I can’t tell you how many times I have cried out, “I can’t take it anymore. It’s just too hard.” There have probably been too many times to count; yet, I’m still here. If you are reading this or hearing me speak; you know that you are still here too. It’s not really about whether or not you can take it any more. You are, and you’re going to make it all the way through to the end. The question you need to ask yourself is, “In what manner am I going to make it?” Are you going to make it by dragging your feet and whining all the way, or are you going to make it in a way that brings God glory. Do you want to just barely survive or do you want to prosper in your pain? I know some of you are thinking right now, “How about NO pain at all?” Unfortunately, life brings with it both good and bad. How we respond to the bad is up to us. It all begins with a choice. Today, choose to face impossible situations with courage and faith. Choose to reach out to God.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. Phil 3:12-14 (MSG)

I know it’s “easier said than done.” It’s hard to reach out and touch God when you are facing impossible situations. It’s hard when it feels like God is a thousand miles away, and all of the phone lines and cellular towers are down. At such times it is important to remember that your feelings are appallingly undependable. Feelings vacillate so easily. They are influenced by what you eat, how much you exercise, sickness, hormones, stress, colors and even something as ridiculous as the weather. However, the truth that cannot be changed is that God is never closer than those moments when you feel all alone. If you will trust the Lord, even when you do not sense His presence, He will give you the strength to do what presently seems impossible. He will help you to overcome. He is telling you right now:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NKJV).

Hope often finds its way into casual conversations. You hope that it doesn’t rain. You hope that it does rain. You and I talk about hope so much that we have diluted the word until it means little more than wishing. But hope is a great deal more than just wishful thinking. It doesn’t even come from your personal desires or wishes. Hope comes from God, and is directed back to God. “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” Ps 39:7 (NLT) Genuine hope is confident expectancy, it is a firm assurance about things that are yet unseen and still in the future. Hope is not frail, tentative or perishable. It does not give up, even when faced with postponement or apparent failure. It is a powerful living thing. But hope is not enough when you are faced with impossible situations. You must act on that hope in order to receive the help you so desperately need.

STEP ONE: Bring your thoughts into alignment with God’s Word. Although my father owns a garage, I know very little about the workings of a car. I know some of the basics; the need for gas and an occasional oil change. I also know that tires need to be aligned so that they wear evenly to reduce the risk of blowouts. See Dad, I did listen…a little. To align tires or even margins on a page like this one, one must line up to a given point of reference. If we want God’s help we need to line up our thoughts and words with His own. Scripture gives us our point of reference.

You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my only source of hope. Ps 119:114 (NLT)

For too long we have given our thoughts, as well as our mouths, permission to do whatever they wanted to do. Whatever we think, whatever we feel, just flows out of our mouths. We don’t even think to check them against the Word of God. I’m sure you can think of times when your words reflected your feelings rather than your faith. Remember: your words have power.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

Rather than going on and on about how impossible the situation is, you need to make declarations of your faith in God’s ability to use you and keep you.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:23 (NKJV)

Confession comes from the Greek word, “homologeo” (hom-ol-og-eh’-o); which means to assent, acknowledge, speak the same thing, to agree with, to declare. It is an open, bold, courageous declaration of faith. Confession is the result of a deep, inward conviction. Confession is when you really agree with God’s assessment of the situation. It is affirming God’s Word from a deep, inward conviction. It is a bold, open, courageous declaration of your faith in what God has to say about you.

In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Eph 6:16 (NLT)

The Roman shield was very large, four feet by two and a half feet. It was designed to protect the whole body. It was also made of wood, which was why enemy soldiers often used flaming arrows. They would dip the tips of their arrows in tar or pitch, ignite them and then shoot them into the air. The archers would aim for the wooden shields rather than the bodies of the soldiers, which were barely visible behind the shields. The strategy behind this type of attack was to cause panic in the soldiers and tempt them to throw down their burning shields, making them vulnerable to the spears of the enemy. The burning arrows mentioned in the above passage represents every type of assault devised by the enemy, anything to make you panic, drop your guard and react to the circumstances rather than respond in faith.

STEP TWO: Worship! I have no idea what you might be going through right now. You may be experiencing sickness, accidents, fire, tragedy, jobs being snatched away without notice and personal crises of every description, and it may all be happening this week. I wish that I could make it all better, but I can’t. However, I can help you by sharing this important key from scripture…PRAISE THE LORD!

Come, everyone, and clap your hands for joy! Shout to God with joyful praise! Psalm 47:1 (NLT)

The word “shout” in this passage comes from the Hebrew word “ruwa” which means: to split the ears with sound, make a joyful noise, shout for joy, sound an alarm, triumph. I’m not asking you to go through the motions of praising God until things are better or you feel better. I’m encouraging you to give it all you have, 110% right now, in the midst of your circumstances. But I’m not asking you to “fake it til’ you make it.” I’m asking you to go deep within yourself and find something for which to praise God. Bring it up from your toenails, if need be, but find a way to truly worship God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. I’m asking you to praise the Lord with everything you have. The more you dwell on your problems, the worse you will feel; but the more you lift up your voice in praise, the better you will feel. I must confess that there have been times in my life when I have gone to God in prayer, cried out my complaint to him, and felt just as bad when I rose from my knees. But I do not recall a time when I praised God to the best of my ability without somehow feeling stronger and more encouraged when I was through. I believe that is because praising God in the midst of your painful circumstances is an act of faith, and faith always attracts God’s attention. So I am encouraging you to press into His presence through praise and worship to receive the strength you need to face every obstacle. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD. They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exult in your righteousness. You are their glorious strength. Our power is based on your favor. Psalm 89:15-17 (NLT)

The phrase “joyful sound” in this passage comes from the Hebrew word, “teruw’ ah” means to clamor, an acclamation of joy or a battle-cry; especially the blowing of the trumpets, alarm, joy, jubilee, loud noise, rejoicing, shouting, joyful sound. Do you know the joyful sound? Do you know how to shout with joy in the face of adversity? There are times to rest in quiet satisfaction in the love of the Lord. There are times when we sit and just know that He is God. There are times when we peacefully meditate on His Word. And then there are times when we need to let it rip!

Letter from the King

Dear Daughter,

I love you so very much. More than I could possible explain in words. I endeavored to show you just how much when I stretched my arms wide and allowed evil men to secure them to cross with spikes, in your place. All of your pain, all of your sickness, and all of your struggles were with me that day as I hung between heaven and earth. I know exactly what you are going through for I went through it with you. I felt everything you are feeling right now. My arms are no longer secured to the cross; they are around you. I want to comfort you. I want to strengthen you. I want to empower you to do the impossible. I want to make you a garden whose streams are fed by My high places. We will commune together in this secret garden, sheltered in the cleft of the rock. I will tell you of my great desire for you and of the plans that I have in store for you. Because most of all, I want to make your trials a stepping-stone to your future blessing. I only ask that you run to me rather than from me during this dark hour. Then, together we will not only endure, we will conquer. I know that you want me to take you away from this difficult, seemingly impossible place. But if you will let me, if you will come to me and surrender your will to mine, I will make this impossible place, the place of your greatest triumph. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. I love you. I have never loved you more. This is not the end, it is the beginning.

All my love,

your Father the King

Posted under Heart to Heart