Edith Parks

“Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.” Proverbs 20:18 NIV

Recently, I have been reading the history of Israel in the Old Testament. In Genesis 12, God promised Abram a land (the Promised Land), a seed and a blessing. Interestingly, though He could have, God did not simply hand over the Promised Land to the Israelites. He told them that they would have to drive out the inhabitants of the land so that they could possess it. The books of the Old Testament are filled with accounts of the nation of Israel going to war against the people living in the Promised Land.

Often before setting out for battle against the people living in the land, the Bible tells us that the people “inquired of the Lord.” According to the dictionary, one of the definitions of inquire is to “seek for information by questioning.” So the Israelites asked questions like: “Who should lead in the battle? Is now the time to fight? Is this the people we should attack? How would You have us attack?” When they took the time to inquire of the Lord, their battles were successful. However, when they went to battle without inquiring of the Lord and in their own strength, they suffered major defeats.

I may not fight in physical wars but I do fight “battles” each and every day in my life. I am sure that you do too. How do I prepare for these “battles”? Sadly, sometimes my first response is to plan for the “battles” how I think I should approach them. This includes making decisions based on my own knowledge and opinions and not inquiring of the Lord. I have found that preparing this way usually does not turn out well. In Proverbs, we read “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

However, when I take the time to inquire of the Lord about how He wants me to fight the ‘battles,” He answers me and shows me how to and when to fight the “battles.” When I inquire of the Lord, I am prepared for whatever I face. When I face my “battles” in His strength, I am successful.

In Psalms and Proverbs, we read “Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.”

I invite you to join me as I seek to make it a habit to inquire of the Lord how He wants me to fight the “battles” before me. I will do this by intentionally spending time praying without ceasing and asking Him for wisdom which He gives generously so that I will be prepared as I follow Him into the “battles” I fight.

Blessings,

Sweet Edith Parks

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;” . . . God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26-27

I don’t know about any of you but when I look in the mirror, the reflection I see sometimes surprises me. Where did those wrinkles and gray hairs come from? When did my body shape become what it is today? When did all these (and other) changes take place?

But rather than focusing on the physical changes reflected in my mirror, I want to hold up a spiritual mirror and see the reflection there. How have I changed spiritually over the years? Do I resemble Jesus more and more?

“The expectation of Jesus is that if you follow Him you will be changed and conformed into His image.” John Ortberg

The Bible is full of verses relating to changing spiritually so that we look more and more like Jesus. 

God spoke of this change long before Jesus came to earth. He told the people of Israel, “For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45) Being holy is a part of being changed to be more like Jesus.

In Romans 8:29, Paul writes, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;” Change and conformity/ transformation are God’s plan for us. If it is God’s plan, why would I not want it/do it?

In Romans 12:2, he continues, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Peter tells us, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:16)

How are we changed and conformed to the image of Jesus?

First by renewing our minds. Paul’s letter to Titus tells us that this is the work of the Holy Spirit. “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,´ (Titus 3:5) Am I willing to let the Holy Spirit do the work of change in my life?

Second by having the right focus. Colossians 3:1 tells us to “keeping seeking the things above.” What do I need to eliminate in my life that keeps my focus from being on God – television shows, music, books, websites?

Third when we understand our position with God. “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18) As slaves to righteousness, we grow to be like Jesus Who is our Righteousness.

Fourth by putting off our old self and putting on our new self. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Fifth when we ask God to help us and allow Him to do so. “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

As Christians, we can read all of these verses and know what God expects and still not be changed and conformed to His image. When we live life not wanting to or refusing to change, we miss out on what God has for us.

My prayer for us is that we will be willing to hold up the spiritual mirror and look at our reflection. The reflection may be beautiful some days and on others, it may need a lot of work. Just as the physical changes reflected in the mirror did not occur overnight, the spiritual changes take time as well. The best part is that we have a Savior Who wants us to be like Him and He walks alongside us as we seek to be like Him.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The sign outside the church said, “Treat prayer as your steering wheel and not as your spare tire.” It took me a minute to process this but once I did, it gave me lots of food for thought.

Without the steering wheel in good working order, I am either going to have great difficulty driving my car or I am not going anywhere. The steering wheel is essential to my being able to use my car. (I know there are driverless cars but that is a story for another day.) The steering wheel allows me to choose the direction in which I need to go, keeps me on the road and helps me avoid road hazards. How often do you use the steering wheel in your car? Obviously, every time you go somewhere in your car.

What about the spare tire? How often do you use it? I have never used the one in my car. (I am not even sure if it is usable!) Our spare tires are easy to forget because we only use them in a time of emergency.

Are you beginning to see the parallels with prayer here? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” That is like my steering wheel. I use it all the time just as I should pray all the time. Philippians 4: 6 (NLB) says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Everything means everything, not just about some things or only in emergencies.

I can choose not to pray about anything. However, when I do, it is like not using the steering wheel of my car. The car is going to go wherever it pleases and will most likely end up in an accident. If I don’t pray and seek God’s wisdom and direction, I am going to go where I please and will most likely end up being disobedient and getting into trouble.

I can choose only to pray when there is a crisis in my life. God hears those “spare tire” prayers but He would much rather that I be in daily communication with Him about every aspect of my life. God wants to hear our prayers and He answers them. Psalm 34:15 says “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.” Psalm 66:19-20 says “but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”

Just as a steering wheel is a must for my car, so prayer is a must for my life. Prayer shows me the direction I should go, it keeps me in God’s will and helps me to avoid temptation and trouble.

What kind of person of prayer do you want to be? A steering wheel or a spare tire?

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

The words on the sign outside the chiropractor’s office said “Blessed are those who are flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.” These words made me laugh as I drove by and read them. Even more, they made me take a close look at myself and my attitudes and actions.

How often do I get bent out of shape? When things don’t go my way. When people do not act like I think they should act. When God gives clear directions for me to do something I don’t want to do. There are days when I get bent out of shape multiple times.

Think about the effects of getting bent out of shape – negative thoughts and words, stress, anxiety, difficulty with relationships, frustration . . .

The longer I thought about the words on the sign, I realized that they also applied to my walk with the Lord.

God wants me to be flexible – willing to adapt to new, different and changing circumstances and not be like a ramrod – rigid, severe and stiff.

If I am not flexible, how can God use me? If I am not flexible, what am I missing that He has for me? If I am not flexible, how is my witness affected?

Being flexible is not easy. It requires that I put aside myself – surrender my will, my ways, my thoughts, my actions to God – over and over and over again – sometimes multiple times a day. It means being willing to follow God as He directs. It means learning to see interruptions and changes as God at work and as opportunities for ministry. It means letting go and letting God.

God gives me ample opportunities to learn to be flexible. Some days are better than others but each time I am flexible, I see Him at work and I grow to more appreciate His ways.

Blessed are those who are flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape. As I see it, you and I have a choice – flexible or bent out of shape. I going for flexible. What about you?

“For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.” Psalm 18:28 (NASB)

Several years ago, we were on the west coast and began our flight home in the middle of the afternoon. After taking off over the Pacific, the pilot circled and headed east. As I looked out the window, the sun was to the rear of the plane and it occurred to me that we were flying into the dark.

As the hours passed, the sky became darker and darker and I was unable to see anything out of the plane’s window. I knew our destination but I had no idea what we were flying over or what was ahead of us. If I had not trusted the pilot, this could have been very disconcerting.

However the dark was not a problem for the pilot. He had a co-pilot, maps, radar and a flight manual to help him navigate even though he could not see what was below or ahead.

As Christians, we know our destination but sometimes we feel like we are flying into and in the dark. Our spouse has died. We have lost our job. We develop health problems. We have financial issues. We are not sure what God wants us to be doing. We do not know what is ahead and are not sure of our path. Life can be scary and disconcerting at times.

Thankfully we have God as our Pilot and the Holy Spirit as our Co-Pilot. They know the way we are to go even when we cannot see it. Just as I had to trust the pilot, I can trust God to show me the way. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” Trusting in God, we will know what to do and we will ultimately reach our destination.

Just as the pilot was on the plane for the whole flight, we always have God with us no matter where we are or what we are going through. Jesus tells His disciples and us “Lo, I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20

Like the pilot had the co-pilot for the whole flight to help him fly the plane, we have the Holy Spirit with us at all times helping us as we go through life. The Holy Spirit is with us at all times, guides us into all truth and brings to mind Christ’s teachings. (John 14:16; 16:13; 14:26)

We even have a flight manual, God’s word – the Bible, to equip and guide us as we go. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man (woman) of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” We are equipped with what we need. Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” A lamp and a light. They guide me and help me navigate in the dark.

We arrived safely back to our home airport even though most of our flight was in the dark. As Christians, we will arrive safely at our destination, heaven, even though parts of our flight of life will be in the dark. Praise God that we do not fly alone.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”  Jude 24-25

Several years ago, my Dad fell which led to a month long hospital stay which included at least four grand mal seizures, the ER, ICU, cognitive incidents (read “We don’t know what is wrong.”), a regular room and finally rehab. Three days after my Dad fell, my mother-in-law fell and broke her hip which led to surgery and rehab. That month is a black hole in my life as I spent all of my time at the hospital.

And it is not just me. If I asked each of you reading this, you could share with me times in your life when you went through a crisis or crises – when what you were going through was all consuming, taking all of your focus and energy. You simply lived moment to moment.

We all go through rough times in our lives. How we respond to them is what is important. Do we react as those without hope or do we live as those who trust God and the fact that He keeps His promises? Do we seek truth and consolation from the world or do we run to Jesus and His Word to find what we need? Do we think we are all alone or do we remember that the Holy Spirit is with us always?

On the other hand, we all have good times in our lives. How do we respond to them? Do we celebrate and share with others before we take time to give thanks and glory to God? Do we take credit for the successes or do we give God praise for what He has done?

Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  In other words, Jesus is the same – period. No matter what comes our way He does not change. What a comfort to know that when life is swirling around us, He is always the same – steadfast, faithful, loving, caring, concerned, and above all.

Jude 24-25 says “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

As we walk with God, He keeps us from stumbling. The Greek word for “from stumbling” means not stumbling or standing firm. “To make you stand” has the meaning of to continue safe and sound or to stand unharmed. God keeps us standing firm in the midst of crisis and as He does, we give Him the glory.

There is a hymn “How Firm a Foundation” which speaks of how God cares for us. Take a moment and listen (www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL1ZCyW8HJc) and celebrate and praise Him for what He has done and is doing in your life!