Dear Friends,
In Jeremiah chapter 8:20, God’s people cried, “The crops are in, the summer is over, but for us nothing’s changed. We’re still waiting to be rescued.” (MSG)
In the context of this verse, we find that the people had been living in open opposition to the Lord—they worshipped natural and material things rather than Almighty God. Now, they needed help and realized their so-called gods would not be coming to their rescue! Material things have no power to deliver, heal, or anything else! Nothing and no one but the Almighty has the power to save and turn a life around!
Look at how the Lord wrestles with the futility of the people’s mindset in verses 4-6 of this chapter…
“‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done?” No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!’”
It sounds like a concerned parent pleading with a rebellious teen who’s bent on traveling down a path of hurt and pain. The parent asks the most obvious question, “Why?” Why continue on the path of self-destruction when I can give you a life that is abundant and satisfying?
Jesus said in John 10:10, “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!” This is still Jesus’s mission today!
Our heavenly Father calls to us daily with an outstretched hand and is ready to rescue those trapped in a cesspool of sin and darkness. He’s prepared to intervene when we are ready to stop running and surrender our lives to Him. It’s a two-way relationship—He does the saving part while we do the surrendering part!
The Lord laments in Romans 10:21, saying, “‘For a very long time, I have been asking my people to return to me. But they refused to obey me. They turned against me.’” (EASY)
Today, do you feel like the people in Jeremiah’s time? Looking back over the past summer months, have you realized that you are no better off now than at the beginning of the season? Have you sensed a season or seasons have come and gone, yet nothing’s changed for you? Well, let me give you some real HOPE… could God be attempting to rescue you through this message? You may think you are waiting on Him when, in reality, He is waiting on you to change your heart and mind and respond to His kindness!
What I’m saying is that today could be a brand-new, refreshing season for you if you choose it to be! Think of it this way: the Lord has arranged your circumstances in such a way as to gain your undivided attention! And God may want you to change your mind before He can change your situation! Yes, our situation will often not change until we change our attitudes and perspective on things—and the Lord can help us with that if we are willing to let go of what’s not working for us and take His hand as He transforms our lives from the inside out!
The Holy Spirit constantly pleads with us to change our ways. He lovingly bothers our conscience to show us the futility of pursuing temporary pleasures, which leave us empty and have no power to deliver us or change our physical, emotional, or mental state! Our loving Lord wants us to realize the futility of living with an unrepentant heart like the people in Jeremiah 8:6, “Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done?” No!” The Lord wants you to stop wrestling and SURRENDER to His marvelous plan for your life.
The Lord says in Psalm 42:10, “Be still, and know that I am God! (NLT)
The Message translation puts it this way, “Stop fighting,” he says, “and know that I am God…”
Jesus desires to BLESS you by moving you into a new way of living. But listen, He can’t bless your life if you’re facing in the opposite direction! God restrains those who are on a path of hurt, pain, and ruin because, like any parent, He hates to see us suffer at our own hands. Think of where you are right now as momentarily detained by a loving Father. You are so important and precious to Him that He personally plucked you from a dark and dangerous path. Think of it as Jesus causing you to “be still” so He can speak to you and redirect your steps. All God is asking of you is to be willing to have Him direct your life!
“The Lord says, ‘Please come, so that we talk about this together. Even if your sins are like a red stain, they will become as white as snow. Even if they are bright red, they will become like white wool. I will forgive you if you agree to obey me. If you are ready to do that, you will again eat plenty of good food from the land.” Isaiah 1:18-19 (EASY)
I pray that the following words will bring clarity and understanding, motivating you to accept God’s invitation to begin redirecting your life!
In His Loving Name,
Life With Father Ministries
SURRENDER YOUR WEAPONS!
Like the people in Jeremiah’s day, the first step in getting your life turned around is to admit that you need help and surrender yourself to the Lord. Have you noticed yet that your strong will is not enough to get you where you want to go in life? Have you noticed that the more you try to push forward, the further behind you get? Let the following story provide a picture of what it means to surrender your life to the Lord…
Scrolling down my social media feed one day, I saw a short video of a crab holding a knife in its claw! Picture this… a blue point crab about 6 or 7 inches wide with its back up against the sea wall, pinchers raised high, wielding a plastic serrated dinner knife! A hand reaches out from behind the camera to disarm the crustacean. Of course, with its minimal understanding, the crab lashes out in defense. It doesn’t realize that this is a helping hand whose only intention is to return it to the sea, where it belongs.
Some of us are so used to fighting (mentally, emotionally, and physically) that we don’t recognize the Lord’s hand in our situation. We don’t understand that He longs to disarm us (from further injury of ourselves or others) and carry us to a place of right living and serenity! God’s pure motive is to get us to surrender the flimsy knife that we think is keeping us so safe. We can let our defenses down when we come before Him. In His presence (here on earth) is a safe place of great joy (Psalm 16:11). It is a place of total acceptance and gentle comfort. It is where we can find healing for our body, emotions, and memories and relief for our suffering, depression, and sadness. This is where we are released from our anger and frustration, forgiven for our stubbornness, and eliminate all the reasons why we hold on to that worthless plastic knife!
The only way to find freedom and peace in your heart and mind right now is to let go of the things that serve you no purpose whatsoever! But it’s your choice. Instead of your hands raised in defense, you can now raise them in surrender. Like a child raising their arms for their parent to pick them up, the Lord wants to do this for you today. Let Him embrace you and hold you close. Let Him restore your confidence in Him and give you purpose. There is no other way to find what your heart is longing for because what your heart really desires is not a what but a WHOM! And the Good Shepherd has made Himself available to you right here, today.
David said in Psalm 31:7, “I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” (NLT) I assure you that God sees and cares deeply about the anguish in your life. The pain only intensifies as you travel further down the wrong road!
“…Come and see the breathtaking wonders of our God. For he brings both ruin and revival. He’s the one who makes conflicts end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon of war. Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God.” Psalm 46:8-19 (TPT) There’s no need to fight the hand that only wants to free you! Let the Lord disarm you by helping you discover why you are so defensive. Surrender your anxiety and let the Lord break and burn every weapon you have forged within your soul. Be still, and you will realize He is GOOD!
FORGIVE THOROUGHLY
As we surrender our lives to the Lord, we must forgive! Forgiveness is the key that releases us from our soulish prison. We must forgive everyone, including ourselves and God! Forgiving may not undo what’s been done but it will lance our mental and emotional wounds to begin the healing process. Yes, forgiveness is the beginning of a new life of peace, joy, and fulfillment!
“…Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (MSG)
Unforgiveness affects our entire person, causing unnecessary internal and external suffering! It is for our own health and well-being to practice forgiveness! Forgiving others thoroughly means “erasing their offense completely,” just as “God in Christ forgave you.” We must forgive this way because among the many attributes of Agape love is that it “keeps no record of being wronged.” 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) The word forgive in the opening Scripture means: “to pardon.” When someone is pardoned, they are absolved of both guilt and punishment. This may sound impossible, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, it’s not!
Let me give you an example. I once had arthritis in my hands. And if you have arthritis, you are also well acquainted with the searing pain and debilitating nature of it. One day, I read about how bitterness can be associated with arthritis. I honestly could not think of anyone I was bitter against then. So, I prayed about it over the course of days and weeks. During that time, the Lord revealed that although I had forgiven those who wronged me in the past, I needed to release the pain associated with it. This residual bitterness in my soul was causing my joints to ache! It’s embarrassing to say that I did not recognize the hurtful memories as being bitterness! Neither did I realize those hurts were something I had the power to release from my life. I just thought it was lingering pain from past wounds—like how a bruise forms after an accident. Of course, as soon as I realized my pain was due to bitterness, I quickly flung it far away from me like I had a live rattlesnake in my hand! I was amazed at how quickly my arthritis pain subsided. It’s been years since then and I still have no pain in my hands even though I use them more now than ever in my work. Today, you may feel that forgiving this thoroughly is impossible. But that is what God’s powerful grace is all about! Grace is not just a word but the power to overcome sin and its deadly effects! In prayer, the Holy Spirit is there to help you through the forgiveness process and rid yourself of the pain associated with bitterness for good!
PRAYER FOR SALVATION
If you are unsure where you will spend eternity (by the way, there are only TWO places of eternal residency—with Jesus or without Him!), why don’t you make your future secure? With all sincerity, you can pray the following prayer and be assured of eternal salvation. Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner, and I have not always done the right things or made the right decisions. I ask you to forgive me now. Jesus, I accept your sacrifice on the Cross as payment for my sins. Jesus, come into my heart, make me a new person, and give me eternal life. I ask that you would be my Lord and Savior. Now lead me forward and shower me with your grace and glory. Thank you, Lord, for giving me newness of life! Amen.