Alive and Active Life

Everyone goes through a time of feeling, “I can’t see You, God. They may feel discouraged, tired, and even disillusioned. This world, in its fallen state, is a place where it’s not only possible to feel these things at some point. It’s very likely! The human spirit cries out – “Where are You, God? I’ve lost sight of You, and I need You.”

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Everyone goes through a time of feeling, “I can’t see You, God. They may feel discouraged, tired, and even disillusioned. This world, in its fallen state, is a place where it’s not only possible to feel these things at some point. It’s very likely! The human spirit cries out – “Where are You, God? I’ve lost sight of You, and I need You.”

Perhaps you are in one of those times right now. Life is just hard! You’ve discovered the constant drain of daily living, and it’s sometimes overwhelming. The obstacles, challenges, and problem-solving demands loom over your tiredness. Your losses tear at your broken heart. Even while good things are still present, and you can even list God’s blessings, sometimes there are long stretches that require moving forward in blind faith. That’s hard. You feel you are groping in darkness.

During such times, determine to be a living sacrifice. (Rom. 12:1)

You have seen good and troubles co-exist, side by side. Still, many days it feels super-human to manage it all. And as the scourge of life endures, you come face to face with your human “littleness.”

This is where God comes on the scene. He knows this broken life is hard. He is very near you and wants to help. Sometimes, God makes darkness His covering. Why does God do that at times? You feel alone.

The most important thing to God is your faith in who He is. No matter what your feelings are doing, invest your very heart into the relationship with God through the eyes of faith. It feels like a risk – a jump off a cliff – to trust God against all odds. However, if you do this, you will see God increasingly. He has purposed to make Himself known. He wants to be found. Scripture says,

Temptation is a planting by God’s enemy in the hearts of people  – to doubt God. To question His heart and motives toward them. To be skeptical about trusting God. The best path away from this original temptation is to throw yourself into loving and trusting God implicitly (whether or not you feel like it).

To love and trust God in this manner, you must be commit and work to:

What a life! How does a person manage all this? How can you live balanced when life threatens to throw you off every day?

It helps to intentionally remind yourself of true things when you hear yourself say, “I can’t see You, God! Where are You?” You need to get your bearings to navigate when life is foggy.

Write these down as “Dependables” in your life. You can use your journal, sticky notes, reminders on your device – be creative! But you must connect in these five areas of truth. God is in them. You will find Him as you come near Him in your heart by faith.

God loves you and will never stop loving you. He said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jer. 31:3)

He may be hidden in your circumstances, but He is right with you. God has purposes you cannot know or understand, but He can be trusted completely. “He made darkness His covering, His canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.” (Ps. 18:11) “The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.“ (Ps. 145:13)

When you are beaten down, worn-out, or discouraged, God will be even closer to you. He intends to build you up in Himself. The Scriptures promise, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Ps. 34:18) ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you . . . “ (Jer. 42:10)

God will give you whatever you need to live your life in Him. He has all power, so that’s not hard for Him in the least! “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him . . . “ (2 Pet. 1:3a) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Mt. 28:18)

God will make your efforts count if you align all your life details with His purposes. He will make your plans (under His direction) succeed. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” (Ps. 37:5-6) “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Prov. 16:3)

Here is a prayer with some things you can tell God:

“God, I know You are here . . . somewhere. You say You are very close, and I choose to believe You. But I feel so alone as I address the issues in my life right now. I’m tempted to “pretend” – just to make things better more quickly. I desperately want to “fix it” because Your timing is different than mine.  And sometimes I just want to “look the other way” or “call it something else.” There are even times it doesn’t seem such a compromise to “see it the way most others do.” But I know Your Word says I need to look at all life issues with Your perspective.

So, give me courage to act by faith on the principles of Your Word. I choose to believe You are with me, inside me, guiding me. Help me be patient for Your timing. Would You also comfort me and assure me of Your presence and approval? And wherever I might be missing something, show me that, too. I want to please You. And I love you back.”

When you feel like giving up – don’t! Instead, turn to the Lord who is eager to receive you to Himself. In human realities, God shows and proves Himself. So when you bring all your self and situations to Him, you actually give Him a stage on which to display His interventions and love for you. Why not engage this incredible opportunity? Why not let your inability to see God in your circumstances be a statement of your resolved faith in Him?

Pick up your journal or device and share your heart with God. Tell Him you accept His Word and His love for you. Pour out hurts, fears, shortcoming, everything to Him. He wants to hear your heart. But He wants to honor your faith as an observable testimony in the “world of men.” God wants to showcase His creative answers to your needs.

“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you . . . quiet you with His love . . . rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17)

Have you ever been tempted to think you are no good? Less than? Not worth as much as someone else? Do you know who is planting those ideas in your head? Your enemy. And it just so happens your enemy is also God’s enemy. That puts you in good company. Did you know you can decide who is the voice in your head? If you choose to, you can side with God and hear His voice. After all, He IS on the right side – the winning side. The voice in your head doesn’t need to be the enemy. It can be Jesus.

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Have you ever been tempted to think you are no good? Less than? Not worth as much as someone else? Do you know who is planting those ideas in your head? Your enemy. And it just so happens your enemy is also God’s enemy. That puts you in good company. Did you know you can decide who is the voice in your head? If you choose to, you can side with God and hear His voice. After all, He IS on the right side – the winning side. The voice in your head doesn’t need to be the enemy. It can be Jesus.

Jesus not only helps you think correctly – according to His wonderful Word. He’s also the best voice in your heart. Jesus will always only tell you true things. He will whisper God’s love for you. He’s already informed you He created you for Himself to do good works. (Eph. 2:10) You are born into privilege and are part of His royal family. (1 Pet. 2:9) In fact, you are worth so much that Jesus came to earth to give His life in your stead. You are worth so much to God. THAT is the voice you need to hear in your head and in your heart – all day, every day.

The enemy is always talking down to God’s children. You see, he knows he no longer has power over you . . . except through deception. Since you trusted that Jesus has covered you with His precious blood, which covers all sins, the enemy can no longer control you. So, he lies to you – all the time – to try to regain control. Jesus calls him the father of lies. He is the one underneath all global and individual lies.

God’s enemy and your enemy works feverishly to pull you down. How can you combat this? Stay close to Jesus. Stay in God’s Word – reading, memorizing, meditating (picturing application in your life). Then apply God’s Word to your life. When you do these things and believe everything Jesus has said, you have your best strategy to knock the power out of your enemy’s attack. And God will take care of you.

The enemy is also constantly trying to trick you and trip you up. He just hates that you are now saved and safe from his clutch. So, he continually tries to get you to move away from Jesus, even if just a bit at a time. You know – that desensitization thing. Once he gets you out of God’s protective force field, you are “fair game.” Jude 21a is a fabulous and simple verse. It says, “Keep yourself in God’s love . . . “ That’s your part. The actual protection? That’s God’s part. And the enemy knows he totally can never beat God. So, he works feverishly to pull you away. To combat this, you need to stay close to Jesus – soaking up His love and esteem for you by faith, talking freely with Him about everything.

And then there’s that! The enemy is continually trying to accuse you – some of it rightful (which is why you needed a Savior. Me, too.) – but much of it wrongful (which is how he uses guilt and shame in God’s people’s hearts). Your enemy has intimate knowledge about you and starts to rip at you and shred you to pieces. He hopes you will eventually despair of life and crumble into a heap. So, he works feverishly to pull you apart. To combat this, you need to stay close to Jesus and live inside the salvation and strength provided by a loving, compassionate, forgiving, merciful God, your Father.

Now stop reading a minute. Go back into the above three sections. What phrase is underlined? That’s what you do first, middle, and last to stay covered – yes, protected even when you are in the cross hairs of the enemy. Stay close to Jesus!

I’d like to share a powerful quote that landed squarely in my soul many years ago. It is a quote of truth, historical accuracy, and rich hope.

“Now have come the Salvation and Strength of the Kingdom and Might of our God and of His Christ. For he is cast down: he who accused them night and day before God.” (J.S.Bach)

And so Jesus took care of it!

What deep understanding this composer had. Centuries ago, he cried out forward into time to you and to me, to all of us. He is saying, “Don’t trust your enemy. Don’t listen to his voice in your head. He’s your accuser. Trust the One who worked Salvation for you . . . the One who gives you daily Strength: our God and His Christ!” You can safely live even in times of spiritual warfare by listening to the voice in your head that will always tell you the truth! And what do you do to combat that voice that keeps talking down to you? – Stay close to Jesus.

Mr. Bach was quoting Rev. 12:10. “Now the salvation and the power of the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of the brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” What an incredible verse? Did you know it was in Revelation?

My advice to you? Don’t trust the accuser’s voice in your head. Don’t trust your enemy with anything. Ignore his work to pull you down, pull you away, and pull you apart. Trust God’s Spirit in your head and your heart. And stay close to Jesus.

Here are 3 practical reasons you should always stay close to Jesus:

So while that voice in your head that’s speaking down to you is always trying to pull you down, pull you away, and pull you apart. . . stay close to Jesus. He will pull you up, pull you close, and hold you together. You can have absolute steady, strong, standing in the face of the enemy. Just don’t let his voice in your head. Keep the voice of Jesus in your head.

God’s advice to you? “Listen to My voice in your head and in your heart! I love you forever! Stay close to Me!”

Description – It’s hard to change habits and establish new patterns. Old, unhealthy patterns can feel like a ball and chain you drag around. It seems to take a mammoth effort to dump the old and introduce the new. Practicing new strokes takes energy, focus, and resolve. It almost seems easier to just put up with the old even though you know it’s not your best – or the best for you. So, what do you do?

I have some questions for you. And I bet you don’t think about them often. I know I don’t. But they are important to live a meaningful life. Here we go – What’s your reason for being alive? How about your motive to keep going? Do you have a life purpose? These questions are key to help you identify critical information about your life. You need this information. Your reasons, motives, and purpose are essential. They actually “set” your thinking and approach to daily living. Mind-set affects everything!

We just explored motives in a recent article Motives Matter. This time, we need to spend time on mind-set.

The most important part of living is knowing God and enjoying Him forever. We’ve talked about this before. It can all be boiled down to this one essential reality. And this reality literally turns your life into a purposeful adventure. Even though this might sound a little “high-headed,” it’s true. Life still has difficulties and losses. But those hardships run alongside many blessings that are also present. Troubles don’t erase good things still with you. It’s important to have a balance and perspective. Mind-set affects everything, every day.

We all know when a person gives their life to God, He gives you a new heart. Receiving a new heart means you belong to God. You are part of His family. In fact, Jesus is your big brother! That’s pretty awesome. But belonging to God does not guarantee trouble-free days. You will still have trials, temptations, and even sad times. Losses don’t just disappear. However, the Spirit of Jesus in you gives you all you need.

Life really IS hard! You have likely experienced the harshness of life – the pain and disappointment. Jesus is good enough to give us the heads up. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.” (Jn. 16:33) Jesus knew the scourge of life before He became a human baby, before He created people. He knew how things would turn as His children changed His original plan. But His plan provides intervention, action steps, and intimate relationship with Himself. He provides for you every day. You can have an alive and active life! 

Then Jesus adds to His heads up to the verse we already quoted. To the reality of troubles, He adds help, love, and faithfulness. He says, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” So the whole verse goes like this, ““I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. [because] In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.“ (Jn. 16:33) That is hope-inspiring. It is true, and it changes everything. Jesus is telling you He gives you His mind-set. His help. His power. And that affects everything.

God takes care of His children. He sets each believer up for success by giving providing several resources. He is “for” you and wants you to succeed. Here are some of the provisions He makes for you:

You are in for lovely surprises as you refresh in God’s love each day. He makes promises to you, and Jesus never breaks His promises. Here are some fabulous examples of His promises:

Those are just the tip of the ice burg. Scripture is packed with promises God intends to keep. Perhaps the question is – Do you intend to claim His promises?

Jesus gives us something we really need: healing and renewal. Even as you face pain and disappointment, Christ’s life inside you restores hope. He renews your life and brings healing to your heart every day. He makes a pretty bold claim. “I am the Lord who heals you.” (Ex. 15:26c) Jesus, Creator of life, intends to refresh and rebuild your life daily as you turn to Him.

God gives you godly motives and helps you make the right choices. You need to decide if you will cooperate with this provision. He is all about this. He developed the reality that mind-set affects everything. When you reach back to God, you begin to see who He really is through Jesus who proved God’s love for you on the cross. You also discover you can live in His grace, affection, and mercy. This realization helps motivate you to want to obey God.

As you grow and train, the goodness of God drives your choices, if you stay on that path. Resurrection power transforms your life. Desiring God becomes delightful as you daily interact more with His amazing heart.

Without God’s perspective, Scripture can sometimes sound like mumbo-jumbo. Spending time in God’s Word daily, increases understanding. You even develop a hunger for it. God’s Spirit uses His Word to form you into a new creation. If this seems foreign to you, but I encourage you to stay the course. It becomes more normal as you continue to use God’s Word. God always proves Himself faithful. Once you become practiced in thinking according to God’s Word, it becomes normal to you. This good place is where God’s seasoned people live. In this place, life becomes an adventure.

As you live in that place, you realize God declares you are now dead to your old sin nature. You trusted Jesus to take your sins into His body on the cross, and in exchange, you received His gift of holiness and eternal life by faith. It’s the Great Exchange. Agree with God. So you actually do need to consider yourself dead to your old nature in every detail of life. This is because you become different. Like Jesus. You become holy by faith and obedience. This mind set affects everything.

Aligning every part of your life with God’s standards – that’s your work. It’s not your job, career, or community involvements that give you value. God cares deeply about you and assigns eternal value to your life no matter what you do. When you plant in His love, you want to make your thoughts, attitudes, moods, words, and actions congruent with God’s. What action steps can you take to help make this happen?

This is really important. Your life on earth is the only time you can give this kind of love gift to God. You can know God as a Friend. (Jas. 2:23) This incredible friendship makes all the difference. All the “greats” had this kind of relationship with God. Scripture says one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord – even the enemy. (Phil. 2:9-11) When this happens, the opportunity to make this love confession will be gone.

Pursuing character development to match Christ’s character and choosing responses that please God proves you love Him back. It proves you are grateful for His gift of life and forgiveness. You don’t know how long you will live. Work inside your time limit.

Since one day you will be brought under Christ’s Lordship, why not live in this reality now? God lets you choose who you give your heart to. Why not give your heart to God? Few people realize this limited opportunity to say, “I love you” back to God.

“Work out your salvation.” (Phil. 2:12) You have to lift a finger and do something. There’s a reason it’s called work. It helps to consider yourself dead to sin and alive to Christ. You can have an alive and active life!

When your mind-set is to love God first, most, and best, everything else falls into place. Why not let your mind-set affect everything?

Article developed from Romans 8:9-11.

In a recent article, we discussed – Character Matters. These are timely reflections during significant challenges our world is navigating. On top of the global picture, people’s personal lives are strained at many levels, sometimes because of global issues. Having set the tone with the Character Matters article, let’s dive back into discussion about character, but go one level deeper. I propose to you that not only does Character Matter – but Motives Matter.

Examining motives underneath issues helps build good character responses for people living under the strain of these times. It also provides a possible change of direction for people experiencing a “slipping off” of their own character. Character is intimately tied to motives.

Mind-set flows from motives, so the place to start is motives, not the mind. God set this design and essence of being human. God put humans together in this way:

Whereas the plant and animal kingdoms function with basic motives, humans have intrinsic, complicated, and sentient motives. This, combined with free will created by God, gives you the option to “be you” and to “become” all you were created to be. Your skill sets and abilities can be engaged and shine in human beauty – and in God’s glory. Your unique, one-of-a-kind personality can thrive. In areas you struggle, and perhaps fail, the kindness, love, and mercy of God is invested by His power to transform you – if you trust and obey Him. This is God’s design. So, what is your mind-set? Mind-set and design go together.

Let’s start with relationship with God. The most important part of living is knowing God and enjoying Him forever. Once you begin this amazing adventure, you’ll be stunned at how riveting it is to have a personal relationship with God. Even while navigating extremely difficult situations, your life changes.

No longer are you dead or empty inside. Even under difficult scenarios, your life stirs. You discover where you used to be locked in sinful patterns, there is now a key. It’s no longer critical to “get” certain experiences to be fulfilled. Instead, you find joy in “getting” a new heart – a tender, trusting, grateful, eagerly expectant, and good-natured heart. Sound too good to be true? Not sound like you?

This new heart (not dependent on feelings or circumstances) is a proof you belong to God. It doesn’t guarantee great days. You will still have troubles, temptations, and even sad times. However, the Spirit of Jesus rising up in you each day is all you need. If your heart is set on knowing and pleasing God, your redeemed motives keep you on a good path – God’s path.

You have likely experienced the harshness of life – pain and disappointment. You are in for a lovely surprise as you become refreshed with God’s love and kindness each day. Even as you face pain and disappointment, His life inside you restores hope, renews you, and even heals your heart over and over as life gives it a beating. Seeing who God is and living in His grace, affection, and mercy motivates you to want to obey His Spirit. You begin to notice the goodness of Jesus Christ driving your choices. In fact, you find yourself wanting to please God increasingly. Your motives have shifted. Christ’s resurrection power living inside you begins to transform and change your very life.

Desiring and pleasing God becomes your privilege as you daily interact with His amazing heart. All other motives begin to fall under this life-driving passion.

Consider with me. You may have already discovered what I did. Outside a perspective of resolved faith in God, life is meaningless. Scripture sometimes sounds like mumbo-jumbo. Yet, as you spend time in His Word, understanding comes. You even develop a hunger for it. God’s Spirit uses His Word to form you into a new creation with excellent motives. If this seems foreign and uncomfortable to you, it’s time to side-step foreign and uncomfortable. Just start! Trust and obey God even if it doesn’t make sense – even if you don’t feel like it. Stay the course. Once you become practiced in thinking according to God’s Word, it will become normal to you. You will be on a good path. This path is where godly motives are rooted and thrive. It’s where God’s seasoned people live every day.

As you walk this new good path, you realize God declares you are now dead to your old sin nature. (Rom. 6:11) Dead? While living? How?!

Mind-set affects everything. Motives set your mind. So, agree with God by giving your whole self to Him completely. Then His motives will become yours.

Aligning every part of your life with God’s perfect standards is your work. Thoughts, attitudes, words, moods, and actions. Strive to make them congruent with Christ’s responses. Practice His character daily. What you practice is what you become. And while you practice, pray God will transform you as you partner with Him. You need to pray. Ask Him to do what you cannot do.

The more you yield and carry yourself like Jesus, the more you notice the Fruit of the Spirit in your life. (Gal. 5:22-23) You work. He works. “Work out your salvation.” (Phil. 2:12) He’s talking about the person who is beyond the cross. He’s talking about what comes next.

Your life on earth is the only time you can give this love gift to God. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord – even the enemy. (Phil. 2:9-11) Pursuing motives that match Christ’s motives proves you love God back. It proves gratitude for His gift of life and forgiveness. These proofs showcase admirable motives. I guess motives really do matter!

God gave you a will to choose who you give your heart to. Your exquisite privilege is to give your heart to God of your own free choice. “I love you back, God.” What an honor!

We talked about being dead to sin. That same verse, Rom. 6:11, say you are also “alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This is your chance to love God first, most, and best. With godly motives, your mind-set and all other motives fall into place. Motives affect character, Motives matter! It’s God’s design.

Are you aware of your underlying motives whenever you say or do something to someone else? Do you ask yourself hard questions to ensure best motives? How closely do your motives resemble Christ’s motives? What are you doing to become more seasoned in Jesus – whether or not you feel like it or understand it? Are you seeking to know God?

Not sound like you? It can. All you have to do is shift your mind-set into God’s design. Motives matter! Go after it!

Article developed from Romans 8:9-11.

Most followers of Jesus have heard the dignified title “Savior and Lord.” I would like to suggest something about this title. Of course, it’s true, Jesus is Savior and Lord. But let’s consider two things. First, from the beginning, way back before anything was created – Lord is before Savior. And second, for every sincere Christian who lives their faith with resolve, consistency, and passion, this title starts to flip around – from “Savior and Lord” to “Lord and Savior.”

I want to quote from a previous article – Character Matters.

“When first century Christians chose to follow Christ, they knew they were giving their entire life up to a “Savior and Lord.” There was no question or debate if Jesus would occupy both those roles in their life. They acknowledged they no longer belonged to themselves – bought at a high price with Jesus’ blood on the cross. (1 Cor. 6:20) Going forward they were prepared to be a “living sacrifice,” dead to self and alive to Christ. (Rom. 12:1)

They also knew their decision for Christ could mean their capture, likely torture, and possible death. That was their reality. Fully informed and aware of the risks, they still made their commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It was unthinkable to these pioneers of faith to separate Christ’s rightful title, “Savior and Lord.” They believed, accurately according to Scripture, that this holy, honorable title cannot be separated. To take that title apart desecrates the nature of God.

The perspectives and non-debatable commitment (we would call this “no-brainers”) of early believers to Jesus Christ are basic teachings of Scripture, friends. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8) which means He is still Savior and Lord. He bears one all-inclusive title that cannot be dissected or separated.”

Truly, Jesus’ title is Lord and Savior. Lord is before.

In fact, the first Christians would have also said – Lord is before. Their life response was to an incredibly powerful Lord who chose to become their loving Savior. That’s what made their decision so definitive and why they were willing to die for Him right out of the gate.

Nowadays, it has become commonplace for people to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord. Many don’t consider that title to actually include both positions in their lives. Sadly, some pick “Savior” and drop “Lord.” They want to be their own master.

The interesting part about this disregard for Jesus’ Lordship and His well-known title is this. Scripture doesn’t refer to Jesus as “Savior and Lord.” Ever. I couldn’t find it anywhere. If you find that hard to believe, do a word search for “exact” words. Many translations use both terms in the same sentence or paragraph throughout books of the Bible. But the term that is coined and used together is the flip – “Lord and Savior.” And even more interestingly, this term is used only by Peter in his second epistle.

Peter is the disciple who denied Jesus when the test came on the night before the cross. This fisherman disciple rose out of that failure, however, to become the “rock” Christ foretold he would become in His Kingdom. Jesus had renamed Simon as Peter, which means “rock.” He did this after Peter profoundly identified who Jesus is. Jesus had asked His disciples who people were saying He is. After they threw out several names and options, Peter jumped in (with both feet) and boldly said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt. 16:16) Jesus responded with something very revealing about Peter. “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.” (v. 17) Jesus was publicly affirming Peter’s ability to see what God reveals.

With this in mind, it’s exceedingly interesting that it’s Peter who identifies Jesus’ title in the order it belongs: “Lord and Savior.” (2 Pet. 1:11; 2:20; 3:2; 3:18) These are the only verses this title is used in Scripture. Peter is the only person in Scripture who says it like it actually is. This simple fisherman made remarkable observations and drew brilliant conclusions. As things pertain to Jesus, the Christ – Peter got it! And he still has the honor of having the only book in God’s Word to use Christ’s official title in the right order. Further, he’s the only man recorded in Scripture to walk on water, except Jesus. Interesting, isn’t it?

Jesus, Son of God, has been Lord before time began. It would be accurate to say that the great God, the Lord over all, the great Creator, became a Savior to people through Jesus Christ – like the early Christians believed. So, the picture is this:  the greatest of all Lords EVER in the history of the world, the One who made all things, becomes Savior, Servant, and Sacrifice.

That’s what “Lord is before” means.

There is additional, very rich meaning for every person who trusts Jesus for salvation and forgiveness of sins. As they yield increasingly to Christ in every detail of their daily living, they see a unique phenomenon becoming their own intimate reality. The rich understanding of who Jesus really is, without doubt is responsible for their fierce commitment to Him. Like Peter, they “get it” and become a “willing captive.” (See Ps. 68:18 to get a peek at people eagerly running to get their spot in the train, the parade, of the conqueror.) Their mind is made up. Is yours?

When you agree that Lord is before, and live submitted to Jesus as Lord, He keeps saving you in all details of your daily living. You change! As Lord first, He saves you continually from the bondages, patterns, habits, and woundedness of life. By correctly responding to Jesus’ title in the fear of the Lord, you become free and powerful to be the person God created.

When a Christian “clicks, secures, and locks” into place the shape of their life into the eternal receiving shape of the Lordship of Jesus, they change. They are transformed. In a kind of “lock and load” way, this is where a believer is transformed. They become a “new creation.” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Lord is before. Is that statement true in your life? Is He Lord before everything else in your life? What do you need to surrender to Him to make it true? Have you given every detail of your life to Christ – and become a living sacrifice?

It’s Valentine’s Day! People all over the world are looking for creative, meaningful ways to say, “I love you.” People also are looking to be loved. It may be from a lover, but that’s a limited view of the day. This day includes family members, dear friends, comrades in ventures, even perhaps – fellow countrymen. Most defining and critical, this day includes the God who loves you and me. So, the question from Him is still – “Do you love Me?”

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Most people spend a portion of their life trying to figure out what to do with their feelings. They often ask themselves, “how do I manage feelings?” That’s a very good question.

Feelings tell you, “Listen up. I’m trying to tell you what is going on inside you.”

And it’s a good idea to listen. Feelings give you additional, helpful data to live your life well. They can give you strong information or just impressions. Feelings add a whole dimension to celebrating, hoping, waiting, and grieving. They enhance seeking, loving, exploring, developing, and so much more. Feelings can be stuffed, ignored, and denied. They can be imprisoned, suppressed, or over-indulged.

Feelings can help you live with more fullness. However, to live by them is a mistake. They can literally take over your life and hijack your ability to manage daily situations. Many people give far too much power to their feelings. They don’t just “feel” their feelings. They become a servant to them. You are still the master, and your feelings should serve you as you manage your life and serve God.

God gave you feelings. They are a bit like indicator lights on your various appliances and equipment. They let you know what’s on. What’s running. What you need to be aware of. If something is malfunctioning. And even if something died. They keep you alert to things happening inside you and around you. Bottom line? You need them! You really must let feelings be part of your life.

People who don’t learn how to manage their feelings can end up in an unhealthy place. They are afraid of what’s going on inside them. They may be overwhelmed and confused, perhaps directionless. It’s possible to even lose yourself in your feelings. Some people completely shut down because they don’t know how to manage their feelings. To them, “shut down” is easier than dealing with how to identify and manage feelings.

Best management is really a flexible thing that varies from person to person. But generally, there is a line you can follow with helpful results:

Feelings are not right or wrong, generally. They are indicators that give you necessary information. Let’s go through a list of feeling examples and their contrary forms. These 6 pairs function as indicators for you, giving opposing emotions that show the range of feelings you might have in various situations. They aren’t even identified as feelings in some cases, but they describe what might be going on inside you. Figuring this out helps you then move on to put a “feeling word” to your experience.

It helps to spend time understanding the “how, what, when, where, why” of your feelings. Answering those questions gives you valuable information about you, how you function, and what you can do to contribute to this world. In fact, the answers help you embrace and/or confront your feelings, bringing excellent management to them. The answers can also help you enjoy feelings to the fullest healthy extent. You need to stay in the driver seat, even as you accept and manage feelings. Never let your feelings manage you.

The above list would be incomplete without adding two more observations about managing your feelings.

Let’s say you are a dog. You have a head, a body, and a tail. (Yep! I admit. This is a really bad drawing of a dog! But hang in there with me. I’m going to make a point.)

FEELINGS are like your tail – which is important! It is not cool to cut off your tail, but it is foolish to let your tail lead you through life. Much better to go head first into your future. You are not whole without your feelings. Still, that tail can really get going. Sometimes you wonder if it will wag your back end off completely. All that “noise, motion, and busy-ness” can be unsettling sometimes. Other times, a tail wag is very satisfying and encouraging.

You also have a head – a place of logic, thinking, and calculating data. This thinking center was created by God to function from a platform of FAITH. You may disagree, and I’m OK with that. But to realistically “play out” every fact you employ in your brain, it may surprise you how many of those facts are based on faith.

Some examples: You trust gravity will hold you to the earth. You trust your car will take you to work and not blow up if you maintain it properly. Without thinking, you trust your body will digest the food you eat. It wouldn’t even occur to you to tell your heart to keep beating – a function you simply consider as “normal.” You trust your chair will hold you when you sit down. – And many more.

Life is filled with thousands of simple examples of your head functioning in the world of faith. You are actually oozing with faith. In fact, all your decisions flow from this process. So, to include data points about God is really normal, appropriate, and a healthy human thing to do. In fact, if you don’t include God in your thinking capacity, you are missing a critical piece. God is the only central Being who will help you make sense of everything as you apply your mind to the principles of His Word. Your Faith head is also where you manage your “tail.”

The action portion of your life (the body of your life that joins head and tail) is your FOLLOW-THROUGH. Everything you think, feel, observe, or process doesn’t mean a thing unless you also put a follow-through plan into place. You need to “act” on the data you keep in your head. As already mentioned, you need to manage your tail that keeps wagging back and forth. Decisions and choices reveal your management of “both ends” of your life. Why not become a mature and intellectually/emotionally/relationally healthy person? Follow-through gives you opportunity to choose what is pleasing to God, what matters most in life, what is loving and kind, and what brings best solutions to problems. This is what the body of your life is dedicated to.

So, how is your dog? Faith – Follow through – Feelings. All are important to have a healthy dog.

What do you typically do with your feelings? Do you find yourself being controlled by them, or do you manage them? Have you found the blessings associated with your feelings? Do you rely on their helpful strong information to help you navigate your life decisions? Have you surrendered your feelings to God to serve His excellent ways?

* Material from Reach Back, wk. 8, pg. 69:

This past year has been packed with challenges while the entire world is slammed in crisis. It’s one of those years you look back in a decade and say – “Well, I remember one of the worst years ever – 2020! True, it’s been hard for individuals, for business and industry, and for countries around the world. This global picture is the high view of a big picture. Yet, when you drill down into every person’s daily life, you find even more challenges and crisis. People are under strain. With this harsh reality, there is one thing increasingly clear. Whatever the problem, the process, or the solution – character matters.

I have noticed a decline – a kind of “slipping off” – of admirable character. Further, I’ve observed that excellent character is no longer highly valued or sought after by a growing number of people. This, unfortunately, has affected even people who follow Jesus. It’s as if people still remember great character exists and serves a purpose . . . but somehow it’s become optional in application. I think that’s tragic. Thankfully, a good many folks still believe character matters.

Perhaps this sad morphing is partially due to desensitization in our world. A slipping off in personal excellence may also have contributed. After all, it takes lots of resolve, hard work, and persistence to live well for the long-haul with high standards and excellent character. It seems people have come to believe they can say whatever comes to their mind, they can do what they want, and they can have whatever they desire. And the tragic part? Some folks have become good at sculpting their responses to misdirect, mislead, and even deceive others with hopes others will think all is well. What kind of character is that?!

But I think there’s one more thing that has added to the “slipping off” of admirable character – even in God’s people. Let me explain. First, let’s start with some history. Then we’ll get to the “one more thing.”

All through our world’s history, people who valued excellent character have stabilized and changed the world. It doesn’t matter what field, discipline, or endeavor. It’s not just their accomplishments that make life better for the global community. Truly, it’s much more. It’s the inner character each person concretes into forward motion and significant influence. This thrust has historically helped our global community even into our present day.

Sure, we admire the inventions, the discoveries, the “better plan,” or the progress and refinement. But most impressive is the spirit with which these ordinary, occasionally brilliant people live each day. For them, kindness is still a moment by moment practice. Engaging careful thought (being well-thought), using edifying, clear words (being well-spoken), and carrying out what needs to be done even if it’s hard (being well-practiced) are what sets these folks apart. They value things like working hard each day and living a focused, quiet life. Accuracy. Discipline. Being “other focused” instead of “self focused.”

These are the quality markers of people who affect the world in a wonderful way. Credibility of these individuals is built as they engage excellent character in their own homes and neighborhoods. (Sounds like something we could all do.) These folks are very aware of their rights – yet have given them up to, instead, fulfill greater responsibilities. These are the mature, contributing citizens of the world.

Now let’s get to that “one more thing” I mentioned very likely affects the deterioration of excellent character. When first century Christians chose to follow Christ, they knew they were giving their entire life up to a “Savior and Lord.” There was no question or debate if Jesus would occupy both those roles in their life. They acknowledged they no longer belonged to themselves – bought at a high price with Jesus’ blood on the cross. (1 Cor. 6:20) Going forward they were prepared to be a “living sacrifice,” dead to self and alive to Christ. (Rom. 12:1)

They also knew their decision for Christ could mean their capture, likely torture, and possible death. That was their reality. Fully informed and aware of the risks, they made their commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It was unthinkable to these pioneers of faith to separate Christ’s rightful title, “Savior and Lord.” They believed, accurately according to Scripture, that this holy, honorable title cannot be separated. To take that title apart desecrates the nature of God.

The perspectives and non-debatable commitment (we would call this “no-brainers”) of early believers to Jesus Christ are basic teachings of Scripture, friends. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” (Heb. 13:8) which means He is still Savior and Lord. He bears one all-inclusive title that cannot be dissected or separated.

God’s principles, not mans’, are what all creation hangs on. And so we conclude that excellent character flows out of God. Let’s look:

Nowadays, too many believers have somehow arrived at a modern conclusion. Many accept Jesus as their Savior. They “prayed the prayer” and confessed their sins – you know, repented. And they accepted the gift of eternal life Jesus freely offers. However, there are a growing number of people who seem to think they don’t need to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord. They just want Him to be their Savior. So they live for themselves. They please themselves. Sadly, they “don’t get it.” And many of them are miserable underneath. In the modern sense of the word, “Christian,” there now lacks the rich and deep, individual “buy-in” the first century believers had. And the joy. And the purpose. In fact, another thing that was unthinkable to early Christians was to do anything other than give their entire lives for Christ simply out of gratitude.

Just to say it here and now – the term “Christ follower” still means something. And it has everything to do with character: God’s character being fleshed out in the details each day of a believer’s life.

So, we are back to where we started in this article. Character matters.

What kind of character do you display each day? Has it been “slipping off” recently? Do you welcome the refining effects of hardships? Have you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord? What changes do you need to make to adopt the perspectives and commitments of early Christians? How can you join them in representing Jesus, Savior and Lord in the best light?

Please remember: God loves you! He wants you to be “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (Jas. 1:4) God’s eyes range over the earth, to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (2 Chron. 16:9a) “So, we make it our goal to please Him. . . “ (2 Cor. 5:9)

Yes, character matters!