by Chad Lewis on February 11, 2010
I came across the following in a devotional I am reading. It is an excerpt from Hannah Whitall Smith’s The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.
Years ago I came across this sentence in an old book: “Never indulge, at the close of an action, in any self-reflective acts of any kind, whether of self-congratulation or self-despair. Forget the things that are behind, the moment they are past, leaving them with God.” This has been of unspeakable value to me. When the temptation comes, as it mostly does to every worker after the performance of any service, to indulge in these reflections, either of one sort or the other, I turn from them at once and positively refuse to think about my work at all, leaving it with the Lord to overrule the mistakes, and to bless it as he chooses. I believe there would be far fewer “blue Mondays” for ministers of the Gospel than there are now if they would adopt this plan; and I am sure all workers would find their work far less wearing.
by Chad Lewis on June 25, 2009
I came across the Jonathan Edwards quotation yesterday and wanted to share it.
Edwards writes of his experience with God at some point,
The appearance of everything was altered… Prayer seemed natural to me as breath by which the inward burnings of my heart had vent.
What a beautiful picture! Though prayer does not always flow so freely from us, it is the invitation of our God to talk to Him and to listen to Him. It is God’s invitation to truly “be” with Him. I know when I am able, by His grace, to see Him more clearly, the appearance of this world and my circumstances change. I am able to view things more clearly and my prayers do flow more easily. I must remember that God is good, I am His, and He is in control. I don’t have anything to prove in prayer so I can come resting in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Open access is now ours through Jesus.
God, may you light our hearts on fire to truly know You and burn for you. Amen.
by Chad Lewis on May 21, 2009
I have been thinking about this George Mueller quotation a lot lately.
There was a day I died – died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world’s approval and censure, died to the approval or blame of my brethren or friends; and since I have studied only to show myself approved to God.
It seems like I have to go through daily deaths. I have to die to the approval of people and seek to follow the convictions that God has outlined in Scripture and laid on my heart. I sometimes have to make decisions where all parties involved are left unhappy. I have to die to the draw to be “great” in the world’s eyes and seek to be a servant of all. Some days I don’t die to myself very well.
God invites all of us to sit before Him and cast our cares onto His lap. He cares for us. Consider what things you need to die to and then remember, God never calls us to do something He won’t empower us to do. Sometimes death is a slow process and some things we will never be free from fighting while in these present bodies. Always remember that His mercies are new every morning and this battle is worth waging.
by Chad Lewis on March 6, 2009
C.S. Lewis said, “If by one miracle, the total content of time were spread out before me, and if, by another, I were able to hold all that infinity of events in mind and if, by a third, God were pleased to comment on it so I could understand it, then, to be sure, I could do what the Historicist says he is doing. I could read the meaning, discern the pattern.”
Though we can know the main story line of human existence through the Scriptures, we often put some pressure on ourselves to “figure out” what God is doing in every circumstance. I have no doubt that He is working in the minutest details of His kids’ lives, but I also know that our tiny brains could not even begin to understand all the implications of each day on eternity. So where does this leave us? What are we to do? Though the answer is definitely too simplistic in ways, it is the calling of all believers everywhere. Our calling is to trust. Our calling is to fight for faith. Our calling is to battle to believe.
Some days, our faith will be strong enough to see mountains moved. Other days, I know I have experienced a weakness of faith that felt like a string was holding me up over the Grand Canyon. But what I continue to know, is that through all of these times, God doesn’t let us go. He is our refuge and our calling is to trust in Him. As Rich Mullins said, we must trust in the reckless, raging fury that they call the love of God. So, whether you are weary and barely holding on, or you are seeing God move in marvelous ways, be reminded today that God is in control. For every one thing we see Him doing, He is doing 1,000’s of things we will possibly never see. His work is masterful and the canvass is our heart. He invites us into intimacy. He invites us to know His heart. As Hebrews 6:19 says, we have this hope as an anchor for our soul.
by Chad Lewis on February 6, 2009
I get made fun of quite often for the illustrations I use and how I act them out in front of crowds. Inside I chuckle because it just shows that people remember the illustration.
The performance treadmill is one of my favorite illustrations. I act like I’m on a treadmill and then ask how far it gets me. People reply, “Nowhere.” I then tell them how it just works up a sweat and if you stop running, you actually get hurt pretty bad.
For years, this described my Christian life. I had no rest. I had no soul rest. I was constantly trying to win God’s approval with how I lived and of course I could never stack up. I would either dwell in the land of despair if I was not doing well, and if I was doing alright, I would live in self-righteousness. Despair was my land more often.
Then, in 1997, God awakened my heart to start understanding what the finished work of the cross really was and how that applied to my life. I was not called to live to win God’s approval, but rather, God’s approval through Christ was already mine and that should be what stirs me to live.
So my motivations began to change. God continues this work in me today.
Hebrews 4:9-11 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
Do you find yourself on the performance treadmill today? Do you find yourself trusting in the finished work of the cross? Is the center of your motivation for living that God loves you and longs for what is best in your life? The best gifts God can give us are those things that shake us to the core so that we will find our greatest treasure in Him alone and not in the passing things of this world.
So take a breath and reflect on the cross. Thank God for what He has done and ask Him to help you live in that reality today.
by Chad Lewis on July 1, 2008
In Jeremiah 17:5 and following, we get a look into the difference between a person who trusts in man and the person who trusts in God. The differences are like night and day.
In verses 5 and 6, we see that the person who trust in man and depends on flesh for his strength is cursed. This person is also described as having their heart turn away from the LORD. I believe this can allude to the person who trusts in other friends, themselves, governments, or anything other than God. Just like the Psalmist said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). People can trust in a variety of things, but none of these things give life and the foundation they offer is like shifting sand.
So what is this person like? The descriptions here are pretty drab and hopeless. A bush in the wasteland that does not see prosperity. This person’s thirsty soul is never quenched. This doesn’t sound like a place I want to visit though I have seen the affects of wandering scar my soul during some seasons of life.
The good news comes in verses 7 and 8. The opposite is true of the person who trusts in the LORD and puts their confidence in Him. What is true of this person? They are like a tree planted by water and this tree grows it’s roots deep down into the ground and finds water and life from a source unseen to the naked eye. These roots drink from a stream that never runs dry.
When heat comes, this person does not fear for he knows and ruthlessly trusts in the Lord. The most amazing thing is told to us next. In times of drought, this tree produces green leaves and does not dwell in worry during the dry spells. And by God’s grace and good pleasure, this person produces fruit for the world to see and wonder. As many see our good works and the fruit that pops out, they will praise our God who fills up empty and weak believers who trust in Him.
So what are you trusting in today? Your intelligence? Your ability to convince? Your future? Your spouse? Are you trusting in some future ministry to fill you or to validate your life? Are you trusting in ______________? You fill in the blank and get before the Lord and ask Him to reveal what you are trusting in other than Him. Repent, confess it to some fellow believers, and seek to trust in the Lord. It will always be a daily battle, but God will empower us to do what He calls us to do.
by Chad Lewis on January 21, 2007
After living a gazillion places, having a thousand jobs, being up in front of people playing music and speaking, mopping floors, having money and being dirt poor, receiving accolades and awards, and being made fun of, I have realized that none of this earthly stuff is ever enough. One might think that after having experienced earth shattering lows that are so painful your teeth hurt that you would truly appreciate the highs where the whole world seems to be affected by you, but it is never enough and it was never meant to be.
We were created to never be truly filled by anything but God alone. If we believe the Scriptures, God has us where we are for His exact purposes and to fulfill a greater plan. I have seen the green grass on the other side of the fence and moved to the neighbor’s yard only to desire to go back because the shades of green seemed to change.
With all of this, I think of Paul’s words in the epistles. He counted “ALL” loss compared to knowing Christ. He counted everything as rubbish and refuse compared to knowing Christ. And he also found contentment in all things. Whether he was hungry or full, warm or cold, in safety or in danger, in all these places he was in Christ and Christ was in him.
We were not created for this world so the next time you find yourself useless because you are thinking that being somewhere else would solve all your problems, remember that your problems and heartaches will always go with you. However, the God of our fathers will never change and He can meet us in our time of deepest need.
So I write this to myself this morning because I’ve been thinking that the grass is greener right now and my contentment in what God is providing is at a low. But, I will trust in His promises and say along with David, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…” God has made me lie down in the green pastures that He has ordained for me at this time, and I will praise Him for it.
by Chad Lewis on August 31, 2006
The thorn holds back the veil so I can see my Savior’s face.
I heard the above line in a poem a few days ago. In pondering this thought, I imagine all the things that keep us from an intimate relationship with our Lord. If we were left to our own devices, we would never seek God. We would simply go on god-hunts for all our lives thinking that the next thing would fill the Grand Canyon cavern in our soul that longs for something bigger than we can imagine.
The writer of Ecclesiastes says that God has put eternity in our hearts. We can taste that we were made for something bigger though so often, even as Christians, we don’t believe that God can fill this hole in our hearts.
Then enter the thorn. We hate thorns. We would have a problem if we liked pain or loneliness. But we don’t have to like them to know that they are useful in our lives. We can humbly accept the thorn because it will help us cling to the hem of our Savior’s robe and we will then notice His accepting eyes and open arms. Could this grace be true? Could God send distress? Could that be in His master plan?
There has been no sweeter fellowship with the Lord save when I was in my deepest point of distress. When aching and gut-wrenching agony had crippled my soul, I found my Savior weeping with me. But in the same moment I found my Savior smiling for He knew that this was best. This thorn allowed me to see Him more clearly. I could see better whose I was and that is much more important than who I am. I am beloved. I am Christ’s. I was bought back at the highest price so that I can be a shining jewel for God.
So if you find yourself complaining about your thorn, stop and breathe. Stop and read 2 Corinthians 12 and following. Stop and TRUST. For Gospel transformation only begins when we recognize our need and take it to the Savior. God choose a few ordinary people to change the course of the world. Each one realized their need for Him. Let us glory in our need for it will help us glory in our Savior’s sufficiency.
by Chad Lewis on July 13, 2006
Ginger and I just got through listening to John Piper’s sermon on George Mueller’s life.
Mueller has long been a hero of mine as his faith in God’s Providence is legendary. As an evangelist, head of orphanages, and missionary, Mueller saw God do amazing things. It is not hard to get discouraged when I sometimes look at my lack of faith.
But as I listen and read about this man’s life, his main desire was to show the faithfulness and majesty of God. Those whom we would call “super-saints” would be horrified to hear such a title. They would be quick to proclaim that they are not super, but that God is more powerful, awesome, lovely, caring, intimate, etc… than we can ever dream or imagine.
Do we dare take God at His Word? Do we dare trust His hand and not the riches of this world? Take the long view brothers and sisters! It may seem that we are throwing away our money, time and very life to the world, but we are trading the temporary for the eternal! Mueller knew this full well.
The ironic thing is that we actually find life when we give our life away. By trading these worldly accolades and treasures in for God’s glory to be known, we gain joy indescribable. This takes place as we shine like lights to a darkened world and they see something that cannot be explained.
This directly shines the spotlight on our God and His sufficiency.
Take some time today and ask yourself “What things am I really putting my trust in?” “What things am I not willing to part with?” Then get before the Lord and ask Him to be your sufficiency. It is then that we don’t need to struggle for more faith. We need to struggle to rest and see who God really is. For when we get a better view of God and His glory, our faith is soon to increase. It is all about Him. We must decrease and He must increase.
by Chad Lewis on October 28, 2005
My friend John Cordova is moving to town to work and go to seminary. I recall a conversation we had this summer and something he briefly stated in one sentence has often been on my mind since that muggy, summer day in Florida.
Cordova simply said, “I’m willing to trust God with my eternal destination but I’m not willing to trust him today.”
My heart resonated with that statement. Then I thought about how illogical it is for it to be so true in my life on so many days. How can I trust God with my eternity – the part that never ends – but I’m not willing to trust him with today’s needs and trials?
The same God that has rescued me from the domain of darkness (read Ephesians 2 if you like) so that I could be a pointer to His amazing grace gives me all I need today. He will do the same tomorrow and the same when I am breathing my last breath on this round globe.
He will make sure I get to eternity all right and that the new heaven and earth will be my home – He will be my home.
So here I am today, having trouble trusting… What do I need? I need to remember and trust in the foundational promises of God’s word. I might need a friend to remind me of the amazing gospel through a phone call or letter.
If you aren’t trusting God today, don’t beat yourself up. But do go to Him and honestly share your heart. Then call a friend and ask them to preach the gospel to you for we need to be reminded everyday.
