Seeing God in the Fruit of the Spirit

7 02 2012

Last summer, I had one of those “duh” spiritual insights as I was reflecting on Galatians 5 and the fruit of the Spirit. What was it? Simply that the fruit of the Spirit are a perfect description of what God is like and how He treats me. Too often, I think of the fruit of the Spirit as a checklist (that I am, as a rule, failing to reach in my life). As I thought about the nine fruit of the Spirit in these terms, this is what I saw:

  • Love – God the Father cares.
  • Joy – God the Father smiles
  • Peace – God the Father is relaxed
  • Patience – God the Father is slow to lose His temper
  • Kindness – God the Father is welcoming
  • Goodness – God the Father does good work and gives good gifts.
  • Faithfulness – God the Father can be counted on.
  • Gentleness – God the Father is very approachable.
  • Self-control – God the Father is safe.

For Reflection: As you reflect on these descriptions of God the Father, which seems to touch you most? Which do you need to remember most at this point in your journey?

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Refreshed in God Alone

31 01 2012

An edited journal excerpt from June 1991

Psalm 91:14, “’Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.’” Father, I do love You. You are measureless in Your majesty and breathtaking in Your beauty. As You said to Moses, You are “the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6).” You really will rescue me and protect me.

15He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. What remarkable kindness and grace. I’m grateful for the initiative and commitment I hear in Your, “I will.” When I call upon You, You are responsive and present with me in my troubles. You help me find my way out of trouble and give me a place of honor.

16With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” I’m overwhelmed that You would satisfy me when I’ve sought satisfaction in so many empty places. I really want a rich, long life. I want to experience holiness and wholeness. Satisfy me as with a tall, cold glass of water in this dry desert I’ve been walking. Help me find richness in You.

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Making Room For Peace

26 01 2012

An edited journal excerpt from June 1991

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).”

I’ve been reading more in The Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross. The page I started with was so rich that I never turned it.

Simply put, he suggested that when God seeks to put within us a deep peace that is truly beyond our comprehension, He has to remove all traces of the peace that we can sense. When my circumstances are anything but peaceful, when conflict enters my life, when my heart is tempted to worry and concern, this is the very place where I can receive a peace that transcends all understanding.

Paul is not talking theoretically. He speaks with credibility from his prison cell. He isn’t talking about peace from a seat on the beach. He is talking about peace from a no-peace environment.

It seems God will not give us a peace beyond understanding until he removes the peace that we have come to understand. It may well be when I feel the least peace that I have opportunity to learn the deepest sort of peace in God.

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Healing Our Image of Father

28 11 2011

In August, on the last night of a three-day personal retreat, I woke at 3:00am with a great sense of anxiety. I had been struggling with my distorted gut image of God for many days. I found myself praying, “Jesus, I really need for You to show me the Father. I need to see Him the way You see Him.” I thought it was a good prayer.

Immediately, it seemed that God’s Spirit brought to mind the passage in John 14 where Jesus answers a very similar request from Philip. (Let me share the extended passage here):

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

I find this passage profoundly life-giving and potent for where I’m at in the journey. Jesus says to Philip and, for that matter, to me, “From now on, You do know [the Father] and have seen him.” Like Philip, I would have replied, “I really do want to see the Father. That would satisfy me.”

Jesus’ response is one I need to hear. Philip expressed what he thinks is a lack in his spiritual journey. He doesn’t think he’s seen the Father. Jesus opens his eyes by saying; basically, “You’ve been with me for three years. You’ve watched how I’ve lived. You’ve seen what I’ve done. You’ve heard what I said. All of this has been the Father’s nature on display. The Father is like me. I am like my Father. We are One. I haven’t been living my life for the Father so much as in the Father, and He has lived in me all this time. Didn’t you realize that? I speak with His authority. I live in His love and power.

“Now, Philip (and Alan), this is what I invited you into. Trust Me. Believe in Me when I say this. You’ve watched how I lived in the Father. Now I say to you, ‘Live in the Father through me.’ Let the Father work through you, speak through you, live in and through you. Just as the Father has shown Himself in and through Me, let Him now do the same in and through you. Ask whatever you wish in this way. I want it. The Father wants it. And, deep down, you know that you want it as well.”

My response: “Father, I can feel the reality of Your life in these words. I feel an answer to the deep prayer of my heart for so many weeks, months and maybe even years. Your answer to this prayer heals me as Your filling relieves the pressure I’ve felt to try to fill myself with empty experiences, vacant pleasures, and false comforts. Jesus, You Yourself are my experience of life, my pleasing home and my true and real comfort.

“May Your Spirit awaken this as an abiding reality in how I think, feel, choose, plan and work. May this growing reality of my attitude and disposition in life enable me to do the work You have prepared ahead for me in my book writing, the course I’ll teach for HIU, my consulting opportunities, my upcoming retreats, and my leadership of the Journey. This would bring life to others, rather than my just repeated words that have been true enough, but not true enough in me right now.

“Keep healing my heart image of ‘God’, Jesus. Help me to have a vision of the Father in You. Help me remember You, and in that memory realize what the Father is really like. A Father like You is a Father I want to be deeply united with. A Father like You is a Father I want living in me.”

So with all of this in mind, I then hear You when You say, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:12-14 NIV).”

Jesus wants me to hear these words as very true. They reflect deep spiritual reality. This is how it really is. Jesus wants me to deeply trust Him so that I will be able to do the works of the Father just like He did (and does through the Spirit now). I can hardly imagine doing even greater works prepared by the Father since Jesus is with Him in heaven and with me through the Spirit.

I am empowered to “write checks” in Jesus’ name on the account of the Father. I am His representative and am authorized, in a sense, as a signer on that account. And that check will be honored for that reason. It is not carte blanche for selfish requests. It is authority for all the resources and power and wisdom and compassion that I need to do ‘Father works’ in my life and ministry now.

Reflection: How welcoming does your gut image of God feel to you? In what ways does your gut image of God look different from Jesus? Talk to Him about this. 

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How to Pray: Strategic Leadership

20 11 2011

Sky over Cambria, CA

Friday afternoon, I enjoyed meeting with a group of leaders who are, together, developing a spiritual transformation process for an international ministry organization. One of our shared practices is to invest a significant chunk of time reflecting on scripture, individually and in conversation.

On Friday, we met for four hours. We set aside a full hour for individual reflection on our passage, Ephesians 1:15-23. We then spent time back together interacting about what God’s Spirit seemed to be impressing on us about where our spiritual transformation process has been, is and where God seems to be leading it. Here’s that passage:

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spiritt of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I always assume that a biblical prayer like this is showing me something I need. (Why would Paul ask for something that we didn’t need?). A practice that helps me gain insight into those needs is to write down questions that the passage seems to be asking me. Here are the questions that came in my reflection time. I wonder if one of them would be a good place for you to reflect further on how this prayer might intersect with your journey at this time:

In what ways could my Christian life be summarized as trusting Jesus and loving people? In what ways might He be seeking to simplify my life in this direction? (15)

How is Jesus inviting me into a regular practice of giving thanks and praying for my fellow Christ followers? (16)

How is the Father wanting to give me the gift of His Spirit enabling me to know Him better? (17)

What good things am I not currently noticing that Jesus desires for me to have eyes wide open to? What realities does He want me to realize and understand better? (18)

Do I realize what a treasure the people around me really are? What are some particular ways I am benefitting from God’s riches in them? (18)

In what ways does Jesus desire to open my heart’s eyes to see my hope, my riches and my power in Him? What false perceptions of hopelessness, scarcity or helplessness does He want to expose? (18-19)

How is God wanting me to assume that the power available to me for the work of His kingdom is on the same scale as the resurrection itself? (20)

Where is God wanting me to realize the reign of Jesus in my life, my family and my ministry? (20-22)

In what ways is God inviting me to participate in the wider body of Christ (bigger than my current church, ministry, or organization)? (22-23)

Let me know if one of these questions seems to especially hit home. If you’re willing, I’d love to see comments of response to one of these questions if you end up taking some time to take a next step with one of them.


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Temptation: Overcoming a Basic Addiction

10 11 2011

Who of us can’t identify with an impulse to do something you shouldn’t, or an inclination to avoid something you should? It hits close to home for me.

I recently started reading through the Bible again (not necessarily in book order, but I started with Genesis). I quickly came across this:

Genesis 4:7 NIV If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

It’s God’s word to Cain after He had rejected his sacrifice, but before he would kill his brother, Abel, apparently out of jealousy. It’s a helpful description of how sin attacks.

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” We usually have a pretty clear sense of when we’re about to do something right…or wrong. God welcomes when we act in keeping with His guidance and His good. If we intentionally do wrong, we are choosing to be distant from the One Who is life. It’s not a very good idea.

“If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door.” Sin is sneaky. It’s stealthy. It sits ready to attack the one who would distance himself from the Good One. Sin doesn’t come right out and say, “Hi there. I’m sin. I’d like to come in and ruin your life, O.K.?” Sin pretends to be something it isn’t, then, after invited in, wreaks havoc.

“It desires to have you.” This strikes me as the language of enslavement. Sin is personified as one who wishes to be master. Sin wants to own me. Addiction seems an outcome of this reality.

“..but you must rule over it.” Here’s the invitation—the potential good news. That Cain must rule over sin means he can. I must overcome all of the ways I’m tempted to distance or disconnect myself from God. I must because I can, by God’s grace, do just that. I must, in Paul’s language, learn how to overcome the desires of the flesh and live instead in the desires of the Spirit.

My prayer? Father, strengthen me today by Your Spirit so I can recognize sin crouching as my door, enticing me with empty promises the draw me away from You. Grant me strength to say the right “Yes” and the right “No.” Amen.

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Lectio Divina: God Gives Unending Help

7 10 2011

This is an edited journal excerpt from my practice of lectio divina in July of this year:

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 MSG, “May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.”

Reflect: Having reflected on this prayer since Monday, I appreciate this fresh take in The Message. I am grateful for surprising gifts of unending help and confidence. Again, Jesus and the Father are for me in heart. God desires my good and is working to that end. He is not as fickle or unstable as I can be. He can “put a fresh heart in me.” And He wants to! I need that. He can invigorate my work. I need that, too! Love enjoys surprising loved ones.

Respond: “Today especially, Father, I feel need for the grace of this prayer. I’ll lead worship for one of our day retreats this morning, but I feel the lack of worship leading work in my ministry. The Journey is the main place I still do this. My fingers are out of shape guitar-wise. But You can enliven my words as I lead. You can invigorate my work as it relates to writing the course I’ve agreed to teach for Hope International University. (Note from today: I finished writing this course on Friday.)

I still feel easily sidetracked and inwardly fragile. I acknowledge that You are stronger than my weakness. You are able where I feel disabled. There are good things You desire to give to students through me. Quiet my heart and my mind so that I can listen well and receive whatever You have for students through me. Amen.

Rest: “Gifts of unending help and confidence.”

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Lectio Divina: Living in Christ’s Perseverance

5 10 2011

This is a journal excerpt of notes from my morning practice of lectio divina back in mid-Summer:

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:5, “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”

Reflect: F. F. Bruce called this a “wish-prayer.” I see it as a kind of blessing from Paul to the Thessalonians. It’s not as though there is a question as to whether this is something the Lord desires to do or not. He does. The Lord desires to move us and point us to Himself, to rest deeply and live richly in His love, and to bear with the hard places along the way with Christ’s own perseverance. Christ’s perseverance is remarkable when I witness His life in the gospels. I long to be able to bear with challenges, distress, hardship and suffering as well as He did.

Respond: “Father, I am especially drawn to acknowledge my need for Christ’s perseverance. Mine feels almost non-existent right now. I think this prayer and the prayer from Psalm 56:3-4 would be good ones to memorize. I want to put them in certain visible locations as a reminder.

Again, as for perseverance, I need Christ’s because mine is not serving me well. I pray that today and in the next few days, that You would indeed direct my heart into Christ’s perseverance so that I would be enabled to live more patiently.

Rest: “Jesus, give me Your perseverance.”

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Praise God?

3 10 2011

(Repost from October 2006)

I read these lines in the prophet Amos a while back. Ouch…

Amos 5:21-24
”I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!

If God were to speak words like these today, what might they sound like? Would there be some communities who name His name to whom He might say…

I am disgusted by your church services;
I can’t stand your Bible studies, small groups and prayer meetings.
I don’t care about the offerings you bring or the sacrifices you make “for Me”.
They don’t impress me and I don’t want them.
The work of your unholy hands is useless and offensive to me.
And I’m sick and tired of your self-centered “worship” songs.
Who are you worshiping anyway? Me or your ideas and feelings about Me?
I am unimpressed with your musical competence
when your moral and spiritual competence is questionable at best.
Why all the announcements about socials and parties and more meetings?
Why not announce the coming of My kingdom instead?
You want to know what matters to Me?
Do what is right for others!
Let your lives become a river flowing with goodness, justice and love.
That would be worshipful…

Father, enable me to be honest before you about my own shallow responses to You. Free me from being engrossed and obsessed with things that don’t even reach your radar screen. May Your Spirit renew and revive me. Amen.


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Lectio Divina: The God of Eternal Encouragement

2 10 2011

Below are notes from a recent morning lectio divina exercise:

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV, “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

Reflect: Jesus is personally involved in my life–loving me and providing continual encouragement and solid hope. I live my life in an atmosphere of encouragement and hope, not in one of discouragement and despair. I am loved because of who He is, not because of who I am or have been. The outward expression of this encouragement, love and hope is that I will find myself, today especially, encouraged and strengthened in the good deeds and words He has prepared in advance on this day for me (Ephesians 2:10).

Respond: “Jesus, I can feel the noise of distraction in my mind and heart right now. I am struggling to stay focused. Help me fix my eyes on You. You are the One Who is substantial, Real, present. I am not alone. Being in Your presence is my only true good. Apart from You, I have nothing, am nothing and can produce nothing. I don’t want today to be a nothing day, but a “with You” day.

I welcome—I breathe in—Your affection and delight, Your encouragement and strengthening, Your hope and affirmations of a good future for me, for my family and for my ministry. I welcome Your presence in the mentoring appointments I’ll have later today. I welcome Your presence in my writing work on the Hope University course or the Unhurried Time project. I need new, fresh focus of mind and heart. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Rest: “Jesus, encourage my heart and strengthen me.”


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