Dear Friends,
It was a remarkably warm and comforting funeral service. If you had to sum up my father-in-law in one word it would have to be “integrity”. Father Dutel conducted the service and gave a sermon on integrity that was so simple yet so profound! These aren’t his exact words but what I wrote down.
He said the word “integrity” comes from the word “integer”. In math, an integer is a whole number not a fraction. A person of integrity is one whose speech and life are not fractured—they are one in the same. They do what they say and say what they do. Wow! And Fred was certainly a man of integrity—he was a man of his word. And it is people like Fred who keep those around them grounded and secure leaving a legacy of goodness.
David knew what was in his wake! He stated, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” Psalm 23:6 (NIV)
How will people remember you when you’re gone? What kind of spiritual and moral legacy are you leaving for the next generation? Whether you realize it or not as we all travel through this life, we are leaving something behind in our wake. In the physical world we call it footprints but in the lives of others it’s called an “impression”. Whether it is a good, godly impression or something else, we are leaving an influential legacy behind.
If we realize we are living our lives haphazardly, at any time we can CHOOSE a different path. It really is simply a choice we make. One path leads to eternal life and a heritage of integrity and honor while the other path leads to destruction with tragedy and suffering in its wake.
With that said, do you know where you are in your life’s journey today? Maybe you’ve made your share of detours and mistakes and ended up lost in a dark place? Wilderness experts have an acronym for what to do when a person finds themselves lost—it’s called STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, andPlan.
In the following pages we are going to look at these four points in detail and see how they relate to our spiritual journey! And if we feel lost, we’ll look at how to get on and stay on the path that leads home!
In His Loving Name,
Life With Father Ministries
WILDERNESS TIP: STOP
The first thing that wilderness experts say to do when you realize you are lost and confused is to stop moving. The urge is to run to try and find the trail you started on. Don’t do it. Chances are that in your panic you’ll get even more lost or hurt yourself as you go flailing through the woods.
Let’s examine what it looks like to be lost in life by studying David’s example in Psalm 32… “Before I confessed my sins, I kept it all inside; my dishonesty devastated my inner life, causing my life to be filled with frustration, irrepressible anguish, and misery. The pain never let up, for your hand of conviction was heavy on my heart. My strength was sapped, my inner life dried up like a spiritual drought within my soul. Then I finally admitted to you all my sins, refusing to hide them any longer. I said, ‘My life-giving God, I will openly acknowledge my evil actions.’ And you forgave me! All at once the guilt of my sin washed away and all my pain disappeared!” (TPT)
Never underestimate the power of confession and forgiveness to get you back on the right path! David had pent up sin that devastated his inner life causing him to be filled with frustration, irrepressible anguish and misery. Holding on to sin that we committed (unconfessed sin) or that others committed against us (unforgiveness) will cause an excruciating amount of pain and turmoil in our lives.
If you are struggling with unconfessed sin or bitterness due to unforgiveness, isn’t it time to clear the slate of your heart? You can do this by confessing the things you’ve done wrong and forgive those who have wronged you. The Holy Spirit will help you in this endeavor as you reach out to Him in prayer. And your prayers will not be in vain…The Lord is always ready to respond to the prayer of the repentant soul! Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain, and he is always ready to restore the repentant one.” (TPT)
WILDERNESS TIP: THINK
The second wilderness tip in helping us find the right path is to think! In order to think clearly we must release our panic and anxiety to the Lord! The Lord tells us to, “Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God.” Psalm 68:19 (TPT)
Worry and fear can be a constant weight in the back of our minds causing us torment and unrest! The WORST thing to do when weighed down by troubles is to run faster to try and escape them! Have you noticed yet that that doesn’t work? The problems never go away. Once the anesthesia wears off, the weight and pain of what you’re running from only intensifies. No matter how heavy or complicated your situation is, the process is still the same. Stop running, stop ignoring your issues or trying to find a way around your problems but SURRENDER yourself to the Lord and receive His wonderful guidance and peace!
There are various reasons why people can have a hard time releasing their burdens and worries to the Lord. Most of it is just plain wrong thinking! When we carry these problems around, we are essentially saying, “the Cross is not enough” and feel we need to add to the work of the Cross by carrying our burdens around ourselves. Didn’t Jesus already carry our burdens on the Cross on our behalf? Speaking of Jesus, Isaiah 53:10-12 explains what really occurred at the Cross—it was payment for all of mankind’s sin and remains in effect TODAY!
The Lord says, “It was my will that he should suffer; his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness. And so he will see his descendants; he will live a long life, and through him my purpose will succeed. After a life of suffering, he will again have joy; he will know that he did not suffer in vain. My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased, will bear the punishment of many and for his sake I will forgive them. And so I will give him a place of honor, a place among the great and powerful. He willingly gave his life and shared the fate of evil men. He took the place of many sinners and prayed that they might be forgiven.” (GNT)
Today we suffer for the sins we refuse to repent of. As long as we engage in sin, we will endure the consequences of it. But the GOOD NEWS is that there is a way to get free from both sin and the penalty of it! You don’t have to continue along that tormenting road! No matter how far down the wrong path you’ve gone, you can still turn around and return to your loving Father. You can be healed from your physical, emotional and mental wounds—even your self-inflicted wounds! You don’t have to live in the pain of your past mistakes since Jesus died to exonerate you! As soon as you acknowledge the wrongs you’ve done and ask for forgiveness, the healing process can begin.
Don’t surrender underneath your anxiety but surrender your anxiety to the Lord. Then you will experience His peace that will keep your soul at rest so that you can think clearly!
WILDERNESS TIP: OBSERVE
The third tip when you find yourself lost and confused is to look around you and find higher ground. Moving to a summit or a ridgeline provides perspective and broadens one’s horizons. From a higher vantage point, we can see more options. Let’s look at what it means to look for and find life’s “higher ground”.
When stressed or worried, we tend to run to things that make us temporarily feel good or forget the problem. Things such as alcohol or drugs, over-spending, over-eating, gambling and even pursuing relationships with dysfunctional and ungodly people give us the illusion of relief but they never actually fix the problems. And so, things continue to weigh us down. But there’s a better way to live! Wanting to feel and be secure is one of our most fundamental needs. And God has already provided for that need through Jesus, our living Lord. (Hebrews 10:19-23)
When David was afraid, he wrote in Psalm 61:2, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (NIV) The word “Rock” means: a rock with a flat surface. When you don’t know where you are going—when life is as volatile and unsteady as a road filled with potholes, you can trust Him to guide you by His truth.
Again, David wrote in Psalm 27:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” (KJV) The word plain here means “level place.” Enemies lie, deceive and try to trip us up, but Jesus guides us by truth which is solid and secure! Jesus IS that flat surface—a secure place of safety for us that never changes. So put your trust in Someone who is much higher than yourself! Invest in your relationship with the Lord for in times of trouble He will be a strong refuge for your soul to run to and find strength! If you are struggling today, then go to Him in heartfelt prayer before you go to anything or anyone else. He will not give you the illusion of security but will give you an assurance of His faithfulness and make you truly free from fear of every kind!
WILDERNESS TIP: PLAN
The fourth wilderness tip in helping you find the path of life is to consider your options and make a plan. In order to find your best option/s in life is to find and FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN for your life. Let’s look at that more closely… “I hear the Lord saying, ‘I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!’” Psalm 32:8-9 (TPT)
Take time to pay attention and listen for God’s wisdom today in the Scriptures as well as other messages presented to you. Could it be that God is speaking to you right now, through this Newsletter? Also, ask the Lord to confirm His direction for your life so that you can be sure of it. And know this… it will NEVER be too difficult to understand the Lord’s direction. Remember how God directed Abraham to leave his country and go to a place God would show him? Remember that Abraham left home “not knowing where he was going? And yet he entered and lived in that promised land! (Gen.12)
Hebrews 11:8-9 says that, “By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith, he lived in the country promised him…” (MSG)
Without a compass, map or GPS system, God was able to communicate to Abraham in such a way that Abraham understood and moved forward with surety and confidence. Keep in mind that Abraham’s journey was not just physical but spiritual as well. And the journey we are describing here is anINNER journey of living with a clean (cleansed) conscious and having a pure heart (unselfish intentions). And like Abraham, the Lord is taking us all on a journey from the familiar to the unfamiliar. But just because it’s unfamiliar doesn’t mean it has to be scary…it’s just unfamiliar! Think of the unfamiliar as something far, far greater, more liberating and more glorious than you’ve ever imagined! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, He wants to transform our corrupt, disobedient nature into the kind of person just like Him which is incorruptibly pure in thought, word, and deed. And though it can be uncomfortable at times, we must trust Him for He certainly knows what He’s doing! He says in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (MSG)
Following God’s plan for your life doesn’t have to be difficult. It only feels constraining for the one who wants his/her own way. Let go of what you think you want so that God can give you something far greater!
CHOOSING THE PATH HOME
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior—if you have no idea where you will spend eternity, then right now, without putting it off another minute, why don’t you make your future certain? Where you spend eternity is YOUR decision 1 John 1:8-9 (NLT) says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” So, with all sincerity of heart, pray the Prayer of Salvation and become Born Again!
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Dear Jesus, I admit I’m a sinner and have sinned against you and others. I believe you died on the Cross for my sins and in my place. I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me from all wrongdoing. I also forgive those who hurt me and ask that you help me to get free from all resentment and pain. Jesus, I surrender my life to you and ask you to be my Lord and Savior. Give me new life—eternal life! Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower me to live this new life! Amen!