The Re-Commitment Trap

In the church I was raised, it was a common occurrence for the pastor to invite people to respond to a message by re-committing their lives to Jesus.  Many times under the conviction of sin I raised my hand or went forward in acknowledgement of my sin and desire to repent.  It is never hard for born-again Christians to see their need for repentance and forgiveness.  We could not be born-again again, so re-commitment was posed as the way back to God for a backslider.  This concept of re-commitment became an endless loop which rested on nothing more than my own resolve and self-control which always fell short.

There is a place for renewal and revival in the life of Christians, but I am convinced the option of re-commitment modeled for me in my youth misses the point.  The more I think about it, the more I am certain the idea of re-commitment is without biblical precedent.  Should Christians commit and entrust themselves to God in faith?  Yes.  But commitment can be independent of faith; it can be empty words of the self-deceived who refuse to repent.  Re-committing to God is not repenting of sin before God.  The biggest issue I have with re-commitment in response to conviction of sin is it is only one side of the coin:  the focus is entirely on me and my best efforts rather than reliance upon God and all Christ has accomplished.

God is more than "committed" to us, for He established an everlasting covenant with the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  When we are convicted for sin and made aware of our backsliding, the call is to return to God in repentance.  If every time we were convicted of sin we "re-committed" our lives to Jesus it is little more than a pledge from a hardened felon.  And that is why when re-commitment is an option, it never seems to stick.  We have not truly repented because we did not need to.  All that was required in that moment of soul-searching was to respond with raising a hand, walking to the front of the church, or seeking prayer and the pressure was relieved.  Having done something we were back in good standing with God again and life continued on as usual--that is, until being called out the following Sunday.

What is tricky about following Jesus is that in a sense it IS a commitment, but again this is only part of the equation.  Better than telling God what we will do, we should confess before God how we have failed and ask forgiveness on the basis of the covenant He has already made with us.  For those in the re-commitment rut their salvation often seems to hinge on their performance rather than receiving the grace of God through His promise.  If we are indeed born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, having been adopted as a child of God by grace through faith in Him, we ought to respond with the humility of the prodigal son in the parable who returned to his father.  He did not come back pledging to do a better job or to make up for his folly:  he said, "I have sinned."  He was filled with a sense of unworthiness and begged to be permitted to serve as a slave but his father hugged and received him as a beloved son.

If you find yourself caught in a perpetual backsliding re-commitment trap, there is hope in Jesus Christ.  Instead of pledging to do better, repent and return to Jesus Christ.  Only God can make a new creation and empower you to walk in the way that fully pleases Him.  Re-commitment is an empty hope based on our feeble efforts, but in Jesus Christ and in His covenant there is strong confidence.

The Enduring Word

Well, it's official:  Google hates me.  I probably shouldn't say anything because Google is always listening and recording (perhaps even hiding from plain sight) what I write.  Over the years I have wondered if changing algorithms negatively affected search traffic to the blog, but recently I discovered something which leaves little doubt.  Occasionally I will look up a keyword of an old post as a point of reference.  I was pretty sure I've mentioned MacGuffin on the blog before" and tried to search it with the blog address.  By the way, anyone who has watched movies would be familiar with MacGuffins (but maybe not the name), a device in film that drives the plot but has little significance otherwise.

When I searched on Google Chrome I was surprised to see only one page of results and none from marchforth2oz.blogspot.com.  After navigating to the blog in the search bar I typed "MacGuffin" and bingo:  the single mention of "MacGuffin" from 2017 was revealed!  On a hunch I loaded the Bing search engine, typed in the same query as I first had in Chrome, and the first page was flooded with successful results.  I'm not much of a conspiracy theory person, but the disparity between the Chrome and Bing search was notable.  It's all a bit fishy, and this isn't the first time I have been unable to find blog posts outside the blog itself (using Google, that is).  It leads me to conclude one does not need to live in a strict Communist regime to have Christian content quietly disappear.

The glorious truth for Christians is even IF all our words are suppressed or obscured, the Word of God endures forever.  It is God's Word and will which drive the plot of our lives according to the Holy Spirit, and we do not need to fear anything.  Worrying about declining traffic or algorithmic censorship is only one of many real-life MacGuffins people can obsess over and lose sight of the awesome God this blog is intended to glorify.  God knows if a person does a good deed with the hope of being seen by men, and that person has their reward whatever the opinions may be.  Those who do things with intent to glorify God, whether or not seen by men, will receive a reward from the LORD which cannot be corrupted or stolen.  Praise the LORD!

1 Peter 1:22-25 provides a fitting conclusion:  "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, ²⁵ but the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."

The Cost of Convenience

Convenience often comes at a price, and the consumer decides if they are willing to pay for the luxury.  Prepared foods typically cost more than buying the ingredients separately.  Convenience has a universal appeal because it reduces extra work and saves time.  For all the allure of convenience, however, there can be a downside.  The cost for convenience is not always paid in money but with countless distractions, intrusions, oppression, and even bondage.

For almost two weeks I was without a mobile phone.  A month ago the screen developed a fault which daily increased to the point of the screen being completely fuzzy.  For days it was like trying to view emails and sites through the bars of a virtual prison.  Since the phone was under warranty, it was shipped off to the assessment centre and I was told it would be 5 to 10 business days until the job would be complete.  For the job to be done the phone would be wiped, and I drove home phoneless.

I started thinking:  how should I handle navigation?  I would have to print out directions again.  How will I check email account?  I would need to log into each account individually at my computer.  How inconvenient life suddenly became when I could no longer check all my email accounts with the tap of a screen.  At the prospect of being weeks without a phone, I was more annoyed with the inconvenience of it all than anxious.  But an interesting thing happened:  as much as I missed the convenience of a phone, I did not miss the burden of having it and carrying it around.  I began to realise how many times a day I would check the phone and how at any time--in the middle of studying, conversing, driving or eating--a text or notification would come through.

Because of my forced phone fast I found I was reading more books.  I was spending far less time online, only checking my emails once or twice a day.  Days passed without checking messages on Facebook.  Whilst I appreciate the convenience of a phone, I found it was more apt to waste my time than save it; it was likely to command my attention as a slave rather than serve me.  When I went to pick up my phone yesterday it was a perfect illustration of how I had been feeling.  Those without a phone are more observant of how many people have and use them all the time.  As I stood at the door of the shop waiting for it to open, for 15 minutes I watched people walk by.  Approximately 50% were actively scrolling with heads down, 25% were talking, 20% had earbuds in, and one or two people did not have a phone in their hand.  As I watched a woman walking with her son's hand in hers, she smiled as she saw something on the screen held in her other hand.  She held her son's hand but her other hand was being held by something even more interesting at that moment.  She gripped her phone, but the phone held her.  Convenience has a cost.

Now don't get me wrong:  I am not anti-technology or think the correct course of action is to ditch our phones.  I am glad to keep mine, thank you.  But I do think it is wise to honestly consider how and how much we use them.  When we are locked into our phones we don't realise how much life we are missing out on, how distracted we are.  Being without a phone showed me I do not need it to lead a fulfilling, productive life.  It opened my eyes to how I allowed my phone to unnecessarily intrude upon my life and become more a burden than a blessing.  Phones are the Swiss Army knife of technology with countless features and useful apps, a practical tool in our digital age.  But as useful as mobiles phones are because of our human condition they can be wielded as weapons which wound us and damage relationships with others too.  That's far too high a price for convenience.

Christ's Yoke

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:29-30

I was reading through Malachi this morning when I came across a wonderful promise to those who trust God, and it prompted me to seek out Christ's words in Matthew.  Malachi 4:2 says, "But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."  Jesus Christ is the Son (and Sun here, the Light of the World) of righteousness who died on Calvary and has risen glorified.  He is our Saviour, the One who has called us and sent us out to all the world to proclaim His everlasting truth of the Gospel.

When Malachi compared those who trust in God to being "stall-fed calves," it reminded me of what Jesus said.  He urged people to take His yoke upon them, and this is something a calf must be taught to do.  The freedom we have in Christ is not without boundaries and the labours we do alongside Christ are not like the shackles of sin or the bondage of legalism.  Christ's yoke is easy and His burden light because He has done the heavy lifting for us, nailing the handwriting of ordinances which was against us to the cross and triumphing over principalities and powers.

An interesting fact about yokes is different yokes are required for donkeys, horses, and oxen because of their size and basic anatomic structure.  A yoke for ox is completely unsuitable for the body of a horse.  A harness which connects a horse to a carriage or buggy would be useless for an ox.  Jesus bids us take His yoke upon us and learn from Him.  The amazing truth is God became flesh like us, and having been born again by the Holy Spirit we are adopted into the family of God.  Through the Gospel of grace we have become members of the Body of Jesus Christ the Church, and He is the Head of the Body.  Jesus is willing and able to share a yoke with us!  He has humbled Himself to come down to our level, and He has raised us up to sit with Him in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6).

Only in Jesus is rest found for our souls.  The scriptures testify of His character, discipline, love, obedience to the Father, and humble service we ought to emulate.  He says if we will come after Him we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  Jesus was crucified on a cross for the sins of the world, and having been made righteous by faith in Him we take up our cross in obedience.  David said he would not offer as a sacrifice to God that which cost him nothing, and Jesus has paid the price so our lives can be offered as a living sacrifice to God--which is our reasonable service.  It is costly for us to lay down our lives, but Jesus has already shown us the way and that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  How gentle and lowly He is!

Praise the LORD we can take Christ's yoke upon us and learn from Him, all by the grace of God.

Book of Remembrance

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name."

Malachi 3:16

I have long aspired to writing a book.  Though I write often I have yet to be inspired to sustain any thought for hundreds of pages, nor do I feel my contributions superior to anything written.  I have had ideas flit through my mind, but none of them have stuck.  But today I was reminded of a book God is writing, a book all those who fear God contribute to when they speak and think of Him.

Have you ever been in a room and heard your name mentioned and perked up, wondering of the context of the conversation where your name made an unexpected appearance?  Malachi 3:16 reveals God does the same thing when we speak or think of Him.  Those who love and fear God will speak to one another of Him, and God listens and hears.  This may seem redundant in English, but the word translated "listened" has more to do with catching the ear or one's attention.  "Heard" is fairly straight forward, yet it is to hear intelligently and intently--not to vaguely hear of a rumour.  It is amazing to think we are God's treasured children, and He delights to be treasured by us.

God knows and sees all, yet He has a book of remembrance written to note the times those who fear Him speak and think of Him.  Short chapters are in vogue today, but wouldn't you like to have a lengthy chapter attributed to you in this book?  God is not forgetful or greedy for attention, but this book "was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name."  This book is written for our sakes!  If you fear God, speak of Him and meditate on His name, God is writing this book for your sake.  He is the Author of life and our faith, yet we are given credit as a team of authors He will keep forever.

My wife Laura for many years compiled pictures of our sons in individual books, and they could be called books of remembrance.  We enjoy occasionally leafing through these albums:  what is nostalgic for Laura and I might be things my sons don't even remember.  I believe the book of remembrance God is having written for us will be like this.  He remembers everything without fail, but I might not even remember what I had for lunch yesterday.  I wonder if this is one of the books opened in addition to the Lamb's Book of Life when people are judged in the last day.  Everyone who is in the Book of Life will have at least a mention in the book of remembrance.

I might never have a book title to my name or "author" on my resume, but God is writing a book for me.  And you know what?  Knowing this I am content. :)

Be Still and Know

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"

Psalm 46:10-11

During prayer I was reminded of these verses and had forgotten they had been included in my sermon notes!  It was good to meditate on these verses, and this meditation has nothing to do with repeating a particular word or phrase.  Meditation for a Christian involves conscious thought.  Depending on where the stress is placed, God opens new avenues of thought.

God's command to those whose world is coming apart at the seams is to look to Him in trust and reliance is to "Be still."  Instead of rushing around trying to scheme or save, look to the Saviour.  We can "know" God alone is our Saviour, having received the truth of His Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit.  He says "I am God," not because He is shaking Himself from sleep or is in the midst of a identity crisis, but in times of crisis it is we who often forget.  God always keeps His word without fail.

When God says, "I will," we can view it as already done.  He "will be exalted among the nations" regardless if it seems like it or not.  Being the Almighty our God IS exalted, but am I exalting Him by faith and obedience?  This reminds me of the Christian's sanctification:  it is finished in the sense we are set apart unto God, but we also share a responsibility to sanctify ourselves in obedience to Him.  God is exalted, and we do well to exalt Him personally too.  God "will be exalted in the earth," and He graciously uses followers of Jesus Christ to that end.  In fact, even heathen kings like Pharaoh were used mightily by God to show His power, strength, and salvation.

Isn't it good to know the LORD of hosts is with us?  The eternal King is with us, and through faith in Christ He dwells in us.  The God who appeared to Jacob and changed His name to Israel is the God who is faithful to His promise and transforms us.  Like the location of a fortified bunker is known to the owner, so God is known by us.  At all times we can seek refuge in Him and find a supply of wisdom, help, refreshment, protection, and sustaining strength foreign to the world.  He skips across mountains at the sound of our voice, the voice of His beloved.  How gracious and good our God is, and let us be still and know that He is God--not us.

Strategic Patches

The local council removed a large tree from the parkway in front of my house and left a large patch of bare dirt.  Being winter the turf was dormant and did not fill in the damaged patches of lawn topped up with sand.  Though we did not have rain for months, apparently the clover did not get the memo.  When healthy Sir Walter turf spreads thick and is quite impenetrable, but the patchy condition made it susceptible to invasive weeds.  As I pulled weeds this afternoon, looking over at my neighbour's lawn which was completely green and weed free, it was obvious a healthy lawn is the best defense against unwanted weeds.

Bare spots in the lawn practically invite weeds to spring up uncontested.  This shows the folly of trying only to resist sin rather than to flee from it and do what is right.  Some vice will surely fill the bare spots in our character unless good things are sown there.  Turf must be watered and fed regularly, and properly winterising it would have prevented a lot of the weeds I pulled from growing at all.  I was reading and came across a great quote from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity today:

"Good and evil both increase at compound interest.  That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.  The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.  An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible." (Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity & the Screwtape Letters: Complete in One Volume. HarperSanFrancisco, 2003.)

It is good to see the purpose in one seemingly small act can have massive, long-reaching implications.  C.S. Lewis wrote at a time when World War 2 loomed large in the minds of people, where the deeds of one heroic man or coward might change the course of war.  Realising we are in a battle with our flesh and that our allegiance is to Christ about self is something we must often be reminded.  I want to progress in maturity and faith, not backslide.  Sometimes we will make mistakes and need to drop to our knees to clear away the weeds of sin in repentance, but let us stand in faith and press on doing good for God's glory.  That denial of the flesh and choosing to do good is like a patch of green turf which will spread in time.

The Unchanging God Who Changes Us

Self-help books have been popular as long as I can remember.  What I find ironic is despite the great volume of books written with terrific insights, new self-help books retain timeless appeal.  This is likely for two main reasons:  books cannot fundamentally change us, and despite our new knowledge still see our need for positive change.  The change we desire continues to remain elusive.

The confidence of a follower of Jesus Christ is not in our ability to change, but that God does not change and has the power to change us.  See what the prophet wrote in Malachi 3:1-6:  "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. ² "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. ⁴ "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, as in former years. ⁵ And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien--because they do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts. ⁶ "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."

Jesus Christ has come, and He will someday return from heaven with His saints to judge the world in righteousness.  The Day of Judgment should strike fear into all, especially those who do not regard God or expect Him.  Those whose lives are marked with sin shall be purged, and offerings will again be pleasing and acceptable to God in righteousness.  God did not provide false hope to the people, that if they really tried hard they could maintain His righteous standard and earn His favour.  Their only hope was in the mercy and grace of God who had made an everlasting covenant with them who does not change.  When the Law was given by Moses the people committed themselves to do all God had said, but they went back on their word.  God, in total contrast, would not deviate from fulfilling the New Covenant in His own blood He would make through Jesus Christ.

Paul said to believers in Acts 20:28:  "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."  Jesus Christ the Son of God was sent by the heavenly Father to seek and save the lost, and He stayed the course--which included crucifixion on Calvary--and culminated with His death and resurrection.  Jesus paid the price of atonement required for divine justice to be satisfied, and through faith in Him we are justified and saved.  We are not justified, sanctified, or glorified because we have changed but because of the grace of God who does not change.  In God we find a Rock of Salvation, an enduring hope, and righteousness by grace through faith.  His Word remains true, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  The everlasting Light of the World reveals who we are, those who have feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.  God also directs us by the Bible and the Holy Spirit how we should walk and where to go.

A relationship with God who does not change will utterly transform us from the inside out.  And there awaits a final change for all who are born again spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58:  "Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  Life on earth is often chaotic, but through faith in Jesus we can be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD.  The God who does not change provides the basis for our endurance, strength, and fruitfulness.  How wondrous this is, the immutability and goodness of our God and Saviour!

Cologne and Praise

I was reading through a news article concerning a Los Angeles Charger player Austin Ekeler who had a standout week.  The advice given Ekeler after a quality performance echoed the wisdom found in Proverbs and other places of scripture.  Here's an excerpt from the article:

Running back Austin Ekeler has understandably garnered national media attention after recording 95 receiving yards, 58 rushing yards, and three touchdowns last Sunday against the Colts. However, Ekeler isn’t concerned with the increase in attention -- he wants to remain focused on his game. “I was talking with ‘Fredo (running backs coach Alfredo Roberts) and he was telling me, ‘You have that cologne on for a little bit, but it's going to fade. Don’t drink it. You can wear it, that’s fine, but it’s poison. It might kill you.’ I’m just keeping my [blinders] on and focusing on my game with the Chargers."

It is good to know the proper use of cologne:  it may smell nice when applied to the body in moderation, but it is poisonous to drink.  When we are praised and recognised for something positive we have said or done it can be encouraging.  At the same time we should not allow it to go to our heads because it will lift us up with pride.  Fame and notoriety have pitfalls we do good to avoid, and we do this when praise is offered us by men and we immediately pass it on as an offering of praise with thanksgiving to God.  If we say or do anything good it is His doing, for in our flesh dwells no good thing.  We are born again by His grace and our fruitfulness comes from Him alone.

 The smell of cologne fades, and it is easy to become addicted to the attention and praise of other people.  We naturally want to impress, do well, to make our mark and be remembered.  But this desire to be acknowledged and recognised by men comes from our selfish flesh which insatiably seeks attention and approval.  Knowing we are accepted and approved of God by grace keeps us from falling into the trap of preoccupation with self:  "What do others think of me?  Have they forgotten about me?  Shouldn't I be receiving attention?  Don't I matter?  What about me?"  Comparing ourselves with others is not wise.

After being born again through the Holy Spirit we can shake free the fetters of self and lust for recognition and begin to praise God with our whole hearts.  The praise of men should not be like cologne we wear in moderation to top up our self-esteem, but should be treated like the bottle of precious perfume Mary broke on Jesus and poured all upon Him--saving nothing for herself.  Let all praise, honour, and glory be given God who is good, loves us, has saved us, and rejoices over us.  Receiving praise of men for self poisons us with pride, but God is worthy of all praise.  Pride kills, but praise exalts God and refreshes our souls.

Prevailing With God

I find Jacob's wrestling bout with the Angel of the LORD compelling.  The background of the life-changing encounter was Jacob was terrified upon hearing his brother Esau approached to meet him with 400 men.  Jacob separated his family into two groups and sent droves of animals by the hands of his servants before him, hoping to placate a potentially violent and aggressive enemy.  After night fell Jacob was alone, and the next we read he was grappling with an unknown Man who possessed divine authority and identity.

Genesis 32:24-28 says, "Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. ²⁵ Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. ²⁶ And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" ²⁷ So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." ²⁸ And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

Let us not for a moment think this match was even or that Jacob forced the Man with whom he wrestled to submit.  Jacob's opponent merely touched the socket of Jacob's hip and put it out of joint, and this was painful and crippling.  All Jacob could do was hold on and beg for a blessing--and it was not possible for Jacob to even hold his grip against the Angel of the LORD (a rare of appearance of God in human form before Jesus Christ) unless He wanted to be held.  And this is a beautiful thing:  God wants to be known and held close by us.  This wrestling match was a culmination of Jacob's life which always was a struggle to be first, to acquire and win at any cost.  But he could not scheme his way out of the Angel's grasp, nor could he overpower him.  The only way Jacob could prevail over the Angel of the LORD was ultimately by complete surrender.

Hosea 12:3-5 provides insight about Jacob Moses did not mention in the Genesis account:  "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. ⁴ Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us-- ⁵  that is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name."  The God of Abraham and Isaac revealed Himself to Jacob in Bethel, and He was the one who grappled with Jacob in the darkness.  The weight of his circumstances, the fear of facing his brother, the physical pain he experienced, and his inability to win brought Jacob to tears.  Jacob struggled with God all his life until the moment when, like a horse calmed by a gentle expert equestrian, God touched him.  Jacob's realisation of his need for God came as day broke.  By the help of God Jacob surrendered and in doing so prevailed with God:  instead of relying upon himself to fight his battles, Jacob's name was changed to Israel:  "God contends."

Jacob is not the only one who has wrestled with God all their lives, but he is one of the few who finally prevailed through surrender.  The Genesis passage says a Man wrestled with Jacob, and the order is significant.  The Man who suddenly appeared in the text was the initiator of this physical wrestling match which was the culmination of a lifelong spiritual conflict of Jacob fighting for himself.  No matter what Jacob tried, he couldn't escape and he couldn't force his Opponent to submit.  It was he who needed to submit, and having done so he held on to the One who made a promise to him all those years ago Jacob struggled to believe.  If we desire the transformation, blessing, and to prevail with God, with God's help we are called to surrender to Him.  We cannot escape His grip, and He is glad to be held close by us, to bless us, and to keep His Word.

The Coming King

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Zechariah 9:9

How great it is to know the King is coming to us!  Kings who rule nations have messengers, ambassadors, servants, and armies to do their bidding and I cannot imagine one having such humility to attend personally to the needs of their subjects.  God bids the daughter of Zion to rejoice greatly because the king comes who is just, having salvation, lowly, and in peace.  He does not come to His own to wage war but in humility, meekness, and ultimately triumph.

This about how the news of the king's coming would affect his starving subjects who were at war and under siege in a city surrounded enemies, the city about to fall.  Consider how great the relief this message would bring a man wrongly imprisoned, knowing his king was coming in justice!  What would it mean for the woman who was being abused by a spouse, a family who had lost everything in a fire, or a child being bullied to hear from the lips of the prophet, "Behold, your King is coming to you?"  To the person feeling alone, lost, or forgotten, to hear "Your King is coming to you!" would bring great rejoicing.  It would immediately shift the focus of the afflicted to the Saviour who was coming with salvation.

It is amazing the King would come to His people, and the manner of His coming is important.  If the King was coming with a great army it would be an intimidating show of force, but to come riding on an ambling donkey shows great humility.  When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people shouted with rejoicing, "Hosanna!"  The King of the Jews had come, but Jesus Christ was more than that being the Son of God.  To think God would humble Himself to become lowly man to save sinners and become the servant of all is beyond comprehension.  Though He has ascended alive into heaven, He comes to those who trust in Him today and provides the Holy Spirit, Living Water for our souls which causes us to be refreshed and born again.

To those who need salvation, the coming of Jesus to us is most welcome news.  Let's be those who live in light of the Light of the World, His love and care for us.  If Jesus is not your King, however, it would be great causes for alarm.  The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ says His second coming will be to take vengeance on His enemies.  A sharp two-edged sword will come out from His mouth to strike the nations, and He will rule the nations with a rod of iron.  Praise God that what strikes fear into His enemies is a source of comfort for those He protects and avenges.  God's people can rejoice always, and again I say rejoice because our King is coming to us having salvation!

The Sin Fast

Samuel famously told king Saul to obey God is better than sacrifice, but history tells us God's people struggled with the concept.  People tend towards embracing penance than repentance.  Better to repent before God and put the sin away than beating up yourself over it--as if personal punishment could provide atonement and cleansing.  Once sin is repented of instead of wallowing in guilt we ought to be intentional to be obey what God has already said.  A vast majority of the time we were conscious of sin before we chose to commit it.

When the temple in Jerusalem was halfway through the rebuilding process Zechariah 7:1-4 says, "Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, ² when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the LORD, ³ and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, "Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?"  During the period of captivity in Babylon--for 70 years--the children of Israel mourned and fasted during the fifth month (AND the seventh, as we will see).  It seems during their exile away from the land of Israel they punished themselves with a self-imposed fast.

See God's response in Zechariah 7:5-7:  "Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me--for Me? ⁶ When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? ⁷ Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?'"  God rejected this self-imposed sacrifice made by the people because when they ate and drank they did so unto themselves.  Therefore these months of self-imposed fasting and mourning were self-serving, for the people did not obey word of the LORD by prophets He previously sent them!  Fasting in obedience to the LORD is good, and sacrifice according to His leading is righteous.  But instead of fasting God preferred repentance for sin and simple obedience.

It was fitting they do good every day in Zechariah 7:9-10:  "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.'"  Refusing to eat what God graciously provided did nothing to right the wrongs which persisted for 70 years of captivity.  The problem was not when or what the people ate but the sin in their hearts.  There is nothing wrong with spiritual discipline and fasting, but it is of no benefit if when we eat and drink we do so with only ourselves in mind.  Paul sums up well the approach believers should take in 1 Corinthians 10:31-33:  "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, ³³ just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

People came to inquire at the temple if the fasts they had traditionally done for so long were necessary likely because some didn't want to keep fasting and some would be offended if they stopped.  They spoke of giving up the fifth month fast but didn't mention the seventh--they would keep that fast going.  God turned their question around:  instead of wondering if you should keep fasting, how about you start obeying Me?  Rather than thinking you are doing me a favour by denying yourself food, why not do yourselves and everyone a favour and deny yourself sin and do right?  Paul said in Romans 14:23 that whatsoever is not of faith in God is sin.  So whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, let us do it all to the glory of God.  We are to fast from sin and to do good instead.

Life to the Full

I am reading one of the books I received when attending the Calvary Global Network conference in Costa Mesa, California by John Bonner titled The Myth of Coincidence.  It didn't take long to reach halfway through the book, a compilation of details concerning life, call to ministry, and God's ways which are higher than ours.  His story of being called to move to and minister in a foreign nation in some ways resembles my own.

Pastor Bonner wrote in the preface, "If I were to die tonight, I would go home a completely satisfied man, having lived life to the fullest." (Bonner, John. The Myth of Coincidence. Calvary Chapel Hosanna! Publishing, 2019.)  Though John Bonner has been called to South America and I have been called to Australia, we share the same home because we are citizens of heaven through faith in Jesus Christ.  Because of what Jesus has accomplished by the Gospel after the death of the body we are going to the same heavenly home in the presence of God.  Having lived as foreigners on earth, it is the place Abraham looked for, the place where we finally belong.

I agree with Bonner's statement, especially the first part.  I would not die satisfied because of what I have experienced or accomplished on earth, but because of Who I am going home to.  When I look at the meager fruitfulness of my efforts which have gone largely unrealised by me, there is nothing to crow about.  For everything that has been accomplished there are 100 things yet to do, and 99% of what seems finished needs work before long.  There are worthy battles yet to be fought, minds to be persuaded, hearts to be changed, and souls to be won.  Clearing a small field of big rocks takes a lot of time and patient labour, and this is the work God has asked me to do:  to stick it out, keep going, keep trusting Him, and keep looking to Him.

When God calls me home, my work on earth will be finished.  He knows best and I trust Him.  I do not believe regret will have a place in my heart where I am going because I will be with my heavenly Father, my LORD and Saviour by grace.  I cannot better explain our purpose for carrying on until Jesus comes or calls us home in Ephesians 2:10:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  We like the idea of Jesus preparing a home for us in the heavens, but before we experience that wonder we are given the privilege of entering into the works He was preparing for us before we were born or born again.  He is preparing me right now for more good works yet to do, and this excites me as much as heaven.  Jesus gives life to the full, now and forever!

Completed by Grace

Zerubbabel was given a difficult task by God:  to re-build the temple in Jerusalem.  When we face hard decisions and fierce opposition it is natural for us to attempt to steel the resolve of our flesh or even give up, but God revealed a truth we do well to remember in  Zechariah 4:6-7:  "So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. ⁷ 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' "

The uniting of the people and building of the temple was a mountain might and power could never scale, but it was by the Holy Spirit it would be done.  The highest peaks in the world which require ideal conditions, training, equipment, and guides were not as great as the mountain which loomed before Zerubbabel, but God promised to help him to bring the work to completion.  The mountain would become a plain, and the capstone (the final stone) would be placed with celebratory shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"  It wasn't Zerubbabel's experience, building ability, or organisational prowess which would bring the project to a successful conclusion but the Holy Spirit by God's grace.

If you have a Bible translated into English you will notice occasional words which are italicised which denotes those precise words were not in the original manuscripts but added by translators to better translate into English.  When I import verses into blog posts I italicise the entire passage to convey it is a direct quote of scripture.  I was struck by the rendering of verse 7 so here it is as written in my Bible without italicising all:  "'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' "  The prophet says (in effect), "Who are you, O great mountain?  Before Zerubbabel a plain!"

I found this significant because of what Jesus said, that if we pray believing mountains can be removed and cast into the sea (Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23).  We like the idea of insurmountable obstacles being removed so we can easily walk forward on flat ground.  But this did not happen with Zerubbabel:  the mountain remained massive, foreboding, and towered above him.  Yet with the aid of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God, scaling the heights would be accomplished like crossing a plain.  The mountain remained stubbornly in front of Zerubbabel, and God by grace would empower him to see the task completed.  And God was faithful to His promise.

What comfort this brings us when we realise we are incapable of performing the impossible task which stands before us!  We want God to move the obstinate obstacle to make our passage easier, but God wants to deal with our obstinance of reliance upon our own might and power to accomplish His work.  We want to see the mountain gone and a flat plain before us before we move:  sometimes God leaves the mountain be to teach us to look to Him as we climb.  What obstacle lies before you which you wish to avoid?  Let us remember God's word to Zerubbabel:  "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit" says the LORD of hosts.  The work He has begun He is faithful to complete by grace.

Taking Grace For Granted

We never know what we take for granted until we lose it.  Over the weekend Sydney was buffeted with strong winds which downed power lines and caused almost 50,000 households to  be powerless.  Right in the middle of sermon preparation on my computer the power to our house went out.  My computer went from a useful machine to being an expensive paperweight or doorstop.  Since all our appliances, computers, and lights require electricity to run, we spent the afternoon sitting in the dark.

During prayer this morning I considered how we need God more than we rely upon Him.  Reliance is an intentional dependence.  Just like computers and refrigerators need electricity to perform their designed function, so we need the Holy Spirit of God to enable us to do God's will.  We need Him constantly but can forget that unless we are a branch connected to the Vine Jesus Christ in faith we can do nothing.  I need countless things which escape my mind at any time, like a heart which effectively pumps blood or oxygen in the air.  God is the One who designed the purpose and functions of individual parts of the body as well as fine-tuning earth's environment to support life.  So much of what God has done--even those who know and love God can take for granted.

I am glad God does not take any of His children for granted as humans can; we can take our parents for granted, but God supplied them by His grace anyway.  Reliance upon God and thankfulness for His gracious provision breaks the cycle of taking things for granted, the assumption that because we have something we are somehow entitled to it perpetually.  When I cracked bones in my wrist and wore a soft cast I was amazed how it impeded normal life:  eating, washing, opening doors, and countless other activities were impacted by one small injury.  God used the loss of electrical power for an afternoon to show me how much I rely upon electricity for daily living and how much more I need what God supplies by grace.  

The Honest Policy

It is good in our relationships to be courteous and thoughtful of the feelings of others, to avoid unnecessary offense.  Where we must be careful as followers of Jesus is we do not become so diplomatic in our interactions with others we cease to honestly present the truth.  Speaking the truth does not mean full disclosure, but it is critical for us to examine our motives in real time and even after a conversation about what we said, why we said it, and when applicable why we held back.

After Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers in Egypt, he sent carts to bring his father and the rest of his family to Egypt to escape a great famine.  Joseph was a wise man who feared God, and he also wanted his family to be viewed positively by Pharaoh.  Having lived in Egypt for some time, Joseph knew Pharaoh and the Egyptians hated shepherds.  Guess what?  Israel and his sons were shepherds!  So Joseph, savvy politician he was, suggested spin:  it was true they kept sheep, but their main occupation was cattle.  He coached his family concerning what to say and why in Genesis 46:33-34:  "So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation?' ⁴ that you shall say, 'Your servants' occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."

Joseph told his father and brothers what to say, and then the great reveal came before Pharaoh.  Everything occurred predictably as Joseph had said, but his family was not as diplomatic as he coached them to be.  He selected five of them who presented well and brought them before Pharaoh.  This was their time to shine.  I crack up thinking about what was going through Joseph's head when I read Genesis 47:3:  "Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers."  Whoops.  The very thing Joseph hoped to sweep under the carpet was the main thing they said:  "We are shepherds, and our fathers were shepherds too."  If Joseph was anything like me, in that split second before Pharaoh he would have felt a twinge of embarrassment and frustration by their candour.

But here's the amazing thing:  though they didn't say the words Joseph told them to say, God gave these men viewed by the Egyptian culture are abominable great favour and the best of the land.  Pharaoh said to Joseph in Genesis 47:6, "The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock."  Not only were they provided a place to stay, but they were given roles as chief herdsmen over Pharaoh's livestock!  Joseph coached his brothers to avoid personal embarrassment, but God brought them into favour with Pharaoh though they were honest and straightforward.

Israel and his sons were shepherds, and they weren't afraid to admit it publicly before the powerful sovereign Pharaoh.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we should be blunt in our allegiance and love of Jesus our Good Shepherd.  To be called a "sheep" is an abominable insult, but we are the sheep of God's pasture without shame.  We may think it necessary to hide this little detail when we have a job interview, or introduce ourselves to a stranger, or in casual conversation.  We imagine this might be a deal breaker--and in the case of Joseph's family there was the risk they would be sent home and the shelter and provision of Egypt could have been withdrawn.  Yet potential offense did not stop the five sons of Israel to boldly speak the truth about their occupation.

As children of God, let us be occupied with His business.  Being forthright and honest about our relationship with God should be our enduring policy.  Our devotion to Jesus Christ might be abominable to many, but we have found favour with God through relationship with Him.  Offenses will occur, but let it never be our intent.  Better to speak the truth and live accordingly before God than to hide behind a persona contrived to please men.

The Discipline of Church

I recently read a couple of Mark Sayers' books, Facing Leviathan and Disappearing Church.  Using a historical framework, Sayers weighs in as a pastor and commentator concerning western culture and its impact on church culture.  In a world which floods us with countless offers and attractive pitches, we can be deceived to think we can become the people God has called us to be without regular church fellowship.  I have borne witness to many people who drift in and out of church, looking for something ambiguous they never seem to find.  Ironically these discerning ones tend to drift and never settle anywhere.  I almost cheered when I read these paragraphs in Disappearing Church:

In an age that encourages maximum autonomy and the transgressing of limitations, perhaps we need to adhere to Todd Hunter's advice to see the institution of church as a spiritual discipline.  We get the idea that making the choice to wake up early and read our Bibles or to commit to regularly giving away our money to a charity or to fast may not always be pleasurable, but in the discipline of these things that we become more Christlike.  Yet we expect church to always be pleasurable, enriching, and exciting.

Maybe the limitations of church, the discipline of regular attendance, the commitment it requires, also teach us to be Christlike.  Maybe we need to reimagine church in our minds as a spiritual discipline, which teaches us the value of delayed gratification, of personally investing in change, of becoming more like Jesus.

Ronald Rolheiser captures this truth well when he writes, "Church involvement, when understood properly, does not leave us the option to walk away whenever something happens that we do not like.  It is a covenant commitment, like a marriage, and binds us for better or worse."  We and our Gnostic predilections ultimately fear church because we fear that it will take something from us, that it will restrict us.  And on this point the Gnostics, both ancient and modern, are right.  For as Rolheiser writes, "What church community takes away from us is our false freedom to soar unencumbered, like the birds, believing that we are mature, loving, committed, and not blocking out things that we should be seeing.  Real churchgoing soon enough shatters this illusion, and gives us no escape, as we find ourselves constantly humbled as our immaturities and lack of sensitivity to the pain of others are reflected off eyes that are honest and unblinking."  Ultimately, we fear church because it crushes Christian Gnostics, who pick their bruised and beaten bodies up, and discover that they are not gods, but humans fearfully and wonderfully made. (Sayers, Mark. Disappearing Church: from Cultural Relevance to Gospel Resilience. Moody Publishers, 2016.)

It is easy to find fault with a pastor or church, but unless fault-finders commit to fellowship in obedience to Jesus Christ the logs in their own eyes often remain.  Church is a place to be fed, to serve, and to seek the LORD in humility with others who are born again, love, and trust Jesus.  A new venture of faith may not be leaving a church but actually committing to serve Jesus there without longing for something different.  Labour to promote health in the Body of believers where God has placed you; you be the salt and light Jesus has called you to be.  Should a member of Christ's Body remain in self-imposed exile because church doesn't measure up to the ideals of an imperfect person?  If we will use God's Word as our guide, there is infinite room to extend love, grace, patience, mercy, and compassion to others with joy.

The "Special Trip"

When it comes to ministry, the fantasy of efficiency can become an idol.  We prefer quick, easy, and painless over the alternatives.  But scripture portrays God's ways as being very different to our ideals.  We are sanctified by Jesus Christ and then we are called to embrace our sanctification for our entire lifetime.  It is natural for us to desire to speed up the process even as a small child wants to be an adult:  like they have their own reasons which sound strange or odd to us, I wonder if our reasons sound just as ridiculous before God.

In a bid to save time and energy, it is natural for us to consolidate our trips.  On our way home from work or church we might drop by the shops to buy milk so we don't need to make a "special trip" later.  Whilst we are at the shops we might also withdraw money from the ATM for a future purchase or return an item that has been sitting in our car for a week with the receipt.  Having to make a "special trip" (even when we don't have to go far and have ready transport) is often viewed by those who strive for efficiency as an inconvenience, a product of poor planning, a bummer to be avoided.

I wonder if our requests of God in prayer most often aim towards our ends of ease and consolidation.  We don't want to go through the trouble of doctors, specialists, or surgery:  heal us now God!  We don't want to see our children struggle and fail, nor do we want them to experience the consequences of personal sin, so we insert ourselves into their lives to relieve pressure.  We imagine how God could or should redeem an apparent difficulty or trial, figuring what better way could God use it than by changing hearts, bringing salvation, restoring broken hearts and families, or physical healing that lasts.  Isn't it strange we suggest such things to the Creator of all things, the One who established time and operates out of it, to God who already has an eternal plan for salvation whilst we obsess over a parking spot for lunch?

Though God is always working and redeeming situations beyond our comprehension, I believe He does have a thing for "special trips."  God could have created an earth without seasons, variations of temperature, or chaos--but He didn't.  He allowed people to have wilderness experiences, times of plenty and lack, to be strengthened and then die.  God sent Jesus Christ to come to earth as a human being and be crucified on a Roman cross.  We want quick and easy, but consider how costly was the payment for our atonement and salvation!  How patient God was in waiting thousands of years to fulfill His promise to fallen mankind to send a Saviour!  From the perspective of the flesh life by faith in God is a model of inefficiency and waste, but from the vantage point of faith in God it is an absolutely brilliant, perfect plan.

The next time you are annoyed about having to make a "special trip" or lament the inconvenience of life, consider the inconvenience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It can be presented in a convenient way like an infomercial:  "All you need to do is..." but there is nothing convenient about it.  Jesus made a special trip to put on human flesh and for three decades grew up in a home in Nazareth.  He loved all but was rejected, hated, and betrayed.  He was righteous yet was beaten, scourged, and crucified.  Saving sinners was not a quick or easy fix, nor are there shortcuts to the ultimate glorification of God's redeemed.  Jesus was never in a rush or overwhelmed, and in Him we don't need to be either--even when we have to make a "special trip."

The Certain "May Be"

"Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD'S anger."

Zephaniah 2:3

There is a segment of Bible-believing Christians who tout their authority as children of God by reading passages and "claiming" them because they have appeal--like a person who claims lost property.  It is fine and fitting for Christians to believe the Bible and trust it, but at the same time should realise God has not forgotten His promises, nor is His arm shortened so He cannot save.  If my own forgiveness or salvation rested on my ability to claim anything I would still be hopelessly lost:  it is Jesus who by grace through faith has claimed me.

God's Word is packed with certainties we must believe and expect to see ultimately fulfilled.  But if we will seek righteousness in humility and meekness we will not make demands like a man with legal rights.  When Moses (one of the meekest who ever lived) was challenged by the people, he did not quote Law:  he fell on his face before God.  Jesus walked in meekness and remained silent when He had every right to speak; He did not bristle with threats or ultimatums.  Jesus spoke the truth and committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.  He willingly went to the cross in obedience to God even when there were verses He could have used to justify His self-preservation.

This passage of Zephaniah has what could be called a certain "may be."  God's people faced grave judgment for their sin, and they were exhorted by the prophet to seek the LORD, righteousness, and humility because "...it may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD's anger."  There was no demand placed upon God as if He was slave or lackey to man at his bidding, but it would take faith to humble self meekly before God.  What right do we have as God's slaves to demand anything from Him?  If we were to hear a young child made demands of their parents we would view it as bad manners:  how much more when a person arrogantly approaches the Almighty?

There is a passage in the book of Jonah which bears resemblance to this verse.  After Jonah spoke a message of God's coming judgment to the heathen people of Nineveh, his words reached the ears of the king.  The king believed the word of the prophet and commanded a three-day fast from food and water be observed by all people and animals, and all were to be clothed in sackcloth.  He commanded all people cease from their violence and turn to God.  The king did not quote the Law of Moses but fell upon the mercy of God as Moses when he said in Jonah 3:9:  "Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?"  There was no guarantee, no certainty of salvation.  But there remained hope in God and His great mercy.

It seems today there are some people who presume to know what God will do in a particular situation, yet the king of Nineveh made no such claim.  And guess what?  God responded according to the richness of his mercy and grace--not because the king or people of Nineveh had any right to be spared.  Jonah 3:10 says, "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."  The works of the Ninevites revealed faith in the power of God to bring disaster upon them and also that God could turn it away.  God has spoken, and we ought to place our faith in Him like king Jehoshaphat who reminded God of His promises and concluded with, "There's nothing we can do, so our eyes are upon you." (2 Chron. 20:12)

Better than clamoring for our rights or claiming our authority, we ought to seek the LORD in meekness, to seek righteousness and humility.  This is the person God certainly hears and answers--not the one who proudly speaks presumptuously.