Secret Sins

"But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

- 1 Samuel 16:12

In Romans it mentions that on that day God will judge the secrets of men. In Ecclesiastes 12, it also says that God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. All sin is an assault against God, whether it is done in public or in secret. And God, who beholds even the innermost secrets of the heart, sees our sin clearly, no matter how well we think we have covered it.

I know for me, sinning secretly in the past actually intensifies my guilt, because it adds the sin of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a grave sin in its own right. It also produces guilt, because by definition hypocrisy entails the concealing of sin. And the only remedy for any kind of sin involves uncovering our guilt through sincere confession.

Now by saying secret sin, I am not just talking about lust, although that could be a secret sin that one has, but I more so talking about sins that we do in our private life, that no one knows about. These sins could be anything from gambling, to cheating on a spouse, to pornography, to the ways you think, to how you spend your time, to the secret idols of your heart, and so on...

I think our secret life is the real test of our character. We should all take a hard look at our private life and be honest with ourselves and confess to God and ask for help. Having accountability partners helping us with our secret sins is extremely important as well. History repeatedly proves that our sin will find us out. We will never regret being transparent about this issue. The longer we wait the farther we’ll fall. The sooner we confess, the sooner we’ll find freedom. In James, we are told to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another, that we may be healed. So let us do that.

The Benefits of Affliction

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

- James 1:2-3

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

- James 1:12

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I found the following from an article written by John Newton from back in the day, so it is worded a little funny, but still good.

"Afflictions quicken us to prayer. It is a pity it should be so; but experience testifies, that a long course of ease and prosperity, without painful changes—has an unhappy tendency to make us cold and formal in our secret worship. But troubles rouse our spirits, and constrain us to call upon the Lord in good earnest—when we feel a need of that help which we only can have from his almighty arm.

Afflictions are useful, and in a degree necessary, to keep alive in us—a conviction of the vanity and unsatisfying nature of the present world, and all its enjoyments; to remind us that this world is not our rest, and to call our thoughts upwards, where our true treasure is, and where our heart ought to be. When things go on much to our wish, our hearts are too prone to say, "It is good to be here!" It is probable, that had Moses, when he came to invite Israel to Canaan, found them in prosperity—that they would have been very unwilling to move out of Egypt; but the afflictions they were in—made his message welcome. Thus the Lord, by pain, sickness, and disappointments, by breaking our cisterns and withering our gourds—weakens our attachment to this world, and makes the thought of leaving it, more easy and more desirable.

A child of God cannot but greatly desire a more enlarged and experimental acquaintance with his holy Word; and this attainment is greatly promoted by our trials. The far greater part of the promises in Scripture, are made and suited to a state of affliction; and, though we may believe they are true, we cannot so well know their sweetness, power, and suitableness, unless we ourselves are in a state to which they refer! The Lord says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you." Now, until the day of trouble comes, such a promise is like a city of refuge to an Israelite, who, not having slain a man, was in no danger of the avenger of blood. He had a privilege near him, of which he knew not the use and value—because he was not in the case for which it was provided. But some can say, I not only believe this promise upon the authority of the speaker—but I can set my seal to it! I have been in trouble; I took this course for relief, and I was not disappointed. The Lord truly heard and delivered me. Thus afflictions likewise give occasion of our knowing and noticing more of the Lord's wisdom, power, and goodness, in supporting and relieving us—than we would otherwise have known.

Afflictions evidence to ourselves, and manifest to others, the reality of grace. When we suffer as Christians, exercise some measure of that patience and submission, and receive some measure of these supports and supplies, which the Gospel requires and promises to believers—we are more confirmed that we have not taken up with mere notions; and others may be convinced that we do not follow cunningly devised fables.

Afflictions likewise strengthen us—by the exercise our graces. As our limbs and natural powers would be feeble if not called to daily exertion—so the graces of the Spirit would languish, without something which was provided to draw them out to use."

- John Newton

There Will Be A Day

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:4

I know for me, I have been through things in my life that have caused pain, and been difficult, and there have been times that I have felt like I wanted to give up and there is no hope. But there is a promise that God gives us, of that hope of eternity that there will be no more suffering and no more pain. I know we have all gone through trials and we have all gone through tribulations in our life, but we must remind ourselves it is all part of His plan and His way to work in us.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God."
Romans 8:18-19

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."
Romans 8:25

Making Decisions . . .

For me, I have always been a go with the flow, I am down for whatever, or satisfied with whatever and wherever other people want to go kind of person. Recently, I have been confronted with a few choices needing to be made where being that 'down for whatever' kind of person, isn't going to work.

I have been praying a lot lately that God would help lead me in the right direction. Just a few of these choices consist of what future Job I will take, where will I live come December, and even dealing with a few family issues that I would rather just avoid.

Writing things out has always been the best way for me to study so today while I was on my lunch break at work, I decided to write out a list of decisions needing to be made. It was during that time today that God gave me a peace and a direction on what I needed to do.

When making decisions I think there are a few things we should consider. For starters, our first priority in life must always be to develop an increasingly intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. In our society, we are concerned with accomplishments; what we do, how we perform, what we produce, how busy we are, etc. We may judge the fruitfulness of a pastor's ministry, for example, by the size of his or her church, the number of books written, tapes produced, the presence of a television ministry, etc. Yet Jesus said that all of this doesn't matter unless the person is intimately connected to Him: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:5-6).

Remember that Christ calls us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Mt. 6:33) not to seek what we can do for the kingdom of God. Being rooted in Christ is a fundamental "prerequisite" to finding God's will for us. I will not be ready or able to find the career path He has designed for me unless I am seeking Him first. He calls us to love Him with all of our hearts, mind, soul and strength--and to love others as we love ourselves. The more passionately we are pursuing these callings, the better equipped we will be to hear His voice and to be the person we will need to be in order to do the things God has created us to do.

Being a Christian does not exempt us from the responsibility to become wise decision makers. Therefore, it is our responsibility to use our God-given minds to learn how to make good choices. If you wanted to buy a computer, most likely you wouldn't pray about it and then just walk into a computer super-store and see which computer you felt "led" to buy. Most people would agree that to do so would be foolish. Instead, most people would agree that it's best to research information about the different computers on the market, identify their specific needs, investigate prices at different stores for the computers of most interest, and then make a purchase. Certainly prayer should be a part of the process, but God expects us to do our part in making wise decisions, as well.

Learning how to make decisions is a part of developing wisdom and maturity, both of which God desires for us. The book of Proverbs is full of admonitions about the importance of gaining wisdom to live a life that is pleasing to God. The proverbs are given to us "for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life..." (Prov. 1:1-3). God desires for us to have not only spiritual maturity and wisdom but also wisdom that relates to making decisions in this life.

Living out God's will for your career, life, and your hearts desires will require that you take risks. One thing we must understand is that God doesn't call us to risk-free living, because we wouldn't need to develop our "faith muscles." The typical way God works is to impress upon our hearts and minds a need, a cause, an issue or an interest that we develop a desire to do something about, and then to lead us one step at a time. Jesus' call to His disciples was for them to follow Him, and become fishers of men. They had no idea what was in store for them. When Jesus called the Saul (Paul), He did not reveal to him all that his ministry would entail or require from him.

Learning to take risks is an essential part of following God and living out His will for our lives. Without risks, a person's life becomes a process of digging an ever-deeper rut in which he or she stagnates and cuts himself or herself off from all that God intends life to be. As Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We know that, as God's sons and daughters, we have already won in this life. God calls us to live courageously, to take risks in order to use our gifts and bring light to this hurting world. We must remember we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Thanking God For Trials

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in Nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
James 1:2-8

~THANKING GOD FOR TRIALS~

When days were drear, and nights were filled with piercing doubts and fears,
And life seemed hopeless while I shed an avalanche of tears,
I never thought to thank the Lord for trials that I faced,
Or felt the need to praise Him for the strength my heart embraced.

But after all the clouds were past, and calm restored once more,
And Jesus seemed to hold me closer than He did before,
I finally looked in retrospect, without a jaundiced eye,
And found a host of answers to the puzzling question, "Why?"

Those bitter days increased my faith, and drove me to my knees,
And gave me hope, as Jesus listened to my heartfelt pleas.
I felt His love in ways that I had never known before,
And found that I was hungering to get to know Him more.

Then from the ashes I arose with burning strong desire
To share His love with all I met, and build in them a fire,
So they could also know the joy that follows endless pain,
And how God's rainbow full of hope is sure to follow rain.

And now when storm clouds threaten to destroy my peace and rest,
I bow my head and thank the Lord for knowing what is best.
And I remember all the trials I never understood,
And how God worked them all together, only for my good.

Waiting for God's timing

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate…

and the Master so gently said, “Wait.”
“Wait? You say wait?” my indignant reply.

“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming Your word.
My future and all to which I relate hangs in the balance and You tell me to “Wait?” I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign.

Or even a ‘no’, to which I’ll resign.
You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:

I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

as my Master replied again, “Wait.”

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,

and grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…for what?”
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine…

and He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.

You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.

You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint.

You’d not know the Power that I give to the faint.
You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

you’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.

You’d not know the joy of resting in Me

when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You’d never experience the fullness of love

when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

but you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,

the faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask

from an infinite God who makes what you have last.
You’d never know should your pain quickly flee,

what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,

but oh, the loss if I lost what I’m doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see

that the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.

For in time of pause, you will surely see my friend
Waiting for desires make them sweeter in the end

And though that My answers seem so terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still ‘WAIT’.”

Flying like and Eagle

So last night before I was going to bed I was going through a box of old cassette tapes that my mom had sent me that she found in my room. Some were books on tape (since my mom could not get me to read as a kid she would buy books on tape for me :p), some were tapes of me singing and playing music, and some were just random tapes from who knows where they came from. One tape however, which happened to be the last tape I listened to, was a recording of a prophetic word I received from someone at a conference called Xtreme back in 2004 I believe.

In part of the word he gave me he said this, "....God has given you wings to fly Nick. Do not run like a wolf and rely on your own strength, but spread your wings and soar like an eagle."

I remember that year at Xtreme when he told me that, and I remember after I wasn't too sure exactly what he meant. Now it makes perfect sense.

Me being an aminal lover, happen to know a few things about them. One thing I just happen to know is that eagles can tell when a storm is coming and when a storm is coming, they go to some high spot to wait for it. It will set its wings so the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm higher and higher.

Well.... when the storms of life come into our life, we can (and should), rise above them by turning our hearts and minds to God and we can let God lift us above the storms . It's not the burdens of life that weigh us down, its how we handle them. If we hold onto our troubles, and burdens, and our hearts desires they can become an anchor that weighs us down to the point we can't move. Or we can give them over to God, and put our trust in him.