A Friend in Grace

As I transcribed my handwritten journal to the computer, there was a paragraph that reminded me of my sisters who are far away from your natural home.  In this particular entry, I wrote about the ground I had lost in my communication with the Lord while on vacation.  It wasn’t the vacation itself, but the lack of quality time with the Lord alone, as well as no heartfelt conversations with others concerning the things of God.  It’s those things together that keep me invigorated in Him.

It may not be vacation that moves you out of that place of regular fellowship, but cultural differences that require you to do everyday life so differently, taking much more time and effort than when in your native land.  Add to this the time spent on the work of the ministry, and you might find your one-on-One time with the Lord sorely lacking.  As for conversations with others about the Lord in ways that refresh and renew you, the language and cultural differences create barriers in relating freely and easily – the way you can with someone sharing your native tongue.

Actually, the only way any of us can stay invigorated in Him at all is through His grace.  It’s not what we’re doing right or wrong.  It’s not our works.  Spending lots of time with His Word every day helps, but only by His grace.  Likewise, we don’t lack because our time is taken up with the needs of everyone else, with nothing left for quiet time with Him.  Whether in our preferred spiritual environment or not, it’s a simple matter of coming boldly to God’s throne – because of what Jesus Christ has done.  It’s there we find His grace to be in Him and with Him no matter what our schedule or surroundings allow.

Once He reminded me of it all being His grace anyway, and not my works, I realized that my journal is my friend when there are no kindred spirits with whom to share of the Lord.  I connect with my best friend, Jesus Christ, as I scribe what I see, think, feel, or understand from His Word and Spirit – even as I question.  I suspect you, too, have a friend, though it may not be a journal; perhaps it is art, cooking, decorating, gardening, etc.  If you allow yourself to connect with Jesus Christ – by grace – in your special friendship, you, too, will be reinvigorated.

Strength, peace, love, and grace to you, blessed women of God!

Ephesians 6:23-24 AMP  ²³ Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  ²⁴ Grace (God’s undeserved favor) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible [love]. Amen (so let it be).

As I thought about a family we visited on one of my trips, I remembered the reservations they had about starting a church in their home.  My American mindset wanted to tell them they needed to do this and say that, and disregard the religious thing, etc.  Then I was reminded of Brother Yun’s testimony in his book, Heavenly Man, that so convicted me of spiritual arrogance.  While my thoughts and actions might be appropriate in America and many other parts of the world, that bold attitude has to be tempered totally by the compassion and guidance of Holy Spirit in lands where Christianity is not tolerated.

The Word of God is still the Word of God, no matter where we are, and is full of power because it’s the Word of God.  It’s just that Jesus, Who humbled Himself just by coming from heaven to earth, and then humbled Himself even more by going to the cross with our sin on Him, knows how best to present that Truth that breaks religious mindsets, cultural mindsets, fear, etc., in every nation, in every person.  Simply, the application of the Word might not look the same as we see it in our nation.  So . . . I had a good dose of humility before breakfast this morning, and was reminded of you and the people you deal with day in and day out – the people there who need such careful handling, and the people in your native lands trying to tell you how to minister to them.  Thank you for your patience with the precious people there.  Thank you for your patience with people like me. 

Isaiah 52:7 NLT  “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”