I Love You With My WHOLE Heart

Teach my your way, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe with my whole heart. – Psalm 119:33-34

Welcome to a new week of Freedom Fighter blogs. I can’t thank you enough for joining me on this weekly journey. I appreciate you, my brothers and trust that what we are sharing with you is an encouragement to you in your daily walk.

Several weeks ago we went to visit a church in Delaware where a dear friend is the associate pastor. We had the joy of meeting our son Josh and his family and worshipped together. My little grandson, William Henry is quite the kid. He has the biggest eyes and the greatest personality.

When we were getting ready to leave after having dinner, I picked up will and said, “You know Pop loves you a bushel and a peck, right?” He put his hands on my cheek and said, “And I wuv you with my wholllllllllllllllle heart!” That sure melted my heart.

My friend, you need to remind yourself daily that your heavenly Father loves YOU with HIS whole heart. Isn’t that amazing?

But there is another side to this relationship – he desires you and me to do the same. If you’ve never done this before, google an on-line concordance or if you have one, crack open your hard copy concordance and look up all the references to the words “all your heart” or “whole heart.”

David in today’s verses is thanking the Lord for His statutes. Earlier in the Psalm 19 he reminds us that:

The law of the Lord is PERFECT = reviving the soul.
The testimony of the Lord is SURE = making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are RIGHT =rejoicing the heart.
The commandment of the Lord is PURE = enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is CLEAN = enduring forever.
The rules of the Lord are TRUE and RIGHTEOUS all together.

Wow. Is it any wonder that David’s prayer is that he would want to love the word and desire to obey it with his whole heart? Now here’s the deal – we can’t do that on our own. We can only do this as we allow Christ to live HIS perfect life through you and me. We could never live up to the law on our own.

Is there an area in your heart that has not been surrendered to Him. Can you identify those areas that need to be cleaned out of your heart so that you can love Him with your whole heart?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 4-6; Mark 15:26-47

Quote of the day: Holiness has to do with more than mere acts. Our motives must be holy, that is, arising from a desire to do something simply because it is the will of God.

Jerry Bridge

Bible Memory: Teach my your way, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe with my whole heart. – Psalm 119:33-34

A Prayer in Praise of the God Who Knows Our Hearts

Lord, you know everyone’s heart. (Acts 1:24 NIV)

We are at the end of another week and this prayer couldn’t be more fitting in light of our discussions on humility. I love how Pastor Scotty Smith shares so openly:

Heavenly Father, there are so many things attributed to you in the Scriptures that are clearly not our domain. Heart-knowing is one of them. We often speak of being drawn to someone’s heart, or of being offended, confused, or shut out from their heart, but only you really know what’s in each of our hearts.

That’s why we pray with humility and joy, “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Ps. 139:23), for we cannot and must not trust our own diagnosis. There is nothing more deceitful on the face of the earth than the heart, including our hearts (Jer. 17:9). Only you understand the ways of the heart, Father. Only you can cure its great sickness.

Sometimes we think of ourselves much more highly than we ought—so wanting to believe we’re more like Jesus than reality affirms. Sometimes we fall into shame and contempt and act like strangers to your mercy and grace, like orphans without a Father above or your Spirit within. Sometimes we just think about ourselves too much, period. Way too often we arrogantly assume we know what’s in the hearts of others, playing judge and jury. Forgive us and free us from such meanness and madness.

Father, here’s our sure and only hope: Through Jesus, you’ve already sprinkled clean water on us and have declared us to be clean. You’ve cleansed us from our impurities and are freeing us from our idols. You’ve already given us a new heart and placed your Spirit within us. You removed our stony hearts and gave us hearts of flesh—hearts that beat for you and your glory (Ezek. 36:24–27). What a generous and powerful God you are!

And you will complete this good work you’ve begun in each of us and in all of creation (Phil. 1:6). Justified sinners are destined to be your glorified children (Rom. 8:30). Oh, how we praise you for the peace and assurance we enjoy, all because the gospel is true. Help us to walk in greater humility before you and in observable kindness toward one another. We pray in Jesus’ loving and heart-transforming name. Amen.

Smith, Scotty (2011-09-01). Everyday Prayers for a Transformed Life: 365 Days to Gospel-Centered Faith (Kindle Locations 1358-1367). Baker Book Group. Kindle Edition.

Thank you for joining me on the journey. I love and appreciate you.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 62-64; Mark 14:27-53

Quote of the day:  One of the disconcerting facts about the spiritual life is that God takes you at your word. Dorothy Day

Bible Memory: I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run the course of your commandments when you enlarge my heart. – Psalm 119:31-32

Achieving Righteousness

 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:18-20 NASB)

This text is often cited in reference to interpersonal communication. Stephen Covey famously stated that when we are talking with others, we should “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”  Similarly, it has been surmised that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason—we should listen twice as much as we talk.  Yet if we carefully examine the context of this popular passage we will find a subtle connection with the word of truth (v. 18).

Every believer needs a constant connection with the Word of God.  We are blessed when we meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1).  When James wrote his book, the common way people received the Word was through speech.  Indeed, preaching and teaching were vital means of learning the Word of God (Romans 10:14).  But not everyone was happy about it in James’ day, and the same holds true for us.

Have you ever gotten mad at your pastor for his message only to realize later that it was God you were really angry with?  I have.  The Word of truth cuts us when we are living falsely, and we don’t like it.  When the Scripture says, The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12), we see the metaphor but know it often comes painfully close to a literal reality.  Additionally, the Word of truth doesn’t just prick us from the pulpit; it hits us during the week as well.

Have you ever broken off communication, or secretly resented someone for “calling you out” with a verse of Scripture?  Yes, we know that people will have their opinions, but everything changes when we are confronted with chapter and verse!  Today’s Scripture admonishes us to be careful how we receive it, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

St. Augustine once got into a verbal spat with a man who said in anger, “Hear me, hear me.”  The theologian replied, “Neither let me hear thee, nor do thou hear me, but let us both hear the apostle.”  This is wise counsel that we would all do well to heed.  Let us all hear the Word of God and receive it well. Rev. Jason R. Walsh is Youth Pastor at Whiting Bible Church and a contributor to Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 59-61; Mark 14:1-26

Quote of the day:  Defeat is certain if we are constantly contemplating defeat…as soon as our eyes are set on ourselves, we will surely fail. Watchman Nee

Bible Memory: I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run the course of your commandments when you enlarge my heart. – Psalm 119:31-32

How Humble Are You

“Yea, all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

Did you ever listen to a convicting message and find yourself saying, “I sure hope ______ heard this!” or “Wow – my wife needs this message.”

Well this week we have been talking about humility. I got clobbered big time. Bill Gothard’s list today asks the questions: How Humble are YOU?

1. When people disagree with you, do you argue for YOUR position?
2. Do you tend to cut off those who ignore YOU?
3. Are you hurt when those whom you dislike are honored?
4. Do you find it difficult to admit you are wrong?
5. Do you inwardly react when people criticize you?
6. Do you inwardly react when people criticize you?
7. Do you give your opinions before having been asked for them?
8. Do you enjoy sharing about your accomplishments?
9. Do you talk more than you listen?
10. Are you more concerned about your reputation or God’s?
11. Do you give the impression that you have no problems?
12. Do you seek ways to humble yourself?
13. Do you do things for praise and compliments?
14. Do you accept praise rather than deflecting it?
15. Are you quick to correct others when they make a mistake?
16. Do you react when you do not receive credit you are due?
17. Do you feel important?
18. Do you compare yourself to others rather than to God?

Quite a list of questions. How did you do? You willing to ask the hard questions? How do you think your spouse and kids would answer? Your friends and co-workers. How humble are you?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 56-58; Mark 13:21-37

Quote of the day:  All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God, because they reckoned on God being with them. J. Hudson Taylor

Bible Memory: I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run the course of your commandments when you enlarge my heart. – Psalm 119:31-32

Specific Ways To Humble Ourselves

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life. Proverbs 22:4

I shared yesterday that in preparation for teaching on the topic of humility at the Colony of Mercy, God spoke to MY heart.

In preparation I read a great treatise on humility written by Bill Gothard in his resource, The Power for True Success – How to Build Character in Your Life.

In the chapter on Humility vs. Pride, he shares 14 specific ways we can humble ourselves:

1. Welcome critics – bless those who curse you.
2. Volunteer for menial tasks.
3. Ask others about your blind spots.
4. Express gratefulness.
5. Listen to others instead of talking about yourself.
6. Kneel in prayer.
7. Let authorities make final decisions.
8. Ask forgiveness for wrongs you have done.
9. Praise and honor others.
10. Take time for prayer and fasting.
11. Give sacrificially.
12. Give testimony of God’s grace.
13. Deflect praise.
14. Be a servant.

How are you doing after reading the list? Would you be willing to take two or three from the list and work on them this week? If so, what three would you pick and why?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 53-55; Mark 13:1-20

Quote of the day:  A man who clings to his own righteousness is like a man who grasps a millstone to prevent himself from sinking in a flood. C. H. Spurgeon

Bible Memory: I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run the course of your commandments when you enlarge my heart. – Psalm 119:31-32

Humble Yourself

I have a love/hate relation with teaching. I love to teach and preach especially at the Colony of Mercy. I love being with the men.

I love to study God’s Word and glean insights from it. But teaching/preaching for me is always very humbling because before I get to share it with the men, the Holy Spirit takes the message and shines His light on me – on my life.

This week’s theme at the Colony is on humility. Normally the message/topic that I get to address has to do with sexual temptation. But this time I landed on the Sunday with the topic of humility!

Ouch! This one hurt. It was painful. It revealed my heart. It was supposed to speak the men’s heart not mine. But it did.

In preparation for the message, I came across a cool outline from Bill Gothard. Now if you are not a BG fan, not hit delete or unsubscribe. God has greatly used this man over the past several decades. I certainly do not agree with everything he says – but neither does everyone agree with everything I say.

He gave a great checklist from James 4:6-10 on how to achieve humility:

1. Submit yourself to God with total, unconditional surrender to His will.
2. Resist the devil, allowing no secret sin or hindering weight.
3. Draw nigh to God by seeking His face through the Scriptures.
4. Cleanse your hands by confessing all sin and making restitution.
5. Purify your hearts, making sure there is no secret desire to continue sinning.
6. Be afflicted and mourn and weep. Grieve over the awfulness of sin.
7. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness.
8. Do all this in the sight of the Lord, and HE will lift you up.

Wow, that is a text that preaches. Take a moment to read those verses and look at the outline. Can it be said of you that you are a humble man? In what ways has God taught you about humility?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 50-52; Mark 12:28-44

Quote of the day:  Those who think too much of themselves don’t think enough. – Amy Carmichael

Bible Memory: I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run the course of your commandments when you enlarge my heart. – Psalm 119:31-32

A Prayer about Devilish Footholds

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph. 4:26–27 NIV)

On Tuesday we talked about the schemes of the devil and his desire to take you and me out. This Gospel-prayer at the end of the week seems very fitting …

Dear Jesus, I can think of certain door-to-door salespeople I wish I’d never let across the threshold. One toe through my front door, one minute into their pitch, and I’m wishing I could usher them on their way. Oh, that I’d be that wise when the devil approaches my heart and home.

Of course, if he came knocking in a red jumpsuit with a three-pronged pitchfork in hand, sporting sixties-style beatnik facial hair, I’d have no problem turning him away. Unfortunately, he often comes in the back door through my impatience, irritation, aggravation, and anger.

Jesus, help me steward my anger. It’s always been a confusing emotion to me. I’ve been on the destructive end of anger and rage. I remember the fear, the confusion, the shame, the ambivalence. I don’t wish such a crushing of the spirit on anyone, but I certainly own the ways my anger has nonetheless brought harm to people I love.

You’re not telling me never to be angry but to be careful not to sin in my anger. Jesus, help me be angry at the right time, for the right reasons, in the right way. Only you can melt this icy tension in my heart. Only you can change my rigidity into playfulness. Only you can redirect the wasted energy of my anger into patience and loving-kindness. Only you can replace my idol of control with a greater worship of you and submission to your purposes.

Right now, Lord Jesus, I throw open every door and window of my heart. Come on in and establish multiple footholds of mercy, grace, and compassion. I abandon myself to your beauty and bounty today. I pray in your peerless and priceless name. Amen.

Smith, Scotty (2011-09-01). Everyday Prayers for a Transformed Life: 365 Days to Gospel-Centered Faith (Kindle Locations 1116-1133). Baker Book Group. Kindle Edition.

Have a great weekend, my brothers. I thank you for joining me on the journey.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 43-44; Mark 11:1-18

Quote of the day: Love in a Scriptural sense is not a soft, sentimental emotion. It is a deliberate act of my will. It means that I am willing to lay down my life, lay myself out, put myself out on behalf of another. Phillip Keller

Bible Memory: Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:17-18

Stick Close!

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:1-3)

            God has known from the beginning of humanity that no single human needs to live his or her life alone, in isolation.  It is unhealthy, unwise and not what God intended for us.

Too often in Christianity as we know it today, people choose to live apart from the very people they most need.  When we believe we can go it alone and do not need anyone else, we have believed the devil’s lie, and we set ourselves up for failure.  Motorcycle riders tell me there is a maxim among the riding fraternity: It is not a matter of if you will fall, but when.  So it is with the isolationist crowd of Christians.  Eventually, that isolation will do us harm.

Consider the words of Paul to the Galatian Christians.  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 

Look at the benefits of “sticking close.”  First, if you veer off course and find yourself caught in some kind of sin, you have brothers and sisters who love you and will gently draw you to restoration.  They have your back!

You can look at this a different way, too.  If you are “sticking close” to your brothers and sisters in Christ, you may have the opportunity to help someone who has veered off course.  God may use you to help someone in desperate need.  That cannot happen if you practice an isolated faith.

This “sticking close” has a beneficial mutuality to it.  Paul tells us to bear one another’s burdens.  By doing that, we fulfill the law of Christ.  Only when you choose to live in community with other believers can you fulfill the law of Christ.  Isolation prevents you from living out God’s calling upon your life.

Finally, living in community with other believers protects us from believing that which is not true about our own lives.  We can think we are something really special when we live apart from those who love us.  Engaging in community forces us to see clearly our struggles and the struggles of others.

All of us who follow Jesus need to stick close to our faith family.  We need them, and they need us! – Pastor John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River. Today’s devotional is from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE Volume 2. It is available for purchase on Amazon.com and will soon be released in the Kindle version.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 41-42; Mark 10:32-52

Quote of the day:  Salvation is God’s way of making us real people. Augustine

Bible Memory: Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:17-18

Being a blessing to others

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself …” Daniel 1:8

Welcome Dan Gavin to our list of godly Freedom Fighter bloggers. Dan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is now serving in our internship program.

We use the words “God bless you” and “I’m blessed” often in the Christian community. Do we really understand what it means to be a blessing to others? Do we really understand what it truly means to “be blessed”?

When I arrived at Americas Keswick, my parents challenged me with this statement, “Daniel, go and be a blessing.”

How could I be a blessing to someone else until I knew how blessed I really was myself.

The word blessed used in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 comes from the Greek word “makarios” best defined as self-contained happiness. Regardless of what is happening externally around us (our circumstances) we can be truly happy internally. We can genuinely bless others only as we understand what it means to “live by faith in Christ” Galatians 2:20.

Two of my favorite biblical examples of men who were blessings to others are Joseph and Daniel, both taken from their homes as slaves, both Hebrew prisoners in a strange land, both dreamers, understanding and interpreting their dreams. Both Joseph and Daniel refused to forsake their faith and their God, unwilling to compromise to even the smallest degree. These young men were a true blessing in the homes in which they lived and because of their devotion to God he raised them to positions of power, honor and glory. God sustained them in years and granted them favor according to his will.

So, we can “purpose in our hearts” Daniel 1:8 with resolve to be a blessing to others and affirm our brother, by building a person up, in word, in thought, in deed, or just by our presence. Share the love of God through the way that you live, be blessed, be a blessing, and most importantly bring glory to God. – Dan Gavin is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy now serving in internship

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 39-40; Mark 10:1-31 – Audio version is located at the top left hand side of the page

Quote of the day:  All of salvation is to make us look good! We who are dirty, worn, broken, and sinful are to be the showcase of heaven.  Kenneth Pike

Bible Memory: Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:17-18

A Powerful Warning

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

I posted this back in 2007 but as I was re-reading this devotional I felt the urgency to post it again.

The more eminent your service for God, the greater the probability that Satan is at that very moment hatching some deadly scheme against you.

Satan will come on the scene when you are on some notable errand for God’s glory. He will raise himself up like a snake in your path, hissing his venomous lies. This old serpent never was a friend to kingdom work. What a handsome excuse he served the Jews: “The time is not come!” God’s time was come, but not the devil’s; and therefore he perverted the sense of Providence, as if it were not yet time for the Messiah.

Two periods stand out in Christ’s life: His entrance into public ministry at His Baptism, and the culmination of it at His Passion. At both He had a fierce encounter with the devil. This should give you an idea of how the master tempter works.

The more public your place, and the more eminent your service for God, the greater the probability that Satan is at that very moment hatching some deadly scheme against you. If even the cadet corps need to be armed against Satan’s bullets of temptation, how much more the commanders and officers, who stand in the front line of battle!

 

Satan will not always wait until you are on an important mission to tempt you, however; he will seize every opportunity along the way to practice his enticing skills. His job is made a little easier if he can find some object to enforce his temptation. Thus he took Eve when she was looking with longing at the tree. Since her own eye first enticed her, it was all the easier for Satan to take the object of her affection, polish it to a high gloss, and with it quicken a lust which lay dormant in her heart. If we lean out the window to hear temptation’s serenade, Satan is satisfied that his suit may in time be granted.

If we do not wish to yield to sin, we must take care not to walk by or sit at the door of the occasion. Do not look on temptation with a wandering eye if you do not wish to be taken by it, nor allow your mind to dwell on that which you do not want lodged in your heart.

William Gurnall. The Christian in Complete Armour (Kindle Locations 420-433). Kindle Edition.

I know that I needed to be reminded of this today. How about you? Is there a stronghold in your life that needs to be dealt with? Can you identify the areas where you are most weak that might be the foothold for an attack by the Deceiver?

Remember – he was already defeated at the Cross!

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 37-38; Mark 9:30-50

Quote of the day:  Christian holiness, whether for the church or for the individual, can never be a static thing, something gained once for all. It has to be maintained amidst conflicts and perils that are renewed day by day. It is a moving thing; it can only exist as a function of pilgrimage. Stephen Neill

Bible Memory: Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from your law. Psalm 119:17-18