Tag: trust

Posted in faith

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18,19).

I’m intrigued by Paul’s prayer that God would enlighten the eyes of their hearts. Hearts don’t see very well. Hearts don’t have eyes.

So I wonder, what can you see with your heart?

  • When my eyes see someone who looks a little rough around the edges, my heart can see with compassion. That person has a story that I haven’t yet heard.
  • When my eyes see someone sitting alone, my heart might see someone who needs a friend. Or at least acknowledgement that someone notices them.
  • When my eyes see death, my heart sees the living family and friends who will miss them.
  • When my eyes can’t see those who live far away, my mind remembers their faces and voices, and in my heart they seem so close.

Paul’s metaphor refers to those things that are real even if you can’t see them with your eyes. Things like hope, a future, and divine power. So much happens in this world that is completely out of our control. Yet, we have hope, because we know God has a handle on it. The future is so uncertain. Yet, we know God guarantees us a future. We might feel helpless, yet his divine power gives us strength.

Our faith vision — that is, the eyes of our hearts — is 20/20. Christ’s resurrection is a pair of glasses that helps us see a meaningful past, a wonderful future, and a hopeful today.

“Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord”

Posted in running

Building Spiritual Endurance: Lessons from Marathon Training

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Miguel A Amutio on Unsplash

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints” (Revelation 13:10; 14:12).

No matter the meaning of the power and influence of the beasts and the wrath and judgments of God in Revelation, believers are called to endurance. Faithfulness is a marathon, not a sprint. This is going to take a while.

It’s been a while since I ran marathons. In preparation, I ran seventy, eighty, and sometimes ninety miles a week. I didn’t run fast. I just ran long distances for a long time. As a marathon race weekend approached, I would do long runs of sixteen, eighteen, and twenty miles, getting used to running several hours at a stretch. It wasn’t easy. But that’s what you do to be able to finish the twenty-six point two miles of a marathon.

How do we develop spiritual endurance? There are other scriptures that provide insight.

  • “The God of endurance” (Romans 15:5). He’s the source. God is faithful. He keeps going and going and going, faithful to his promises throughout our lives. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22).
  • “Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11). Endurance flows from God’s power. While a capacitor provides a quick burst of electrical energy, a battery provides a constant source of power over a longer period of time. God can ramp it up if needed. But he’s also a constant, steady source of power.
  • “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). As I read through the gospels, Jesus was never in a hurry. He traveled on foot. He stopped for those who cried out for mercy. He took time to rest, pray, eat, and teach. In contrast, I’m busy, impatient, rushed, and hate to be interrupted. What if I let him set the pace?
  • “Suffering produces endurance” (Romans 5:3). That’s the one I don’t like. It’s not going to be pleasant. It will be difficult. But you’ll be able to go further next time. You’ll develop endurance.

Do you want to follow Jesus? Are you committed to listening to him, learning from him, and doing what he says? If so, block out some time in your day, because it’s going to take a while to understand, trust, and do what he says. It’s going to take endurance.

Posted in faith

Time’s up: you’re no longer a noob

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I’ve been walking past this car with a “Please Be Patient: New Driver” magnet sticker for longer than a year. It’s been there so long that the “New Driver” words have completely faded.

How long can someone claim to be a “new driver?” Certainly not a year. Maybe a month at most.

What driving behavior would require my patience? Driving much slower than the speed limit? Cutting corners and hitting curbs while turning right? Lingering at an intersection after the light turns green? Slowing to a crawl on the interstate entrance ramp? Lol. Those are normal driving habits. Experienced drivers do these things all the time.

How long can someone claim to be a rookie? A noob? I meet folks who claim that status after being Christians and church members for over five years. How long can you avoid ministry by stating, “I’m new at this”?

From my experience, the longer I follow Christ, the more questions I have. I feel less qualified and more dependent on grace. I have to trust him more than my own experience or expertise. I no longer say, “I’ve got this,” but rather, “He’s got me.”

It’s more like, “Please be patient: I’ve been doing this a long time.” That’s the perspective of a mature faith.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A moment of silence

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Revelation 8.

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1).

That silence stands in contrast with the unending praises of the six-winged creatures in Revelation 4:8. They are joined by the twenty-four elders, myriads of myriads of angels, and every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and in the sea (Rev. 5:9-10, 12,13. People from every nation, tribe, people, and language who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb praise him with loud voices as well (Rev. 7:9-10).

Heaven is a noisy place until the Lamb opens the seventh seal and “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Rev. 8:1).

One of the hardest things to do when teaching a class or facilitating a discussion is to ask a question and then be quiet. If no one says anything for fifteen seconds, it’s tempting to speak. A full minute of quiet seems like an hour.

Quiet is important. People are thinking. Pondering the question. Forming their thoughts.

Quiet is important when the baby is sleeping. I disconnected the doorbell so that a well-meaning delivery person didn’t push the button, ring the bell, make the dog bark, and wake the child.

Quiet is important in music. A rest means don’t play. Don’t sing a note.

Quiet is important when you’re playing hide-and-seek. Don’t giggle. Don’t breathe heavy. Don’t give away your hiding place.

Quiet is important in golf. Spectators are warned not to make a sound when a player is lining up a perfectly still ball for a drive or putt. Same for a tennis serve.

On the other hand, when a batter is trying to hit a 90 mile-per-hour fast ball, fifty-thousand people are yelling at the top of their lungs. When a basketball player lines up for a free throw, fans of the opposing team will be anything but silent.

How entertaining is it when an adult’s whispered, “Shut up!” is louder than the noise a wriggling child makes in church?

Or when a moment of silence is interrupted by the ring tone of a cell phone in someone’s purse or pocket?

In that half-hour of silence, the prayers of the saints reach the ears of God. The cacophony of heaven’s praises cannot drown out the asking, seeking, and knocking of believers.

More importantly, the roar of heaven’s worship will never drown out your prayers. They rise up to God like the smoke of incense (8:3-4). Your whispered prayers for his help, mercy, and presence sweetly disrupt heaven’s silence, moving God to respond with the thunder, rumblings, lightning, and earthquakes of his presence (8:5).

Let’s make some noise. Let’s pray!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A roll of the dice?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jonathan Petersson on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Acts 1.

“And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26).

So basically, the eleven chose the twelfth apostle by rolling the dice. The only qualifications? Being there from the baptism of John and a witness of the resurrection? Education? Don’t care. Education? Whatever. Speaking ability? Who cares? Good looking? Not an issue. Experience? We’ll train you.

Is that any way to choose an apostle? I don’t know. Jesus chose fishermen, a tax collector, and seven other guys without checking resumes or references.

How does your church choose a pastor? You pick through their resume, watch countless online sermons, interview them (on Zoom), and even pray. We make it a beauty pageant, don’t we? No one wants to admit it, but it’s true.

Is it all random? Or is it all God ordained? It depends. I believe God is behind it all. Not all would agree.

So much of life seems random. No rhyme or reason. Not true. He’s behind it all. Even if I think I’m in control. Or when I’ve done my homework and believe I have it all figured out.

God knows me (and you). He knows how we think and how we choose. He’s not surprised. He works through us anyway.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Is that true?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from John 18.

I laugh out loud at pictures and videos of people, places, and things that fill my social media feeds. After filling his wheelbarrow at the buffet, a morbidly obese man crashes through the floor and capsizes the cruise ship. A buck with a chain saw fells a tree in which a hunter in waiting in a deer stand. Stephen Hawking and Queen Elizabeth II go MMA in the octagon.

Of course, none of this is real. It’s all AI generated. But it looks real enough to capture your attention long enough to ensure the algorithm will send more.

An email tells me I’ve purchased expensive anti-virus software. A text alerts me about an undeliverable package waiting for me at the post office. A message warns that I am about to go to prison for an unpaid highway toll.

Of course, none of that is legit. But they look real enough that someone somewhere will click on the link.

A door-to-door alarm system salesman tells me about all the break-ins in my neighborhood. Lightning flashes and thunder’s not far behind as the meteorologist predicts a nice, sunny afternoon. An advertisement announces today’s the last day of the sale.

We’ve learned to take it all with a grain of salt.

Not much has changed since Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). The priests claimed Jesus was a criminal. Others said he was a king. Jesus insisted that his testimony was the truth.

Pilate had learned to take it all with a grain of salt, too.

But what if truth is a person? In the upper room, before his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, “I am the truth.”

Like it or not, you and I have to deal with deception. Every day. Some days, we’ll be duped. Other days, we’ll see right through it.

But we’ll never have to doubt the veracity of Jesus.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

He is the light

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Alexander Jawfox on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from John 8.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

Jesus’s words made me think about sources of light.

In the bible, your source of light would be the sun or from a flame, like a candle or torch.

In addition to those, my house is filled with LED lightbulbs on tables, inside appliances, hanging from ceilings, and in nightlights. The nighttime world is lit by street lights, headlights, phone lights, and motion-sensor lights.

It’s hardly every really dark.

So what different does Jesus’s light make in a not-so-dark world?

Well, darkness isn’t always about the absence of light, is it? I can be “in the dark” when I don’t have enough information about something. Books and movies may be “dark” when they involve evil or sinister topics. Dark humor uses death or pain to get a laugh. When a lot of bad things happen, we might find ourselves in a “dark place.”

Light has a lot of metaphors, too. We might say, “Enlighten me,” when someone alludes to some information we don’t have. To “shed some light” is to explain what’s going on. “Light at the end of the tunnel” expresses optimism.

All of that adds a lot of meaning to Jesus’s simple statement, “I am the light of the world.” He brings understanding, wisdom, and hope. Darkness cannot rule because it always gives way to the dawn and a new day. He invades the darkness of the grave with restored life and light.

And when there are shadows? They are created by the light. Difficult moments are from his hand to strengthen us and cultivate a mature faith.

Jesus is the light in so many ways!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What’s in it for me?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Yorgos Ntrahas on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Matthew 19.

It was a shock to hear Jesus challenge a rich young man to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow. The disciples paid close attention when Jesus spoke of how hard it was to get rich people into his kingdom. Peter responds, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27)

We know exactly where Peter is coming from. We wonder, no more than that, we need to know, “What’s in it for me?” Is it worth it. What’s the return on my investment?

Why should I exercise? Why should I eat healthy? Why should I take the medication? Why should I care about someone else? Why do I have to learn this in school? When will I ever use it?

Of course, we’ve been conditioned to respond this way. If you eat your green beans, you’ll get dessert. After you clean your room, you can play with your friends. You get an allowance, but you’ve got to do your chores each week. If you want a starting spot on the team, you’ve got to show up and practice hard. Those who follow the rules of the road don’t get traffic tickets.

So why follow Jesus? Why trust in him? Why do what he says? What’s the payout?

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (19:28-29)

When most of us read this, we like the idea of eternal life. But we really like the idea of receiving a hundred times what we’ve given up. That’s a 10,000% return on your investment! That’s nothing to sneeze at. Wouldn’t this be a great place to begin a prosperity gospel ministry?

Unfortunately, greed causes us to misinterpret that promise. Jesus also said that life doesn’t consist of an abundance of possessions.

So what is Jesus talking about here? What did he want the disciples to take home with them? Maybe this is his way of saying that the rewards are far beyond anything you could ask or imagine!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

From small to large (and everywhere in between)

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Crystal Jo on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Matthew 14 and 15.

In quick succession, two people desperately ask Jesus for help in these chapters. Peter, distracted by the storm, learns that walking on water isn’t as easy as it looks. When he cries out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus grabs his hand and gets him back in the boat (Matthew 14:30-31). Soon after a Canaanite woman with a demon possessed daughter begs Jesus, “Lord, help me.” Jesus instantly heals her daughter.

They both needed Jesus’s help. But while Jesus says to Peter, “O you of little faith” (14:31) he says to the woman, “Great is your faith!” (15:28). Both did the right thing in a dire situation. Both knew only Jesus could help them. Neither one deserved Jesus’s help. Peter should have kept his eyes on Jesus. The woman wasn’t one of the lost sheep of Israel Jesus came for.

What makes the different between “little” faith and “great” faith? It can’t be quantity. Jesus taught that faith the size of minute mustard seed can move mountains. It’s never about quantity. It’s always about the object of your faith.

Was it her persistence and humility? “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (15:27). Was it Peter’s bold challenge, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (14:28)?

I don’t have an answer. I just know on any given day, faith fills my field of vision, while on others, my faith tank seems to be empty. However, the object of my faith is the constant. He’s there regardless of the size of my faith.