Breathe

Breathe

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence
Living in me”

This Is The Air I Breathe, Hillsong

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.“

Genesis 2:7, NKJV

Jeremiah 29:13-14:  “You will seek (baqash) me and find me when you seek (darash) me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

As a former addict and alcoholic I spent a lot of time in 12 Step Meetings. One of the hardest hitting ideas in the Twelve Steps to me personally is step 11: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

CONSCIOUS CONTACT. When we look at the Word spoken through Jeremiah in the passage above we see that the Lord does not hide Himself from us – He isn’t hard to find – but it takes a sort of effort from our side.

Looking at the Hebrew words BAQASH and DARASH in this passage we find that the Lord requires two things of us.

“Baqash’ is also translated as ‘desire’, to ‘plead’ or ‘beg for’ and to ‘aim’. 

‘Darash’ is to get up and go looking, to ‘ask’, to ‘study’, to ‘call’.

What God is saying is: “I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU when you DESIRE ME, set your sights on Me – HUNGER AND THIRST for Me – and then ACT ON THAT DESIRE by LOOKING, by ASKING, by STUDYING, by CALLING.”

Our ‘contact’ with God needs to be ‘conscious’ – born of desire and pursued with action. Our ‘contact’ or ‘finding God’ should be intentional – an exercise in mindfulness.

I would like to add the word ‘constant’ to the mix.

Scripture encourages us to ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thes. 5:16-18, Luke 18:1:), to pray about everything (Phil 4:6:), to meditate on His Word day and night (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-2:) – Scripture encourages us to be consistent in our efforts for ‘conscious contact’. Scripture calls for CONSTANT CONSCIOUS CONTACT.

The Psalmist in Psalm 116 proclaims: I will praise Him as long as I live –  as long as I have breathe in my lungs – I will praise Him!

In Genesis 2:7: we read that God breathed life into Adam – and his lungs reacted – expanded, inhaled, exhaled… 

If worship is our response to our Creator, our response to the goodness and glory of God (Psalm 116) then Adam’s response to his Creator was the first act of worship.

If we meditate on this a little bit we might come to realize that our worship, our prayer, our meditation – our seeking out the Lord should be as breathing to us.

Just like breath is life to the body, so also prayer, meditation, the study of His Word, and our worship is life to our souls. 

God wants to dwell in our midst – He doesn’t want to come and visit once in a while. He doesn’t need a holiday home. He wants to tabernacle here among us. He wants to establish His throne here and now in our hearts and in our lives. He desires to be with us.

And all we have to do is breathe.

All we need to do is start being present in His presence. Being mindful of maintaining that constant conscious contact with the Lord.

Worship should become a lifestyle. Prayer should become a lifestyle. His presence should be the air we breathe. His Word should be the daily bread that feeds and sustains us.

God is not hiding. He is just waiting for you to make a move

God is still breathing life into dry bones. It is time you let your lungs respond.

Prayer: Lord, right now I invite Your Holy Spirit to come and invade my life. Let Your love and presence flood my soul. Hear the longing and the thirsting of my heart as I acknowledge that I am lost without You. Bring water to dry places Lord, feed me and restore me. Give me the wisdom to seek You, and as I seek You let it become like breathing to me. Ignite a fire in my heart that burns for You – awaken and stir up a longing that desires You above all else – and as I seek You Lord, I know You are faithful. As I seek You Lord, do not hide Your face from me, but allow me to see and experience the beauty of Your presence in my life today. Amen.

Eagles Wings

Eagles Wings

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“Come live in meAll my lifeTake overCome breathe in meAnd I will riseOn eagle’s wings”

Eagles Wings, Hillsong

“He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31, NKJV

God has in times past revealed Himself to us as God the Father – through the creation of the universe. He has revealed Himself as God with us when He took on flesh and walked in our midst as Jesus the Christ – the face, the grace and the embrace of God. Finally He reveals Himself as God in us and through us through the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 8:11: Paul describes the Holy Spirit as the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

We used to sing in the Afrikaans Pentecostal churches, ‘It’s the Holy Ghost and Power that is keeping me alive…”

The Holy Spirit is the life of God in us. The power of God in us. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in us.

Paul continues and in Romans 8:14-16: 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Elsewhere Paul writes and says, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty – freedom! (2 Corinthians 3:17:)

God wants to give you that freedom today. He wants to give you that newness and freshness of life today.

In Romans 8 we read that famous declaration: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!”

The Holy Spirit is ‘The Mighty Conqueror” that Isaiah wrote about living IN us.

And if God is for us – if He is with us – and more importantly if He is in us – we can rise above every situation that the world can throw at us. We can rise above the works of the enemy. We can rise above the storm.

Eagles have the unique ability to fly above the storm – in fact, they use the storm to their advantage. They ride on the upper air currents and thermals, gliding above the turbulence of the weather down below.

Your storm might seem insurmountable – impossible – right now… But God wants to help you rise above it.

Just like the Eagle soars and glides effortlessly above the storm by resting on the drafts and currents – so too God wants to teach you to soar and glide above your storm by resting in Him.

It may seem impossible to you, but to God all things are possible.

Some trust in horses and chariots – but we will trust in the name of the Lord (Psalm 20:7), for those who put their trust in Him will never be put to shame.

Those who trust in the Lord – wait on the Lord – find their rest in God, will rise up with wings as eagles.

Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer: Lord, sometimes it is hard to trust. Help me trust in You today. I give you every anxiety, every fear and every insecurity knowing that you will take these ashes and give me beauty in their place. Help me soar like the eagle above every situation and circumstance in my life as I declare that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me and will help me rise above the storm. I declare that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Clothe me in Your strength. Clothe me in Your grace. Flood my life with Your love and peace as I go into this day with a new resolve – to wait upon You Lord. Write Your testimony on my heart. Write testimonies in and through my life. Come abide in me, Lord, I pray. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

My Chains Are Gone

My Chains Are Gone

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“My chains are gone, I’ve been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending loveAmazing grace“

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), Chris Tomlin

“He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.”

Psalm 107:14

Speaking about the thorn in his flesh, Paul writes the following in 2 Corinthians 12:

”9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

A little over 8 years ago I was living a double life. I was a youth pastor and worship leader, but also a drug addict and alcoholic. I had my own thorn in my flesh.

All of this culminated in me ending up on the cold, concrete floor of the local jail.

I was arrested twice in that time – once by the local authorities – and after that by the grace and mercy of our God.

It was in that time that I encountered God like never before.

I have become increasingly grateful for His mercy and grace. Grace is often defined as ‘getting what you did not deserve’. Mercy on the other hand is ‘not getting what you DO deserve’.

The fact that I fully deserved the judgement, not only of man and the legal system, but also the judgement of God Almighty – but was given mercy instead – causes me to tremble. Leaves me astonished.

When I think of the times I should’ve died – near overdoses, hanging out with guns and gangsters, bad batches and bad friends – I am grateful to be alive today.

8 years ago today I stepped into my last ‘first’ 12 Step Meeting. I had relapsed the day before (after stringing together +/- 3 months of sobriety and narrowly escaping a 6 month prison sentence I still had not learnt my lesson), but had returned to the fold again – this time taking that first step on purpose.

That meeting ended with a prayer. Just before the prayer we all stood holding hands in a circle, and someone said: “We stand this way to remind ourselves we need never stand alone again, unless we choose to…”

These words have kept me clean. 

I know that my life has not been ideal – that I have not lived a perfect life – but I am grateful that God never let go of me, and that even throughout my addiction, even throughout my clinical depression, mental illness, physical infirmity and moments of doubt and fear I have always found shelter in Him. I had to go through darkness – even though I have served Him (even in my addiction, with all my flaws and failures, I was faithful and committed) just over 2 decades – to know the fullness of His grace and mercy. The fact that even at my darkest He saw me. Even at my lowest He loved me. And He NEVER LET GO. He promised us: “I will never leave or forsake you – I will never let you be alone!”

Just like He promised Joshua: ‘Be strong and of good courage, I am with you!” He is with you!

I am writing this post for the families of the addicted. There is hope. Your husband, wife, daughter, son, brother, sister – they can recover! They can still come home! No matter how far they may have strayed.

Finally and foremostly I am writing this post to carry the message of hope to the still suffering addict and alcoholic – to carry the light back into darkness and call more of the suffering, broken and weary back home.

Jesus says: come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28-30)

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, if you are broken and weary, if you are still suffering in silence – know that you are not alone.

If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol – so did I.

Come fall before the mercy and grace of Jesus. Let His love flood Your soul.

And if you ever need a friend, come lean on me.

I am writing this for you. You are not alone. We will love you until you learn to love yourself. You don’t ever need to be alone again.

Prayer: Thank You Lord that I am not alone in my trials and my tribulations. Thank You Lord that You hear me when I call and that those who put their trust in You have never been put to shame. You are the chain breaker. You are the miracle worker. And I thank You Lord that You are working freedom in my life today. I thank You that You are silencing the voices of fear and insecurity, and that I will hear the tender whispers of Your heart today. Remind me today, Lord, of the places I have been and help me be a faithful witness of Your love, grace and mercy to those who are still going through their storms. In Jesus name. Amen.

Do It Again

Do It Again

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“I’ve seen You move, You move the mountainsAnd I believe I’ll see You do it againYou made a way, where there was no wayAnd I believe I’ll see You do it again”

Do It Again, Elevation Worship

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,    and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

Psalm 130:5-6, NIV

I used to work the night shift in a call centre where we would call up American business owners to sell them marketing packages.

It was a routine that took a lot of getting used to.

I remember, a few times, watching the sun come up just before going to bed.

I’ve always loved Psalm 130. It’s about the faithfulness of God. He is faithful in His love and mercy. When we stumble He is there to catch us.

Like many of us, I have faced a lot of situations in my life – but God has always been faithful. Even when I was not.

That time I was working the night shift was a very dark time in my life. There were a lot of things I was going through, a lot of things I wasn’t sure about – a lot of uncertainty and fear – a lot of anxiety and depression – but one thing was sure. The sun would rise in the morning. Daylight would come.

And time and time again I have come back to this verse – whenever fear or anxiety wants to whisper in my ear – I think of Psalm 130:6. 

“I wait for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

More than the night shift guard waits for the rising of the sun I await the coming of the Risen Son in my situation.

With that same sureness that His promises are faithful and true – with the same kind of sureness I will wait upon the Lord.

As sure as I am that the sun will rise and bring an end to the darkness of night – I am sure that Christ will shine upon my situation and bring and end to the darkness of my circumstances.

God does not change. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) – He is everlasting and unchanging. Alpha and Omega. He is the same God He was yesterday and will be the same God tomorrow. There is no shadow of turning with Him.

We used to sing “What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you…”

Just like He saved me from the abyss of depression and addiction, just like He saved me from sin – He will do it for you!

Just like He picked me up out of the miry clay of fear and insecurity – He will do it for you!

Just like He provides for me daily – He will do it for you!

He split the seas for Israel to cross through – He will do it for you!

Just like I have seen cancer healed and blind eyes opened – He will heal you!

He is still the God that makes Jericho walls fall down.

We just need to come to a place where we believe that He is who He says He is.

When I called out to Him on the floor of that jail cell He was faithful. He heard me. 

He hears you.

Lamentations 3:22-23: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Trust in Him today.

As sure as I am that the sun will come up tomorrow morning – I am sure that His love never fails.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your steadfast love. Thank You that Your love never fails and never lets go. I thank You lord for the blessed assurance that there is no shadow of turning with You. You are faithful and true. Therefore I will not be afraid – I will not fear or be anxious for anything – for as sure as I am that the sun will come up, I will wait upon You. Give me the strength and the wisdom to endure through the night and see the joy that comes in the morning. In Jesus name.