The path of obedience is strewn with grace. Disobedience is a desert. Proverbs 13:15 Amplified says, “Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard (like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp).” If one aspect of our life is hard, we need to ask these questions. ‘Where did I get off track?’ ‘What command did I disobey?’

When our way opposes God’s way, He will oppose us. Balaam is a great example. Numbers 22 is the whole narrative. God told Balaam not to go. Balaam went anyway. Verse says, “Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him…” Verse 26 says, “Then the Angel of the Lord…stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.” Verse 32 says, “…I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.”

James 4:6 says that He resists the proud. In what area of your life do you feel stymied? Proverbs 6:23 Amplified says, “For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching (of the law) is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” One of the ways the Lord opposes us is through frustration.

Years ago the Holy Spirit gave me a definition of frustration. God intercepting my way to redirect me into His way. That day was redirected many times. I was on my way. An accident ahead stopped traffic, so I missed my appointment. Then my car overheated. Someone gave me a bottle of water and told me to wait for my radiator to cool down. I finally started to go back home to the left, and the Holy Spirit told me to go to the right. It was late so I stopped at a restaurant. As I walked by this table, there were my friends from another country. I didn’t even know that they were in town. The Lord did! He intercepted my way to redirect me into His way.

Reluctance is a fleshly reaction. If I had been reluctant that day, I would have missed what the Lord wanted to accomplish. Procrastination is rooted in a hidden reef of reluctance. What has the Lord called you to do that you have put off? Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”

If you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, here are two great verses to use as prayers. Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”  Verse 14 Amplified says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.”

One who is living in sin does not worship. Sin covers our heart and blocks any intimate communion with the Lord. Sin is pride, and God stands as an adversary against our sinful way. Sin’s way is a spiritual desert of barrenness. A ready heart is His joy. He lavishes His abundant grace on the humble. It is essential to note which path we are on.

Joshua was the leader of the children of Israel. Yet when he met the Lord as the Commander of the Army of the Lord watch what happened. Joshua 5:14 says, “…And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, What does my Lord say to His servant?” 

Note how there was no hesitation to the Commander’s words. Verse 15 says, “Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua,  Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.”

It is good to take note of how quick we are to obey God’s commands. Any reluctance on our part reveals a hidden reef. We have forgotten something. 2 Peter 1:5-7 says to add these things to our faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

Verse 8 says that if these things abound in our lives, then we will never be barren nor unfruitful in our knowledge of the Lord. Verse 9 says, “He who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” Shortsighted, blinded, and deceived are words that describe something like horse blinders. We can only see the temptation that is right in front of us. Hindsight helps us remember that we were cleansed from our sin and therefore dead to it.

Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin…” Dead things have no response. No matter what the stimuli there is NO response. All stimuli appeal to our flesh. However, when we are dwelling in God’s word, and His word dwells in us, our flesh is starved.

We only fall for satan’s temptations when they entice us through our hidden reefs. Think of it this way. If you go to bed angry, you have a hidden reef. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” Disobedience is active heart-rebellion.

Numbers 32:23 says, “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” Yielding to the temptation reveals the hidden sin. If there was no fleshly longing before you were presented with the temptation, there would be no response to the temptation.

Another example is carrying an offense in our heart. That is a hidden reef. The offended are enticed because they are still holding an earlier offense. The hidden reef has a magnetic power that draws us into the temptation. 2 Peter 1:3 says that we have all things that pertain to life and godliness through our relationship with our Warrior God. That means that His word is His command to obey without hesitation…no hidden reefs.

Are you grounded in your faith? No matter what happens in our lives, we have eternal hope as the anchor of our soul. No matter how things are shaking around us, our life is hidden with Christ in God. He is our Defense, Refuge, Stronghold, Rock, Fortress, and our Deliverer. Our relationship with Him is founded in faith, maintained in faith, and we will cross over the finish line through faith.

Our faith is not in something, but in Someone. Mark 11:22 says to have faith in God. In and of ourselves, we are weak, and absolutely ineffective to fight the wiles of the devil. We have to fight through faith in God’s ability. He is All Powerful. I love to think about this attribute. It means that no one, nor anything has any power. He has it all! When our faith is in Him, we are standing in Him who is Immovable, Unchanging, Unshakeable, and Impenetrable. 

Throughout history, many ships have capsized and sank because they ran into a hidden reef. The unsinkable Titanic sank. Why? It ran into a hidden iceberg. We cannot take our faith for granted. We cannot sail in the troubled waters of sin’s temptations and think we can float by unscathed. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 

The stolen waters of sin are sweet in the moment, but it is poison that can destroy your faith. It is good to review how James wrote about the progression of temptations. Anyone can fall prey. It all depends on what we do with the ‘thought’ of the temptation. James 1:14-15 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Verse 16 says, “Do not be deceived…” Hebrews 3:13 says that our hearts can be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. So what do we do? 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…” Hidden reefs are deceiving. 

Proverbs 2 is a great chapter about wisdom’s protection. Where do we get wisdom that will keep us from hidden sin? We gather it daily, like the children of Israel gathered manna. Jesus used His word to stop the devil’s temptations. Luke 4:4 Amplified says, “…It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by every word and expression of God.”

Last night I listened to our Sunday night message. I’m quoting my pastor: Faith is the whole body of truth. We demonstrate that we love the Lord through obedience. Paul preached the whole counsel of God. He didn’t leave out anything. When we read God’s word, we need to read it all. As we daily read for understanding, the Holy Spirit will bring conviction to our hidden sin-reefs. We confess them as sin, repent, our fellowship with the Lord is restored, and our faith is strengthened.

In 1 Peter 5:7 Peter instructed his readers to cast all their care upon the Lord. Cares can weigh us down. Mark 4:19 says that the cares of this world will choke out His word so that it becomes unfruitful. Peter went on to remind his readers that satan prowls around to see who is weak in their faith. When God’s word is not active in our heart, we can easily fall prey to satan’s wiles.

Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. What ‘cares’ are weakening your faith? What lies of the enemy have you believed that are controlling you? What unresolved issues restrict your faith? The Lord designs trials that will purify our faith to make it strong and resistant. 

1 Peter 5:9 Amplified says, “Withstand him; be firm in faith (against his onset–rooted, established, strong, immoveable, and determined), knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.”

Resist means to set against, withstand, and oppose. We do this through our faith. Note again the words in the Amplified: rooted, established, strong, immoveable, and determined. Our shield of faith is an offensive weapon. We need to actively and aggressively counter attack with faith each time a fiery dart is lobbed at us.

First we need to establish truth which will become like an internal sentinel to warn us. It is experiential truth that fuels our faith to be combative. We stand in His truth, wielding it like a sword to cut down every fiery dart before it can land and penetrate. Think of the word combative. We must counter any attack through the truth that is seeded in our hearts.

The Lord is our Defense. Psalm 71:1-3 says, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.”

Psalm 94:22 says, “But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.” Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, Destroy!”

In order to thwart the devil’s design to devour us, we must continually build up our faith. We cannot be slack in this discipline. There will never be a time on this earth that we are not stalked by the evil one. He has countless workers doing his bidding. He has myriad ways to tempt us so that he can devour us. His design is to shipwreck our faith through hidden sin.

The Holy Spirit gave me these two words last night while I was eating supper. I had to look them up. I thought it had something to do with skin, but what is it really? Here is a doctor’s definition copied from the internet: Proud flesh is usually caused by a failure to heal. Here is another: tissue that fills the wound bed to a greater extent than what is required and goes beyond the height of the surface of the wound resulting in a raised tissue mass. 

If you have ever been burned, the scar is proud flesh. Have you ever been burned in a relationship? One of my early ebooks is entitled: Reviving Burned Stones: rejection recovery. Rejection is very painful. It can create proud flesh, because the wound bed is filled with emotional pain.

As I read the various definitions, I immediately thought of the complexity of unforgiveness. The failure to heal is the failure to forgive from the heart. The emotional pain remains buried. It causes inner defilement. It filters into our thought processes. It blocks our spiritual growth.

Here are two verses to a new song called Womb of the Morning. Your words like oil penetrate the places in my heart that were hardened through fear. You say My child don’t be afraid. I’ve been there all along to shield and protect. Let go of that which you clutch so tight. That I might fulfill the deepest longings of your heart.

Don’t let the cares of this life choke out My words. Open your heart to hear the beat of My own heart. I desire oneness with you but I won’t compete with that to which you give yourself. I will but wait until you tire of your own pursuits.  And nestle down in My love.

​Anything that we have allowed to remain buried is a block to intimacy​. First with the Lord, and then with those around us. We have learned to function, but the Lord has called us to thrive. Refusing to forgive someone who has hurt you opens the way for satan to build a stronghold. He steals from us by planting lies that we believe. He uses them to control us.

John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The Strong’s definition for abundantly is: superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, profuse, extraordinary, above the ordinary, and more than sufficient.

Nothing is worth holding onto if it blocks intimate communion with the Lord. He has called us to His abundance. Why would we settle anything less? I wrote a tract once called Why Settle For Less? Psalm 34:9-10 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

​What do you lack? We cannot afford to hoard unforgiveness. It will destroy us from within because it cuts off God’s fulfillment. Are there folks you avoid, subjects you skirt around, or places you won’t go back to? They might be an indication of unforgiveness. ​Psalm 107:9 says, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” It is His goodness that brings us to repentance. 

When you got dressed this morning did you put on humility? 1 Peter 5:5 says, “…and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The Greek word for humility means lowliness of mind. Humility is a character quality. It doesn’t change behind closed doors.

When I read this verse I thought back to John 13. Jesus wanted to give His disciples a visual demonstration of humility. Verse 4 says that Jesus, “Rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.” Paul gave another example. Philippians 2:7-8 says, “But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

James 3:13 Amplified says, “Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his (good) works with the (unobtrusive) humility (which is the proper attribute) of  true wisdom.” The word ‘unobtrusive’ means to not be conspicuous or attracting attention.

Humility is a mindset that demonstrates our dependency on the Lord. John 15:5 says that apart from Him we can do nothing. We can know this intellectually, but continue to do things in our own strength. Therefore we will always be resisted by the Holy Spirit. Our flesh and the Holy Spirit oppose one another like two magnets.

Humility comes from the heart. It is a spiritual reality based in trust. Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and long suffering are key components in heart forgiveness. There is absolute abstinence of arrogance, conceit, or haughtiness. It is the unselfish concern for the welfare of others. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” The answer is no.

James 4:1 Amplified says, “What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?” Romans 16:17 says to watch out for divisions and offenses. Discord, feuds, conflicts, quarrels, and fighting are pride words.

Unforgiveness in families, marriage, churches, or any organizations disrupt God’s design for unity. Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Verse 2 says that it is like precious oil upon the head. Verse 3 says that it is like the dew descending on the mountains. Then it says,”…for there the Lord commanded the blessing–life evermore.” The path of humility is strewn with grace and abundant blessings.

Our thoughts are key in every aspect of our lives. Therefore we have to be very aware and alert of what we dwell on in our thoughts.  This is so true when we are suffering. Job had no clue that God and satan had a conversation about him. We know from Job 1:8 that Job was blameless, upright, he feared God, and he shunned evil. This gives us a great insight into his thought life.

When everything in Job’s life crumbled, his immediate response was recorded for us in Job 1:20. It says, “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshipped.” Verse 22 says, “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Exemplary. There was no negative dialogue.

Psalm 15:2-5 is a template for maintaining righteous thoughts. I am going to paraphrase. It is one who walks uprightly, works righteousness, speaks truth in his heart, does not backbite, does no evil, receives no gossip, despises vile actions, honors those who fear the Lord, walks in heart integrity, does not charge excessive interest, and does not take bribes. Verse 5 says, “…He who does these things shall never be moved.”

In 1983 I was a receptionist for a Christian acupuncture doctor. He astutely told me that I was full of fear. I denied that. I didn’t feel any fear. He handed me a book to read. The title was something like this, “Do You Hear What You Are Thinking?” I was taken aback. I had no clue what my thoughts were because they filled my mind. I asked the Lord to give me a sign when I was in fear. He did. It was like a little butterfly in my stomach. 

I tell you what, I was in fear. When I felt the butterfly I would confess my fear as sin. It came really often. Everytime I would confess it as sin. I was totally unaware until it was pointed out to me. It was the awareness that allowed me to change. In 1993 I learned that not every thought I had was of my own origin. That began another journey of confessing the lies I had believed and affirming the truth.

I bring this up because our thoughts affect our brain. They can cause stress that negatively affects our health. Fight or flight is a God-given reaction to help us flee or fight in immediate danger. Our body kicks into high gear. However, when we have a fearful thought with no danger, our brain doesn’t make that distinction. Fearful thoughts cause stress.

A negative dialogue against yourself, sets up an internal sabotage. A negative thought against another or our circumstances affects our attitude towards them. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” Do you hear what you are thinking? Philippians 4:8 is a great template. How do your thoughts line up? Are they true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, and praise worthy? This is a great pattern to establish. It will bring health to our mind and body. It will give us quality of life to serve the Lord with gladness.

I want to recount for you a scene at Valley Forge. This comes from the book, “The Light and the Glory: Did God have a plan for America?” There had been a famine in the camp. The men were naked and starving. The distress for want of provisions was more than you and I could possibly conceive.

One day a Quaker man heard a voice near a grove of trees. He went to investigate. There was General George Washington on his knees in prayer. The authors told how, because of Washington’s belief that God would deliver them, the men endured their hardship. 2 Timothy 2:3 says, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

We are being watched. I love to read autobiographies. Why? I want to watch how others have handled their suffering. I told you about Amy Carmichael yesterday. She never left her cot. Any movement of her foot intensified her pain. She had to be attended to for the rest of her life. Yet, in her suffering, she wrote hope and encouragement. Her written words are like soothing oil to the open wounds of discouragement. 

We are called to suffer. Here is an aspect of suffering that continually amazes me. We are on display by God’s design. Ephesians 3:10 says, “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” 

Let me review some truths. Ephesians 1:21 says that Jesus is seated, “Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

The Lord is our Lord who is Lord Over All. In His infinite wisdom, He is using His church to display His manifold wisdom to a captive audience. When I think of the word ‘manifold’ I picture my kaleidoscope. It kept me fascinated. I only had to turn it a tiny bit, and there was a whole new scene.

Here is the Strong’s definition for manifold: much, varied, many colored. We are unique in our suffering. There is no one experiencing exactly what we are going through. It may be the same type of circumstance, but we are individuals. Even if you and I were going through, say, a financial crisis, it would still be different because of our backgrounds. 

Our take away in this is that God knows every nuance-experience in our lives from the womb to when we die. He uses our uniqueness to display another aspect of His many colored, immensely variegated wisdom to gain glory over our enemy. We are created for His glory. Somehow, in His manifold wisdom, He uses His children to accomplish His purpose in creating those watching us: spirits, believers, and unbelievers. 

There are multiple benefits in our suffering. 1 Peter 4:1-2 says, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

Ceased from sin because we suffered. Deep suffering takes away any appetite for fleshly lusts. It isn’t even on our radar because we are clinging to the Lord. Suffering is God’s character refining instrument. Suffering yields the fruit of humility. Humility ushers in grace. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Have you ever considered that your suffering is a gift to others? I think of Amy Carmichael. Her ankle was crushed when she fell into an abandoned well. She spent the rest of her life suffering from that injury. She said that she would receive letters that did not comfort her. They were written by folks who didn’t know pain.

I love her poem about the harrow and the toad. Since it is copyrighted I will paraphrase. The toad is beneath the tongs of the harrow. The butterfly preaches contentment to the toad. Her book, “Rose From Brier” ministered to me as no other book has. Why? She was writing to folks in pain from one who was in pain. She knew the harrow. 

Our Savior knew the harrow. The cross is God’s instrument to set us free from the bondage of sin. Once we accept His finished work for ourselves, we enter into the harrow of character refinement. Romans 5:3-4 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations…” Why do we glory? They are God’s perfect design to conform us to His instrument. Here are the benefits, “…knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character hope.”

Peter knew the harrow. He was sifted by satan. His final words are recorded for us in 1 & 2 Peter. Remember, we are stewards of all that the Lord has given us. Every trial, adversity, being sinned against, and sinning against others is part of our makeup. Whatever the Lord has allowed us to go through is His will. His purpose is stamped on every nuance-experience.

1 Peter 4:19 says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” We are created in the image of God to glorify Him. We glorify Him when we embrace our suffering tools. They are strategically conforming us to His will in our thoughts, purpose, and actions.

1 Peter 3:14-15 connects a very important truth with suffering and our heart. Verse 14-15 is a quote from Isaiah 8:12=13 which says, “Do not say, A conspiracy, concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.”

Peter set the stage for when we suffer for righteousness’ sake. I can tell you from personal experience, that any suffering reveals the hidden in our hearts. To sanctify means to set apart. Here is 1 Peter 3:14-15 in the J. B. Phillips. It says, “…You need neither fear their threats nor worry about them; simply concentrate on being completely devoted to Christ in your hearts…”

Mr. Phillips was conveying a key truth in any trouble. The trouble is a set up to get us off track. It is satan’s design to derail us. Our heart is easily pulled this way and that, like making taffy. Did you notice the word ‘hallow’ in Isaiah? What happened to Moses when he got derailed? Numbers 20:12 says, “…Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

The heart of the matter in any suffering is to stay focused on the Lord. When He is our center, nothing will be able to shake us, throw us off kilter, or derail us. Here is part of a new song.

Song of the Altar

In the midst of adversity when trouble surrounds me. I come into Your presence and I build an altar. I remember how You met me time and time again and I bow in worship.

Nothing can overtake me when I hide in You. Nothing can overwhelm me when I look to You. I set my eyes on You and I gaze into Your face. I bask in the love of Your eyes full of grace.

Hebrews 11:6 says that it is impossible to please God without faith. Our faith is under attack right now with our national derailment. We are disrupted from our normal way of life. The hidden in our hearts is being exposed. Therefore it is imperative that we take our heart before the Lord. We need to ask Him what unbelief is keeping us from hallowing Him before others.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” The only way we truly know our own heart is to recognize our behavior that does not exemplify the Lord. He is our Standard that never changes. When we view our actions through the truth of His word, we have a true Standard.

Isaiah 59:19 says, “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Jesus did not react when He suffered for righteousness. He hallowed His Father by committing His life into His hands. Let us do the same.