Take heart, dear sister, for we have this assurance! (4)

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time." - Luke 1: 18-20, NIV 

Reactions reveal our heart condition! 

... and just how is that a good assurance??? 

 “…God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” - Hebrews 12:10b

God reveals truth to us about ourselves...

so that we can repent and be more like Jesus!

 

Oh Zacharias, I have often speculated the many reasons as to why you reacted to Gabriel’s message the way you did.  I wonder if all the human encounters with angels are met with humans asking questions. We are funny people, aren't we? Still, I’d really like to know. Why? Was it simply a cultural habit of skepticism that led you to challenge the mighty angel of God? Had you lost hope so much so that you couldn’t accept a blessing from God?

The kingdom of Israel was overrun by other nations, and YHWH had been silent for a very long time. Then, there was the one thing you wanted more than anything else. What else was left but to survive by living a life of righteousness as you waited for the long-awaited Messiah?

The passionate song you poured out clearly reveals that you reflected on God’s greatness, faithfulness, the wonder of life, and how small you are. I love how Abba God changed your heart, rekindling your confidence in YHWH, and bringing you great joy

Oh, Zacharias, your story gives me such hope and convicts me that God is greater than I dream, more involved in my life than I think, more faithful to fulfill His promises than I believe, and worthy of all honor – more than I give.

Abba God, thank You for working in Zacharias' life and sharing his story with us. Thank You for revealing my heart to me so I can repent - and for conforming me to Jesus' image. Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in me. Enable me to serve You without fear in holiness and righteousness all my days. Give me the ability to pray big, to believe that You are active in my life, and a passion to give You more honor. In Jesus' name.

 

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit... - from Luke 1:67-80, NIV

Meat hammer or marinade?

What's your preferred method of tenderizing meat? Marinade or the hammer? Many admit enjoying the hammer because of its stress-relieving properties. Yet both yield a more tender meat, effectively conforming the meat into a tasty meal. 

Life's seasons can fluctuate between circumstances much like the meat tenderizer and other times like a slow, pleasant-smelling marinate. The Master Chef uses both to create wonderful transformations. 

However, there's a cheap imitation meat hammer that I picked up somewhere on my journey. In my efforts to please God, I repeatedly try to hammer righteousness into every fiber of my being. Being a people-pleaser is NOT helpful, because I'm trying to make people and God happy. 

Sounds so ridiculous on paper, but I am not alone in this struggle. Even zealous Pharisees bought the lie, and the church in Galatia did, too. With the benefit of God's Word, I know theologically that self-righteousness is no righteousness at all; otherwise the law would've been enough. Still, I have such a hard time simply trusting that God's marinade - Jesus' blood - is enough. 

It was enough to save me. 

"So then [God's gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God's mercy. [It depends not on one's own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God's having mercy on him.]" Romans 9:16 Amplified, NIV, & NASB


It is enough to change me. 
"Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Galatians 3:3, NASB

Change is a RESULT of what Jesus already did, mixed together with my willingness to trust Him fully. This yields to the rest, peace, and joy I seek. HE changes water to wine; HE transforms me; HE holds me together. 

Maybe it's time for me to trade in my spiritual meat tenderizer...  

Abba, I really want to lay down this worthless hammer I've been using all these years, but my fears have created some sort of epoxy bonding the self-condemnation to my soul. I do not know how to lay it down - or how to drum up more faith - but YOU do. Help me in my unbelief, and cause me to grasp the reality that I am already acceptable to You, because of the power of Jesus' blood. Convict me daily to focus on YOU instead of my circumstances. In Jesus' name.

I wonder what a canning jar feels like when it's in the pressure cooker?

I suppose it's pretty much how I feel when circumstances cause the air pressure in my sphere to push down on my fragile frame. My legs feel like they'll crumble, my lungs won't accept the oxygen I once took for granted, and the head feels like it will explode! On the brink of bursting - like a jar might if the temperature of the food in it were vastly different than the boiling water outside.  

What frustrates me most in these trials is that my response isn't exactly lining up to God's very Word, which says I'm to do something different than buckle under pressure. Hebrews 12 calls his discipline an encouragement, and proof that He accepts us. Elsewhere He teaches me to: 

strengthen weak knees, be strong, be courageous... 

do not despair, do not give up, do not fear

"And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, 

"My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline, 

and don't give up when he corrects you. 

For the LORD disciplines those he loves, 

and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."" - Hebrews 12:5-6, New Living Translation

This I find hard to do. Resilience, endurance, and persistence aren't exactly my strengths. Abba knows that, and He continues to show up daily as my personal trainer in righteousness. The training routine I'd prefer: Abba reaches down to feed me His manna when I awake, which suddenly strengthens me so I may bound throughout the day with a Mary Poppins smile and song. Naturally I'd be able to produce a solution for every problem that comes my way.... 

Oh, but I remember.... 

pruning takes time, 

intimacy takes time,

maturity takes time. 

What Abba wants most for me is to be holy, so I can reap the benefits of knowing Him more fully - leading to more joy, greater peace, and so much more. 

So, today I will once again choose to REST against His bosom, wrapped in His strong arms. After some time there in close companionship with Him, I'll go about my responsibilities, resuming the struggle to fully trust that He will provide exactly what I need WHEN I need it. It won't be easy, but it's worth it. The alternative is to lie down in the valley of despair and go no further. That doesn't sound good to me. 

Abba, I'm so glad you accept me. You know I don't like the pain and suffering, but you also know that it's necessary. I do believe, help me in my unbelief! Ultimately I want to be in alignment with you. I want to be filled with your Spirit so that the outside stress doesn't affect my countenance - or affection -  for you. Lead me in your everlasting way and give me courage to accept the trials as a show of your love and affection for me. In Jesus' name.. 

My head feels like a blender!

So many thoughts are swirling around, intertwining themselves among each other. That's common for me, but the speed is crazy. Turbo mode even! 

At least today, the thoughts are all swirling around truth. I'm trying so hard to stand on truth, using simple logic to talk myself into believing (if nothing else, it'll keep me from going insane, right?). 

If Abba was pleased to crush Jesus (Isaiah), knowing the outcome... As the Master Gardener, it surely pleases Him to prune me because He is focused on the resulting fruit and making me mature in Christ Jesus so I can share in his holiness (John 15, Hebrews 12:11).  He's made me with that view in mind, and He always finishes what He starts. He is the author and finisher of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2) HE IS, not me. 

Abba, it's hard for me to believe that you can create this attitude in me... to humbly accept each trial, being always obedient. Thank you for continuing to work in me to will and to act according to your good purpose. Give me faith to believe that YOU WILL FINISH this work, and that YOU CAN CHANGE ME. If you can purchase me with Jesus' blood, give me the right to eternal life with you through the resurrection power, surely you can transform me in spite of myself. I want so much to be obedient. Help me in my unbelief. In Jesus' name...

Philippians 2:5-13, NASB, Amplified, Message

Hebrews 12:11, NASB;AMP;MSG

Thanks, Mom (and a few faithful Sunday School teachers), for teaching me that the Bible is God's inspired word, wholly true. That truth keeps me in the fight when I want to quit. 

Ouch! Is it over yet?

Hi Abba. It's me... Over here... Oh, nooooo. Did you HAVE to bring your pruning shears? 

"every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2b, NASB

They're HUGE,  sharp, and scary! I know you're the Master Gardener, but can I just say (once again) that pruning really hurts. I'm tired. I'm weary. I'd like to hibernate and rest my hurts, but there seems to be no rest. Didn't you just prune me? Isn't there another way? 

Oh, I know... You don't have to say it... I know the truth. I can see it in your eyes. As the Master Gardener, you are never rash, brazen, or sloppy with your work. For each cut, you carefully measure the exact place, the perfect angle, the right season. It's only through pruning that I can produce fruit, which is important to you. 

Knowing your perfect love and the results of your handiwork, I really do want to surrender willingly, but frankly if I had legs I think I'd run. I suppose you knew that. That must be why - in your perfect wisdom - you grafted me into this Vine... so I couldn't run.

Well, I can't say I'm joyful about you bringing your shears during today's visit, but somewhere deep down I do trust you to know what you're doing. 

So, please, Sir, as you prepare to make another cut, I ask for courage to trust you once again and for HOPE that this cut will produce fruit. Ok, I'm going to close my eyes now. Ouch, ouch, ouch...ewwww...  In Jesus' name...