Kissed by the Spirit

“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.”

Psalm 91:9-10 (NIV)

No one and nothing can give us the sense of safety or security that the Lord Himself can give. If we could only see the invisible world of protection that we are privileged to have surrounding us.  Angels are working on our behalf, to protect us from what we can and cannot see, minute by minute, and day after day. The Holy Spirit also guides us in very inconspicuous ways, leading us with gentle promptings within.

Of all the security systems, burglar alarms, devices, weapons and tools of protection, the safest place to be is in a state of grace, totally trusting the Lord, whose Spirit guides us, knowing God is our refuge and our fortress. He guards our coming and our going. (Psalm 121:8)

When I was involved in a church youth group many years ago, a young man in the group shared a true story. He offered one of the young ladies a ride home after a church youth group. He dropped her off at her apartment building in Chicago, watching as she walked safely into the front hallway of her apartment building. 

As he drove away, before getting to the end of the block, he felt a very strange and strong compulsion to go back and check on her. He went back and as he walked towards her front hallway, a man, who had her pinned against the wall, quickly fled out the door, after seeing him approach.

Some would say that her friend listened to his gut or an intuition, telling him to go back. Maybe it was the Holy Spirit, who prompted him to go check on her, but one thing is certain. If we listen, the Spirit puts those gut feelings and intuitive urges within all of us. God was looking out for that young lady, and guarded her in her coming and her going. He does the same for all of us, even when we are unaware.

In my late teens, I once donated a pint of blood at a blood drive in downtown Chicago. Afterward, I climbed a flight of stairs to catch a public elevated train back home. By the time I made it to the top of the platform, I was fully conscious, but totally lost my vision. I could hear the train coming, but was too proud to ask for help. I followed the sound of the train, and listened to the doors open, feeling my way inside and quickly sat down. My vision soon returned, and I was fine. In thinking back, I should have asked for help or waited before boarding the train. Somehow I was guided safely through the doors of the train, by using my sense of hearing, since I couldn’t see for a few minutes. Even when we take foolish chances, our guardian angel still protects us. 

A missionary, living in Brazil, once shared a true story. He was asked to speak at a school in a high crime neighborhood of Sao Paulo. When he finished his talk and began driving home, eight motorcycles with two men riding on each, began following his car. A Brazilian native, riding in the car with him, told him they were a gang of thieves who were going to steal his car, which was a common crime happening in the area. 

As the motorcycles got closer, surrounding his car, the missionary kept driving, while praying out loud, saying, “Lord, you are my refuge, please protect us…” He kept talking to God and praying, while the cyclists rode alongside him, giving him threatening looks. He kept praying, and then the cyclists suddenly slowed down, turned around and they all left. Something stopped them from committing the crime, though no one else was around, except maybe a team of angels.

Scripture is full of invitations to trust in the miraculous refuge and protection of God. Nothing is impossible when His people pray. Whether we are lying down to sleep or moving through a hectic, busy day, we are always surrounded by angelic helpers and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

God is the all powerful King of the universe, and Jesus told us to ask for the impossible, since with God all things are possible.

(Matthew 19:26)

Lord, thank you that the safest place to dwell is in You alone, where nothing shall be impossible. Help us live in confidence, trusting you as our ultimate source of security. Amen

“He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers…”

Malachi 4:6 (NASB)

I heard about the recent bankruptcy of a DNA analysis company called “23 and me.” Many questions remain about whether it is possible for their customers to have their DNA samples and private information deleted or not, now that the company is out of business.

I have a relative by marriage, who had an interesting and life changing experience through a DNA match with that company. Only relatives who purchase an analysis can potentially be linked with matched DNA relatives. Our relative was a happily married man, in his fifties, with two grown sons. He had no interest in ordering his DNA analysis, but his sister ordered hers. When her information came back, it showed that she had a very close relative, who was possibly a nephew, living in southern Illinois. 

She asked her brother about it, but 

he denied having any other children. Afterward, he recalled a girlfriend he had when he was in his twenties. Before breaking up, they faced a dilemma when she was found to be pregnant. Neither one of them were prepared for marriage or a child at the time, and she told him that she would “take care of it”.  They never saw each other again, and that was over thirty years ago. 

His sister told him about the mysterious new DNA relative. She convinced him to do his analysis, and he was surprised to learn that the young man was his son. He never knew that the girlfriend carried the baby to term and gave him up for adoption. He misunderstood her words that she will “take care of it.”

That healthy newborn baby boy was adopted and raised in a loving faith filled home, in southern Illinois. When his adoptive parents had both recently died, he became curious about his biological parents, and his DNA led to first finding his aunt, which later led to finding his birth father. 

The young man was a husband and father of two young sons at the time. After the DNA analysis led him to his birth father, the father and son met for the first time a few years ago. The two families now get along great, inviting each other for visits at holidays. 

The son invited his birth father to come to church with them whenever they visited.  Before that reunion, his birth father rarely attended church. The son shared his personal faith with his father, who has now also developed a renewed personal relationship with Jesus. They all attend church together each time they visit each other at holidays. 

Now, they share more than DNA, but  a common faith in Jesus and the love of an extended family. God works in mysterious ways, proving that no life is ever conceived in error. 

An unexpected pregnancy, and a baby given up for adoption might leave some people feeling guilt or shame, later in life, but as the following scripture states, God can turn shame and disgrace into blessing:

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance.” (Isaiah 61:7)

The birth father truly did receive a double portion of blessing in getting to know his third son, along with the joy of seeing grandchildren he never knew he had. Both families get along so well, it was meant to be, for them to be united as one big family. 

The heart of the father was turned to a newly discovered son and the heart of an orphaned son was turned to his new found birth father. Jesus worked out a beautiful plan through a DNA analysis, turning all the hearts toward Him in the end.

Lord, we thank and praise you for times of recovery, reunion and renewed relationships. You can turn the ashes of past errors into something beautiful, and all things are possible with you. Amen

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready.”

Revelation 19:7 (NAB)

Yesterday, I had an appointment with my hair stylist, Melissa, who is engaged to be married this October. She excitedly showed me a photo of her wedding gown and told me all about the plans for her wedding celebration. It’s amazing how wedding plans alone, can take over a conversation. She is a typical excited bride to be, glowing, and totally focused on that big day in October. 

The first miracle performed by Jesus was at a wedding celebration. His first miracle was different from all the rest, which were done for the outcasts, lepers, poor and the sick. The miracle at Cana, turned water into wine, for a large group of guests just to be able to continue their celebration festivities. Jesus showed us that merrymaking is an integral part of every human experience, which He Himself enjoyed as much as we do.  

I don’t picture Jesus standing at a distance, piously watching the wedding festivities. Instead, I picture Him dancing, laughing and having a good time along with His friends, cousins and guests, until later in the evening, when He was pulled aside by Mary and told that the wine had run out. Running out of wine was an urgent and embarrassing situation in those days, since wedding celebrations went on for many days. 

Just as God never turns anyone away who calls on Him in urgent need, Jesus could never walk away from the needs of the party hosts, who ran out of wine. He told Mary, “My hour has not yet come,” knowing that by doing a public miracle, He would reveal His divine identity to everyone there, as the Messiah. It was that first miracle at a wedding, that revealed who He truly was. He is going to reveal Himself again, when He returns one day to gather His bride to the final wedding feast in Heaven. 

In the providential wisdom of God, the first miracle, was at a wedding, and His final return culminates in the wedding of all weddings. The first miracle is linked to the last. Jesus even hinted about this at the last supper, saying that He would never drink wine again until they drank it together at the great wedding banquet in heaven. (Matthew 26:29)

The angel told the apostle John, “Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”(Revelation 19:9)

(That verse will sound familiar to my Catholic friends, since it’s recited at every mass)

Since the world wide Church is the bride of Christ, His believers are in the anticipation phase, just as my hair stylist, Melissa, is in. The wedding plans have been made, but she shared that her biggest thrill is anticipating the day she puts on the beautiful gown she picked out, and to see the response of her fiancé. 

As Melissa talked about her wedding plans, she glowed with excitement, and little did she know, that a few days before, I had begun writing a meditation about the wedding feast in heaven. Listening to her, helped to shape my thoughts on this theme, and the correlation to the church’s anticipation of Jesus’ return. 

If we pause to think about the depth of those words, we are “blessed to be called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” We all live in expectation of that big day, when we put on special wedding garments, and see Jesus, for the first time, as He looks directly at us. 

Preparing for the wedding feast of the Lamb, might mean reprioritizing things here and now, in light of that big day. It inspires us to consider how we handle the good, the bad, the blessings and the hard times that come our way. We keep trusting in His forgiveness at the cross, being cleansed by His blood. Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.

Our words and actions sown today, will reap His response on that day. Everything we do presently, for His glory and honor is like a wedding garment or the bridal gown that adorns and prepares us for the big day of union between Jesus Christ and His church. He will look at each of us, in the awesome power of His love, and say, “Come My beloved one, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

Lord, fill us with joy and gladness as we prepare ourselves, while waiting  for your return. Forgive and cleanse us, and keep us excited to meet you and give you all the glory, when we put on wedding garments for that day. Amen

“Because he knows my name I will set him on high.

He will call upon me and I will answer;

I will be with him in distress;

I will deliver him and give him honor.”

Psalm 91:14-15 (NAB)

This Psalm speaks to those in distress, who “know His name” and will call upon Him, and He will answer. The Psalmist didn’t know the name of Jesus when this was written, but he was inspired by the Spirit to emphasize the importance of knowing the name of our God. 

There’s something about God’s name, which has always been hidden and mysterious in the Old Testament. God spoke to Moses in the flames of a burning bush, and a thundering mountain top, but He never revealed His name to him. When Moses asked Him what name to call Him by, He simply said, 

“I am who I am.” 

To this day, the most religious sects of Judaism consider it sacrilegious to say or write God’s name. So, in all of their literature, it reads as “G-d”, without the middle letter, out of reverence for the One who is too holy to write or utter His name. They even use another word to refer to God, “Hashem,” which in Hebrew literally means “The name.” 

The name of God has long been a mystery in biblical history as well as in present day Judaism. 

That’s how it was, until one day, when something unprecedented happened. God visited a young Jewish woman, a virgin, in Nazareth, who was overshadowed by His Holy Spirit and conceived a son. The unnamed God, who previously spoke only through fire and thunder, chose to reveal His name to the world, through a humble young female. Then through the angel, Gabriel, Mary was the first human being to hear the name of God, the second person of the Trinity. 

God would no longer be known by vague titles like Hashem, The Name, I AM, or The Most High. He gave the world a gift, when His name was revealed for all future generations to call upon Him and be blessed. The name of Jesus became our access to God, since “there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, Jesus Christ.”

(1 Timothy 2:5)

Jesus is the door to mercy and the gate to heaven. His name is above all other names and is the only name given by Heaven, which can save for all eternity. (Acts 4:12)

The incarnation is so much more than a story, told seasonally each year. It’s the story of the day God came to us in flesh and blood, and then revealed His name to the world. The mysterious, once nameless God, transcended the barriers of the old covenant, putting His law in our hearts and His name on our tongues.

Jesus told His followers, “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) When we invoke the name of Jesus, God the Father is glorified through His son. His name brings glory to God and mercy to us. 

Jesus refers to His name more than once, saying, “Where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

We don’t have answers for some tragic circumstances that still perplex us, but we do have the best name to call upon, as well as God’s Presence, who always dwells with us. 

I remember when my father was in so much pain, toward the end of his life, with various inoperable medical conditions. He would pace back and forth through the house, repeatedly saying “Help me Jesus.” As a teenager, I was surprised to hear him praying out loud like that, since he was never a religious man. As I think about it now, He knew the right name to call upon for mercy.

Those who Jesus healed didn’t have wise answers or smart explanations, to answer the Pharisees when they were questioned. They only knew that they were once blind, crippled, lame or deaf, but were healed by a man named Jesus. In knowing and calling on His name, He becomes present in our distress, and He will comfort, protect, heal or save us, according to our need.

Lord, thank you for the gift of your revealed holy name, and help all people to call upon you in distress, and invoke the name of Jesus, which is the name above all names. Amen

“Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”

1 Samuel 9:5-6 (NIV)

There are so many examples in this story of how God works out His purpose for good in our lives, by using other people. One event is woven into another so that the person, the purpose and the intended destiny is fulfilled. The details in this story are applicable to our own lives. 

When we think we’ve lost something, it could become a turning point that redirects us to a purpose we didn’t know we had. It happens through  the least expected circumstances, with the most unlikely participants. 

Saul’s father sent him along with a hired servant, to search for the family’s runaway donkeys. To his surprise, Saul discovered his destiny was to become the first king of Israel. God can take our losses, failures or inconveniences, and turn us in a new direction that we never before anticipated. 

After not finding the lost donkeys anywhere, Saul was ready to give up the search and return home. The hired man suggested that they consult the local prophet who lived nearby. Saul found reassurance in his advice, since a prophet hears from God, and should know where the donkeys are. The servant was a “motivator” in this story. Motivators are the people in each person’s life, who restore hope and faith, just when they are about to give up.

So, the two men began to search for the home of the prophet, Samuel. At that moment, a group of women were passing by, so Saul asked them if they knew where Samuel lives. The women immediately pointed in the right direction, and they found Samuel’s home. Besides motivators, there are “pointers” in everyone’s life, who are strangers or acquaintances, who unknowingly point them in a certain direction for a destiny, that God has been leading them to.

Before all this happened, God told the prophet Samuel, that a young man will arrive at his house, who is chosen to become the first king of Israel. So, Samuel anointed Saul as king, and afterward, they found their lost donkeys. What started with runaway donkeys and an ordinary search mission, unfolded to reveal the remarkable destiny of one young man.

Like Saul, we’ve all gone on search missions of some kind, but later learned that God’s plan was bigger than ours. There are numerous stories of how people met their spouses in an unexpected way or place. Some people received hope and encouragement from someone during a crisis, just when they were losing heart, and about to give up. Others found their career direction or a call to ministry by something or someone who was a key motivator for them. Everyone has been pointed in the right direction by somebody at the right place and time in their life.

This story, is everyone’s story. Each of our lives involved people, who played some part in fulfilling a plan God had for us. What started out as a search mission, turned into a sequence of events, with motivators, pointers and people who God has networked into our lives for the good. At times, we may only see what we’ve lost, but God sees an opportunity to anoint us for more than we ever expected. 

We are all connected and more interwoven in the destinies of others,  than we know. It may seem like a long time is spent, looking for lost donkeys, but God’s timing is always perfect. We have the rest of eternity to connect all the dots, and learn how God arranged the networking of people in our lives according to His purpose, and for our eternal benefit. 

Lord, help us to trust that your plans are always good, for this present time and for eternity. Thank you for those who have blessed us and help us to do our part in blessing others, according to your perfect will for us. Amen

A COMMUNITY OF LOVE

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35 (RSV)

I listened to the testimony of Jim Wahlberg, the brother of actor Mark Wahlberg. He told his story of redemption, becoming an alcoholic by age twelve, continuing a life of crime, and then spending ten years in prison. While telling his own story, he shared a story within his story. 

After being released from prison, he formed a connection with a men’s church group, which was the key to the development of his new life in Christ. He attended an Emmaus men’s retreat, and the Lord did a deep healing in him that weekend. Afterwards, he began working as a volunteer with that group and shared the following true story. 

A certain young man, who had fallen away from his faith, came to one of those men’s retreats. His heart was moved and he surrendered his life to Jesus. He had a heavy criminal past, but the community of men in that group, prayed and supported him throughout that weekend. 

At the end of the retreat, he said goodbye to the men he came to know, telling them that he was most likely headed for prison. He was awaiting a trial for attempted murder, and was sure he would be sent away for a long prison sentence, and never see them again. Jim Wahlberg spent time with him, sharing his own experience in prison and telling him what to expect when he got there. 

The young man stayed in contact with the men in the group, who were praying for him regularly, until his court date arrived. When he came to court that day, he was surprised to see fifty men from the retreat group, who were sitting in the courtroom, in solidarity of support for him. They filled the courtroom, wearing their retreat T-shirts with the logo on it. 

The judge, even after seeing the large group and hearing the young man’s testimony, was very skeptical, saying that he has seen many men come to Jesus who’ve been charged with attempted murder, but he ordered a continuance of the case. 

When the next court date arrived, instead of fifty, seventy five men showed up and filled the courtroom once more, in solidarity and support for the young man. 

It was the same judge as the first case, and after the proceedings, he said, “I’m going to do something I never planned to do. I’m going to send this young man back home, but not because he found Jesus. I’m sending him home because seventy five men thought it worthwhile to take their day off of work to be here in support of him.”

What living examples those men were as disciples of the Lord, by showing their love and support. Jesus never said that we show the world our faith in Him, only by our words, or how frequently we attend church, or how educated we are, or can quote scripture, or argue our beliefs. He said that we show our faith by how we love one another. 

Jesus wanted the world to see His church shine as a community of love, offering support and solidarity to one another. The church is to be a place where the stronger support the weaker, with patience and love.  
(Romans 15:1-2) 

That group of men supported the weaker man, knowing God had begun a good work in his life. In a show of love and unity, they influenced a skeptical judge, who observed some true disciples of Jesus.

Lord, thank you for the grace you have shown to the men in this story. Give us love and patience for one another, so that the world will know that we are your disciples. Amen

“For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

One of the residents at my son’s Nursing Home, who I have come to know well, for over a year now, is Tawana. She is the granddaughter of NFL cornerback, Bob Jeter, who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, from 1963-1973. He has since passed away, but his wife, Tawana’s grandmother, is still well and living in Chicago at the age of 102. She grew up in a close relationship with her grandmother, who was the major influence in her journey of faith.

Over thirty years ago, Tawana was married and had a three year old son, when she became pregnant with twins. She prematurely went into labor and gave birth to boy and girl twins. Despite the complications from prematurity, both babies survived and grew up healthy. The day after she brought the twins home from the hospital, her husband was shot and killed during a mass shooting in their neighborhood.

Tawana, became a widow with three children under the age of four. She certainly had more questions than answers, but she learned to trust God through her heartbreak and disappointment, living in total reliance on Him, and He helped her raise her children, with the support of family and church friends. Her children are now grown and married, with children of their own.

A few years ago, Tawana received a diagnosis of brain cancer. She underwent surgery and was admitted to the Nursing Home, for rehabilitation. It was a wilderness period in her life, but she is now in remission, and has recovered enough to live on her own. Today is Tawana’s “exodus.” 

She is moving into an independent living facility, in the neighborhood of her children, grandchildren and her 102 year old grandmother. It’s a long awaited blessing, kind of like entering her promised land.

The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt  for 400 years, until the day of their exodus, at that first Passover. They did what God instructed, putting the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, then sharing a special meal with their friends and relatives. They baked unleavened bread, in order to leave hastily the next morning. God parted the Red Sea for them and they headed for their promised land. There were problems on the journey and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before finally reaching their promised land. The exodus story is remembered at every Passover Jewish holiday, celebrated yearly. 

Tawana’s whole life is like a Passover story. She has had her time in the wilderness, which challenged her faith, but with the faith instilled in her by her grandmother, she kept trusting in the blood of the Lamb, who is Jesus. He finally parted the sea for her, and led her out of the Nursing Home and into her promised land. I’m sure He will keep blessing her in this new phase of her life. Many people will miss Tawana at the Nursing Home, but we are happy that her exodus has finally arrived. 

(She gave me permission to share her story with all of you today.)

We go through many tribulations in a lifetime, but if we can hold on and trust in Jesus, He gives us bread from heaven, parts the sea ahead of us and leads us to the promised land. He has always been with us, and He only asks that we take His hand, and let Him walk with us through our wilderness. 

He is the same God as He was at the first exodus, except now, His own blood is on the doorposts of our lives, and our joy is made full when we pursue a personal relationship with Him. In seeking the Giver, more than the gifts, we have nothing to fear, because we trust in the God, who once parted the sea, and our future is in His hands.

Lord, we trust you and thank you for  loving us and holding our hand through the wilderness, and we look forward to our personal exodus and parting of the sea, which you will do for all who trust you. Amen

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

Luke 12:2 (RSV)

One thing that is not often revealed but needs to be known, is that God loves us so much, that He surrounds us with heavenly beings every day. I think of how often I hurry about my day, forgetting this truth. 

Occasionally something happens to slow us down to a stop, in order to remind us of the constant presence of these heavenly helpers all around us. It happened for some, one day, in the small town of Cokeville, Oregon, many years ago, in the late 90’s. 

Since the presence of angels is usually hidden from us in this present life, the following story is unique, because God chose to reveal His angels to a few primary grade children during a very frightening event. 

On that particular day, a suicide bomber walked into a primary grade school and held 79 children and adults hostage. The deranged man threatening to detonate a homemade bomb, which was strapped to his body. Children, who were huddled together in a corner of that room, began praying silently together. 

After an hour of waiting for his demands to be met, the man  mistakenly detonated his bomb, killing himself.  Although some people in the room had burn injuries, not one of the 79 hostages in that room, were killed or seriously injured. Explosive experts investigated, but could not explain why all the impact of the explosion went upward to the roof, instead of outward as a normal explosion does. 

Afterward, some of the children said that they saw angels in the room, standing in a circle shielding them from the man with the bomb. God permitted a few children to witness how that miracle happened, as angels became a supernatural shield, forcing the blast to go upward instead or outward, protecting all the  hostages in the room.

One teacher recalls her memory of that day, saying that she was in total fear from the moment the bomber ordered the hostages into the room. It was only after she saw the children huddled together in prayer, that she felt an unusual sense of peace and calm. She never saw any angels, but she definitely felt the effect of them in the room.

Angels are with us always, but they are usually hidden from our eyes,  although at times they take the form of a human person. We are told to be alert to how we treat strangers, who could be angels in disguise.  (Hebrews 13:2)

That day in Oregon was rare, as angels were physically revealed to the youngest in that room, while others, not seeing anything, felt the effect of their holy presence. Maybe God chose to reveal His angels to the children that day, because they are more open than adults, and not too busy to sit still, listen or see. 

Jesus had things to say on the subject of both children and angels, such as, “I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)

We all have an appointed advocate, from womb to tomb, who stands before God, on our behalf. If angels in heaven plead our case since we were born, how much more should we plead the case and care for the least among us, in our society?

God gave us angels, so that we have friends in high places, and they still minister to us each day, and will do so, for the rest of our lives. We are not able to see them now, but when we leave this physical world, and enter the eternal one, things that used to be hidden will finally be revealed. Heaven reveals everything, and we will finally meet that great cloud of witnesses who observed us all the days of our life, including angels, saints, departed loved ones, all headed up by Jesus, who is Lord and Savior.

Until then, we can make it our daily practice, to be still and know that God is with us, without seeing Him. He is in the room that we are sitting in right now, and His angelic helpers are all around us. We might as well make good use of their heavenly guidance, in this one and only life we have to live.

Lord, please direct your angels to save those who need some type of miracle today. Teach us to slow down, to be still, and be aware of your Presence and angels, who are with us everywhere, each day. Amen

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8 (NASB)

God is the source of all truth found in both faith and reason. Science and scripture prove that we have the capacity to change our mood and experience peace and contentment, by how we think. 

We all want the state of mind that the heroes in scripture had. We want to sleep peacefully during the storm, to calmly pray in the lions den, and to sing praises in the fiery furnaces of adversity. Science and scripture, each confirm that an attitude of gratitude can rewire our brain, and replace our melancholy with a sense of lasting peace and joy. 

God created all human bodies with 

chemical messengers to regulate their nervous system. Science refers to them as neurotransmitters, and one is called “Serotonin”,  also known as the “happy hormone”, because it influences the part of our brain that brings us feelings of well-being.

Researchers found that when we reflect on, and intentionally think about good times, good people, and the blessings we are fortunate to have in our current lives, it increases the production of serotonin in our brain, which has a significant impact on our overall mental health. 

In other words, keeping a mental list of things we are thankful for, can stimulate the headquarters of happiness within our brains. Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Our sense of peace, joy and well being, gives us strength, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It’s how God made us and scripture has always supported what science has learned.

It’s challenging at times to dwell in an attitude of gratitude. It always starts out good, but negativity creeps in, until we need to police our thoughts, and bring ourselves back to a disposition of gratitude. We get dragged down by disappointments or things that offended us during the day. There are also friends and loved ones who we care about, and when they are suffering, we do as well. 

Some days are harder than others, but thinking of something to be grateful for, is the advice given in today’s scripture verses. The apostle Paul wrote persistently, eight times in a row, that we are to make an effort to have an attitude of gratitude. He repeats the word “whatever”, saying, whatever is true, right, honorable, excellent, pure, commendable, lovely, or if there is anything worthy of praise, we must persist in thinking of those things.

Gratitude doesn’t flow out of perfect happiness, or having perfect health, families or financial security. Gratitude flows from trust in a perfect God who is with us through our insecurity, health challenges, family problems and sorrows. He is the unshakable anchor in a shaky, unstable world. Whatever seems impossible, we remind ourselves that with God, nothing is impossible. He came through for us before, and we will trust Him to do it again. 

Paul tells us that we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and that kingdom dwells within each one of us, giving us the power to do all things through Christ, in His strength. We are unshakable, because an unshakable kingdom is within us. The revelation of these truths, leads us to worship with gratitude, reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12:28)

 As we fill our thoughts with whatever is praiseworthy, like His extravagant mercy, and unlimited love for us, we anchor our hope in Jesus, and our brain’s chemistry begins to change. Knowing the truth of God’s word restores our thinking, and helps us to dwell in an attitude of gratitude, which keeps the Serotonin flowing.

Not only does God create our body and brain with all the necessary chemicals, He gives us the ability to stimulate their production, and to rewire our brains, by choosing to think thoughts of gratitude and praise. As we cast all our cares and worries upon Him, He gives us a peace that surpasses all human understanding, and continues to guard our heart and “mind” in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:7)

Gratitude changes everything.

Lord, thank you for the remarkable way that you have made us, and that science has verified what your word declared, centuries ago. We praise you and ask that we may live in an attitude of gratitude and grant us your perfect peace today and always. Amen

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.“

John 17:20-21 (NIV)

Jesus prayed for all those who would believe in Him, in the future, which includes each of us today. He prayed for our unity, that we may be one, as He is one with His Father. The unity of His church is essential, since

houses, nations and kingdoms that are divided, cannot stand.  

Jesus told Peter that he was about to be sifted, but that He prayed for him. He prayed that his faith would not fail, telling him, “and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

I love the confidence Jesus had in Peter, even though he would eventually deny Him and suffer a meltdown. Jesus knew what would happen, but He told him, “when you return to Me, go and strengthen your brothers.”

It wasn’t “if” he returns, only a matter of when. The same hope and confidence that Jesus had in Peter, He also has in us, and our loved ones. The way Jesus prayed for us and for Peter, 2,000 years ago, reveals the relentless love of the Father for all of us today.

Maybe we should have that same hope and confidence when we pray, trusting God for “when” He answers, not  “if”.  Imagine if we started our prayers saying, “Lord, when you bring victory,” or “when you heal,” or “when you renew my strength”……

how uplifting it is to our faith, just hearing ourselves pray with the confidence of saying when, not if. 

Jesus told Peter he would be sifted, but not to worry, because He prayed for him, that his faith would not fail. There’s different kinds of sifting, but the kind that Jesus was talking about, was the separation of chaff from the wheat kernels. Unlike the sifting of flour, it requires much more vigorous shaking to remove chaff from wheat.

After the chaff is removed, the wheat kernels are poured into a new container, and ready for use. We go through hardships that feel like a vigorous shaking, but after the sifting, we are poured into a new phase in our lives. The new container  or phase, could lead us to see things from a new perspective, or discover a new way to serve the Lord.  Jesus prayed for us, because He believes in each of us, just as He believed in Peter. 

After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, He led the disciples to Pentecost, and a new phase of living in God’s love, forgiven, redeemed, and Spirit filled. God leads us in the same paths.

Sifting is a process of seeing what is left after something had been sifted out or removed. The hope is that whatever remains in the sifter is the faith of His church, purified like gold, and Jesus has confidence in each of us, that it will be so.

The Lord sees everything that is happening or about to happen in our lives. Whatever is shaking us up and testing our faith today, Jesus never leaves us to struggle with it alone. He has prayed for us long ago, and is confident that His prayer and our faith will not fail.

Those periods of sifting may feel like the toughest season in our lives, but through it, we will recognize who we truly are in God’s eyes, how much He loves us, how confident He is in us, and how good His overall eternal purpose is for us all.

Lord, help us to remain close to you, when we are sifted. Purify our faith like gold, and open our hearts to pray like you, and to see new directions that you are leading us in, for our good. Amen