22423.6 Behold, I Am the Lord!

One day I was outside on my deck enjoying the quiet when suddenly, two fighter jets flew overhead at a very low altitude. Their roar was deafening. Everything around me shook violently. Now I surmised the two massive military jets were part of the game opener at a nearby football stadium, so I wasn’t overly alarmed. Even so, I was overwhelmed by their sound and speed. By their sheer power!

Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes and I got a lump in my throat. Now I admit to having a soft spot for our military, but this went far deeper. It was if God himself whispered to me, “You need not fear anything, for I AM far stronger than these mighty, fighter jets.”

This verse suddenly came to mind: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV).

The word behold means “to see or to gaze upon.” It dawned on me that beholding is connected to thankfulness. If I want to develop a thankful heart, I need to spend time “beholding” God. Simply put, I need to “gaze upon Him.”

Those fighter jets were so close I could easily behold their power. In much the same way, the closer I get to God, the better I can behold His awesomeness.

Friend, are you awestruck by God? By His Word? As my prayer partner often reminds me, “We should “glance at our problems, but gaze on God’s promises.”

We need to draw near to God each day. Reflect on the many promises in His Word. When we truly behold His glory, we will find that fear, discouragement, and hopelessness flee. Then our hearts will swell with thankfulness to our glorious Lord!

[by Marilynn Chadwick, founder, SEEDS of Hope, Charlotte, NC]

22423.5 Antidote to Entitlement

It’s hard to be thankful for something you think you deserve. The world is full of people who believe their parents, their schools, or society owe them something.

Such was not the case with my friend Becky. She had been born with a birth defect that left her just under 4 feet tall. But I forgot about her disability the minute I met her. Becky’s face was beautiful—but it was her regal grace, her cheerfulness, and her thankful spirit that I most remember. I have only a dim recollection of her hunched back and deformed legs.

Becky’s inner strength and trust in the Lord left me wanting to know her secret. I was in my early twenties and a young bride when we first met. Becky was married and well into her forties. She had a thorough knowledge of Scripture and was one of the best Bible teachers I have ever known.

As I got to know her better, I learned that Becky’s joyful spirit was at least partially due to how her wise parents had raised their disabled daughter. “If my mother and father noticed I didn’t seem grateful, or if my attitude became selfish, they’d tell me that I must have too many blessings,” she said with a chuckle. “So they’d cut back on gifts and privileges for a while until I showed a little more gratitude for what I had.”

Becky’s words have remained with me all these years later—I can almost hear her gently warning me not to take the blessings of this life for granted. I sometimes wonder if God is anything like Becky’s wise and loving parents who refused to encourage self-pity in their disabled daughter?

Let’s remind ourselves of this powerful encouragement to remain thankful, straight from God’s Word. No matter what difficult trials we may be going through, giving thanks honors God and puts us more in touch with His presence.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

[by Marilynn Chadwick, founder, SEEDS of Hope, Charlotte, NC]

22423.4 Lo and Behold!

By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6b NIV)

How often do you approach your prayer time with a thankful heart? If I’m honest with myself, I often lead with my list of needs without taking time to reflect on the many prayers God has already answered. Paul reminds us that our “prayers and petitions” go hand in hand with a thankful heart.

One way to have a thankful heart is to lower my expectations. This may sound like I’m dialing down my hopes and dreams—which I’m not. I’m simply trying focus first on God’s breathtaking blessings. I want to approach God with a sense of humility rather than entitlement. One Christian author said it well: “You’re never thankful for that which you think you deserve.” If I think God owes me, I’ll live in a constant state of discontent. Life without gratitude is barren and thirsty.

There’s a quaint old saying to express joyful surprise. You may remember it. “Lo and behold!” A person might say, “Lo and behold! There’s my cousin Sarah. I haven’t seen her in years!”

A woman shared with me how her grandmother helped her understand the meaning of “Lo and behold.” “Grandma told me that ‘lo and behold’ means your expectations are ‘low’ that what you pray for will come true. Then, ‘Behold!’ and ‘Thank you God!’ when it does happen!”

I like her grandma’s folksy wisdom. So, I’ll continue to dream big and trust God with my fervent prayers and heart’s desires. But I will try to keep my expectations “low.” And I’ll look forward to “beholding” what God will do.

The Bible teaches He’s a God of wonder and majesty. He is also full of surprises. Beholding His goodness never fails to fill my heart with thankfulness.

[by Marilynn Chadwick, founder, SEEDS of Hope, Charlotte, NC]

22423.3 The Power of Praise

Willie Myrick is one of my heroes. When he was just ten, Willie was kidnapped by a knife-wielding assailant. The curious youngster had reached down to pick up a ten-dollar bill the kidnapper left as “bait,” when suddenly, the man jumped from behind a tree and forced Willie into the car.

Speeding across town, the man spewed profanity and threats. The frightened ten-year-old decided to sing his favorite worship song, “Every Praise.” When Willie was later asked why he sang this particular song, he answered, “Well, because I knew that Jesus was gonna be with me and he was gonna get me out!” During that ordeal, thanksgiving and praise became Willie’s spiritual weapons.

Willie continued to sing—for three hours! Finally, the man stopped the car and shoved him out unharmed. Just imagine the faith of this young boy. Instead of dissolving into tears or panic, he worshiped and praised God! Willie’s victory over the darkness inspired me to make every effort to respond to worry with praise and thanksgiving.

Soon after I read Willie’s story, a very troubling situation in our family tempted me to fall into intense fear. Suddenly, an old hymn came to mind. The words to “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” poured forth like a warrior’s march. I began to thank God for His power.

Sure enough, my fear was broken. What’s more, the situation that had worried me so much actually resolved itself. Now when a problem stubbornly persists, I remind myself that young Willie kept singing for three hours before he was released!

“Rejoice always,” the Bible reminds us. “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV).

Let’s dare to form a new habit—thanking God right in the midst of our trials. Praise helps us stand our ground in the face of the enemy. Why not take a lesson from a brave ten-year-old and become people of praise!

Adapted from: Marilynn Chadwick, Woman of Valor: Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017).

22423.2 The Thank You Habit

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2 NIV)

Sometimes we move so fast, it’s easy to blow past the ordinary blessings God sends each day. Who has time to drink in the magic of the blue sky? Or be thankful for the beauty all around us? And when was the last time you took an extra minute to look into the eyes of your husband, or children, or friends?

The Greek word in the New Testament for thankful, eulogeo, can also be translated “blessing.” Eulogeo comes from eu which means “good,” and logeo, or “to speak”. Eulogeo literally means “to speak that which is good.” So, a eulogy is how we honor someone with good words of gratitude. When we say a blessing, eulogeo, before our meal, we are also expressing thankfulness.

I am trying to become more thankful for the ordinary things in life. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for practical tips to become more watchful and grateful. Here are some small ways I’ve discovered to increase my gratitude and reinforce what I refer to as my “thank you habit.”

On your drive to school or work (or wherever it is that you go each day), why not take the scenic route? Refresh your soul as you give thanks for God’s natural beauty. I often travel by way of the lovely tree-lined hill leading to the back roads of our neighborhood instead of the crowded main roads.

Find ways to enjoy little breaks throughout your day. Experts recommend about a half hour of sunshine daily to keep up our vitamin D supply. Why not pick a pretty spot and take a book? Or your Bible. Or go for a walk. A friend of mine carves out what she calls “Sabbath moments” every day, usually outdoors. She returns to her work more rested, alert, and thankful.

Maintain a daily quitting time. Plan to do something fun with family or friends. Read a good book by an open fire. Take a bath filled with essential oils. Stop your work and savor some downtime. Remember, rest is God’s idea so give Him thanks.

Stop multitasking. That was the best piece of advice a counselor gave to my stressed-out friend who was seeking help. Easier said than done—especially for busy parents. But try to focus on each person or task with your whole attention, the counselor urged. Then you can take time to truly enjoy every blessing and practice thankfulness. Besides, research shows the value of multi-tasking is an illusion—it’s far less efficient than we think.

Finally, keep a thank-you journal. List your blessings at the end of each day. Be on the lookout for answers to your prayers and thank God when they happen.

How many little blessings do you simply miss because you are speeding through life?

[by Marilynn Chadwick, founder, SEEDS of Hope, Charlotte, NC]

22423.1 Try Giving Thanks

I’ve learned that God often shows up strongest when I am weak or afraid. But if I will trust Him and step out in faith, I’m likely to discover a new dimension of God’s goodness. Or as a friend of mine once said, we experience God’s power when we step beyond our capacity and into our calling.

On my first missions trip to Africa, God reminded me He can be trusted to lead and guide us. This story happened many years ago and tells of an opportunity I almost refused. And no wonder. It was the early 1990s. Ethiopia had just gone through a bloody civil war in which revolutionary freedom fighters had finally overthrown the Communist government. Christians had been cruelly persecuted during their seventeen-year regime. The country was still not considered safe for travelers.

David and I had friends who served as missionaries in Ethiopia. We were invited by SIM, their missions organization, to speak at the first Christian gathering since the Communist takeover of Ethiopia in 1974. Many missionaries vividly remembered the last gathering where local leaders had been arrested by the Soviet-backed forces, imprisoned, and tortured for their faith.

At last, after decades of oppression, Ethiopia was finally free!

During our time there, one missionary and I became immediate friends. I’ll call her “Gloria.” Gloria was fun, stylish, and always joyful. She often laughed even when she was talking. Gloria and her husband had raised their four amazing, now adult children in Ethiopia. This was decades before cell phones or the internet allowed families to communicate when separated by distance. Children often attended boarding schools several hours away. Gloria had endured hard places, but through God’s grace, she and her family had flourished in this far away land.

Gloria confided with me how once, in the early years of their assignment, she nearly hit bottom. The heat, the isolation and loneliness, the pests (including snakes), the scant medical care, along with worries about her children, all came crashing in. Discouragement threatened to overwhelm Gloria, when she happened to notice a framed needlepoint picture in a fellow missionary’s home. On it were three simple words: “Try Giving Thanks.”

Try giving thanks. It became Gloria’s “nuclear” weapon when she faced her most intense battles. She shared story after story of how God had miraculously come through during her toughest trials. I was inspired by Gloria to make giving thanks my “go to” strategy when facing my own stubborn problems. Time and again, I have discovered the power of that simple yet powerful prescription to drive away the darkness. Try. Giving. Thanks.

Our most powerful faith lessons often come through struggles. Trials challenge us to trust God more. To remain open to His plans—even if those plans look scary or out of our control.

Over the next several days, we’ll look at the remarkable power of thankfulness to alter any situation and turn even our darkest trials into opportunities to trust God. To thank Him. In this way, our problems become the fuel for praise.

[by Marilynn Chadwick, founder, SEEDS of Hope, Charlotte, NC]

22421.0 Open My Eyes, Lord

We live in troubling times. No wonder many wrestle with anxiety. Let’s be honest. There’s no shortage of things to worry about. So how do we build courage to help us face the things we fear? One way I’ve learned to calm my anxious heart is by watching for signs of God at work all around me. “Keeping watch,” I like to call it.

John Wesley believed it was important to be on the lookout for God and encouraged his early followers to practice the “discipline of watching.”

Here are three ways we can pray for God to open our eyes and increase our courage:

  • Open my eyes to Your WORD. I find it helps to get alone with the Lord and take my fears to Him. Here’s my simple prayer: Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word (Psalm 119:18 TLB). I ask God to reveal promises that speak to my concerns. As one friend puts it, “I glance at the problem, but gaze on God’s promise.” God’s Word ignites faith (Romans 10:17) and faith is the antidote to fear.
  • Open my eyes to Your POWER. When traveling through a Middle Eastern refugee camp, I saw firsthand how God is doing amazing things in dangerous places. Several refugees even shared they had seen Jesus in dreams and visions! Though many had lost everything, their faces were alive with hope. Somehow, their joyous faith calmed my own anxieties as I thought, “If God can work in a war zone, surely He can deal with my daily problems.”
  • Open my eyes to Your BIG PICTURE. Let’s reflect on the biblical account of the massive enemy army that surrounded the prophet Elisha. His young assistant was terrified until Elisha calmed him down with these words: “Don’t be afraid,” he told him. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, O LORD, open his eyes and let him see! The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:8-17).

Dear friend, be encouraged as you think about those invisible warriors—God’s angel armies—ready to do battle on your behalf. And don’t forget to be on the lookout for signs of God at work in the ordinary. If you want to increase your courage, remember to keep watch!

[by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

22420.9 Courage Takes the Next Step

“Make a wish. Wish upon a star. I grant you three wishes.” All are lines from my favorite fairy tales. A wish is exciting. Magical. But often out of our reach. Webster defines a wish as “a strong desire to have or do something—usually unattainable.”

In John 5, we read about a crippled man with a wish that looked unattainable. He had been an invalid for thirty-eight long years. Life had passed him by.

Jesus noticed the man lying by the pool called Bethesda (which means “site of mercy”). The disabled would often gather around this pool. Rumor had it that people sometimes got healed when they bathed in the water.

“Do you want to get well?” Jesus asked the man (John 5:6). Seems like a rather insensitive question to ask a crippled guy at a healing pool who had been desperately trying to get well for thirty-eight years. Or had he?

Let’s take a closer look. The word Jesus used here for “want” is thelo, which means “to will, wish, or desire.” It not only describes a wish but also a pressing on to action. Simply put, thelo executes.

“Do you want to get well?” Notice the man never really answered Jesus’ question. Instead, he gave a couple of excuses. He had no one to help him get into the water. Every time he tried to get near the pool someone else got there first.

Jesus’ response? A startling command: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” (John 5:8). Look at what happened next. “At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:9). Could the crippled man sense that Jesus had already healed him when he stood up and took that staggering first step? What was there about Jesus that ignited the faith to stand up after thirty-eight years as an invalid? That guy went from passive to active, hopeless to faith-filled, discouraged to courageous in an instant!

“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (John 5:8). Could Jesus be saying something similar to us? Sometimes our act of faith—after we’ve prayed and prayed and prayed about a problem—is to “stand up, pick up our mat, and walk.” Even if we’ve asked before. Even if the answer has been slow in coming. Even if we’ve been disappointed. Even if we are afraid.

What is the Lord saying to you through His Word? What is your big ask? Do you have the courage to take Jesus at His Word? Today could be your breakthrough!

Prayer: Lord, fill me with faith to take You at Your Word. Give me courage to take action—to stand up and step out in faith!

[by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

22420.8 Behind Closed Doors

There is strength in getting alone with God. Time with the Lord increases our courage. Jesus knew this full well. The Bible tells us He “withdrew often” to be alone with the Father. How much more should we?

There’s no more important task on earth than seeking God. When trouble hits, I’ve learned to go into my room, shut the door, and seek God through His Word and prayer.

Sometimes God may close doors in our life so that we have the time and space we need to draw close to Him. We get alone to shut God in, and to shut other things—like distractions and discouragement—out.

Think about it. Some of God’s greatest miracles have happened behind closed doors: A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house. His only daughter, a girl of about twelve, lay dying. While Jesus was still speaking to the group, Jairus received word that his daughter had died. Jesus said to him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (Luke 8:41-50 NIV). When Jesus arrived at the house of Jairus, He did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s mother and father” (Luke 8:51).

In other words, Jesus shut the door. He shut some things in. And he shut others out. Then Jesus took the little girl by the hand and said to her, “My child, get up!” (v. 54). Her “spirit returned,” and at once she stood up, fully revived.

We see another shut door in 2 Kings 4:18-37. A young boy suddenly died and his mother ran to the prophet Elisha for help. When the prophet returned, he found the boy dead on the couch. Elisha shut the door. The prophet prayed fervently, and the boy was restored to life. Yet another miracle behind closed doors!

So when you are worried, or weary, when you need fresh courage, that may be the time to strengthen yourself in the Lord. Remember to go to your room and shut the door to be alone with God.

For reflection: God has asked that we be quiet for a while, go to our rooms and shut the door. But take heart. Some of God’s greatest miracles occur behind closed doors.

[by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

22420.7 Courage When You Feel “Less Than”

God loves us when we are weak, but He delights in making us strong. The Bible is filled with stories of how God empowers broken men and women to conquer their enemies, pull down strongholds, move mountains, and accomplish His work on earth.

Gideon sure felt less than courageous. He referred to himself as the “least” in a family whose clan was the “weakest” in his tribe. But God sent an angel who greeted the tired and broken man with these encouraging words: “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12 ESV). It took a little persuading, but God gave amazing strength and courage to this unlikely hero who defeated enemy armies and returned Israel to her former glory.

“The angel of the Lord” is a term reserved for a very special kind of messenger. Most scholars believe “the angel of the Lord” describes an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ. Read a little further. You’ll notice that instead of “the angel of the Lord,” this visitor is actually referred to as the Lord Himself: The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” (Judges 6:11-14).

This was a defining moment for Gideon. He asked for a sign to see if this was really the Lord. He made an offering of meat and meal which the Lord touched with his staff. The offering burst into flames, so Gideon knew it was the Lord. He was terrified, certain he would die because he had seen the Lord. But God assured Gideon he would not die. So he built an altar to the Lord and called it, “The Lord is Peace” (Judges 6:24).

God then asked Gideon to do a very hard thing. He told him to tear down the altar to the rival god Baal at his father Joash’s home. Gideon took ten servants and did as the Lord had told him. “But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night” (Judges 6:28).

“Who could have done such a thing?” the men of the town asked the next day. They discovered it was Gideon. So they went to Joash and said, “Your son Gideon knocked over Baal’s altar… Hand him over, so we can kill him!” Gideon’s father replied, “Are you trying to take revenge for Baal? If you are, you will be the ones who are put to death. If Baal really is a god, let him take his own revenge on someone who tears down his altar.”

That same day, his father changed Gideon’s name to Jerubbaal, explaining, “He tore down Baal’s altar, so let Baal take revenge himself.” (Judges 6: 30-32 CEB). This marked the beginning of Gideon as a leader of Israel against her enemies. He is listed among the great heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, a chapter many call the Hall of Fame of Faith:

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies (Hebrews 11:32-34 NIV).

[by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]