Finding faith in God during economic and financial crisis

February 20, 2009 · Filed Under finances · Comment 

It’s obvious from the news (and our poor performing 401k’s) that we are struggling through some difficult, financial times right now. Jobs are being cut, houses are being foreclosed on, and financial difficulties are high. Is there hope? What can we do during these difficult economic times? How should we respond?

Money is a reflection of our heart–how we spend it, how we trust in it, how we hope in it. “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be” (Matthew 6:21). Your heart follows your money and possessions.

What do you really hope for? What is most important to you? I think in all honesty, most of those questions are answered with some form of money or possessions. Jesus talked a lot about money and possessions, even more than hell, prayer and faith. Why? Why would the Son of God talk so much about money? Because it is a reflection of our heart, what we trust in.

Last October, I posted a blog about Financial Anxiety in these economic times, and after re-reading it, I think about the verses of scripture that surround Jesus’ comment about how our hearts follow our treasure:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:19-24).

Mammon is not a common word we use today. In Biblical times, it referred to a demon or personification of riches, wealth and possessions. It’s interesting how Jesus concludes that we cannot serve both God of Heaven and God of Mammon. We can only serve one God.

So, what do we do? How do we respond?

The next few verses Matthew 6 are the answer. It’s one thing to read them—it’s another thing to believe them. So, I challenge you to read these words of truth. Read them and let them sink deep in your soul, because they are words that can bring you incredible peace during difficult financial times:

I tell you not to worry about everyday life–—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-34).

I encourage you to seek God first, put him first in your life. He cares for you. He knows your needs. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all those things will be added to your life. Trust him.

Galatians 4:7 sums it up well, “You are no longer a slave, but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.”

Think about life as a kid. Did you ever worry about your parent’s providing for you, taking care of you, feeding you, clothing you? If that’s true for imperfect, earthly parents, how much more will your perfect, Godly Father provide for your needs?

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How the devil speaks thoughts into your mind

February 8, 2009 · Filed Under renewing our mind, spiritual hearing · 3 Comments 

As I grow older (and hopefully wiser), I am becoming more attune to the schemes and tactics of the devil and his angels.

Most people believe that the devil has great power to inflict harm and physical danger into peoples lives, that he’s extremely powerful and should be feared. But, I don’t believe that. I don’t believe satan and his angels are to be feared–maybe recognized, revealed and better discerned, but not feared.

Satan once had great power and authority over all the earth. Adam surrendered his God-oradined authority and power to satan back in the Garden of Eden. It was lost for years, but then Jesus came to earth, died on the cross and restored our position of authority and released great power into our lives. Out first Adam lost it all, but our second Adam got it back for us (1 Corinthians 15:47).

To those who live their lives surrendered to Christ, you have great power and authority over the devil. Incredible power and authority! But, that doesn’t change the fact that devil will try to convince you otherwise. He will yell and scream (1 Peter 5:8) and lie to you (John 8:44) and find subtle ways to steal, kill and destroy you (John 10:10). His greatest weapon against humanity is the ability to speak into our thought life. He’s referred to as the Accuser (Revelation 12:10). He spews lies and accusations constantly into our thoughts and minds.

His primary strategy is simply this–to get you to agree with his accusations and lies. Maybe they are lies about God, our Father. Maybe they are lies about yourself, maybe how God sees you and loves you. Maybe they are lies about your spouse, your family, your friends–whatever. The devil will constantly, relentlessly, viciously spew accusations into your thoughts to get you to agree with him, because that’s where his greatest power lies–the power of agreement.

If he can get you to agree with him, then he’s got you. This was his key tactic against Jesus when he was being tempted in the wilderness. The Bible says that the devil came to him in the wilderness and tempted Jesus. I don’t believe there was any physical snake or apparition or evil voice. I believe Jesus had these thoughts, “If I’m really the son of God, I can turn these stones into bread.” It was a thought in his mind that the devil spoke. He was trying to get Jesus to agree with him. But, Jesus overcame the enemy by quoting scripture, by speaking a God thought, and rejecting a “me thought”.

It is absolutely imperative that we learn to police our thoughts, take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And, we must change the way we think and perceive things (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23).

The other day, my wife and I got into an argument about something, and as we went to bed, my mind was spinning with thoughts. She doesn’t understand me. I thought we were happy. Maybe I just need to move out for awhile.

In the moment, it was feeding my anger and frustration. It was hard to take those thoughts captive because they were so prevalent in my mind. But I realized where they were coming from. They were not my thoughts. She does understand me, more than anyone on this earth. I love my wife. I have a great future ahead with her. It’s obvious now that the enemy was lying to me, speaking confusion and deception. He was trying to get me to agree with him. And, if I had, it would have taken me one step closer to marital problems.

When it comes to physical sickness, I’ve heard it said that more than 80% of the documented illnesses don’t have a known physical cause, implying that the majority of sicknesses start in our mind and thoughts. I believe if the enemy can get you to agree with him about some physical sickness or symptom you’re experiencing, then you will let your mental, emotional and spiritual guard down. And WAM, you’re sick.

Learn to fight the good fight of faith (believing). Learn to police your thoughts and not just accept what comes into your mind. Guard your mind. As it says in Proverbs, “Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life!” (Proverbs 4:23)

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