Handling Busy Weeks

We all have weeks that are busier than others. This has been a busy one for me. I’m not complaining … I’m just calling it as I see it. For me, it was the combination of a funeral, Good Friday Service, and Easter Service. Looking forward, I saw a lot of long days and expected to be pretty drained afterward. Looking back, it really wasn’t that bad. But, if I had tried to do it on my own, it probably would have been. What made the difference? I can narrow it down to one word: Prayer.

Prayer is powerful on so many levels. For one, it’s a conversation with the Almighty. Knowing that God hears when His children pray is encouraging. [2 Chr. 7:14; Jer 29:11-13] On top of that, Jesus is interceding before the Father. [Romans 8:34]But, it doesn’t stop there, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf when we don’t know what to say [Romans 8:26-27].

But, then, there’s the human side. Prayer reduces anxiety:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:6-7 ESV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

When we fail to pray, we tend to take everything on ourselves, in our own strength. When we pray, however, we both draw upon His strength and leave our burdens at His feet.

So, next time you feel a busy week coming on, instead of cutting back on your prayer life, double it. Listen to Martin Luther’s perspective on a busy day: "I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." You may not need to take three hours in prayer, but don’t short change your prayer life! With the extra time in prayer, I suspect that you will find you have sufficient time for the demands that face you. Before all else fails, PRAY!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

WHAT IS YOUR HEADING?

Over the past few months, I’ve watched a show on the Discovery Channel called, “Out of the Wild: Venezuela.” This show follows several volunteers who are dropped off in a remote location with a little survival training, a few supplies, and a map showing how to get to the next checkpoint. As they proceed on their journey, it is vital that they pay careful attention to where they are at and where they need to go. Can you imagine being lost in the middle of Venezuela, with no signs of civilization? But, paying careful attention to their location, map, and compass, most finished their journey without quitting.

Every Christian is on a journey. The Bible is our map, and the Holy Spirit is our compass, pointing us in the right direction with the use of the Scriptures. However, sometimes we can get disoriented and lose track of where we are. This is a dangerous place to be, and it is so easy to get there. That is why it is so imperative that we constantly check our heading and ask ourselves, where are we at, where are we going, and how do we get there? Lamentations 3:40-41 says, “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven.” If we just keep going without self-examination (our ways), referring to the map (the Bible) and/or paying attention to our compass (the Holy Spirit), we will soon find ourselves in a desperate situation. If, however, we are careful to “test and examine our ways,” we may realize that we are off course before we find ourselves in too much trouble. Remember,

The LORD is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him. (Lam 3:25 ESV)
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; (Psa 31:3 ESV)

So, in closing, I ask, “What’s your heading?” Are you where God wants you to be? If not, get back on track and in-tune with God!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE...

As I prayed and considered what to write for today’s bulletin / blog, James 4:7 came to mind; “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (ESV) While much could be said about submitting ourselves to God, I’d like to focus on the second half of this verse, and ask the question, “What does it mean to resist the devil?”

I suspect that we all have ideas of what it means to resist the devil. One idea might be something along the lines of the “just say no!”campaign against drugs. Another idea might involve claiming Jesus’ name and status as one of His children. Or, perhaps, you are thinking more along the lines of avoiding or running away from temptation. All of these ideas have merit, but I don’t think they are exactly what this passage has in mind. To get to the heart of the matter, we really need to look beyond the word “resist” and take a look at the Greek word behind it.

The Greek word behind “resist” is ἀντίστητε. The Greek dictionaries show the strength of this word with such definitions as, “be in opposition to,” “set oneself against,” “hold one’s ground,” and “to stand in opposition to.” (BDAG, Barclay, and LEH) Another one gives the following explanation: “to oppose someone, involving not only a psychological attitude but also a corresponding behavior - 'to oppose, to be hostile toward, to show hostility.' (Louw & Nida)”

Those strong words show us what it takes to “resist the devil” so that “he will flee from you.” It goes beyond just saying “no” and involves active opposition to, and hostility toward, the devil. There is no passivity, whatsoever, in this resistance. And, it isn't just an “in the moment” thing. It is something that must be part of our lifestyle and way of thinking. It requires us to go on the offensive, putting Satan on the defensive, and eventually to flight. And with God’s help, he will flee! So, stand strong, and resist him!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

“GLORIOUS DAY”

One of my favorite music groups recently recorded a song that I think we all know well. In our hymnal, it’s called, “One Day!” The remake is called, “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me).” Whether you prefer the version in our hymnal or the version sung by Casting Crowns, the chorus is still powerful:

Living, He loved me;
Dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—
Oh glorious day,
Oh glorious day! *1

In that chorus, we have the essentials of the Gospel: Jesus’ perfect, sinless life, His substitutionary death (atonement) on the cross, His victorious resurrection, and His future, glorious return. That covers Jesus’ part of the Gospel, but we all must respond —either in faith (with repentance, embracing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior), or rejecting the Good News. Eternity hangs in the balance.

As we draw nearer to Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter, I encourage you to think about the impact the Gospel has had on your life. Throughout the month of April, consider, or meditate on, the words of this hymn/song, and I suspect that you will find a fresh gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice and your salvation. Whether it’s coincidence, or not, that this chorus formed a cross shape above, in all things, remember the cross of Christ and the wonder of salvation! And, if you haven’t yet responded in faith, “...Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2 ESV) Find forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ today, and you will find that is truly a “Glorious Day!”

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

*1 By J. Wilbur Chapman (1910); Mark Hall, Michael Bleecker © 2009 Word Music, LLC, My Refuge Music, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing