The Power Tri- fecta
Good Morning Girls! Yesterday I shared with you all how a couple of weeks ago I found myself if survivor mode. I was barely clinging to my faith, desiring nothing more than mental and emotional escape. I found myself in a very dangerous position....I had become lukewarm. I have heard sermons on being hot, cold, or lukewarm for the Lord, and how it is more dangerous to be lukewarm than cold....but until now, I never really understood it. You see, when you are cold to the Lord, at least you know it. You are consciously aware that you do not have faith in God. However, when you are lukewarm, you still go through all the "spiritual motions" of a Christian, but your faith is not really there. You still act the same and speak the same "Christianese" language as normal. Most people have no idea you are breaking on the inside.
Then one day I was talking to a friend and she said "you're lukewarm". That shocked me. It shocked me because I didn't realize it, but she was right. I was lukewarm. I felt indifferent. Not only towards my faith, but also to my church and even God. I knew God was my only hope. I knew this because as I lay on my bed in misery I contemplated other choices. I knew all of the other options led nowhere as I spent most of my life living those options in search for peace and happiness. So, I knew God was my only hope. I knew He knew what was going on. But to be honest with you, I felt like He was not taking care of me. I felt like He was neglecting my situation. I felt like I had endured long enough. I felt like I no longer really loved Him. I felt like the rebellious teen who listens to their parents, and does what they say so they can still borrow the car and receive an allowance, but they have no respect or love for their parents. In fact they know more than their parents who are totally out of touch with reality! That is the place I was in. The rebellious teenager. Wanting nothing more than to break free and do my own thing....whatever that may be.
Once I realized I was now indifferent to just about everything in my life, I decided it was time to call my spiritual mentor and let her know what was going on. I hadn't turned to her earlier because I really thought I could handle it myself and that I would be fine soon. When I realized I was not fine, I called her and told her exactly how I was feeling. I held back nothing. I told her how I didn't want to go to church. I told her that I was sick and tired of everything. I told her I know God has it all worked out, but I was now certain I didn't like whatever it was He had in store for me. I told her everything. Her response: she loved on me, encouraged me, and shared with me what she knows in her heart is true. She did not chastise me for losing faith. She did not say things like "Jen, you know better than that." She did not say she was disappointed that I had skipped out on church the week before and was contemplating skipping out again. She simply encouraged me to come to church. She even offered to save a spot for me, and sit with me.
That is the first of 3 things I recommend for anyone who is hurting and feeling as though their faith is slipping. Have a mentor you can go to. Not simply a friend, but someone you look up to. Someone who will look you in the eyes with love and firmness at the same time. Someone who has the strength to pull you out of the pit.
So I went to church the next day. I went their with an excited and expectant heart. Once I decide I am going to do something, I go there with the expectation that I will receive something. (another lesson right there). So what happened? Well, by the time praise and worship was over, I was sobbing and had mascara running down my face. I didn't care though. In that short amount of time I fell in love with the Lord all over again! I could have had praise and worship for the whole service and been fine with that. I realized just how much I had pulled away from God and it felt so good to feel His presence and feel myself completely surrender to His will. I felt so good I could have left right then and felt blessed.
God had more in store for me though. He had a message that spoke so straight to my heart that I often felt like I was the only one in the room. I know the message ministered to everyone, but I felt like it was all for me. I clung on to even word. I was giggling on the inside as words were spoken that could only be known if you were inside my head (or should I say heart)!
Which brings me to my second recommendation: do not forsake the assembly of other believers! There is a power and a presence that is unique to the church setting. Yes, personal prayer, praise and worship is awesome in it's own way, but when we gather corporately, there is a whole other level of faith building. I believe you will never receive fully what the Lord has for you to hear unless you gather with fellow believers. It is not a "religious" thing. It is simply a fact. There is a power and presence when believers unite and offer praise and worship to the Lord.
When I got home I grabbed my bible and sat down to read. Falling in love with the Lord again created in me the desire to know Him more again. I was ready to read His promises again because my heart was ready to receive and believe them. And that is my third recommendation in my tri-fecta for faith building: get in the Word. Once my heart was healed, reading the Word was awesome again. I could not read a single scripture without feeling as though the Holy Spirit was showing me something new and encouraging. My time in the word helped me maintain the love I had experienced from my friend and my time at church. It is the glue that keeps my faith together!
So Girls, when you are feeling down and out in your faith, remember the power tri-fecta: a mentor to encourage you, gathering with other believers, and time in the Word. I believe it will be the winning ticket for you, as it was for me!
Isaiah 40: 27-29 O Jacob(jen), how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel (jen), how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Love you all-
Jen
Then one day I was talking to a friend and she said "you're lukewarm". That shocked me. It shocked me because I didn't realize it, but she was right. I was lukewarm. I felt indifferent. Not only towards my faith, but also to my church and even God. I knew God was my only hope. I knew this because as I lay on my bed in misery I contemplated other choices. I knew all of the other options led nowhere as I spent most of my life living those options in search for peace and happiness. So, I knew God was my only hope. I knew He knew what was going on. But to be honest with you, I felt like He was not taking care of me. I felt like He was neglecting my situation. I felt like I had endured long enough. I felt like I no longer really loved Him. I felt like the rebellious teen who listens to their parents, and does what they say so they can still borrow the car and receive an allowance, but they have no respect or love for their parents. In fact they know more than their parents who are totally out of touch with reality! That is the place I was in. The rebellious teenager. Wanting nothing more than to break free and do my own thing....whatever that may be.
Once I realized I was now indifferent to just about everything in my life, I decided it was time to call my spiritual mentor and let her know what was going on. I hadn't turned to her earlier because I really thought I could handle it myself and that I would be fine soon. When I realized I was not fine, I called her and told her exactly how I was feeling. I held back nothing. I told her how I didn't want to go to church. I told her that I was sick and tired of everything. I told her I know God has it all worked out, but I was now certain I didn't like whatever it was He had in store for me. I told her everything. Her response: she loved on me, encouraged me, and shared with me what she knows in her heart is true. She did not chastise me for losing faith. She did not say things like "Jen, you know better than that." She did not say she was disappointed that I had skipped out on church the week before and was contemplating skipping out again. She simply encouraged me to come to church. She even offered to save a spot for me, and sit with me.
That is the first of 3 things I recommend for anyone who is hurting and feeling as though their faith is slipping. Have a mentor you can go to. Not simply a friend, but someone you look up to. Someone who will look you in the eyes with love and firmness at the same time. Someone who has the strength to pull you out of the pit.
So I went to church the next day. I went their with an excited and expectant heart. Once I decide I am going to do something, I go there with the expectation that I will receive something. (another lesson right there). So what happened? Well, by the time praise and worship was over, I was sobbing and had mascara running down my face. I didn't care though. In that short amount of time I fell in love with the Lord all over again! I could have had praise and worship for the whole service and been fine with that. I realized just how much I had pulled away from God and it felt so good to feel His presence and feel myself completely surrender to His will. I felt so good I could have left right then and felt blessed.
God had more in store for me though. He had a message that spoke so straight to my heart that I often felt like I was the only one in the room. I know the message ministered to everyone, but I felt like it was all for me. I clung on to even word. I was giggling on the inside as words were spoken that could only be known if you were inside my head (or should I say heart)!
Which brings me to my second recommendation: do not forsake the assembly of other believers! There is a power and a presence that is unique to the church setting. Yes, personal prayer, praise and worship is awesome in it's own way, but when we gather corporately, there is a whole other level of faith building. I believe you will never receive fully what the Lord has for you to hear unless you gather with fellow believers. It is not a "religious" thing. It is simply a fact. There is a power and presence when believers unite and offer praise and worship to the Lord.
When I got home I grabbed my bible and sat down to read. Falling in love with the Lord again created in me the desire to know Him more again. I was ready to read His promises again because my heart was ready to receive and believe them. And that is my third recommendation in my tri-fecta for faith building: get in the Word. Once my heart was healed, reading the Word was awesome again. I could not read a single scripture without feeling as though the Holy Spirit was showing me something new and encouraging. My time in the word helped me maintain the love I had experienced from my friend and my time at church. It is the glue that keeps my faith together!
So Girls, when you are feeling down and out in your faith, remember the power tri-fecta: a mentor to encourage you, gathering with other believers, and time in the Word. I believe it will be the winning ticket for you, as it was for me!
Isaiah 40: 27-29 O Jacob(jen), how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel (jen), how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Love you all-
Jen
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