Tried and Tested

Romans 12: 10           NKJV

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.

I used this quote once before in the last 40 days of this covid conundrum. It is from Thomas Paine who, in another very trying time in American history, penned these words, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” This quote is from December 23, 1776. No doubt the souls of people were sorely tried and some, no doubt, found wanting. Allow me to share more of the quote. He went on to write, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” Beautiful and riveting!

Does that quote stir your patriotic verve? Do you feel the resolution to serve one another even in the face of overwhelming circumstances? I do. I feel his resolve like an iron rod, and it moves me. And I thank my God that it moves me for what kind of person, or Christian, would I be if I do not feel the angst of my fellow Americans and the fight that we are in. Paine was speaking to a divided group, wasn’t he? He saw people tried and tested. He saw the immense pressure his peers were under. He also saw that some stood up to the pressure while others crumbled. Remember that some were pledging their lives and their fortunes for the greater purpose. They were putting their hard-earned wealth and liberties on the line to fight for a greater liberty. And freedom means that we must sacrifice it in order to preserve it. The very nature of liberty is that it has a cost and often the cost is liberty itself. Its great value is in choice. We choose to give up our lives, our fortunes and our self-interest in order to fight for the greater good. That is why the cost of liberty is liberty. It only works when it is freely given. We have preserved that choice in this country. You have the right to choose to be selfless which is what Paine was trying to encourage along with fealty and esprit de corps. Those words sound archaic. Have we forgotten what they mean? Or instead, do they still quicken the heart rate of Americans to this day? I pray it is the latter.

I am reminded also of this great quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Do you remember that one, and who said it and the circumstances of the time? It was another time the nation was in great distress. We are living in a historical moment too. What will be the refrain which comes of it? What will we say of ourselves when we look back at this time of crisis?

The dialogue in America has changed over the last many weeks. We’ve been fighting a foe that we cannot see and whose invasion is subtle and imperceptible. We cannot get the bite of our swords into our adversary, so we have turned on one another. We’ve changed from “We are all in this together” to a discourse of we versus them. Our jobs as Christians is to take our eyes off ourselves and ask what we can do for others. We began this way. What happened to us?

Look at today’s verse from the New Living Translation, “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Let’s pick up this banner again and wave it proudly across our nation. Let’s again ask ourselves what we can do for others. What can you do that is purely selfless that helps someone else? What can you say that brings encouragement? It’s only been one week since “Giving Tuesday” and less than that from the National Day of Prayer. Perhaps those two memorials can inspire us again this week. Can you give something? God knows we need the prayer.

Please, take this time to assess where we are right now. Not politically, not the rhetoric but where we stand as Americans and Christians. To what are we giving our passion? Are we given to rants or prayer? This is the time when it gets hard. And this is exactly what Paine witnessed. What began well, wanes as people tire. Everyone is supportive and gung-ho in the beginning but as a situation wears on it takes real fortitude to continue to stand in the fight. But this is my question, if not us, then whom? To whom do we delegate prayer, love and compassion?

My beloved, I come to you today asking for your heart. I know you too are tired. There have been many pressures and inconveniences, but your country needs you. No, not the other guy, you. You are the most dedicated people on earth. And I have seen you demonstrate unparalleled kindness and compassion. So, I am asking you to reach deep down today for the very heart of God which resides within you. Christians, unite, in the mighty name of our Lord and pray from a heart of love and compassion. Do not allow anything to divide us. Let us not fail in our mission to love one another and to serve one another with compassion. Protect and guard your heart.

And I pray for each of you. I know you are tired and weary. I know you are suffering. I hold you up in the name of Jesus and ask for his soothing touch to comfort you. I pray all your needs met in the name of Jesus. Thank you.

Whose Friend are You?

Proverb 18: 24

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

One of the things this viral attack on our world, cultures and lifestyles has done is to bring people together. Though we are separated by space and don’t get to see one another, you sure do appreciate your friends and find tenderness towards people in general. Maybe you have some friendships that have been forged during this time or strengthened. You find out who provokes tenderness in your heart and whose heart is pining for you. Perhaps you have been surprised by someone who reached out to you or someone you found yourself concerned about.

Since we will be separated a bit longer, you might also ask yourself who you might like to reach out to. There has never been a time in our history where human kindness was more in need. I find we are very independent and have a hard time receiving the kindness of others even if we need it. We feel like we are imposing even to accept what was offered. None the less, it is meaningful and a little kindness goes a long way.

Right now, some people are faring quite well while others are starting to suffer from the confinement. This would be a great time to actually pick up the phone and call someone. Human contact is valuable in this time of isolation. You could even write an old fashion letter. Face time someone you think might be feeling isolated. These are good ways to exercise your Christianity and our faith is something which ought to have outward expression. Do you agree?

Be kind to one another. Make it a point to isolate physically, but reach out to others any way you can. People need people, now more than ever. Take care of yourself but take care of others too. Thomas Paine wrote, “THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” These are definitely the times which try men’s souls, but now we are being asked not only to stand by our country but by one another and those who exercise human compassion will deserve the love of man and woman for this is a crisis of the heart as well as of the body. This is your opportunity to be a hero, to fight for your fellow human beings by extending yourself. These are the days when heroes are made. Though we may not be as those brave, commendable medical providers, we can do our part by cheering someone who is going a little stir crazy in their home.  Be a hero today from the comfort of your home.

Forward this Word of the Day to a friend to let them know we all care.

Call to Duty

Job 26: 2

How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength?

“These are the times that try men’s souls” (Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, 1776). Undoubtedly those revolutionary times challenged the would-be Americans down to their souls. Truly, though most of us live in much more stable environments than pre-revolution America, each person usually must endure a season of great challenge. It is in these times that we find the strength of God rising to meet us in our times of great need.

When we are powerless, when our arms lack strength, when we are weary down to our bones, our Father fills all the voids and strengthens us. He sustains us and restores our souls. We see this miracle of grace throughout the psalms but it is when you see it manifesting in your own life that your own life takes on new depth and new meaning. And when you approach these trying times looking to the Lord our God, you find that his fulfilling grace is palpable. You can almost touch it, almost see it. It is real.

I am going through one of these challenging times of life and I truly want to learn and grow through it. One of my loved ones is dying of cancer and there is nothing the doctors can do. We must all face these times but they can be easier in the grace of God. So far I have learned two important lessons. First of all, allow people to help you. Allow people to be a blessing to you. Superman is a fictional character so don’t try to be a superhero. Let those who love you express their love and concern for you. It is part of their grieving and healing for you both. My friend Carol, encouraged me to share this difficult time with you. She is teaching me to let people express their love for me. Lin, our graphics genius has inspired me with such wisdom. One of the statements she made to me was, “Ivey, you give to us every day, let us give to you.” This is such a hard thing to do but I recognize that their wisdom is flowing right from the heart of God.

Secondly, I have learned that God fills us up through His power flowing right through the atmosphere and the Holy Spirit to anoint your home, hospital room and your heart. That was not unexpected but what I have learned is that He greatly uses other people and their prayers to minister His anointing, His grace, His love and His mercy in the time of need. As I make my heart tender and vulnerable, as I simply open my eyes I see the anointing of God on total strangers. People come to you in your time of need. People you don’t know will reach out to you in that Spirit which is from God. You will connect at a level which is beyond this physical realm and it will bring comfort to your soul.

Some people will not be able to rise to the challenge. Don’t judge them. They just haven’t grown in that area yet. Some of the people you think will jump to your side won’t. It’s okay. Pray for them. No, really. Pray for them, it will do your heart good and the Blessed Father will show you their own hurts and limitations. It will give your heart peace. 

In conclusion, I want my challenge to help me grow, learn and to empower me to help others. Many of you have known deep sorrow. Some of you have undergone exactly what I am going through now. We are all learning and growing and part of that growth is to learn to be vulnerable. Another important sign of spiritual growth is showing an active compassion; that is compassion which isn’t passive but which instead moves into action.

I am calling you each into active duty today. This is a request for you to pray for me and my loved ones. We have been borne up by the prayers of our friends and family. It really does make a difference. So, pray for me.

There is a second part of this call to action though. We are a body, a family. Everyone who reads this daily devotional is important to me personally as well to others. We should stand for one another. I want you to write to us when you need prayer and I want us to be able to rely on each other for prayer and prayer support. We will be using the upcoming website as a medium for us all to connect with one another. I envision a person posting a prayer request and every one of us who reads the Word of the Day saying an immediate even if brief prayer for that person.

There are people reading this devotional all over the world. We need to join hands and become a people of prayer and of support for one another. Our faith was never meant to be passive but active and living and fully expressing the power and love of our Lord Jesus and our Father who sent the Holy Spirit into the earth to give us strength and miracle working power. Join hands with me as I join hands with believers all over the world. Let us reach out and make a difference in people’s lives through the love of God. Give God’s love wings through prayer. Together we are very powerful. Alone we are weak. Be the leader and lover you have been anointed to be. In Jesus’ name.