1 Samuel 2:8-10 KJV

(8)  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

(9)  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

(10)  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Given a chance, God really does make a difference. Every time He does these things, like lift, restore, establish, provide and protect, and yet, somehow, there is this continual returning to the friends and methods that have already proven themselves over and over again to be futile in bringing any level of success to life. How many times does it take getting bit by a snake for there to be some immediate hoofing it to somewhere far away from that slithery creature at any sighting of him? How many times does a friend or substance have to let you down before you find another route to fulfillment?

God will never fail to care for those who have gone to Him and claimed Him as their God, and, yes, they will be on the same side. America is a great nation not just because we’re so much better looking, smarter, harder working, and just so much more loveable. Our greatest threat will never be a mass of people or a nuclear bomb, but the most dangerous challenge to our existence will be whose side we choose and the mere possibility that it could ever be any other than the King of kings and the Lord of lords. In the debate of separating faith from state and liberating perversion and murder throughout society, there is a deliberate threat not just against a group of people that call themselves a religious name, but against the very being they serve and His ability to act on America’s side. Where there is heated contention against the righteousness He has proclaimed and outlined for our success, there is the most damaging and disruptive blows against the fiber of the country that has risen to greatness upon the foundation of its faith in Him alone. When fires are raging and many are dying as a result of terrorist attacks there is world-wide attention given to the focus of those attacks and direct retaliation is shown those who instigated and carried them out. When, however, the fires and deaths are the result of the very liberties we embrace and the choices made to eliminate our Deliverer and Protector, this is so much more devastating and long-lasting with no footage exposing it and no defined enemy to whom we may respond. We just seamlessly switch sides and even begin to ridicule those who would proclaim such a strong belief in our Founder that they actually consult Him for guidance and direction, as if this would somehow be way ‘out there’ and extreme. It was His guidance and His consultation that brought America into existence as a refuge of hope, opportunity, and freedom. Without His guidance we could have never withstood the incredible challenges to our independence and prosperity, and we most definitely would have never survived following the guidelines of those who, by choosing to deny and excommunicate God are choosing to follow a course that has no hope for continued dominance or prosperity. He is the standard for excellence, and any attempt to pacify another belief or culture by throwing Him under the bus for political gain will be the same as destroying our only hope for preserved freedom, liberty and strength. Intellect will never trump faith, and a choice of it over the greatest player ever will be the choice that history has proven to be the most dangerous choice of folly.

Though there may be this tendency in society towards eliminating our Hope, for those who are still choosing Him to be their Rock and their Foundation, there is still a refuge to which they can go this day and, from this secret place of the Most High, emit the salty savor that will yet extend the life of our freedom. To turn our eyes from the image of demise that godlessness leaves behind to the Author and the Finisher of our faith will bring direction once again to a land that will only make it through these next challenges with Him on their side. The greatest hope for survival will come from those who don’t respond in fear and worried prayer, but embrace the One they love with ever increasing passion and pray from a position of confidence in the God who will ever be their choice.

Psalms 44:5-8 KJV

(5)  Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

(6)  For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

(7)  But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

(8)  In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

2 Corinthians 4:7 MSG

(7)  If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.

My wife recently commented about the political candidates, that they very much look like ministers. The way they were dressed and acted on the stage at the conventions had the appearance of an evangelist or television preacher.

It’s happened with two of the candidates anyway; their presentation has resulted in elevation to ‘rock star’ status- a bit of a newer term that evidently refers to someone of hyper-popularity, somehow far above the ‘ordinary’ person. Drawing massive crowds that get tingly feelings down their backs and warm fuzzies in their tummies at the mere appearance of their hero or heroine, these super fans will do anything to touch them or even get in their shadow. There has been great success for these two that, indeed, they are not like the rest of us- they’re very, very special and to be honored as such. (and, again Kim’s correlation to the ministers comes to bear)

It’s interesting that Paul, in 1^st Corinthians 2 indicated his intention was never to ‘sell’ himself. He didn’t attempt to present a package that would impress and draw attention to who he was. The gospel didn’t necessarily require his successful impression in order for it to be legitimate or validated. In fact, the power of the gospel is something that will never be confused with a mere perception of greatness in a person. It will never require the charisma, intellect, or eloquence of a man to makes its way into the heart of a person and bring about the change and wholeness of salvation. As wonderful as any of us might be, and however far we might ascend above those around us in our ability to make an impact or impression, it would fall far short of God’s purpose for any to miss out on the true power of God by getting stuck on an impression of the vessel in which it is carried.

In this there is great liberty, not only for the ‘rock stars’, but also for those who might not ever be noticed by any significant group of people. The power we have is something that is most valuable and residing on the inside, no matter how earthy our container might appear. We don’t have to gain the accolades or appreciation of the throngs to operate in the power of the gospel by simply using the voice we do have as an instrument for God to speak through. After all, there will be no confusion when the true power and glory of God arrives on the scene- that this is something far beyond the ability of any man; this is God.

I’m so grateful for powerful political leadership that stands up for righteousness with a conviction of what is truly right for our country, and I’m thankful for the gifted among us that can present the gospel in such a way that it is palatable and well-represents the excellence of Jesus. However, I’m also most thankful for the humble, great American that gets up every day to produce with an attitude of excellence, along with the great Christian that presents the gospel from a less than impressive vessel by carrying their treasure with no debilitating distractions. Righteousness will bear fruit in excellence and promotion, but, like Paul, may that fruit never be something that keeps anyone from getting to the vine for themselves.

John 11:41-43 KJV

(41)  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

(42)  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

(43)  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Just before this incredible moment when Jesus caused His friend to rise from the dead, out of His humanity and His grief He wept. So it’s not like Jesus was just this optimistic weird person who never was affected by what might appear to be a time for mourning or despair. Yet there was something other than Jesus’ feelings and His ability to assess the situation that rose up in Him, bringing life to a body that had been dead. Three words would come out of His mouth with power that would defy the finality and impossibility of the situation. If He were somehow drawn into the drama of the moment and dissuaded from His true purpose by conversation that declared anything other than the message of those words, Lazarus may have just remained inside the tomb.

There is so much verbiage going on around us on a continual basis. Cell phones are connecting people all over the world, and when the phone isn’t held against the ear, a text is either being read or keyed into its keyboard. The media on radio, television and internet are constantly presenting a message, while emails, blogs and billboards never cease to make their declarations. Stories, transactions, reactions, propositions, and endless ideas are taking the form of communicated words and given the power to condemn, affirm, deny, discourage, inspire, motivate, etc. One word or phrase can completely change the day’s perspective from bright to dark and visa-versa. One sour or bitter word can turn an otherwise positive dialogue into a crushing and sleep depriving blow. So many interchanges include natural habits in conversation that consist of profane and damning words or speech content that is anything but positive, just an honest perspective of a circumstance in life. While not realizing it, however, there really is accountability for each word spoken, and a power resides in each word that is being cast about so freely and frivolously that will either bring life or death.

I believe this is a significant part of Jesus’ emotional reaction to the scene where Lazarus’ death was being mourned and Jesus was being held responsible for the death because of His late arrival. Not only was He moved by the death of a good friend, but He remembered something He had spoken to Martha about believing that was obviously not being evidenced at that time. While there was a reference to words that Jesus had spoken, the impact of His words continued to be the focus as Jesus turned to His Father and revealed a deep awareness that His words were heard and acknowledged by His Father. He knew and verbally confirmed to Him the significance of what He was about to do- speak three life-giving words. He did not enter into any attempts at comfort or consolation that might otherwise be deemed appropriate, and He didn’t participate in remembering or wishing conversations that were probably going on around Him, because there was significance in every word He would utter, and there was no way the power of those three words were going to be decimated by any death-confirming utterances. His awareness of word power was such that He was more emotionally moved by death inflicting language than the death itself. His words would overcome death in Lazarus, but the words of defeat, failure and death coming out of mouths around Him were embracing and forming this same content in the lives of those from whom the words were spoken. If only they could embrace His words of life and belief as He Himself had done through love for and relationship with His Father, what He had spoken could actually begin to take place in their life.

There are just a few words waiting for the right time to come out of our mouth and bring life to an otherwise death situation. For those words to actually bring the life they would command, though, they will have to be untainted by words of death, defeat and doubt. This may require a whole new culture adjustment with a whole new set of vocabulary words, but hanging out with Jesus in the secret place of worship will naturally bring about this change. Where words of mourning, sorrow, anger, depression and discouragement might otherwise be the natural reaction to life’s encounters, a new natural response will be influenced by the love of God. Where there had been a fearful and desperate reaction to a circumstance, there will be a greater aversion for the words that empower it than the situation itself. Life words will disable and expel any death words as a Father of life and love is truly embraced with a passionate and loving heart. Then, at that moment when the impossibility of death’s tomb is open before us, the words of empowered purity will be unhindered by doubt formed by a single word of death. Lazarus will come forth.

Proverbs 18:21 KJV
(21)  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Psalms 27:1-5 KJV

(1)  <A Psalm of David.> The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
(2)  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
(3)  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
(4)  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
(5)  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

I recently saw a portion of ‘Myth Busters’, where they take certain generally accepted myths and determine their validity. This particular one dealt with the notion that an elephant is afraid of a mouse. These guys actually went to Africa or Asia to conduct experiments with the creatures in their natural habitat, and what they discovered was, yes, the massive elephant will react in fear to the site of a mouse. It’s not that they take off running madly in terror, but they very much divert their motion around a mouse that is presented in their path. For the dudes on the show it was a most unexpected outcome- that the massive pacaderm would even notice a tiny rodent that could in no way harm it. If only that silly giant knew who he was, if only he could check out a mirror and see the way things really are, there might be no reaction at all to the presentation of the mouse.

Ok, maybe the elephant was just kind hearted and didn’t want to take a chance of stepping on the mouse, sort of like when we weave to avoid a squirrel in the road. In reality, though, there are so many of these things in life that are really powerless in themselves to do anything at all to harm us, and yet we find our path being completely diverted by just the sight of them. Sure, there may be the potential for enemies of sickness, lack, and terror to overwhelm, but in Christ we’ve been made to be giants, and all opposition has been made to be miserly and mouse-sized in comparison. When the old man and his old ways are taken to the cross daily, and we allow all things to become new, there is not just our old feeble self standing up to evil mice, but we are made to be part of this monstrous, invincible body of Christ Jesus that is way more than an overcomer. When the choice is no longer to try it on our own out in the weather with our own decisions and our own ‘wisdom’, we can join David in the house of the Lord where the foundation is unshakeable upon the Rock and we are hidden away completely from an enemy’s ability to penetrate the heart with his destructive power.

Where is the fear when you really look in the mirror and see who you are in Christ? It no longer exists. When you’re hidden away in the secret place, not only will the threats of the mice be seen in their rightful perspective, but those squeaky nuisances will run away in terror themselves, having come in contact with the One who towers far above them in size, strength and ability. There is nothing better than dwelling there in Him, where images of beauty, light and revelation of His holiness replace the spectacle of darkness and doom at the hands of the inferior foes.

Psalms 26:8-12 KJV
(8)  LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
(9)  Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
(10)  In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
(11)  But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
(12)  My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

It all comes down to where you want to live. It can be where the lights are always on, the water comes out of the tap, everything is clean and well kept, and the temperature is maintained by heat or ac. Or, it can be where the opposite is true or threatening. You might think it’s all about the place and where you’re choosing to live, but the place of habitation really has much more to do with who you choose to hang with. The place just follows. Where the honorable is honored, the dwelling is well, but where the dishonorable is honored, the dwelling will fall or has already fallen.

I’ve never  had the privilege of hanging out at the White House, (although my sister just went there this last week) but I’m sure there is a certain standard that’s required for people to even get through the gate leading up to the house. This may vary somewhat based upon who is occupying the office of the President at the moment, but generally thieves and unruly people with any kind of criminal record or appearance thereof will have a difficult time getting anywhere close. It is an awesome structure in itself, but what has really set it apart from any other structure that might even be larger or more extravagant is the person who occupies it, the President. There has even been a certain aura left be each of the Presidents that have occupied it as they’ve been honored for their office or position. To really hang out there for more than just a paid tour, it will have something to do with your relationship and associations. You may have some acquaintances from a group that engages in sinful or unlawful activities, but in order to go to the White House, it will need to be that you aren’t grouped together with those that would bring dishonor to the one who is the reason for its existence. There will have to be choices made throughout life that will cause you to either be gathered together with the mischievous and dishonest sinners that are prohibited from entering the home of the honored, or qualify you, by your associations, to be a part of a group that is seen as acceptable, safe and worthy.

To abide in the Secret Place of the Most High and to love and appreciate His habitation will first of all require redemption and mercy. No matter how close to perfection we are, it will always fall short of the pure holiness that is required, and we’ll ever be in need of the amazing grace that will qualify. However, for those that would actually live in the place of His presence there will have to be a choice of Him over other associations in life that dishonor the King. Entering His courts will require praise, but it will also demand a departure from living with those that are directly opposed to His nature and His righteousness. Touching the world is one matter, but living there and loving it is another. Where there is greater love for the Honor One, there will be a desire to be there in His congregation, honoring and worshiping Him at the gathering time. Where you’ve chosen to be and to live will always be a significant indicator of who you’ve chosen to honor. To honor and fellowship with Him is to honor and fellowship with those who are also seeking to please Him. His house is a full family house where every member is there because of Him and a choice of Him over any other restricting association.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
(28)  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(29)  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Some things are much easier when- you’ve done them before, you’re more mature and strong, you know the tricks and work-arounds, and you can see the bigger picture- right? I know that whenever I’m around my Dad there is this natural tendency to just let him take over and do whatever I’m up to, from playing the guitar, fixing the sink, or measuring a roof. From childhood to the present he has this way of making things appear easy and doable after I may have been attempting them for some time. We actually did that last one recently when Mom and he were visiting and he characteristically wanted to go along with me for my day of work. We came upon this house that was really next to impossible to figure out. Normally I would try to get up on top and actually run a tape along all things measurable, but this one was very high, very steep, and all access points had some restriction that made climbing up on top of it too difficult for me anyway. I applied several little tricks that I’ve learned along the way, but there was one measurement that was eluding me as to how it could be measured without just making a wild guess. He just looked at it for a while and came up with a very accurate method that could be done safely from the ground and with a great deal of ease. He again came through as always before with a way that relieved me of so much effort and exertion I would have been up to on my own.

It’s not that we’re to remove our involvement altogether, because the passion and care that has driven our hearts to work so hard to this point is exactly what God would like to partner with. He sees and cares for everything that concerns us in the least, and really all He’s waiting for to get His hands dirty is a little, “Dad, could you help me with this?” He’s been there and done that, He’s way more strong, He knows all the tricks and work-arounds, He knows the end from the beginning, and if need be, He can just create or transform whatever needs changing. He does like to make it a team thing, though, because He wants us to be strengthened, empowered, skilled and capable in the Spirit together with Him. He wants this to be a growing experience as our pulling is a pulling that is yoked together with the One who knows just how it needs to be done. He also wants for us to be eased from the burden this life experience has placed on us. He wants to bring joy and fulfillment to a life where failures and impossible circumstances would prohibit them. As the work becomes something that is shared with Him, there will be, as evidence, a significantly lightened load, letting you know that indeed His yoke has been taken. There may be a whole day of plowing ahead, but with Him doing most of the pulling it can actually be a gratifying experience.

This is His desire and this is His prepared purpose in Christ for us that we no longer have to bear the weight of our heart’s most anguishing loads in personal failures, relationship challenges, financial mountains, or suffering self image or identity. Our Dad has come to stay and He’s really great with starting the mower on the first pull after you’ve been trying it all day, making the sink seal completely after you’ve never been able to keep that last little leak from dripping, or measuring quite safely things that have been threatening to cause a fall with great injury and damage. All He needs is for us to take our seemingly impossible situations to His side where they can be hooked up to His ability that has never even been closely challenged. Then, He has to be allowed to carry the real weight of the load, while ours is but a prayer of faith, acknowledging that He really is at work on our behalf. That fervent prayer then becomes the only part we need to bear as it is made to be most effect in His hands.

Seems like Dad’s gonna be staying for quite awhile- like, eternity - yeah!

 

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Romans 2:29 KJV
(29)  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

There is something that sets the truly ‘right’ (or righteous) apart from those that just think they have ‘right’ figured out. The degree to which the heart has been marked by God through the cutting away of fleshly or worldly choices is the degree to which one can expect critical decisions to reflect His wisdom. When ‘right’ is a matter of the mind, perceptions and distortions of life can greatly influence the condition of the mind and its ability to correctly discern ‘right’ in any particular circumstance. Once the heart has been set apart, though, by identification with Christ that puts all the old to death and makes all things new in Him, there is no figuring of the mind that will dissuade the righteousness of God from being the standard that drives every decision, no matter the situation. In Him it will always be about who you are way more than what you know alone. As long as knowledge is a part of the cutting away process, where the entrance of His Word brings a transforming light and further death to flesh and enhanced exposure to God’s glory, it will be an essential instrument in the Great Physician’s hand. However, when facts or figuring is just piled up, categorized and analyzed without any real change to the heart, there may be a pretty image and an impressive act, but there will be no ability to truly make the ‘right’ choice when the tough gets going and mind perceptions change.

The heart choice will be the ‘right’ choice when that heart is in Christ, when it has been freely justified by Jesus’ righteousness. To know Him isn’t to just decide on a Christian religion. Really knowing Him is what happens when all that is wrong is cut away leaving a condition that is completely identified with and right in Christ. From this position and condition in Him, there is an ability to choose rightly from a heart that has been set free to be right, no matter how things used to be. When the heart has been submitted to His physician’s hands, the resulting condition will bring great confidence and assurance that, while certain things may still need improvement in us, the heart has been made right and can begin to follow a path that will bear great fruit in righteousness.

For those in leadership and for those that are trying somehow to find their way in life, there is a continual contention for rightness. Great debates will continue over differences in perceptions of the same facts and circumstances. There is a ‘right’ way, though, that is beyond just the interpretation of information. This is when ‘right’ is a condition of the heart. It may be that a decision made from a ‘right’ heart is all wrong according to existing information, but ‘right’ doesn’t always require all the facts when it’s coming from a heart that is one with the One who knows way more info and facts than ever could be obtained naturally. For those that are in positions of leadership, then, there needs to be prayer for their heart to be freed from the old wrong flesh so it may see clearly what is right and true in Christ. To contend alone in the realm of reason may be a lifelong endurance, where one moment under the Great Physician’s hands will bring rightness to their identity and condition that facts and knowledge alone will never attain.

Proverbs 14:12 KJV
(12)  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV
(21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

John 4:6 KJV(6) Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

So what are you looking to take care of when you’re tired, hungry and thirsty? I know that for me after a long day in the sun, I’m just looking to get a very tall drink, some of Kim’s awesome food and a chance to lie down for a few minutes. Weariness also usually has a bit of crankiness that likes to hang around with it, this feeling that being annoyed and easily put off is somehow deserved and expected given your condition. Esau was so taken with his hunger that he felt like it was time to give up anything for a little bowl of nourishment- even his birthright. Somehow priorities get completely realigned and perceptions get totally skewed in the time of physical or emotional need to the point of sacrificing relationships and making choices that harm things precious for those things that in reality could be passed up for a little while longer.

With Jesus there seemed to be this very different effect that hunger or hardship brought out in him. Whenever He was in a situation that would normally cause one to become desperate for relief, with a focus completely on Himself, He found great inspiration and motivation to heal, forgive, and minister to the needs of others. It was almost like an inverse effect went into action whenever He was weary, hungry, tortured or put into a condition of desperation. His focus became ever stronger on the needs of others and His purpose in bringing salvation and hope to those whose needs could only be met in Him. Every time He could have become oppressed by His predicament, He instead produced His greatest stuff, even to the point of bringing total redemption for all of us when He was going through the anguish of the cross. At any point along the path to the cross a glance into His own needs- hunger, thirst, rejection, and physical pain- would have disabled his ability to be effective for those whose ultimate need He alone could meet. He had developed, though, a response that was very different from the one that drives me to self gratification. In His need He always found His greatest opportunity to provide for the needs of another. It doesn’t even say that Jesus got the drink He asked for from the woman at the well, and yet from Him at this time came words of life that totally transformed not just the woman to whom He spoke, but everyone who has ever begun to live the life of worship His statements revealed. Later when the disciples encouraged Him to eat, His response again was an inspired revelation that came from an others-focus brought on by His own need.

Whenever found wearily sitting down, a bit exhausted and needy after a difficult life journey, there is a reason to be encouraged, motivated and inspired by Jesus’ example. Rather than just a chance to become self consumed, irritated and willing to damage treasured things for one’s own need, there is a very powerful opportunity to produce some pretty incredible stuff for the kingdom of God. There are certain people that require exactly what we have to give them in the time of our own need. If for a moment the gaze can be shifted towards God’s fulfilled purpose in another’s life, the response to our own hunger will bring an answer to a life that will otherwise perish. There is also a joy we can set before us that will turn any hunger into a kingdom opportunity.

Psalms 24:9 KJV (9)  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

The lifting, the drawing nigh, the opened eyes- if the force of God and His incredible greatness is going to make His way into our lives to bring deliverance and make an incredible difference, there is going to be an effort on our part in lifting whatever would stand between us. There is a barrier wall that must be opened for His glory to flood in.

For the last couple of days the news channels have given a continual image of the hurricane in the gulf and the force of the ocean with its surge threatening to break down the levees and flood the cities. There was a particular scene that was recurring on one particular channel. It showed an area beyond a certain barrier where flooding had risen half-way up a storefront and almost covered a little white pickup. What was interesting to me about the barrier was that it had a gate that could be opened to allow water to flow one way or the other. While the incredible force of the flood was rising on one side of the gate to dangerously destructive heights, this simple metal gate was all that kept the water from passing to the other side with the full strength of its powerful force. Though the power of the surging water was more than enough to completely wipe out all that lay beyond the barrier wall, until the gate were lifted there would be no passage of water and none of its effect.

There is a presence in our lives today that is incredibly powerful and able to completely transform our landscape. Though this force is continually there, never letting up in its readiness to pour into our hearts and lives with power that will render everything else insignificant, it will always be held back until a gate is lifted. I believe the King of glory is that force, and that the surging, pressing force of God’s goodness will never makes its way into our hearts and lives until a certain gate is lifted by means of worship and prayer. In worship, the heart is opened to all that God would speak into it, and in prayer that follows a magnified awareness of Him, nothing is impossible. All the old is removed and God’s glory makes significant and lasting changes with its unstoppable force.

It is possible to go all the way through life with the surging force of God’s glory never making its way into the landscape of our hearts and lives. God is ever pressing upon the barrier wall to our heart, just waiting for the gate to be lifted and the light of His glory to pour in and make those desired changes in our lives. The gate is in great working condition, never failing to move as soon as God is exalted and His Spirit inspires and motivates the communication of prayer. However, it will also be lowered to its retaining position as soon as worship and prayer end, and the heart’s focus returns once again to the cares of life and the fear they instill. Learning to keep the gate lifted with a life that is unceasing worship is the need, desire and ability of all that would be completely transformed by the power of the King’s glory.

There is a lifting for today and throughout all that comes our way in it. There is a floodgate with the unstoppable force of God’s glory and love just waiting on the other side. Our worship and prayer will lift this gate, giving access to the King of glory, and allowing Him to completely change perspectives and set us free to run, dance, and experience the abundant life that is ours in Christ. Let’s keep that gate lifted.

Philippians 1:11 KJV
(11)  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Matthew 5:6 KJV
(6)  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

If you watched these past Olympics for any period of time at all, you saw something about Michael Phelps, the great American swimmer. Even when other events were broadcast, there was usually a little news ticker either in the corner or on the bottom that kept you up to date on his next swimming event and his latest movements. Something else you might have heard about Michael from several different sources was how much food he consumes every day. Here is the list as it was reported:

-For breakfast: three fried egg sandwiches, with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast and a bowl of grits (a maize-based porridge), washed down with two cups of coffee.

-For lunch: half a kilogram (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, washed down by energy drinks.

-For dinner: Another half-kilogram of pasta, perhaps with a carbonara sauce, followed by a large pizza and more energy drinks.

-That combination may not sound very healthy, and at a staggering 10,000 calories, would feed five average men for a day. (BBC)

After hearing this report and then looking his fat-free body standing next to the pool there are a few things that might be considered- the activity to which he is so faithful is requiring and getting a tremendous amount of fuel; to back off from the consumption would eliminate the possibility of success; that he better make some adjustments to his intake if he ever slows down on his swimming; he is enjoying food right now more than he ever will after his intense training agenda ends; he doesn’t ever skip a meal or forget to eat.

It’s interesting that the scriptures refer to the fruits of righteousness as something like food; that they will fill up and result in blessing for the one who consumes them. Like Michael meals, though, they have their greatest fulfillment and enjoyment as they are the requirement of a particularly intense regimen of pursuing God and His kingdom. It’s not possible to get very far with God skipping a meal here or there, and there is inversely a decrease of appetite for righteousness when the passionate pursuit of Him lessens. There is a purpose for being right in God that goes way beyond just enjoying a personal banquet. Partaking of the righteousness that is provided for us as a meal in Christ gives us the energy and power for the activity of righteousness, while living in love and vigorously seeking and acting out who we’ve been made to be in Christ causes those meals to be so much more greatly savored and enjoyed.

Getting in the pool today, making waves, splashing and keeping at it till the other end is reached will bring on this great appetite for a meal much larger than just a breakfast taco or bagel. What’s so great about sitting down at God’s table is that it’s one of those family style servings where you just keep piling on as much as you’re hungry for. May that hunger be a strong one brought on by intense activity that is faithful, obedient kingdom pursuit.

John 6:35 KJV
(35)  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.