like are valuable for my soul and I make every effort to practice them regularly. I know that practicing health disciplines like a balanced diet, adequate rest and exercise are beneficial for my life. I have learned the value of disciplining myself in regards to spending, saving and staying out of debt as much as possible. Some of these things are easier for me to do than others. When I fall out of the habits of practicing what I know is good for me, I suffer the consequences.

I don’t have the luxury of eating what I want, whenever I want with no impact on my weight or health. I don’t have a photographic memory that allows me to memorize and recall Scriptures at the drop of a dime. I don’t have so much money that I can spend at will and not think about my bills. I am not so spiritual that I can pray every now and again and still have perfect peace. On the contrary, I must constantly go about the “boring” business of keeping track of these and other things in my life to maintain my sanity and well-being.

I am not a famous performer, an athletic star or a glamorous model, but I do have a very strong sense of who I am and what my purpose in life is. When I am fulfilling that purpose, there is a sense of exhilaration and joy that I believe matches that of any performer or star. The truth is that musicians, athletes, actors, writers, innovators, all people who achieve any level of mastery in their fields have to go through years of preparation and discipline. It’s hard work but the rewards are worth it.

I began this year feeling like I am on the cusp of meeting goals that I have set for myself, launching off into projects that have been on the back burner of life and stepping even closer to living the life of purpose God has given me. Yet the Spirit has been compelling me to lean in on tracking spiritual, mental, physical and emotional areas of my life as an exercise of discipline. I do not necessarily like it. But I recognize, like Paul, that living a life of purpose requires living life on purpose. Left to my own devices, I may be lazy, distracted or prone to procrastination. I need the discipline to stay focused and on track towards accomplishing my goals and fulfilling my purpose. The point that Paul is driving home is that because he preached the Gospel, he had to live the life he preached, which meant he had to walk the talk so as to not bring any discredit to what he preached. And so it is for all Christians and so it is for me.

I am going through a season of discipline, a season of monitoring and holding myself accountable to do everything necessary for my body, mind and soul. I believe there will be a very real and tangible reward for this season of self-discipline. More importantly, the ultimate reward is that when I breathe my last breath, I will have the reward of heaven and I will not be a castaway.

• 

One day this week as I was walking. It was unseasonably warm but comfortable. The sight of this rice ditch leading from a nearby river caught my eye. It was a cloudy morning and the dawn’s light was diffused to bring a rose gold hue over the atmosphere. The stillness of the water belied the turmoil of the weather predicted for the next few days, the raging pandemic, the embattled politics, the uncertainty of a data breach in the workplace or the multitude of thoughts rolling around in my head. When I looked over and saw this scene, the Spirit reminded me of Psalm 23:2b, “He leadeth me beside the still waters”.

Psalm 23 is a go-to favorite for Christians. It provides so much comfort, assurance and strength for so many aspects of our lives — physical needs and weaknesses, spiritual restoration, emotional comfort and courage — but on this particular day it was the still waters that spoke to my soul.

The still waters can be translated as waters of rest, applied to the agricultural context of tending flocks. David, as a shepherd, knew by experience that flocks needed to have a place to drink water free from predatory threats. God knows we need a place to drink from the living waters He provides without threat. Our threats are not always external but many times come from within – minds that don’t shut down, worry, stress, to-do lists and busy-ness. I was in that place starting the day with a personal beat-down moment when as I walked BAM! Still waters.

In that moment of clarity, the Spirit gave clear instructions on a small but necessary activity I was neglecting that brought me to this place of internal beat-down and the Spirit gave clear instructions on how to correct the problem. It doesn’t always take a long time to clear our minds or hear from God; it just requires a moment to be led by still waters.

Today is Inauguration Day in America. It took months and years of preparation. Each candidate had to put their time in, work through political ranks, run a candidacy and win an election and then they are inaugurated. Inauguration Day is a ceremonial event that marks the beginning of their tenure in office, none of which would happen unless they were first born, first destined for their role in community, country and history.

We are not all going to be inaugurated into public office but we all have a destiny and purpose to fulfill. It began when God’s finger first touched your being (Ps. 139:15; Jer. 1:5). It began when others began to see it in you (1 Sam. 16:12; Luke 1:76). It began when you first stepped out in faith (Matt. 14:29).. inauguration is simply the formality of being recognized as the person of destiny you were created to be (Matt. 16:18; Luke 4:21). Inauguration is that moment when you step into your destiny, own it and wear it unabashedly.

Yes! Today in America is a special day but any day could be your special day, your inauguration when by faith, you take the reins of destiny and live the life and purpose for which you were created and called to be.

“Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God for unto thee I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:1-3

It was the first day of a ten-day challenge to pray for the healing of our land and after my morning prayers and Scripture reading, I set out for my walk around the neighborhood. I missed so many days the week prior, battling with a respiratory infection and a near miss with COVID-19. It seemed like the world turned up-side down and prayer seemed to be the only hope I had. As I rounded the corner and headed to the end of the road before turning around back into the community, I felt the Spirit say, “look up.” When I did, I saw the sun shine falling across treetops in the most beautiful and peaceful shade of pink-orange as if to say, brighter days are ahead.

When I got home, I immediately began to look for a Scripture verse that would match what I saw and came across the passage above. It is described as a prayer of protection and is considered to be a lament psalm. The words resonated with me as I read them. How could words written more than 2,000 years prior so adequately describe the condition of my soul and thoughts? Yet there they were. What David prayed, from the beginning of the Psalm to the end, completely encapsulated where my mind had been and God crowned it with the imagery of daybreak over treetops. Yes, the current events of my day are still quite gray and gloomy, but the sun still rose. The world continued to spin and hope still is to be had, not in what man can do but in what God does daily. In that moment, I knew my prayers were not in vain, my hope is not in vain and I was encouraged to continue on my way. All is not lost and better days are ahead. Just like the rising sun will eventually illuminate the entire woods, so will God’s grace, mercy and light will illuminate all things. What is done in the darkness will be revealed and His justice will prevail. Until such time, I am assured that the God who protected David is watching over my life also. I am assured to just keep looking up, brighter days are ahead.

“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” Ps. 8:1

Sometimes God’s work takes my breath away with the way He paints the sky especially on an early morning walk. My head gets full of to-do lists, issues and concerns of all kinds from the benign to the serious thoughts of what will I wear to the best way to address an issue. I can easily get lost in my own thoughts. Then God will jolt me with a dawning day with stunning colors and reflections. I have to stop and take it in. My soul rejoices like David and I have to declare O Lord, our Lord how excellent is thy name. All my concerns become so minimal and obscured in comparison to God’s creative power, with new mercies everyday. I can face the day with peace and the assurances of God’s presence in all things. And that alone is enough to pause and praise His name.

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Prov. 27:1 NIV

Each new day is a blessing in itself. We quickly forget this fact. Each new day should be approached with a spirit of adventure. Each new day is a gift to be enjoyed and a gift to be given. Each new day is given to be viewed through new eyes, heard through new ears, to be inhaled and experienced to the fullest with all the senses and faculties we possess. Each new day viewed in this spirit will be a new day.

This morning, my mind ran across times when I was heart broken, hurt, embarrassed, frustrated, sad and feeling like I would never be the same again. In those moments, I have felt like my world was crashing down around me and then the next day, I found out that the world did not end, breath was still in my body, the sun rose again and grace was still on my side. Each time, I made a decision to get up, step into the new day and start all over again. Each new day has brought me to today. I’ve come to realize that all those moments were just one fragment of time that makes up the adventure of my life. I have made a decision to embrace each new day as the gift that it is because tomorrow is not promised.

“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26

Something caught my eye the other morning while I was walking. One of my neighbors has a flag hanging from his back porch announcing his support of a political leader. What makes the sight odd is that the back porch faces a nice backyard with a view of the river in the distance. It’s not like a lot of people will see this flag and it makes me wonder why bother. If one is interested in convincing their neighbors to support their candidate then it seems like the flag would have been flown in a more prominent location. The candidate would expect that if you hang their flag out, that you would select an area in your yard with high visibility. So why hang it in such an obscure location unless the neighbor is concerned about backlash regarding the candidate’s flag or the neighbor doesn’t really feel that strongly about the candidate and the flag is out as a matter of duty or obligation. Either way, the message is weak and contrary to the point of having this flag in the first place.

This was Jesus’ point in regards to us and our faith walk. With Jesus, the commitment should be all in. There is no such thing as a halfway Christian. You either believe or you don’t. You are either committed to live as much of a Christ-like life or you’re not. You are either saved or not. Anything else is lukewarm Christianity that will push us right out of heaven (Rev. 3:16). We can wear all the Christian paraphernalia we can find, fooling some of the people some of the time, but we will never fool God any of the time. We can talk about Scriptures, but if we don’t know how to apply them to everyday life, we have just filled our head with another fact or narrative. We can be the best member in church, never missing a service, a study or event, but if we failed to give our heart to Christ and be saved, we will find a rude awakening at the point of transition from life to death…Jesus saying, “depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41).

It’s not that we are supposed to be brandishing Jesus around like a political figure or a favorite sports team, but we are to be living in such away that will invite the non-believer to look at our lives a little more closely and make a decision to follow our God. Our faith should be a shining light in a dark world. And if we are asked we can be an effective witness that win s another soul for Christ. In other words, we will have no shame in our game and we can put our “flag” on display for all the world to see, not hiding our allegiances on the “back porch” of our life.

• 

“And Joseph went up to bury his father and with him went up all the servants of Pharoah, the elders of his house, and all the elders of this land of Egypt.” Gen. 50:7

Today the body of Rep. John Robert Lewis was laid to rest. The week has been filled with images of his casket being moved from one place to another until today, where it rested for a moment of remembrance in the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA before it was interred. The church was filled with dignitaries, ministers, friends and family both young and old. The overarching theme of every word of memory and comfort was that of a life devoted to challenging injustices and promoting peace, love and respect for all humanity. All who listened in on this service was encouraged to do as Rep. Lewis urged everyone to do, “get into good trouble, necessary trouble.” It was a moment to honor and remember a life well lived. I have witnessed too many funerals of well-known individuals and lesser known individuals who have served humanity in many ways, but there was something unique about this one.

What struck me first and came to my mind as I watched, was the text above and the story attached to it. When Jacob passed away, his son, Joseph, led the funeral procession to bring his father back to the Promised Land. Along with his brothers, dignitaries, elders and the people in the surrounding area understood that a great man was being laid to rest. Jacob was not a perfect man, but he was the ancestral father to a nation that would bring forth the savior of the world. All who witnessed the procession understood a great man was being laid to rest. Today a nation, paused as a great man, a godly man was being laid to rest.

The other thing that struck me was the resounding challenge to do more than remember a man’s life and his work. It is not that everyone should try to live the kind of life that Rep. Lewis lived, but we were challenged to take up the mantle of righteous indignation that would continue his work in every place where ever it may arise. It made me pause and ask myself how willing am I to stand up against, speak against the wrongs of this world and more importantly take these actions with the same level of peaceful and loving spirit that Rep. Lewis exampled. He patterned his life after Jesus, and so that is really the challenge, how much do I daily strive to live and do as Jesus taught? Rep. Lewis showed us that living out Christ-like behavior is not a lofty theory but it is daily endeavor. I want to think I am doing that, but the moment made me look inside and say, “do I really?”

We are not all going to march into destiny on the Edmund Pettis bridge, live in the national spotlight or even make change agent moves that will reshape society, but we are all challenged to live in a manner that reflects the work and character of Christ, especially in the face of injustice, physical threats and in opportune moments of suffering that can point others to our savior. I believe that is what Rep. Lewis understood and encouraged, that the greater work often is in the seemingly small, unseen opportunities God gives us to actively live out our faith, reflect Christ and thus change the world, one day, one moment and one soul at a time. Remembering is good, but rising to meet the challenges is necessary, living our faith is more powerful and effective than titles and positions. Today I was challenged to do more than remember.