All eyes are on President Obama and his team as they seek to create and implement a stimulus plan for the American economy.  Regardless of our opinions about his approach, we all agree that our nation is in big economic trouble.

But we are also in a grim spiritual crisis.  Intuitively, we all know it is true.  Practically, we see the symptoms of spiritual decline in the media, our communities, and our churches – maybe even our homes.  Statistically, we should be reminded of a few riveting facts, most of which are documented in my book Fresh Encounters:

•   Five hundred billion dollars has been spent on ministry in the United States in the last fifteen years with no appreciable growth in the impact of the church.

•   During the last ten years the combined membership of all Protestant denominations has decreased 9.5 percent while the national population has increased 11.4 percent.

•   In recent years, half of all churches did not add one new member through conversion growth.

•   Every month as many as 2,700 churches in the Unites States alone hold their last service, close their doors, and put up the “For Sale” sign.

•   The number of those who classify themselves as irreligious has doubled in the last decade.

I would consider these facts present a pretty powerful wakeup call (and this is just a small sampling of the disconcerting data).  The call was so powerful in my own life that in June 2007 I decided to leave the security of the Sr. Pastor role in a very large congregation to give my full-time efforts to the profound need for a full-scale spiritual stimulus.  Some call it revival.  Others describe it as renewal.  I simply consider it the most urgent and compelling need in our land.  

As I often say, the problem with our spiritual condition is not the pervasiveness of the darkness but the failure of the light.  When the church is revived, the light of Christ’s glory fills the darkness of the culture.

God’s Spiritual Stimulus Proposal

Fortunately, the best spiritual stimulus plan is not left to human reason or strategy.   Congress does not have to vote on this proposal.  God gives us an inspired and familiar stimulus package in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Allow me to highlight just a few points from this stimulus plan:

·         God has all the “stimulus” we need IF we will meet the conditions.  His supply is limitless but his requirements are precise.

·         The heart of the spiritual stimulus is God’s willingness to work through and bless His called people.  The surrounding world and culture are not the focus of the plan.

·         The plan calls us to humble ourselves, pray, and repent.  This is not complex – but requires extraordinary focus, surrender, and resolve.

·         The prayer mentioned here is “face” prayer, not “hand” prayer.  We are not just seeking something from Him to relieve our hurt.  We are seeking Him to revive our hearts.

·         He has promised to “hear” in such a powerful way that it will bring forgiveness to the sins of our land and healing to the sickness of our hearts. 

Our Response to the Plan

We are not asked to vote for this plan but to volunteer our very souls to God in order to see it implemented.  A few things stand out if we are going to cooperate with God in this spiritual stimulus strategy:

It is costly – The plan has come at a great price to the One who is making the offer.  Even back in the Old Testament, and certainly in the New Testament, the only basis on which anyone can be made right with God, and revived by Him, is the finished work of Christ.  Let’s not forget the price that was paid for the privilege of prayer, humility, and repentance.  This plan is authenticated by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which compels us to take it seriously.

It is a proven plan – Throughout biblical and church history the plan has proven true.  Every major revival began in a movement of prayer – but not just any kind of prayer.  These moments of prayer were corporate and marked by humility and repentance flowing from a pursuit of the face of God, as revealed in the Word of God.

It requires change – There is so much I could say here.  I suppose it might boil down to this: We are going to have to stop organizing our praying around our plethora of church activities and start organizing our activities around our praying.  Prayer must become the power source, not the tack-on.  It must become the first-resolve, not the last resort.  This kind of change has to start with the leadership of the church.

What Could Happen?

People often ask me about the vision of what we do at Strategic Renewal.  In the context of this devotion, we might call it the vision of God’s spiritual stimulus plan.

Vision is a picture of what could be coupled with the conviction that it must be.  So, in case you have not read or heard it before, here is what I see:

“Pastor-led, local church-oriented movements of Christ-exalting, worship-based prayer – leading to a full-scale revival, supernatural evangelism, and cultural transformation.”

To put it simply, this is a vision to see the next Great Awakening in this generation.  If we are going to dream – we should dream big, and glorious.  Why not?  Our current crisis demands more than status quo ideas and another quick-fix program. 

Yes, President Obama is doing his very best to help the American people dream of a better day.  The path will be costly. The ideas are many, and hotly debated.  

Every Sunday morning for over 20 years, with very few exceptions, I have gathered with a group of prayer partners to read a Psalm and then spend an hour in worship-based prayer.  Typically, we have started at 6:15 AM.  The worship in the Word is sweet and the Spirit always guides us as we take time to specifically focus on prayers for the Sunday services of the church and all God wants to do through them.

This past Sunday was no exception.  We enjoyed an hour of prayer from Psalm 92.  The first verse of the Psalm is very familiar but, as often happens, struck me in a fresh way.  It reads:

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” 
Psalm 92:1-2

Maybe it is just me, but I am noticing that during these ever-difficult days in our nation, people are either responding with a deeper gratitude for the simple blessings of life or they are lapsing into grumbling about how tough things are.  One thing is clear; it is still GOOD to give thanks to the Lord, even in 2009 – especially in these very challenging times.

But Why?

I have considered the reasons it is good to give thanks to the Lord.  I see a HEAVENWARD reason, an INWARD reason, a BACKWARD reason, and a FORWARD reason. 

With a HEAVENWARD view, it is truly good to give thanks to the Lord – because in our gratitude we again recognize the priority and power of God’s glorious and unchanging power.  Our financial security, family situation, and personal health may change – but He never changes.  When we give thanks, our hearts and minds are “renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created” us.

In gratitude we remember that while life may feel bad, God is still good – all the time.  When thankful, we can rejoice in the name of the Most High God who is sovereign, just, gracious, merciful, and true – in spite of the earthly forecast.  As Psalm 92:2 says, “To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.” Gratitude makes our theology real and practical every day.

From an INWARD standpoint, it is good to give thanks to the Lord because it changes us.  Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Gratitude promotes peace in the midst of the storm.  “Whatever my lot – Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well with my soul.’”  We are able to count our blessings rather than complain about our burdens.  Anticipation can replace anxiety and worship can replace worry when we realize how good it is to give thanks.

Psalm 107:22 declares, “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.”  Just as Old Testament sacrifices were accompanied by thanksgiving, so we sometimes have to sacrifice some things in order to give thanks.  We sacrifice our self-trust, human reason, personal expectations, disappointments, and even our very real pain in the midst of trials.  We come to our Living God and say “thank you” in faith.  The result is that we are able to declare His works with joy.  Joy is an abiding well-being that transcends circumstances because is it rooted in spiritual reality.  Truly, gratitude rearranges the interior of my troubled and doubting heart.

From a BACKWARD angle, it is good to give thanks to the Lord because we recognize the pattern of His wonderful works in our life.  Christians can be very forgetful, just like nine of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19 who never came back to thank Jesus for healing their bodies.  One returned to receive a healing of soul in his worshipful gratitude.  

Psalm 107 repeats the call five times, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! “ (vv. 1, 8, 15, 21 & 31).  Reflect on His wonderful works in the story of your life.  What has He done for you?  Can you see the pattern of His faithfulness and care?  Don’t forget all He has done.  His past works will change the way you look at your present situation and your future path.   

Finally, it is good to give thanks to the Lord from a FORWARD standpoint.  We learn that some things in this life simply cannot be trusted.  The Stock Market.  Politicians.   Big business.  Media.  People.  Ourselves.  But when we give thanks, we are reminded of the One in whom we can trust for the next chapter of life.  “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.”  If the living God is good, has been good – then He will be good with every step I take into the future.

God’s Good Will

Hebrews 13:15 gives this command to our hearts: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”  Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is clear: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So, God’s good will for your life is to give thanks – and there are many reasons to do it.  Let the fruit of your lips give thanks to His name today.  By Jesus Christ, and through His life in you, it can happen – and it will be good.  He has promised. 

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

The Bible describes the Christian life as a race that is definitely more like a marathon than a sprint.  The writer of Hebrews calls us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).  Paul compels us to run with discipline and resolve to win an eternal prize.  He expressed his concern that he would run the race in “vain” (Philippians 2:16; Galatians 2:2).  He expressed regret that the believers in Galatia had once run well but had been hindered in their faith (Galatians 5:7).

Every race is judged, not by how it starts, but how it is finished.  I ran track as a sprinter in high-school.  In the relay races, I always ran the first leg.  No matter how fast I was in getting out of the blocks and making a hand-off to the next runner, it mattered for nothing unless our fourth leg was fast enough to win the race.

I’ve always been impressed with distance runners who know how to excel in a race of multiple laps or even many miles.  A key to their performance in long-distance contests is the ability to “kick” in the final segment of the race.  Usually the winner’s best effort is his last one as he reserves a sprint-like reserve to finish the race at a profound pace.

Finishing Our Race

Knowing the Christian life is a long-distance event compels us to ask the question: How will I finish the race?  What will my spiritual pace look like as I approach the finish line?  Will my last lap be my best one?  Or will I dribble across the finish line with a “spiritual retirement” mindset, running without purpose?

Paul finished impressively. In what amounted to the final press of his pen to the parchment he wrote,   

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Paul was so spiritually resolute in his final steps before touching eternity’s tape that he described his death as an act of worship.  He spoke with passion about the grace of God that enabled him to finish his race and spoke with great anticipation of the crown that made every effort worth it.

I’ll never forget a time some years ago when I encountered two 72-year-old pastors who were complete opposites in their approach to the last strides in their ministry race.  One was retired, grumpy, negative, and aimless.  The other was still in the pulpit, gracious, optimistic, and dreaming about his future.  One complained about the younger generation and how they had forsaken his old ministry preferences.  The second was busy investing in young men, with a desire to help them live like Christ.  One was stumbling toward the finish line with his head down in despair and morbid introspection.  The other had his eyes on the prize with growing spiritual impact as the years went by.  It was not hard to decide which model I hope to follow as my golden years approach.

The 98-Year-Old Sprinter

Recently, I was deeply impressed with a man who attended a three-day Men’s Prayer Summit.  His name was Chet.  He was 98 years old.  Not only was I astonished that he was willing to commit to this very intense, unscripted prayer experience – but even more amazed with his active participation during the entire event.  He watched, he listened, he sang, and he prayed with an open heart and joyful attitude. 

On the final evening of the Summit, we enjoyed a 2-hour communion experience.  The service included the option for men to wash the feet of other men at a prayer station in the back of the room, if they felt led to do so.  Of course, a handful of younger men were eager to honor Chet by washing his feet.  One of our leaders also told me that Chet also served some of the other men in this way.  They said the entire time he was washing their feet he just quoted an array of Scripture passages. 

I want to be like Chet when I grow up! What passion, humility, and depth.  He is a living picture of Psalm 92:13-15:

“Those who are planted in the house of the LORD

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

 They shall still bear fruit in old age;

They shall be fresh and flourishing,

 To declare that the LORD is upright;

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Secrets to the Finish Line Sprint

To understand people like Chet, we would do well to turn to the Scriptures to observe some of the keys to running well to the end.  Paul’s personal commentary from Acts 20:24 gives us great insight.  He was on his way to Jerusalem knowing he would suffer there for the cause of Christ.  Still, he made this bold declaration: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Here we see Paul’s determination to finish his race. 

Let’s observe five key insights for a strong final lap:

Seeing beyond the moment – Even though “chains and tribulations” awaited Paul, he wrote “none of these things move me.” Paul saw beyond the present press and pain of circumstances to the good and Christ-honoring eventual outcome.  This kind of eternal perspective and spiritual vision empowers us to grasp the real meaning of life.  I remember an interview I conducted with Jerry Falwell when he told me that “real vision never allows you the luxury of discouragement.”

Let go and live – Paul also notes, “nor do I count my life dear to myself.”  Jesus made it clear that when we try and preserve our life, we lose it (Matthew 16:25).  Sacrifice for the cause of Christ is a life-giving reality for the believer.  The gray twilight of half-hearted commitment is the dead zone that robs believers of passion and impact.

Joy just like Jesus – Paul was determined to finish his race with joy.  This is just like Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).  Joy comes not from easy circumstances or an absence of suffering, but from knowing it is always worth it in light of the eternal reward. 

A steward to serve – Paul remained motivated by “the ministry which (he) received from the Lord Jesus.” Later in this same sermon, Paul quoted his Jesus stating that it is more blessed (or happy) to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).  Givers are always happier and healthier.  They see themselves as stewards responsible to bless others with all they have been given. Hoarders are miserable and weary.  They finish their race limping and laboring under a load of self-absorbed care.

Keeping mission central – Paul lived “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”   His life was not about himself, but focused on the greatest cause in the world.  This kind of purpose ennobles and invigorates a life.

As I think of Chet’s passionate prayers for three days and his deep devotion to the Scriptures, I know that he is a man fully devoted to the mission of Jesus in this world.  Although long-since retired from his successful business career, he has remained loyal to his greater calling to know Christ and make Him known.

As I write this devotional, I am in the midst of a period where I am leading three Prayer Summits in two weeks.  These Summits involve time away from the routines and demands of life to give God our undivided attention.  Typically spanning three days, men and women go to a retreat center to read Scripture, worship in song, and pray responsively as the Holy Spirit directs.  All of this is done in community.  It is a life-transforming experience that teaches participants more about prayer than any sermon series or seminar ever could.  Truly, these lives are never the same again.

I am especially amazed that these spiritually hungry people are willing to spend their most precious commodity on the privilege of prayer.  This commodity is not money or even physical energy.  It is the commodity of time.

J. Oswald Sanders wrote in his book Spiritual Leadership, “Mastering the art of prayer, like any other art, will take time, and the amount of time we allocate to it will be the true measure of our conception of its importance.  We always find time for that which we deem most important.”  In the same paragraph, Sanders comments on Martin Luther’s busy schedule, stating that extra work was a compelling argument for spending MORE time in prayer.  Quoting Luther’s reasoning he notes, “Work, work, work -- from early till late.  In fact I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.“

Biblical Models of Wise Time Investment

This sounds so very radical to our overloaded and technologically sophisticated society.  But it is good to remember that the early church found their power to “turn the world upside down” through their commitment of TIME to prayer.  They spent ten solid days seeking God in prayer prior to Pentecost.  They devoted themselves continually to praying together (Acts 2:42) and gathered every day for spiritual nourishment and encouragement (Acts 2:46, 5:42).  I would guess that they spent many hours every week in united prayer.

The leaders modeled this wise and power-conscious use of time.  In Acts 6:4, the apostles did not want to take time to solve a major administrative problem, but instead delegated this important task to other capable men.  Their rationale was simply, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.”  The original language and context in this verse indicates that these leaders gave substantive amounts of time every day to praying together as a leadership team.

Of course, the early church “caught” this commitment to prayer from Jesus’ example.  He spent substantive amounts of time in prayer early in the day (Mark 1:35).  He often spent hours in prayer in the wilderness (Luke 5:16).  Jesus made it a habit to pray at the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39).  He spent an entire night in prayer prior to selecting the disciples (Luke 6:12).  After finding his disciples sleeping following His hour of prayer in the garden, He went back and prayed two more times (Matthew 22:36-46).

Clearly Jesus, the early church leaders, and New Testament Christians understood the value of substantive amounts of time dedicated to prayer.  So, maybe a three-day Prayer Summit every once in awhile is not so radical after all? 

Do the Math

I show a video clip occasionally when I speak.  The piece is titled “40 Million Minutes” and powerfully demonstrates the following facts:

·        The average person lives 77 years.  That equates to 28,000 days, 670,000 hours, or 40 million minutes.

·        The average person spends 24 minutes a day getting dressed.  That equals 13 hours a month, 7 days a year, or 1 year in a lifetime.

·        The average person spends 40 minutes a day on the phone.  That factors out to 20 hours a month, 10 days a year, or 2 years in a lifetime.

·        The average person spends 1 hour a day in the bathroom.  This amounts to 30 hours a month, 15 days a year, and 3 years in a lifetime.

·        The average person spends 3 hours a day watching television.  That’s 90 hours a month, 45 days a year, and 9 years in a lifetime.

·        Then the video presents this riveting fact.  The average Christian spends less than 10 minutes a day in prayer.  That equates to less than 6 hours a month, 3 days a year, and 7 months in a lifetime. 

·        The video ends with this line: “You do the math.” 

One Inspiring Example

One of the recent Prayer Summits I recently enjoyed was in Denver, Colorado.  World Venture, a dynamic missions agency, sets aside one important week a year for a renewal conference.  They bring all of their stateside missionaries together for training.  All of their U.S. staff also attends.  In all, over 100 mission leaders participate.  Even though the week is very busy and they have more to cover than time allows, World Venture spends the entire first two days of this five-day event in uninterrupted prayer.  That is an investment that speaks volumes.  Hans Finzel, President of World Venture, states, “This is not an option for us.  We know we must put prayer first if we are going to know God’s direction and experience His power for our mission.”

The great preacher and writer E.M. Bounds wrote these challenging words about our use of TIME and our commitment to prayer:

"Prayer cannot be retired as a secondary force in this world. To do so is to retire God from the movement. It is to make God secondary. The prayer ministry is an all-engaging force. It must be so to be a force at all. The estimate and place of prayer is the estimate and place of God. To give prayer the secondary place is to make God secondary in life's affairs. To substitute other forces for prayer retires God and materializes the whole movement.”

“It is better to let the work go by default than to let the praying go by neglect. Whatever affects the intensity of our praying affects the value of our work. 'Too busy to pray' is not only the keynote to backsliding, but it mars even the work done. Nothing is well done without prayer for the simple reason that it leaves God out of the account. It is so easy to be seduced by the good to neglect of the best, until both the good and the best perish. How easy to neglect prayer or abbreviate our praying simply by the plea that we have church work on our hands. Satan has effectively disarmed us when he can keep us too busy doing things to stop and pray. "  E.M. Bounds, The Weapon of Prayer

The Real Issue

Of course, the goal of this devotion is not to “guilt” us all into spending more time in prayer.  The real issue is not time.  Time is just the delivery system of spiritual desire and genuine dependence on God.  As my mom used to say, “You do what you want to do.”   We do not allocate substantive time to prayer because we do not want to, do not feel that we need to, and fundamentally doubt the value of doing so.

It is not that we are too busy to pray.  It is that we value other activities, efforts, and strategies above the call to prayer.  This is a heart issue each of us must resolve with the Lord at the deepest level of our souls. 

In the meantime, I am still humbled and amazed at the hundreds of very busy people who take precious TIME to go away for three days to seek the Lord.  It is never easy, but always worth it.  Ultimately, it is time well invested for the sake of the character and mission to which God has called us all – because we certainly cannot do it on our own resolve and power.  He alone is able and worthy to be sought.   

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

Recently as I led a Prayer Summit for World Venture, a Denver-based global missions organization, I was again reminded of the deep need people have to learn how to pray in a practical way.  Missions executives, pastors, and missionaries from Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Albania, Ukraine, and dozens of other nations gathered for two days of unscripted, Scripture-fed, Spirit-led prayer.  Because God is always faithful and creative, the experience was profound.  Dozens of these leaders came to me afterward, grateful for the tools they gained for experiencing prayer at a new level.

By conviction and experience I have concluded that the most creative and effective prayers spring from the inexhaustible treasury of the Word of God. Thousands of times I have watched the Bible expose hearts, guide language, unite diverse interests, and create indescribably powerful moments of remarkable prayer impact. There is nothing more thrilling than watching a diverse group of Christians brought into unity and transformation as eyes and hearts are opened to pray from the Scriptures.

Eugene Peterson said it well, "Prayer is language used to respond to the most that has been said to us with the potential for saying all that is in us… Prayer is dangerous…it moves our language into potencies we are unaccustomed to and unprepared for… We restore prayer to its context in God's word. Prayer is not something we think up to get God's attention or enlist his favor. Prayer is answering speech. The first word is God's word. Prayer is a human word and is never the first word, never the primary word, never the initiating and shaping word simply because we are never first; never primary…the first word everywhere and always is God's word to us, not ours to him."  (Working the Angles, Eerdman Press)

Peterson's insights remind me of a lesson I've learned over the years about the value of letting the Bible shape the vocabulary of prayer. It's sad, but somewhat humorous, to observe what happens in a prayer time that is based in stale human vocabulary rather than the fresh foundation of God's Word.

Have you been to one of those prayer times where some verbose participant blurts out a protracted prayer-speech using some cheap imitation of King James English dialect? They even sometimes change the tone of their voice to sound more holy.

After ten minutes of this oratory, the dear brother finally concludes. What usually follows is unresponsive silence. The prayer meeting is dead on arrival. Most people are thinking, "Wow – how can I follow a prayer like that? I just talk like a normal person. Will God hear my simple prayer after that masterpiece?" Someone else may be wondering, "What in the world did that guy just say? How do I pray in agreement with that jumble? I didn't understand half of what he prayed."

Finding our language in the Scripture through focused and measured prayers allows everyone to discover an entry point. The Bible provides handles for mature saints and struggling neophytes. It is a wonderful thing to observe this dynamic. This is at the heart of teaching people how to truly pray.

One of the women attending this recent summit pulled me aside to comment on her experiences. She essentially said, "I never realized how simple but meaningful this kind of prayer can be.  My prayer life has been stagnated for many months but through this experience I gained practical tips on how to kick-start my prayer life with new energy.  The Spirit was really at work and I love learning how to pray straight from the Bible."

Jonathan Edwards wrote, "The Spirit who causes men to have greater regard for the Holy Scriptures and establishes them more in their truth and divine inspiration is certainly the Spirit of God… It is this word that God has given to be the great, standing rule for the direction of His church in all spiritual matters and for all concerns of their souls in all ages. A spirit of delusion will not incline persons to seek direction from the mouth of God." (The Spirit of Revival by Archie Parrish and R.C. Sproul)

Our family had a strange Christmas this past holiday season.  It was a jolt to my soul to finally realize that our celebrations with the all children around are about to come to an end. 

This past December, Justin was in Minnesota with his new bride and her family.  Jordan left the day after Christmas to visit a church in another state that may call him as their worship pastor in the next few weeks.  Of course, he gets married in May and things will change with him.  Heather is heading off to cosmetology school in another city.  Our house will be empty very soon.  At times in recent weeks, my heart has felt empty too.

Every parent eventually faces this part of the journey.  I am surprised by how difficult it is for me.  Yet, the Lord is faithful to instruct, correct, and comfort me as I learn to cope with the new reality.  Perhaps, His counsel to my soul will be of help to some of you as well.

The Pursuit of a Purposeful Child

The goal of every parent should be to raise children who understand their God-given purpose and pursue that ideal.  It should come as no surprise when these purposes lead our children away from the “nest” and into the mission field of God’s choosing.

Psalm 127:4-5 says, “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”  Arrows are not made to stay warm, cozy, and controlled in the quiver.  They are designed to hit a target outside the quiver.  This is the target of God’s calling.  When children fulfill their purpose they defend and protect the honor of the family name by their character and accomplishments.

The Passion of a Purposeful Parent

My momentary struggle of “letting go” of my children has brought me back to a fresh understanding of my purpose as a parent.  The Lord was gracious during a Prayer Summit a couple weeks ago to take me back to a familiar text to remind me of this purpose.

Second Corinthians 4:7-12 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So then death is working in us, but life in you.”

In speaking of his ministry, Paul reminds us that this life is but a mere earthen pot, or jar of clay.  He speaks openly of the many trials that we encounter in this brief life.  He teaches that, in spite of many challenges, the goal is manifestation of the life of Jesus, even though life as we know it is dying away.  Through it all, Paul’s life is fading but the work of the Gospel is thriving through his disciples.

As a parent this is a great reality check.  We cannot preserve this life.  It is fading, aging, and changing.  Our passion is not to hold on to it, but to pursue Christ-likeness through the pain and adjustments.  And when it is all said and done, our life as parents is dying off — but our ministry through our children is growing, expanding, and flourishing, as it should.  Just as John said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” so parents must joyfully affirm, “His life through my children must increase and the focus on my needs and memories must decrease.” This is a vital part of our role in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Paul continues in verses 13-18, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.  Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

A dad’s very basic paraphrase might go like this: “I know that someday the Lord will raise us all by His power and I will be presented with my children before Jesus.  Until then, everything I do is for the sake of my children so that grace may spread through their lives, stimulating gratitude in many other hearts for God’s glory.  So I am not discouraged.  Even though the trappings of my life are fading, my inner growth in Christ keeps flourishing.  This “light affliction” of letting go is nothing compared to the glory of God in the life of my children.  Therefore, I will focus not on the changing and fleeting circumstances of this present life, but on the unseen and eternal things God is doing in and through my children.”

The Principles of a Purposeful Family

The very familiar teaching of Ephesians 6:1-4 tells us, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”  When a family functions in authentic relationships with God’s purposes in view, two things occur:

1. Our children live a happy, useful life — blessed and protected by God.

2. Our children exhibit the instructions and principles of the Lord.  There are so many things implied here, but it certainly includes the authority and claim of Christ on their lives.  Christ said it clearly, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  Our children do not exist to be served and preserved by a smothering parent.  Rather, we must enable them to follow Christ and give their lives away in service of His purposes.

When I was a young father, I remember hearing a line in a song by Steve and Annie Chapman that said, “The day your children learn to walk they start to walk away from you.”  At the time, this truth saddened my heart.  Recently, this truth has been a struggle to my heart.  But as I think of it, this truth is a joy to my heart as I affirm the incredible privilege of shooting three very precious arrows toward the target of God’s calling — for His glory.  As they walk farther away from our home, they walk into their destiny — just as it should be.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

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“But Martha was distracted with much serving.”

Luke 10:40

One particular Sunday as I finished preaching at a wonderful church in Virginia, the senior pastor came to the pulpit to share his personal response to the message. He noted his ongoing battle with distraction in the ministry, citing it as a primary ploy of the devil in making Christian leaders ineffective. He described Satan’s effort as being “Weapons of Mass Distraction.” I’ve been pondering that statement, and I’ve concluded that the enemy does not have to destroy us, but simply distract us.

Little distractions tolerated over a long period of time result in big disasters.

Twice in my ministry as a pastor, I have come to a mega-church in the wake of scandalous moral failure by my predecessor. The mass destruction is beyond imagination to the casual observer. But for the clean-up man who arrives next, the fallout is heartbreaking and long-lasting. Each of these disasters started with little distractions in the heart of good men. Fueled over time, the distractions led to spiritual disabilities. Eventually, those distractions became decisions that brought shame and reproach to the name of Christ.

Yet, some of the most dangerous distractions are the “good” ones. They are tolerable, but they eventually ruin our trajectory in the journey of honoring Christ with a well-lived life. It is said so often that we almost become numb to its truth: “The good is usually the greatest enemy of the best.”

I tell people often, “The power of ‘no’ is in a stronger ‘yes’.” The ability to discard distractions is rooted in a firm understanding of the best priorities. We must embrace these priorities with a passionate “yes” in our heart of hearts. When distractions come, “no” becomes a positive Christian word, because it is rooted in strong convictions about the best and highest commitments. I hold high my own conviction to help current and future leaders identify biblical priorities and then equip them to become confident and competent in implementing those priorities.

These priorities are salient in the Scriptures. The familiar story of Martha and Mary comes to mind. Busy and distracted, Martha became frustrated and critical in the moment. Her sister Mary embraced a clear “yes” as she prioritized seeking Christ over serving Christ. Jesus commended her for her focus as being the “best” choice and the one that would ultimately matter in eternity (Luke 10:38-42).

I often preach on Acts 6:1-7. The early apostles refused to get distracted with the broken program for feeding the widows. They directed a process of finding qualified and godly servants to solve the problem, but they would not compromise their own commitment to “prayer and the ministry of the word.” The result was that God blessed their focus with a powerful unleashing of His power. The word of God spread, the disciples multiplied greatly, and great numbers of hard-liner Jewish priests were miraculously converted. There was no such mass distraction among them.

Perhaps an even more powerful and clear reiteration of this principle is found in Exodus 18. Moses was overwhelmed and weary from judging the people. His astute father-in-law offered him some life-saving wisdom:

“So Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will also go to their place in peace” (Exodus 18:17-23).

Jethro charged Moses with three essential priorities: pray (v. 19), teach the Word (v. 20), and delegate important responsibilities to other leaders (vv. 21-22).

It is clear that this is a simple but profound defense against the devil’s weapons of mass distraction. Yes! Yes! Yes! My friend, join me in asking God to deliver us from the ploy of the enemy to distract, discourage, disable, and destroy our lives and ministries. The power of a focused life is like a laser-powered defense system against any weapon that is formed against us by the “master of distraction.”

Copyright © 2008 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

It is a dangerous thing to judge the motives of another person.  While we may observe their actions, we can never really understand their heart, where motives take root and eventually manifest in imprecise forms.  Frankly, even our own motives can be confusing as we journey in this fallen world.  We play “hide-and-go-seek” games with each other and often cover up and convolute the real issues of our hearts because of the insecurity of our sinfulness.

The Apostle Paul even expressed caution about judging his own motives (and the hearts of others) when he wrote:

“In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God“ (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).

So, when I write of evaluating God’s motives it could seem like first-class blasphemy – UNLESS God has chosen to clearly reveal the truth and clarity of His pure and unpolluted heart to us.  Then it is a matter of understanding and embracing what the self-revealing God has already made clear.  I believe He has made His motives abundantly obvious in the Bible.  A wise and mature Christ-follower is well-advised to understand this and aggressively apply it to everyday living.

His Own Glory!

I believe the Bible is very clear that God’s motive is His own glory.  Now, any time fallen flesh seeks its own glory it is polluted with sin and pride.  But God’s glory is ultimately beautiful, good, and life-giving.  It is an expression of His absolute holiness.

In all that He does, His motive is His glory.  In the Christmas story, the multitude of the heavenly host made it clear as they were praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest….“ The coming of the Messiah, the manger story, and the entire life and work of Christ was motivated by God’s glory.  At the end of His earthly journey, just prior to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You…I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was“(John 17:1, 4-5).

Paul Got It!

In his inspired writings about our salvation, Paul wrote that it is all “to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12, 14).  Commenting on his ambition in life Paul reflected, “With all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21).  He knew that while God was compassionate and good, caring about every detail of Paul’s life or death, God’s chief concern was His glory, not Paul’s easy, comfortable life.

Our Application

So how should this powerful truth about God’s motivation in everything He does affect the way we live?  Here are four applications of what happens when we understand and really embrace God’s glory.

1.       It helps us embrace our PURPPOSE on this earth

The framers of the Westminster Catechism got it right in the 1600’s when they wrote that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. What motivates God should motivate us in all we do.  Isaiah 43:7 affirms, “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."

Mankind’s depravity is rooted in our failure to embrace His glory.  Romans 1:20-23 tells us, “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man….“ Salvation restores our passion for His glory.  “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:20). At the end of eleven chapters of profound theological teaching on the doctrine of our salvation, Paul declares, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).  This is our purpose for existence and in every enterprise.

2.      It helps us understand His PRIORITIES in human experience

As we have already seen in the examples of Jesus and Paul, even in the face of death, the priority was not survival, earthly satisfaction, or a life of ease.  The priority in all things was God’s glory.  First Corinthians 10:31 commands us, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

As we make daily decisions, interact with people, and react to circumstances it is wise to remember God’s priority as supreme over our own self-infected understanding of what really matters.  The songwriter said it so well in penning these lyrics: “It's all about You, Jesus. And all this is for You, for Your glory and Your fame. It's not about me, as if You should do things my way. You alone are God and I surrender to Your ways.”

3.      It gives us a standard for evaluating our PURSUITS in this life

Christians can be very ambitious and enterprising people, but not always for His glory.  As believers, we will all stand someday before the Judgment Seat of Christ where everything we have done will be evaluated based on how it brought Him pleasure (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).  The Bible tells us our work will be evaluated based on what “sort” it was, not what “size” it was or how “successful” in man’s eyes. (See 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.) 

Understanding God’s motivation for His own glory gives us a standard for evaluating what we do, why we do it, and for whom we do it.  Paul had it right when he described authentic Christ-followers as those who “worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3-4).  Paul reminds us that our passion in Christian living would be that “no flesh should glory in His presence,” coupled with the reminder, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” (1 Corinthians 1:29-31).  Likewise, the Apostle Peter tells us that all of our serving and speaking should be done with the ability God supplies (not our own ambition or skill) so that “in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 4:9-11).

4.      It gives us a framework for solving our PERPLEXITIES in life

We often remember Job’s understanding of God’s glory when his world fell apart, yet he still proclaimed, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  In a similar way, Peter counsels persecuted and suffering Christians with these words: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14-15).

Our lives are filled with perplexities, problems, and pain.  Even in this Christmas season, many believers deal with loneliness, fear, depression, and despondency.  But in all of this, we must understand and trust God’s heart for His glory in our lives.  As we go deeper into our abiding relationship with Christ, not trusting our flesh, we can experience the truth Jesus proclaimed: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).   

Provision and Passion

We should be encouraged by the fact that God has filled His Word with the truth of His glory.  We can take time to study this overarching truth and allow it to renew our minds each day.  We also know He has provided for us by putting His resident tutor in our hearts, to help us understand and embrace His glory.  As Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).

Let us make this our passion this Christmas season as we think of the declaration of the angels: “Glory to God in the highest….” And when it is all said and done, and this brief earthly journey has ended, may it be said of us, as Paul was able to say of himself, “And they gave glory to God because of me” (Galatians 1:24 – NLT).

Copyright © 2008 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

Anyone who has seen the movie The Sixth Sense vividly remembers that chilling moment when the young star of the film says with fright, “I see dead people.”  Strange as it may sound, this Christmas I keep thinking, “I hear dead people.” No, I am not having paranormal experiences.  In fact, it is all quite normal and even profound.  Let me explain.

During the early days of the Christmas season, I have turned our television to a satellite radio music station labeled, “Holiday Traditions.”  One after another I keep hearing dead people singing Christmas songs.  Of course, they were adequately alive when they recorded the classic holiday melodies.  Now, they are long gone.  Whether it is Karen Carpenter singing ”Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Elvis singing “Blue Christmas,” Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas” (or countless other examples) –these singers are dead.  Some of them left this life tragically and very broken.  Yet, they keep serving up the holiday classics.  So you wonder, “What is your point?”

Timeless but Brief

Christmas has a way of reminding us of both the timelessness of life and the brevity of life, all at once.  In many senses the songs and ambiance of the season are unchanging.   Every year it is easy to get completely caught up in the feeling and festivities.  The euphoria and warmth seem as if they could last forever.

On the other hand, Christmas reminds us all of how quickly our life passes by.  When I was a child it felt like Decembers were an eternity apart.  Now, it seems like Christmas rolls around every six months.  Each season as I unpack the decorations I think of the previous year, or two, or five – wondering, “Where did the time go?” 

So, this “dead people singing” thing has kept my mind in a reoccurring consideration of James 4:13-17:

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit", whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."  But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

The great take-away from this passage is, “Don’t presume on life because it is very short and uncertain.  Humbly do God’s will.  If you don’t you are living in sin.”  Let’s briefly elaborate.

Presumption and Pride

Two great vices are identified in this verse.  They can even be the prevailing attitude of the holidays.  They are presumption and pride.  Our world is filled with people touting their grandiose plans while they grab all the gusto they can.  Churches are even filled with people like this.

James shouts a riveting wake-up call by reminding us all that life is a “vapor” – a “puff of smoke.”  We will be gone before we know it.  Our vain appearance in this life is fleeting and indefinite.  Just like those dead Christmas singers, we will soon be gone – and in most cases completely forgotten in this life.  (Isn’t that a nice dose of Christmas cheer?)  

James says that a life that disregards these realities is one of arrogant and evil boasting.  Living with presumption and pride is foolish.

Sincere Trust – Humble Obedience

The positive prescription in this passage is also twofold: In essence James tells us to do what is best through sincere trust and to do what is right via humble obedience.  The declaration of a sincere and trusting heart is, “If the Lord wills.”  Everything in life is done in light of what is best in view of God’s overarching will as revealed in His Word.

The closing command of this passage is evocative.  James says that if we fail to do what we know is good and right, we are living in sin.  So what is this “good” that we must do?  This verse must be understood in contrast to what is called “evil” in the previous verse, that being “arrogant boasting.”

A Holiday Obedience List

Clearly, we do know some good things to do (as James infers) and we must implement them in sincere trust and humble obedience, especially in light of our short and evaporating journey on earth.  Consider this short list of good things to do this season:

1.      Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8) – Moment by moment we must do what is right, exhibit mercy and compassion toward the people in our life, and walk humbly in a vital, daily relationship with God.  So, what truly just acts can we engage in this season?  Who needs our mercy and compassion right now?  How much time and effort are we spending on our walk with God?  The prescription is clear – “just do it.”

2.      Love God – love people (Matthew 22:37-40) – According to Jesus, these are the big ones we must embrace.  The heart of Christmas is the story and substance of God’s sacrificial love for us.  It is about relationships, not things.  At Christmas we must remember that we must love people and use things, not the other way around.

3.      Be thankful in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  Whether in abundance or scarcity – whether among noisy family gatherings or in quiet loneliness – we must be grateful.  It is a sin NOT to count our blessings – regardless of our temporary circumstances this holiday season.

4.      Make every day matter (Psalm 90:12) – Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days.”  Every moment matters when life is so short and eternity is so long.  We must do something that really counts for people and for the Lord, making the most of every opportunity as we live with care and urgency (Ephesians 5:15-17).

Of course, there are many other “good” things prescribed in the Scriptures.  But just this handful of ideas gives us a great start in expressing our sincere trust and humble obedience this season.

Our Soon-passing Christmases

So we should go ahead and truly enjoy the holidays.  As long as we have ears we should cherish the Christmas music (whether the artists are dead or alive).  As long as we have eyes we should enjoy the lights and decorations.  As long as we have arms and hands we should embrace and serve the ones we love.  As long as we have legs and feet we should go to the celebrations – and even walk across the street to some needy family. As long as we have beating hearts we should cherish the ambiance of the moment.  Yet, in all of this we must remember: “Only one life, so soon it will pass – and only what is done for, and in, the Christ of Christmas will truly last.”

Copyright © 2008 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.