Author: Brian Burdett

“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
But you were unwilling”
– Isaiah 30:15

In times of crisis, we often feel compelled to DO. What should I DO? What will you DO? What will we DO? What are you DOing? Are we DOing enough? Why aren’t you DOing more? What more could we DO?

Of course, there usually are things we should do. However, we need to be careful that we don’t get so busy frenetically solving problems in our own strength and resources that we lose sight of the One Who can ultimately resolve every crisis. God. Our Father in Heaven. Who loves us. Who knows and wants what’s best for us. Who can accomplish His will in every situation.

Here, God reminds us that for His people, it’s more important that we BE. BE quietly in His presence. BE listening for His word and guidance. BE trusting that He is still all-wise, all-good, all-powerful, and ever-present. BE at rest in His sheltering arms. For all the things we could or should DO, it’s vastly more important that we BE. BE children of God, loved by Him. BE focused on Him and how He wants us to respond to the situation. BE open to His ways which are infinitely beyond our ways.

The next time you face a difficult situation, don’t just DO. Consider what returning and rest in the Lord would look like. BE quiet and trusting. Don’t be surprised when God gives you strength and salvation beyond anything you could have imagined! #FollowJesus

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10

In case you’re still laboring under any aspect of the lie that Christians shouldn’t/won’t experience suffering and hardship, please reflect on the life of the Apostle Paul! Paul was utterly devoted to the Lord. He poured out his adult life to advance the cause of Christ and spread the Gospel far and wide. And Paul suffered. Hunger and poverty, betrayal and abuse, persecution and disaster. Paul also suffered from some sort of “thorn in the flesh” that left him profoundly aware of his own weaknesses and limitations.

Paul clearly hated this thorn and begged God to take it away. His prayer was fervent and sincere and his faith was absolute. He knew, without a doubt, that God could heal him in an instant. However, the Lord had better plans for Paul. It was the Lord’s will for Paul to continue to be humbled by this problem. God not only said “No” to Paul’s prayer, He was clear that Paul’s suffering and weakness were going to be used for the glory of Jesus Christ!

Paul’s suffering continued so that Christ’s strength would be revealed through Paul’s weakness. By humbling Paul’s body, Jesus revealed His infinite power that lives within every faithful believer. Paul understood this and learned to delight in it. He was content in his weakness because He understood it revealed God’s power to a watching world.

Nearly everyone will one day experience and have to come to terms with weakness, age, disability, or illness. The question is whether we’ll be confused by it and how it could happen to a Christian or will we be empowered by it, drawing nearer to God in dependence on Him and allowing His power to be revealed. Understand the truth of what the Bible teaches about ailments, weakness, and suffering. Pray in faith for relief but learn to be content as God’s strength is revealed through your weakness. #FollowJesus

“You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.”
– Isaiah 26:3

There is a peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. God offers us peace that transcends every earthly circumstance. Supernatural peace can be yours no matter how chaotic or difficult the situations and circumstances of your life may be. That’s what Isaiah promises here and the Apostle Paul explains is the fruit of taking every concern, need, and desire to God in prayer with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:4-8).

When our mind is “stayed” on God – meaning that it’s fixed on Him no matter what, focused on Him despite any and all noise, distraction, and chaos – then the inexplicable and indescribable peace of God is ours. What a glorious promise – peace, no matter how challenging our situation in life! When we trust God more than we trust the voices of doom, gloom, and distress that surround us, then the peace of God is ours. Why? Because we know Who is in sovereign control and we trust both His perfect wisdom and His perfect goodness.

We see a brilliant illustration of this when Jesus invited Peter to step out of the boat and walk on the waves to Him. As long as Peter kept His eyes and mind focused on Jesus, he walked in peace on top of the water. As soon as his mind, eyes, and ears turned to the wind and the waves surrounding him, he began to sink. Is your mind stayed on Jesus? Are your thoughts anchored in God’s presence, power, and perfection?

Make that your goal. Work on that in your times of prayer, Bible meditation, and personal worship throughout the day and week. Be intentional about drawing near to God. Be purposeful to turn your mind onto Jesus throughout the day. Remind yourself that He is with you, loves you, and strengthens you. Talk to Him about your concerns and about the chaos. Don’t anchor your thoughts in your changing daily situation or circumstances. Anchor your thoughts in your unchanging Savior. #FollowJesus

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6

While Paul is specifically talking about giving financially to support God’s work, this principle applies equally well to all of our spiritual habits. If we’re stingy toward God with our time, energy, emotion, and devotion we close ourselves off to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in us. On the other hand, if we throw ourselves into joyful worship, deep Bible study, extended prayer time, committed service, sacrificial giving, eager evangelism, and genuine fellowship with other believers, we will reap enormous blessings of spiritual growth!

When we devote ourselves to drawing near to God and become more like Jesus in the power of His Spirit, we will achieve those goals in time. We will experience closeness to our Creator and be increasingly transformed into the likeness of His Son. When we hold ourselves back, budgeting out the limited portion of time and energy we’re willing to give God, then we will experience little of the abundant life Jesus came to give us. That’s the Law of Sowing and Reaping.

What are you sowing for the Lord? What’s your level of investment in Kingdom living? How generous are you toward God with your time? With your talent and energy? With your earthly treasure? Are you measured? Have you put God on a tight budget? If so, how’s that working out for you???

If you’ve been listening to the world’s advice about how to keep more time and energy for yourself rather than giving it to the Lord, try accepting Jesus’ invitation to deny yourself, take up your cross, and #FollowJesus. You will likely discover an amazing crop of blessings when you do! If you already have, why don’t you share your story in the comments…

“But with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.”
– Isaiah 11:4

Isaiah described the coming of Jesus centuries before He stepped out of heaven to be born in Bethlehem and thousands of years before His return in glory. Isaiah described the nature of Christ’s coming, eternal Kingdom. It will be a Kingdom of power – the power of His Word. Power beyond anything we can possibly imagine. Forget nuclear weapons – His spoken word is the rod of His mouth with which Jesus will strike the earth! That’s the power by which our triumphant Lord will wipe out the wicked when He returns!

However, it’s also a Kingdom of tough and tender justice, concerned with the poor and oppressed. King Jesus will justly judge in favor of those who are downtrodden and unable to defend themselves against the systems and structures of our fallen world. He will treat the poor righteously rather than taking advantage of them as so many do today. It will be truly glorious when King Jesus returns!

In the meantime…we who follow Jesus SHOULD embody those same values because He is already King on His throne in heaven. As citizens of His Kingdom, we must be concerned for the poor. We must practice justice toward the downtrodden and defenseless, knowing that we are serving King Jesus when we do. We must live in obedience to His awesome, powerful Word, knowing that His Word is life to us and death to His enemies. Meditate today on what it would look like to fully live your life as a citizen of THIS king’s present and future Kingdom. What should you do differently – in thought, word, and action – to more fully #FollowJesus?