Can Psalm 112 Drive Away Anxiety And Fear?

Praise the Lord.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,

    who find great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1

At the beginning of Psalm 112 God lays the groundwork for those who will be able to face even terrible fear and anxiety with faith and courage. Clearly God is marking out those who are His own. When you have a relationship with God you have an incredibly strong foundation to stand upon. It might seem strange that a verse helping you to overcome fear and anxiety begins with the fear of God. But we should take courage in our fear and reverence of God because when you fear God–you have nothing else to fear. Once you are in a reverent relationship with God, you are a child of the most powerful Being in the universe.  He has promised to help you. No terrible situation or event that you face can overcome Him.

Their children will be mighty in the land;

    the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in their houses,

    and their righteousness endures forever.

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,

    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,

    who conduct their affairs with justice. Psalm 112:2-5

Being in a relationship with God changes us and prepares us to face life’s challenging events. Whether a sudden death in the family, terrible medical diagnosis, or looming financial disaster–no matter the situation–a believer can depend upon Jesus and His promises. Standing strong on His word empowers us with the faith we need in anxious situations. And frankly, it makes us better human beings.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;

    they will be remembered forever.

They will have no fear of bad news;

    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;

    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. Psalm 112:6-8

Anxiety can come from fear that takes root and grows. It creates strongholds in our minds that grow so large we can lose sight of God. But if on the other hand we set down deep roots in God, placing our faith in Him and growing in wisdom because of our fear and respect for God (Psalm 111:10) we will be well armed in our battle with anxiety. And we will not be fighting alone.

Through faith and confidence in God our enemy anxiety will lose its hold over us. Our fears will melt away under the fiery light of God’s promise to protect and deliver us.

They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,

    their righteousness endures forever;

their horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see and be vexed,

    they will gnash their teeth and waste away;

    the longings of the wicked will come to nothing. Psalm 112:9-12

Fear attacks us all from one corner or another. Yet the person who trusts in God can stand strong in the most fearful of situations, not because they feel like it, but because they have a trust in God greater than any fear that attacks and brings on a state of anxiety.

Prayer: Dear Lord, anxiety often tries to steal away our courage and trust in You. Help us to hold fast to a faith that delivers us from fear and anxiety. For You are our Defender and Deliverer. Thank You Jesus! Amen.

A Bible Worth Dying For

Note: Your particular Bible version choice should never be used as a 'test of fellowship' in Christian circles, nor should you stop reading your current Bible version if it is the only version you are capable of reading and understanding. Almost any Bible version is better than reading no Bible at all.

Recently I saw an interview on TV with an author of a bestselling book about Jesus. This man stated that he once was an Evangelical who had been on fire for God, but then went to a Bible College and found out the Bible was not the true word of God, that it was full of errors and inaccuracies and not to be trusted or relied upon. When asked about his bestselling book regarding Jesus, the man stated how he believed Jesus was ignorant and could not even read and write. I was astounded at the stupidity of this bestselling author of a book about Jesus. Clearly the Bible states Jesus was literate: Luke 4:16-21.

We are in a very dangerous time for Christians. Many Christians no longer believe the Bible is the inspired word of God written by men under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. They do not believe the Bible is reliable or true. They are ignorant of the fact that the Bible has the best physical evidence of any ancient text with over five thousand discovered manuscripts.

When I was a boy my Sunday School teacher gave me a Holy Bible, the King James Version. I knew when I held that sacred book in my hand I was holding the very words of God. I was awestruck, felt proud, honored, humbled, and considered that holy book a prized possession. I think for many Christians today that feeling is almost gone.

Recently the question came to my mind: “Would you die for your Bible?” The question took me aback. It is an honest question, martyrs all over the world have died for their Bible and are still dying for it. Would I die for mine? I started sorting my mind through my entire host of Bible versions and translations, and honestly, there are some I would not give up my life for. Would I die for a watered down “Message” Bible? No way! Like an equally bad “Voice Bible” these are impressions of what the Bible says rather than the actual word of God. How about one I really like, perhaps the New Living Translation? After some thought, I decided even though that book is not the literal, word-for-word, type of Bible I prefer, it is still essentially the word of God that I would die for. Then you bring up versions like the NIV Bible, because I really do like that one. But can I say that without a doubt, I would be willing to die for that Bible version? My conclusion was yes, though not as “strong” as I might like, it is still God’s word. But not every Bible version is worthy of dying for. If you water down God’s word to the point it barely resembles Holy Scripture, is it worth dying for?

 

This is why you should stick with a Bible you have confidence in. One that you know contains God’s word. One that is close to your heart and you hold fast in your mind. 

I believe the King James Version was the Gold Standard Bible. It is a very literal Bible. The closer you get to the original Greek and Hebrew words the closer you are to having the actual words of God given by the Holy Spirit. The literal translations are going to bring us closest to the word of God. The problem with Dynamic Equivalence (paraphrase) Bible versions is that no person, not even well educated Christians, are completely free of bias. They bring their ideas about doctrine, whether Calvinism or Arminian or something else that is preferred by them into their translation choices. They can't help but bring their preconceived beliefs with them when they are trying to decide what the text means instead of focusing on what the words are and what those words actually say. Some Bible translations, especially the paraphrase-dynamic equivalence versions, are almost commentaries of scripture rather than actual word-for-word scripture. Bibles like the NASB, ESV, and NKJV are very literal Bible versions. Plus they have updated English language and in the case of the ESV and NASB they had more discovered texts available to the translators than those of the KJV had available at that time. This explains the differences in text between the KJV and modern literal version Bibles.

The NIV is very popular, very easy to read, and despite what I have written so far, I'm not trying to bash this or other Bible versions. It shines brighter than most paraphrases, but it still is essentially a paraphrase itself. To get that light of God shining through the word brighter still, we need to get into the actual words of God. Now this sometimes makes for a harder to read translation, and it may take a bit more work for some people to understand a word-for-word translation, but for serious Bible study and preaching I believe it is time to strengthen the Biblical foundation of modern Christianity.

It is not wrong to give children or new converts easy to read paraphrase Bibles. You give milk to babies. They can grow from the light that comes through these versions, because even when some of these versions lessen the word God, the light still shines through in places of the text of these books. And some, like the NIV, frequently 'get it right' on many passages. But that doesn't change the fact that mature Christians need the meat of the word of God unvarnished by interpretation and biases that take us directly to the word of God.

Must every Bible be considered flawless to be labeled as the word of God? No, I don't think so. Once when I was reading a New King James Version Bible I found an actual typo in the scripture that the proofreaders missed, and I called Nelson Bible Publishers and told them about the error. As long as God allows humans to handle and distribute His word there is a chance for errors to creep in. But what I am talking about here is the approach to translating God's word. Not everyone respects the Bible, and sadly, too often, those involved in the textual criticism and translation of the Bible do not believe in the sacredness, or to use a theological term, the Plenary Inspiration of Scripture. In layman's terms, they don't believe the Bible is the God inspired, God preserved, and God delivered Holy Book from above.

We need to get as close as is possible to those Hebrew and Greek words of the Old and New Testament. We need those words moved over from the original languages to our English language as accurately as can be done. We need as little human intervention as possible to prevent errors from creeping in and biases from marring God's Sovereign word. Some of us believe in the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, Scripture Alone. This doctrine means that the Holy Bible alone contains all that is needed for salvation and knowledge of God. We believe the Bible alone is the source and authority for Christian doctrine and teaching. This does not mean that teachers, preachers, or apostles are not necessary, only that for the Christian the Bible itself is the sole authority for doctrine and Biblical truth. I think you can begin to see why the quality of the translation of the Bible is so important for us.

Almost any Bible version will shine some light from the original source. God can and has used even very weak, dimly lit, Bibles to help Christians grow. But quite often these weak translations do not even mention important doctrinal terms like Justification, Regeneration, Sanctification, Predestination, and other long held Biblical doctrines and ideas involved and needed for Christian growth, maturity, and the very foundation of Christian understanding and education from God's word.

The multitude of Bible versions has brought us greater understanding of God's word. We have Bible versions so easy to read that young children can understand the Bible better because of them. And yet, at the end of the day, the Christian must ask themselves: Where can I find God's actual word? Which Bible is so holy and sanctified that it would be worth dying for?

As mentioned, the King James Bible has proven itself over four centuries as blessed and used by God to bring multitudes to Christ. There is no question in my mind that it is truly God's word. Then there is the New King James Version Bible, with updated language that follows the wording of the King James Bible. The New American Standard Bible is my first choice for a literal Bible translation. I think the light shines brightly through it. It is a favorite of one of the best Bible teachers and preachers Charles Stanley. The English Standard Version is my second choice as  a very literal Bible. These Bibles I mention are those that I am most familiar with, there may be better or worse Bible versions not mentioned. These versions retain theologically important terms, and are also quite readable. I will mention three more popular Bibles. The New International Version has proven itself useful for many Christians over the past few decades. I think the light shines through it though it is not a strong literal translation. The Christian Standard Bible is also a middle of the road translation like the NIV between being literal and easy to read. It has been rising quickly through the ranks. Lastly, I will mention the New Living Translation. This Bible was updated in 2004 and seriously improved, bringing it much closer to the NIV in quality. Yet the NLT is still a paraphrase, or to put the nicer spin on it, Dynamic Equivalence Bible version. But the NLT can be useful.

  

I began my spiritual life with the King James Bible, and I still find it a reliable, proven, literal version of God's word in the English language even though the English is badly dated with words that have fallen out of modern use. Thankfully we have several worthy successors to the King James Bible.  But we need to be clear, not every Bible is equal, not every version is the literal word of God or even close to it. Some new Bible translation philosophies and commercial interests have pushed certain Bible versions into the forefront that do not always provide us with fully accurate translations for Bible teaching and doctrine, even if they may have some usefulness elsewhere. We need to have a Bible worth dying for. In various places in the world your Bible can get you killed. Just owning a Bible can mean your death. My question to you is: Are you sure the Bible you are using is worth dying for? 

Getting Excited Again

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 1 Peter 1:8

I had an English teacher who was about as exciting as a box of rocks. English was usually my best subject, not because I was a hard working student, but because it came easy to me. Yet my mind often drifted off while this teacher was speaking. But suddenly one day I heard excitement in her voice, so I perked up. She was talking about an author named J.R.R. Tolkien. This was long before any movies or anything else had put Tolkien or the Fantasy genre on the radar. Indeed, I knew nothing of the fantasy genre of books. But based upon Mr. Tolkien having sparked my teacher’s excitement, I searched out his books, then went on to discover other fantasy books, eventually becoming a lifelong fan of the genre.

Today the fantasy genre is awash with sub-genres and fantasy authors are as common as rain in April. You seldom find such excitement today as early fantasy fans who had been digging up old authors all the way back to the 1930s. They discovered just a few truly great authors in the genre. Today fans of the Fantasy genre have little new to get excited about. It seems like everybody has been there and done that.

I’m beginning to think Christianity for many has taken the same turn. When I was a teenager watching Pat Robertson on the 700 Club on my 19” black & white TV it was awesome to hear Jesus talked about on TV. When a friend told me about DeGarmo & Key, and Petra, I discovered Christian Rock in its infancy. It was an exciting time and it seemed Christianity was exploding across the scene. Only later did I learn I was reaping the blessings of the Jesus Movement that came out of the disillusioned Hippy Movement. Church buses were everywhere picking up kids when I was a boy and there was excitement about Jesus in the air. Today we have TV, Internet, Radio preachers that can hardly be counted. Christian Music is all over the radio and Christian artists are just a quick download away. We have perhaps a dozen or more different Bible translations today in so many styles and types it boggles the mind. Incredible compared to the King James Version I grew up with that came in either a “gift and award” cover or nice leather cover, perhaps some hardcover Bibles for the church pews for visitors.

My point is that too often today Jesus and the Gospel have become commonplace. Maybe you will go to church, but no big deal, if you miss it just catch the podcast or Youtube or Facebook recording later. Unlike myself as an eight year old boy holding the King James Bible in his hand like it was gold, you have Bible apps on your phone, iPad, perhaps half a dozen print Bibles  that were given to you or that you picked up over the years collecting dust on your shelf. Many people no longer carry Bibles to Church because the scripture reading is put up on the big screen above the Preacher during the sermon. 

I’m not judging anyone, I’m as guilty as anyone else of taking God’s blessings for granted. But it does mean a great deal to me when I can make it to church, and I still get excited finding something new in God’s Word that I had read a hundred times before but jumps out at me unexpectedly.

We are so blessed today we are almost bored with blessings. I think we see this time and again in the Bible when the Holy became commonplace to the Hebrew people. So what, we have manna from heaven to eat every day–where is the fried chicken? Water from a rock? Where is the wine? God thundering on the mountain? Soon they got bored and were making their own god, a golden calf.

Early America had several Great Awakenings. Revivals that reawakened the excitement for God in our early ancestors. I think we need another Great Awakening, or a series of Revivals. Sadly, Christianity today has become too easy, demanding too little of us. The gospel is so accessible today that you run into it without trying. Even some unbelievers can describe the essence of Christianity just from what they have heard and seen around them.

I expect Jesus is going to shake up and wake up, reignite and re-excite, His people soon. It may come through hardship or persecution. It may come through Evangelists who can cut through the dross in our commonplace Christianity and stir up the dying embers of the church today. 

Exited Christians, like that boring English teacher who suddenly became animated in my class that day, will fire up the world for Christ. Fire spreads quickly, it just needs some fuel.

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6

Until Revival stirs up our nation and people get excited again about Jesus and the things of God, we need to do our part as believers to stir ourselves up in the Spirit of God. We must keep the gospel message fresh in our hearts and never take for granted blessings that could be taken away from us. Those “boring days” of eating manna in the desert ended, but how the generations later would have given anything to taste that heavenly bread. Even now Christians in many nations would give anything for one of our ragged worn out Bibles. And to hear Christian Music on the radio is only a dream they may never see fulfilled. Most of us have churches within walking distance or a short drive from our homes. Those people have no churches and if they hold a meeting in their homes are subject to arrest. We are drowning in blessings in this country and we take it all for granted. Just more of the same old manna.

I grew up in a county where Christianity became mainstream. Christianity became cool. You couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting a Christian. All of our commonplace Christianity is just one generation away from disappearing either through neglect and disinterest, or some government authority sweeping it away. 

We may not individually be able to start a Revival or another Great Awakening, but we can stir up our own excitement, renew our joy, stir up the Spiritual Gift God has placed within us. We can become excited Christians. Just look around you at the myriad of blessings God has given to us. We have every reason to be excited.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 1 Timothy 1:5-6

Stir up the joy of your salvation. Rekindle that excitement you had when you first became a believer. Excitement is contagious. And there is no telling how many people might come to know Jesus as their Savior if they could only hear the excitement in your voice as you describe and talk about Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help our wells not to become stagnant but to be filled with clean clear water. Help us to quit treating as common the incredible gifts and blessings You have poured out on us and our country. Forgive us our lack of joy and excitement. Set a fire in our hearts that burns passionately for You. Amen.

Looking For God In All The Wrong Places

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. 2 Chronicles 34:3

When we read in the Bible about the people of Israel worshiping idols made of wood, stone, and metal it seems crazy to us today. The idea of bowing down to and making sacrifices to stone, wood, and metal images is insane. In fact, if someone were found in a public park that had a statue and that person was worshiping the statue they would be taken away to have their head examined.

 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Habakkuk 2:18

Yet we have as many idols today, if not more, than the people of long ago who made their own gods from materials available to them. Everything from celebrities to houses and cars and people and pets are the focus of worship for those who are trying to fill the “God Vacuum” we are all born with. We were destined to worship the One True God, but those who resist Him, instead use many other things to fill that void in their lives.

For those who have not experienced the peace, love, and joy that comes from knowing their Maker, they too often turn to drugs, alcohol, and pleasures of all sorts as substitutions for the spiritual blessings only known to the believer. We must turn to the Fruit of the Spirit instead of the Spirit of the Fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).

While it is true that sometimes Christians also lose their way and their focus upon God becoming prey to the world’s artificial religious substitutes, it is primarily the godless who create and find new gods to worship.

Some take pride in the fact that they worship no god/s and that they are “free” of such superstitious things. Yet their very pride and arrogance are idols they set up as arguments and philosophies that oppose the idea of God. Their new religion of an Agnostic or Atheistic stance wrapped up in pride is a wall that they believe will protect them from any responsibility of action and reaction in their lives. But the god of pride will fail them as surely as the other gods and idols people put in place of the God and Maker of us all. Now they deny the God who made them. And one day God will deny them.

When I am outdoors, looking at an azure sky filled with beautiful billowy clouds, or looking into the starry heavens at night, or any other lovely thing God has made, I often wonder how anyone can go through this life thinking these things “magically” appeared on their own. How could anyone think the creation simply arrived by chance? When I see a beautiful work of art it makes me wonder who the artist might be. It is the same when looking at God’s artwork through His Creation. 

since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20

Despite the gods or ideologies you have chosen in this life, one day your life will end. You will no longer be able to deny the God you will stand before at that time. God reveals Himself in many ways all around you today if you will only resist the gods of this world and its foolish ideologies. Don’t wait until it is too late to recognize the God whose fingerprints are on every created thing, including yourself.

And you are a believer, never make the mistake of worshiping the creation instead of its Creator, and never get sidetracked by idols.

Prayer: Dear Lord, open the eyes of the spiritually blind, and help Your children to remain spiritually alert, always resisting the gods of this world and the foolish ideologies that surround us. Amen.

What Is Religion?

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Jeremiah 7:1

Jesus said many hard things to the religious leaders of His day. He described them as the blind leading the blind (Mat. 15:14). Just as then, too often we make religion a man-man affair of certain trappings, styles, and activities that have little or nothing to do with God or His will for us.

Our first mistake as always is to put the emphasis on ourselves instead of God’s will. To focus on people instead of Jesus. Throughout my life when God is brought up or Jesus is mentioned the reaction is predictable. The response: “I try to be a good person”, “I feel like I’m doing what I should”, “I go to church”,  “I do alright”. How funny it is when God is brought up the focus turns only to humans. Others have responded not by mentioning themselves when it comes to God but other people: “That church hurt me”, “That preacher offended me or made me angry”, "I was a believing person until I saw what happened with that TV Preacher” etc.

How human to put all the focus on us when it comes to God. Even in what appears to be better circumstances, the case of true believers, how often we get sidetracked by our efforts instead of relying upon God. Some Christans have a long resume of good activities helping at church, helping the poor, even going overseas to help those in dire need. And that is all awesome until you lose focus of relying upon God and instead get fixated upon your own accomplishments.

Charles Spurgeon was perhaps the greatest Preacher England ever produced or ever will produce. And no wonder. On his way to the dais to preach he would say over and over: “Help me Holy Spirit”. A visitor to his church was met by Spurgeon and Spurgeon asked the man if he would like to see the church furnace. The man was surprised by the question, but not wanting to offend, he agreed to Spurgeon’s suggestion. Spurgeon led the man to the basement and to the man’s surprise when the door was thrown open he saw a room filled with praying people. That was indeed the furnace that fired Spurgeon’s church and sermons.

The American Preacher Charles Swindoll wrote a book about “Grace” years ago. I remember him saying that every Christian should read the book of Galatians at least once a year. It only takes about twenty minutes, and it has the great effect of reminding us that it is God’s grace and power and not our own that accomplishes God’s will on this earth. 

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3

Even in the Old Testament we are reminded of what “our religion” is worth:

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6

And yet once more from scripture we are reminded of the danger of being too religious without acting in the power of God's Love:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Then what is true religion? In my own humble opinion I believe it begins with Jesus and is the act of relying upon God’s Holy Spirit, Christ within us, to overcome our selfish, self-centered nature, and to put others first. Not focusing upon “religious acts” but everyday acts of kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and simply being guided by God’s Love in our actions and reactions. All the while keeping in mind the Grace of Jesus Christ that Saved Us. His Love that Sustains Us. If we do that, all the while holding fast to humility which delivers us from the pride of our self-righteousness, God may be able to use us to accomplish some good on this earth. 

We can feel pretty good about going to church, giving an offering, taking communion, and any number of religious activities. Religion is a good word, but we have it treated religion badly by making it completely dependent upon us.

I don’t know about you Christian, but I praise God that my eternal security is locked up in Jesus and not dependent upon my useless acts of piety or more frequent acts of sinful stubbornness. I’m right there with the Apostle Paul when he described himself as the Chief of Sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). I have felt that way too many times in my life. My hope is that the older I get the more my awareness of and dependence upon God and His Holy Spirit grows.

I will end with another word of wisdom from the Apostle Paul as the Spirit led him to write this:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

Prayer: Dear Lord, You did not have much use for the religious people of Your day. Help us to avoid being like them and instead to be like You. May Your Spirit and Power and Love grow in us more every day. Amen.

Spiritual Warfare Is No Joke

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

For any non-Christian who might be reading this I cannot emphasize enough that you had better get Saved. For Christians do not always survive Satan’s attacks much less unbelievers.

When Satan sets his sights on you–you are in trouble. Spiritual Warfare is a joke to unbelievers. But to Believers who have experienced it, you will never forget it.

The enemy can bring circumstances to bear that can test you, often working through other people, but his primary method of attack is in the area of your thoughts. He is an opportunist. He will come at you when you are physically weak and/or feeling mentally and emotionally unstable.

Spiritual attacks are not a one time event. And when you get old enough you can look back and see events where you have been tested to your limit. That was my case in 1991.

I had been struggling with secondary depression on the heels of the collapse of my physical health. Suddenly I found suicidal thoughts assailing me, backed up by panic attacks. This was something I had never experienced before and I knew it wasn’t me. Certainly not the normal me, and it was sinking me deeper into depression. I went to my doctor and explained the situation. He immediately put me on Prozac. Later I found out that I had a bad reaction to SSRI medications as some people do. Indeed, the number one thing Prozac did to me was to vastly ramp up my anxiety levels. Satan started having a party in my head.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:16-17

Those fiery darts spoken of above are aimed right at your head and can go into your mind. I was having the fight of my life. I was fighting for my life. After speaking to a therapist I realized I was getting weaker, and the therapist was concerned my ability to withstand those constant suicidal thoughts was going to weaken more over time if I did not get help.

I voluntarily went into a mental health facility. I spent about two weeks there. It was surprising the number of believers I met there, we even had a Bible Study. And I’m pretty sure I met a lady who was possessed, the things she was screaming sent a shiver down my spine. Just more evidence that Satan is alive and well.

I was no spiritual novice. Saved in my teenage years, growing up in a strong Bible believing church, reading my bible and memorizing scripture since childhood, you would have thought I was more than prepared for what Satan had in store for me. 

A change of medicine in the hospital helped. But I was still in the throes of depression. Satan was not just telling me I was going to die in my thoughts, but illustrating how I was going to do it. I did what any Christian should do, along with praying, I opened my Bible to see what God had to say about it all. This is the first verse I found:

I will not die but live,

    and will proclaim what the Lord has done. Psalm 118:17

I held tightly to that verse and had prayer warriors praying for me and I was constantly praying. I was 28 years old. I was in my prime when Satan tried to destroy me, and things looked and felt grim. No one who has not been through this sort of thing can fully comprehend it. 

I don’t judge those who have succumbed to depression. Without the grace of God and hanging on by the skin of my teeth I would not be here today. God protected me, but again, I had been at this awhile and knew the importance of prayer, that I needed the prayers of others, and that I needed all the help I could get. Nevertheless, no one wants to admit they are in trouble and in need of serious help. I wouldn’t and didn’t until I knew I absolutely had to. After all, I was a Christian and had been for many years. This sort of thing doesn’t happen to Christians, Right?

I’m here to tell you that Christians, just like everyone else, are not immune to mental health issues. And the Christian needs to understand we walk around daily with a target on our back. If Satan can’t get you with depression, he is more than happy to get you to commit adultery, or theft, or some other foolish and dangerous activity. It all begins with a thought. One of those fiery darts mentioned above.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 

If you really think you are immune from temptations and dangerous thoughts, then you are saying you are better than Jesus. Do you realize Satan tried to tempt Jesus to commit suicide by throwing Himself off of a building?

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

    and they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Matthew 4:5-6

I’m sharing all of this with you because not only do most churches never mention such things as Spiritual Warfare, many preachers are simply clueless. But if you read your Bible, you find it reminding us to be strong in the Word of God, to beware of our enemy, to stay armed and ready for battle. For friends, this side of heaven we are in a battle. If Satan can’t get you to destroy yourself while in the throes of depression, he is just as happy to turn you into an alcoholic, drug addict, someone who cheats, steals, is filled with bitterness, resentment, hate, unforgiveness, and the list goes on. 

Prayer is one of the greatest weapons the Christian has in their spiritual arsenal.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 15:16

And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God. Revelation 8:4

Satan wants to set up spiritual strongholds in your mind. Strongholds of fear, doubt, dread, disbelief, filthy thoughts, dangerous thoughts. He shoots them into your mind hoping you will make them your own. His thought-darts get the ball rolling. How do you combat this? First off by being aware of it. Not every stupid thought that comes into your mind should be acted upon. Indeed not every stupid thought that comes into your mind is your own thought!

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve grabbed that verse and taken captive stupid thoughts and ideas the enemy has cast my way.

You can also use faith to deflect such thoughts.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16

And how do we have that faith?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

And as mentioned, prayer is a mighty weapon to withstand the enemy. Jesus spent time in prayer, how is it you think you don’t need to pray, or can simply toss up a prayer and go about your business? Prayer is constantly being in communication with God.

And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. Mark 1:35

Jesus told us not to judge for one simple reason: We are all subject to temptation and will be tempted. As I mentioned, even Jesus was tempted, so how do you expect to escape it?

As I was coming of age there were lots of “Name it and Claim it” preachers on TV. And they were not all wrong, but they were wrong enough to be dangerous. God blesses His children and protects them, but we end up tempting God when we think we are, or should be, strong enough to withstand the devil just by saying so. Sometimes Christians need help. Medication, therapy, treatment of a physical ailment or mental disease. We have flesh and blood bodies and brains that are very much subject to the decay and diseases of this world. We are still waiting for our heavenly body to house our new spiritual birth.

For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1

The Christian is dangerously foolish if they expect to simply ‘believe their way’ out of a problem. Consider what I did. I got medication and treatment and prayed and believed and held on to the Bible for dear life. I did everything right, and barely made it. Yes, I should have gotten treatment earlier, but like many young guys in the prime of life it was hard to admit I needed help. I also ran my physical health into the ground which didn’t help. But in the end I did the right things and it saved my life. Sadly, not everyone comes to these realizations in time or are far enough along in their Christian walk to stand strong in the face of the enemy. The answer in those situations is to call upon prayer warriors, spiritual warriors, not a few of which are in wheelchairs or using walkers. You need people who know how to pray down strongholds because they have been in the battle and have the scars to prove it.

Not everyone is so lucky. So do not judge. I’ve been there and it could have gone the other way for me. And as I mentioned, it isn’t always a mental health thing, but often a physical temptation that is acted upon and brings a person or entire families down. And it all begins with a thought.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for rescuing us from our enemy. Deliver those who are mentally under attack from the enemy, and heal those who have suffered much due to those who have fallen sway to temptations of all kinds. Have mercy on us all, Lord. Amen.

Does God Laugh?

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Psalm 2:4

You have heard the saying: Laughter is the best medicine. 

"I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep," –Norman Cousins.

Norman Cousins actually put that saying to the test and credits humor and laughter for healing him of a life threatening illness.

Years ago two sisters broke out in laughter while attending their father’s funeral. I was a teenager at the time but even I understood sometimes we must laugh at the absurdity of life–and death. Laughter often comes out of our pain, suffering, and even our foolishness and stupidity. We laugh at ourselves and others. We laugh at the absurdities of both life and death. And the pain that comes from them.

But does God laugh? I have often wondered about that question. We know from scripture that God laughs at fools who deny Him and ridicules those who scoff at God.

The fool says in his heart,

    “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1

but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. Psalm 37:13

This line of thinking brings me to Jesus, who is God manifest on earth. We know Jesus attended banquets. We know He attended at least one wedding. Of course Jesus was here on a very important mission and to teach His disciples, so it is not surprising that we don’t see much of the humorous side of Him in Scripture.

Nevertheless, I suspect Jesus had at least an ironic sense of humor. And we know He used hyperbole in His teachings to drive home His point. You can imagine some in the crowd smiling when He told them if their hand causes them to sin, to cut it off. Matthew 18:8. While sin is no joking matter, Jesus’s admonishment with its imagery must have seemed a bit humorous. They got His point or we would see Christian amputees everywhere we go today.

Then there is one that always sticks out in my mind when I question whether Jesus had a sense of humor.

James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Mark 3:7.

It is speculation, but I can’t help but wonder why He called them “sons of thunder”. His nickname for them. I suspect we get a tiny glimpse of Jesus’s ironic sense of humor in fixing that name upon the brothers. Were they loud and boisterous? Hard to keep quiet? Noisy in general? One of the mysteries that will be interesting to discover one day.

Humor often comes from pain. And God in His kindness does not laugh at our pain and misery, even though we often do so for our own sanity. I think there is a stronger force that supersedes laughter that God not only expresses, it comes as a gift from Him: Joy.

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, Psalm 30:11

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Psalm 43:4

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts:13:52

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:7

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22

I can’t remember the exact date I became a born again Christian. I was either 13 or 14 years old, or perhaps in between those ages. But one thing I will never forget was the joy of my salvation. I was overwhelmed with joy, a joy I had never experienced before. It reflected an eternal change in me that I will forever be grateful to God for. And joy upon salvation is not surprising as the Holy Spirit imparts joy to believers.

Does God laugh? Yes, at those who are foolish and wicked who believe they can either outsmart God or simply deny Him altogether. Did Jesus laugh? I strongly suspect so, but not much is recorded as Jesus was focused upon our pain in a different way. He was focused upon how to remove pain and to cure it by removing sin from our lives. One day we will receive that complete promise of being free from pain altogether in heaven, but He gives us joy to strengthen us now here on earth.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10