Surrender

5 November: Tuesday Refocus

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“Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.” - St Ignatius of Loyola

We live with illusions. We believe that by sheer force of will, hard work, and resolve, we can bend our lives, mold our desires, determine our course, and impose our will on the world. But a soul that is abandoned to the Lord says: I am not my own, I was bought with a price, and, my times are in His hand… (1 Corinthians 6:19, Psalm 31:15).  

What a relief to know that when my world is not how I would make it, there is still purpose being worked in my life by the One who upholds the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). That he is working all things for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). What a comfort to know that in abandoning my life, I am freed, in losing my life it is found (Matthew 10:39).   

Father, grow trust in us as we abandon our souls to You fully, daily, again, and again. Amen.

Amen,

AB

Sunday Spiral

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Some Sundays feel like heaven. Everyone shows up on time and is prepared, the set list is connected and cohesive, there are no technical issues, the congregation is present and engaged, we feel free as we lead and serve, and God seems nearer than usual. It is glorious, beautiful, soul-stirring.

Other Sundays feel like hell: the team is scattered and disjointed, you wonder if your body was possessed when you built the liturgy and set list, rehearsal is consumed with technical issues, the congregation is indifferent, you stumble over your words, can’t wait to walk off the platform, and wonder if God has somehow left the room. Commence the Sunday Spiral.

Leading worship is vulnerable, serious, and important. If we value this sacred responsibility, it can be easy for us to feel completely derailed when a morning falls apart. So how do we avoid a Monday morning resignation, and stop the Sunday spiral?

See that you are safe. Your identity, my identity is not in what we do. Therefore, even if I fail at a task, my identity, value, and worth is not in jeopardy.

Lay down what you are carrying. The good, the bad, the ugly - if you faithfully stewarded the moment, team, and people of God to the best of your Spirit-led abilities, then ask for the Spirit’s help to not internalize the shame or condemnation that the enemy wants to plant in your heart and mind.

Do some diagnostic work. Was this a one-off? Or are there consistent issues in the culture, preparation, and dynamics of a team or the morning that are beginning to emerge?

Take advantage of feedback loops. How can you help shepherd your team through that moment, and their own Sunday Spirals? Are there things that need to be worked through so that you can avoid that situation in the future?

Do not go it alone. If you are spiraling, articulate that to a trusted person - not necessarily so they can assure you that ‘I’m sure it wasn’t that bad,’ but so that you do not have to bear your burden alone. Ask them to listen, ask them to pray, and ask them to be present.

Lead again. Discipleship is the long game, and part of our discipleship and sanctification is being accomplished through our leading, serving, volunteering, and obedience to follow Jesus in our vocation and with our responsibilities as worship leaders, so lead again.

Tuesday Refocus: October 17

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“The end of your praying is not to inform God, as through he knew of your wants already; but rather to inform ourselves; to fix the sense of those wants more deeply in your hearts, and the sense of your continued dependence on Him who only is able to supply all your wants. It is not so much to move God who is always more ready to give than you to ask, as to move yourselves, that you may be willing and ready to receive the good things he has prepared for you.” - John Wesley

If we are willing, prayer is one of the purest places to hear our hearts. 

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…” Matthew 12:34

When we drop the pretense and approach the throne of grace with confidence as Christ invites us (Hebrews 4:16), all our longings are laid bear before God (Psalm 38:9). Our desires are realigned, and our delight is in the Lord (Psalm 37:4).

Father, you know all things. You know our every word before it is on the tongue. You see through to the motive of every heart. Would You, in Your kindness reveal our hearts to us? Would You, in Your kindness give us new hearts, new desires, and lives that are more open and obedient to You? For the glory of Jesus, amen.

Praying,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: August 22

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“Worship is the strategy by which we interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves and attend to the presence of God.”- Eugene Peterson

There is a story I have seen online, perhaps it is true, or perhaps it’s a bit of a parable. Either way, it communicates something true: a person walks up to the pastor following a Sunday service and says, “Pastor, I didn’t like worship today.” The pastor responds, “That’s okay, we weren’t worshiping you.”

Worship is the default setting of every human heart. But right worship only occurs when in His kindness God reveals himself, and we respond with our whole lives: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2

If our worship is right - worship fueled and informed by the person of God - there will be no self-preoccupation. 

Come, Holy Spirit, lift our eyes to the person and work of Jesus. May our worship be right, and may our lives be laid down. In Christ’s name, amen.

Worshiping,

AB

September 27: Tuesday Refocus

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“God is always relaxed.” - A.W. Tozer

The One who spoke the universe into existence sustains it by the word of His power (Psalm 33:9, Hebrews 1:3). He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). He is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything since it is God who gives to all mankind life, breath, and everything (Acts 17:25). If He were hungry, he would not tell us for the world and all its fullness belong to Him (Psalm 50:12). He declares the end from the beginning, and His counsel shall stand, and He will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 46:10). By His Word, he discerns the thoughts and intentions of the human heart (Hebrews 4:12).

There is nothing out of His control.

Nothing that surprises Him.

And there is no wrong that He will not set right (Revelation 21:5).

He is not worried or frantic.

He is not fearful or dismayed.

He invites us to take His easy yoke, and light burden (Matthew 11:30).

Lord, may we rest in You. The One who is always relaxed. Amen.

Resting,

AB

August 17: Tuesday Refocus

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‘Lord, You know what is best; let this be done or that be done as You please. Give what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honor. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You—would that I could do this worthily and perfectly! Amen.’ - St. Thomas À Kempis (1380-1470)

Our hearts are visible in our prayers.  Do we believe - do we live - as though the LORD is our chosen portion and our cup, the One who holds our lot (Ps 16:5)?  Those who have nothing in heaven and earth they desire more that God can rest securely in the One who gives good gifts - even when those gifts appear evil (Ps 73:25, Jam 1:17, Job 2:10).  What more could we desire in this life than to have the One who gave up His life for us all (Eph 2:5)?

Lord, may our prayers guide our lives toward You. In Christ's name, amen.

Praying,

AB

February 16: Tuesday Refocus

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“Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting.” - A.W. Tozer

On the Eve of this Lenten season, we can agree we have lived in a perpetual state of Lent the past year. Fasting from and withholding of much of the goodness and sweetness we have come to recognize within our lives.  Our hearts have grown sick and weary for the hope deferred (Proverbs 13:12), as we have longed for things to be different.

Scripture says: ‘For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Suffering this side of eternity is real, deep, and painful.  You may run, but you will never outrun suffering’s global and local, universal and personal reach.  But when we run to suffering and remain steadfast, we will be perfected and complete, lacking nothing (Jam 1:4).  We follow the example of the Suffering Servant, the Man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief, who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, completing His work (Is 53, Heb 12:2).

We are only able to embrace suffering when we see that it is accomplishing something deeper, and richer within us… and that may not be seen or experienced this side of eternity, but there?  Beyond all comparison.

Lord, as we enter into this intentional time of remembrance and removal, may we look to You.  May we be captivated and filled with the reality of who You are and what You have accomplished.  You who patiently endured, You who delighted to do Your Father’s will, You who lived among us, died for us, have been raised, are seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return again.  In Your name, Jesus, amen.

To Lent,

AB 

November 5: Tuesday Refocus

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‘No one ever comes very close to God and remains proud.’ – Alan Nelson

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‘Draw near,’ is the invitation James tells us is always met with God, in turn, drawing near (4:8).  As followers of Christ we can draw near with confidence (Heb 4:16).  But make no mistake this confidence is not in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21).

As we draw near we find grace and mercy, yet still fall down as though dead (Heb 4:16, Rev 1:17).  Because no one ever draws near to God and remains proud.  But do not be afraid – His nearness is your good (Ps 73:28). 

‘When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’ – Revelation 1:17


Lord, You know the proud from afar, but regard the lowly.  Help us draw near with full confidence in the completed work of Christ.  Thank you for being Emmanuel, the God who is with us.  We are humbled and grateful, in Christ name, amen.

Draw near,

AB