JUNE 6, 2020

“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien

2 CHRONICLES 20-22

15He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”(20:15-17)

JOHN 16:1-15

 7But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

JOURNAL 

These last few days have been troubling. When I read social media and people's comments it really is disturbing. It is hard for me to wrap my head around the high levels of emotion over issues that are not crisis issues. It just seems that so many people have completely lost perspective of our privilege and the amazing world and country in which we live. It's almost as if we collectively are a bunch of spoiled brats that are incensed to throw fits whenever things don't go our way. 

The opportunity that exists in this country compared to the rest of the world and especially when compared to history is absolutely astounding. We truly live in fantasyland comparatively. Yet to peruse social media you would think we lived in the height of the dark ages.  I just don't get it. 

The only thing that really helps me is to read scripture, for it puts so many things into perspective. To think of all the horrible leaders, terror and injustices that existed during the time scripture was written helps me to see just how gracious God has been. It helps me to see that wringing my hands and giving in to anxiety over Covid or the riots is really pretty silly. God has seen humanity through times that were 1,000 times worse than our present "crisis". He's still the same God and he still gives the same remedy to any of our problems...Love and seek him with all my heart and then love my neighbor as myself. That's it...nothing more really needs to be added. 

My charge is to live life in obedience to the spirit of God. To seek it always, to surrender to it in all things. God's word over and over speaks to the imperative that we are to surender our lives in obedience to God and in obedience to the spirit he sends us. To not is to follow our own way which will result in actions that do not honor God and as a result destroy us.

For ultimately the battle is his...not my own. I just can't help but believe that if we all would take a collective timeout and really trust God's word...a lot of this angst and hatred would melt away.

 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8