Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9 8 2023
How do you find His way when there seems to be no way?
A loved one shared a heartfelt desire that was making her miserable. It consumed her thoughts although there was nothing that could be done for the time being. Admittedly, it was even the wrong time to make it known
as it would be hurtful to some.
How do you relinquish what you want or what you fervently desire to God’s will?
How do you not allow this dream of contentment, this thing that brings you so much joy, that’s being taken away by circumstances, or by life’s natural journey to not dump you into the deep despair of unhappiness and even torment?
I told them to lay their heart’s desire at the foot of Jesus and offer it up as a sacrifice of praise. I said to not allow this anguish and want to destroy the peace and beauty of your day-to-day life. And don’t allow your negative words to build a deeper self-prophesizing hole of despair for yourself. Offer is up as a sacrifice of praise.
Meaning, that we praise God through a situation that seems impossible, or irredeemable. Instead of anger, agony, loneliness, even bitterness for the plight itself…we praise God for all that He is… We praise Him for all that we do have!
We praise God for the air we breathe and the life we have.
They responded. I don’t know how to do that!
The answer is simple but difficult to wrap your head around as a young believer.
The real power of living is in God’s word. You cannot have a real relationship with God without knowing what He believes and how He wants you to live. The same words that created the universe and all of creation contain the truth of living and the truth of being. When a person comes to believe in God, it is too often without the proper grounding in God’s word. Honestly just coming to the faith of believing makes a person feel that they are a better person. Hey, I am assured I’m going to heaven, and I have always felt I was a pretty good person…isn’t that enough? I have even started going to church, occasionally. Isn’t that enough? NO
We cannot really survive without the Word of God. John 5:39 The Scriptures promise to make us wise to navigate life and it’s never too late to begin reading. 2nd Tim 3:15 In truth it is the spiritual milk you need to grow in God. 1st Peter 2:2-3 “As newborn babes, long for the milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation.”
Lastly, after babies are born, their immediate need is not to learn, but to be nourished; they need milk to live and grow. Without God’s word a new Christian can never really grow into a person God can regularly talk to or guide effectively.
In Matthew 4:4 Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God.’” The Word of God is not just spiritual milk to us; it is also our spiritual bread of life and our strength to stand in times of trouble and despair. We can never graduate from eating the Lord’s Word every day, just as we can never graduate from eating physical meals each day.
Regardless of what’s going on in our lives, Jeremiah 15:16 can become our experience: “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became to me the gladness and joy of my heart.” It is His words that make us complete and whole. 2 Timothy 3:16
I lay this biblical foundation because in this situation of being separated from the ones you love or this hardship you are enduring whether it be physical, emotional, psychological, or whatever… without the knowledge of God’s word, without his direction and strength, you cannot step into knowing of what the sacrifice of praise is.
Young or old, we each have our struggles, but His Word is always the answer. Marinate in it until you can float on the power of His presence.
Call someone to marinate with you.
Stay there until you can walk again! Until you can praise again!
Lord make me hungry for your word and your truth. I want to grow in you!
Lord help me to substitute you for these desires and thoughts I can’t let go of!
Hillsong’s When my soul knows very well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3HLK7sQHDs
