Polly Want a Plant?

One of my favorite movies, Pixar's Wall-E, where one little plant becomes a huge hope.

I feel like sometimes I am just a parrot, repeating things that others have spoken faithfully into my life.

Thankfully, this is not a bad thing!

Growing up one of my favorite bands was Newsboys. One of their songs, “Stepping up to the microphone” has a line that says:

“I say hello
To anyone who's listening
The message ain't nothing new
I don't decide what's true.”

The story of Jesus doesn’t change. People, especially in the “Christian Culture” are looking for the newest revelation, the coolest new song, the hippest new message. Sadly, this becomes their pursuit instead of the pursuit of their relationship with Christ. So if your coming to my blog for the newest thing in Christian culture, I’m sorry but you are going to be gravely disappointed.

Recently, I’ve been going 100 miles an hour with work and volunteering. It’s been exhausting. But having God work through my life and seeing the miracles that have happened has been amazing. I’ve recently had the privilege of talking to one survivor of human trafficking that sought us out and wants to help others like her. We put a call out for musical instruments for our safe house and God provided a piano!

However, I’m starting to get to the point where I don’t know if I can give any more of myself. I feel like I’m giving and giving and giving. On the inside, I feel like a used rag that keeps cleaning up messes.

Then I see a tweet from Christine Caine, “When you ask God to use you, don’t complain when you feel used!”

Touché Mrs. Caine. Excellent point. I did ask God to use me and I am super excited that He has!

However, the way God has used me has been much different than I anticipated. Thankfully, I’m normal. God’s grace and plan for our lives usually looks different than what we expect. I was reading John chapter 12 today. Jesus dines at the table of Lazarus (whom he raised from the dead) with his sisters Martha and Mary. Mary, moved by Jesus’ love and affection for her, took a pound of expensive ointment and poured it on Jesus’ feet. She then proceeded to wipe his feet with her hair. Many, including the man who eventually betrayed Jesus, were appalled at this action. They said, “This ointment could be sold to raise money for the poor.” But Jesus called them out on their lust for money and prestige rather than their compassion for the poor.

How many of us in ministry think that the only way we can reach people is to have an event or a fundraiser? Then, we use the "success" of our event or fundraiser to give us the prestige or honor we feel we deserve in the Christian community. All that ends up happening is we create a "formula" to ministry and if an idea doesn’t fit, we immediately strike it down. Then we never reach people who eagerly await to hear about the love of Christ they have been searching for!

Mary was showing her love for Jesus and didn’t care if it fit a formula or what people thought of her. Ironically, when we reach out to women in brothels as a part of our ministry, feet washing has been the key to getting in the door in the first place and showing love to these women. Jesus don’t exist inside the box. We, in ministry, shouldn’t confine ourselves to it either. We are creative beings by design and we should also be creative and open minded in how we minister to others.

Hawk Nelson says it well in a song called “Outside the Lines:”

"Don't worry, you'll do just fine.
Our God is working all of the time.
And when the sun comes up,
You'll see He paints outside the lines.
He paints outside the lines."

I’ll conclude with this. Jesus frequently used parables, metaphors and the like to get the lesson across. Later in John 12, he talks about a grain of wheat. Essentially, a seed. He says in verses 24-26, that a grain of wheat has the potential to become a plant and bear much fruit. However, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it will remain alone. But if it does fall into the Earth and die, it will make many more seeds which can also have the potential to bear much fruit.

However, biologically speaking, the seed has to actually die in order to transition from a seed to a plant. If the seed isn’t in the right soil, it will never have the opportunity to die. Unless the seed dies, it will never become a plant. Unless the plant gets the nutrients it needs, it will never produce fruit. If it never produces fruit, there will never be another wheat plant.

We have heard of this process a million times both in biology class and the church. We are created as humans to have the ability to produce fruit of the Spirit that overflows into others who need it. However, unless we die to ourselves and our pride and be transformed by the love of Christ, we will never have the ability to transition from a seed to a plant. Unless we take care of ourselves spiritually as well as physically, we will never grow. If we never grow, we will never produce new fruit and give others the ability to transition from seeds to plants.

Unless we put ourselves through the process of being used by God, we will never see the greatness and the glory of Christ. God never works the same way. We should never put a boundary or a box around how God can work. And when other people are eating the fruit we produce and learning about God, we should smile and know God is using us to reach others.

And that’s what it’s all about. :)

God on a Motorcycle

Hi everyone! Congrats on making it to hump day!



Makes me laugh every time!!!

So I went to the mall a last weekend and as I'm waiting at the light to turn into the mall, the guy on a motorcycle pulls up behind me. I look up expecting some buffed up, terminator looking guy, clean cut with sunglasses and leather everywhere. So I was shocked when the guy, albeit very fit, had a ginormous beard...duck dynasty style. He also just had on a T-shirt and jeans with boots. But seriously people, if you looked at his face you would have sworn he had just stepped out of the picture of God painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel...he looked exactly like him! So I started laughing because in my mind, this was God on a motorcycle, which didn't seem to go together at first in my head.

But, if we take a step back, why should that seem like such a weird juxtaposition? If we say that God is with us, that means that He is here, in this world, with all it's good, bad and ugly sides with us. Why would it be so weird to have God riding a motorcycle with you or go to the mall with you, or go to the gym with you. I have no problem thinking this because for me, God going with me is always a comforting truth that I cling to when I travel anywhere (I have a ton of fear issues, haven't I told you?). Perhaps my imaginary friends growing up conditioned me to being accustomed with an invisible being following me around all the time.

However, I have found that this is a hard thing for some people to remember on a daily basis. They think about God being with them and they go, "Wow! That's amazing! I had never thought of that before!" Some people, I've noticed, actually get concerned about God going with them everywhere. I believe is a manifestation of the fear that things they do when nobody else is around are not quite as secret as they thought.

Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of thought here, whether this is old news for you or a disturbing reminder, I hope you remember that God loves you no matter what. One of the best things about God is that you don't have to clean up before you come and meet Him. He already knows everything, you won't shock him. Instead He takes you up and not only spares you from what you deserve (death) but he gives you what you don't deserve (life abundantly). THAT is something worth sharing!

Everlasting God

One of my favorite songs is "Everlasting God" written by none other than my church back home, Fellowship. It is one of those songs I love to belt out in the car and no matter where I land on the mood spectrum, that song always makes it go up!

I was reminded on many of my runs recently that God is really everlasting. Recall if you will, your history classes. Remember Abraham Lincoln or James Bowie or [insert favorite historical character]. We could even go back further and talk about people in the Bible. Moses, David, Adam, Abraham, Rahab...you name it! I know surely I am speaking for myself (wink, wink), but I tend to almost raise these people to an elevated platform. I remember only the good things these people have done so I think of them as these heroes that  did amazing things.

Let's take George Washington for example.


This is what Wikipedia has to say:

1st President of the United States
In office April 30, 1789[nb] – March 4, 1797
Vice President	John Adams
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	John Adams
Senior Officer of the Army
In office July 13, 1798 – December 14, 1799
Appointed by	John Adams
Preceded by	James Wilkinson
Succeeded by	Alexander Hamilton
Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army
In office June 15, 1775 – December 23, 1783
Appointed by	Continental Congress
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Henry Knox (Senior Officer of the Army)
Delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Virginia
In office May 10, 1775 – June 15, 1775
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Thomas Jefferson
Delegate to the First Continental Congress from Virginia
In office September 5, 1774 – October 26, 1774
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	February 22, 1732 Westmoreland, Virginia, British America
Died	December 14, 1799 (aged 67) Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	Washington Family Tomb Mount Vernon, Virginia
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Martha Dandridge Custis
Religion	Deism[1] Episcopal[2]
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Great Britain United States
Service/branch	Virginia provincial militia Continental Army United States Army
Years of service	Militia: 1752–1758 Continental Army: 1775–1783 U.S. Army: 1798–1799
Rank	Lieutenant general General of the Armies (posthumous: 1976)
Commands	Virginia Colony's regiment Continental Army United States Army
Battles/wars	French and Indian War  • Battle of Jumonville Glen  • Battle of Fort Necessity  • Braddock Expedition  • Battle of the Monongahela  • Forbes Expedition American Revolutionary War  • Boston campaign  • New York and New Jersey campaign  • Philadelphia campaign  • Yorktown campaign
Awards	Congressional Gold Medal Thanks of Congress

Talk about a resume! So with all this experience and prestige he had behind him (hello...first President of the United States) I thought that this would have given him the confidence to deal with anything in life. 

However, someone made a new billboard. I run by it now all the time. I have no idea who made it, but I like it. It has a picture of George Washington kneeling in the sand saying, "Lord, I trust in you. Guide my in your ways." The quote is from his journal that he kept the winter he was stationed at Valley Forge.

God was there for George Washington when he needed to ask God for guidance. George Washington had difficulties. He had pit days. He was faced with history altering situations that I am sure caused a great deal of stress. And who did he go to for help? Jesus Christ.

Jesus has been comforting and leading people all through history. He is timeless. He is EVERLASTING. People in history (including your favorite historical figure) have experienced many of the same feelings you are now and God helped them when they asked. 

I have been recently been listening to Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (talk about MY favorite historical figure). He talks about how when it comes to moral standards, we typically hold everyone else to high standards but relax them when it comes to ourselves because we give ourselves excuses on why we don't apply to the moral standards.  We have an inside scoop on us. We're tired, hungry, busy, have more important things to do, whatever and so we don't have to extend the same courtesies that are expected from everyone else.

This thinking happens in our view of God too. We see God helping people and changing their lives, past or present. But because we know our inward sin and understand the full extent of our depravity we say that God cannot do the same in our lives as He does in others. This is a lie. 

The problem we have with everyone else is that we don't see the behind the scenes. When it comes to dealing with others, we don't see that someone is tired or dealing with stressful situations and so we get mad when they don't say hi or cut us off on the highway. When it comes to historical figures, we don't get the stories of internal struggles in our schools. We hear and get tested just on the results of those inward struggles. When it comes to God working in the lives of those around us, we don't fully understand their deepest darkest secrets and so we say, "God can't help me. I've gone too far in my sin. My life is too much of a mess."

My question is why CAN'T God do the same for you? When we find out that a stranger is dealing with cancer we treat them differently and give grace to them when they snap at us after a chemo treatment. When we find out that George Washington himself bowed a knee to God in his most difficult situations it changes our view of him from an elevated platform to a position that looks much more like our own. When someone opens up and shares about the full extent of their past, it allows us to understand they aren't much different then ourselves and there might be a chance that God can use and change us too.

The truth is, God can do anything. God is everlasting. The almighty. He was the beginning and He will be the end. God used the broken and "too far gone" people all throughout history. I found this pin on Pinterest and I wanted to share:

Talk about the unlikely being used by God! However, God wants to use you BECAUSE you have your problems. He wants to take them and transform them in a way only God can. God wants to show the world Himself through your deepest fears, insecurities and failures. Don't discount them. Give them to God. Then, watch what amazing stuff He does next!

Why The Biggest Loser Is My Favorite TV Show

I admit. I have loved TV my entire life. It's something that I have had a love/hate relationship with as I try to juggle productivity with sitting on the couch enjoying a TV show. Plus, being honest, there isn't a lot being produced out there that is actually worth my time.

But there is one TV show that I must credit my roommate and long time friend Ashley for introducing me to. It had been on for a few years at that point and I was a little put off by the title. Biggest Loser? That seems really demeaning to me. But she finally got me to sit down and watch it with her and it it has gone from the "Never want to see it" category to "One of my favorites."

Sidenote. There are people and situations involved with the show where I don't necessarily agree with personal lifestyles or methods. But I'm not here to talk about that. Just like I don't want people to look into my own personal life and talk trash based on their own opinions, I'm not going to do the same to anyone else.

What I love about the show is that they show us people who are faced with a challenge. This challenge can be mental, emotional, spiritual but no matter what it manifests itself in their weight. People look down on others who try to drown their problems with alcohol or drugs but nobody talks about the abuse of food as a means to try to drown out emotional and spiritual pain. But that is what is happening. And the scary part is, they are showing us people who are just like us. We all have personal pains, frustrations and hang ups that we either decide to overcome or cower in fear from.

Then what they do on the show is not just teach the contestants about what it takes to be physically healthy, but they force them to face their pains and hang ups and deal with them. The process is dramatic, messy, gross at times and confrontational. Everybody loves watching Jillian, Bob and Dolvett kicking butt.

But there is a reason why we love the finale. The transformation is amazing.

We finally get to see the amazing difference both physically and emotionally achieved by the contestants. The beauty of it, all you have to do is watch what you eat and WORK OUT. No magic! But we all know that is much easier said than done. And so we watch these people on TV and we think, "I wish I could accomplish that" because we know how hard it is!

It was actually a moment just like this where I was watching a previous season posted on Netflix, and the last four contestants were all running a marathon. Ada, a small amazing Asian woman who I looked up to through the show got on the screen and said something to the effect, "You can do this too."

This is when I go, "Yea right."

I start thinking in my head. Yes, I love to run. Yes, I would love to run a marathon. However, I can't go for a long time. I was that kid in P.E. wheezing with asthma and could barely run around the gym. I would constantly get passed by the faster kids. Even today, I can barely keep running for up for one minute. Much less the 4-6 hours it takes to complete a marathon. You had Bob Harper to help you. I got nobody and no time.

This little voice came into my head, "Really Maddie? What about me?"

It was then I realized I was in trouble.

Truth is, I got God. God is the man. He made my body. He made my heart, lungs, legs, mind. He knows me better than I know myself. He's like, the best personal trainer anyone could ask for! He than told me, "I gave you all the things you need to run a marathon. There is nothing different about you than anyone else. What is holding you back is that you are afraid of failure so you are not going to even try."

Ouch.

Then God said, "I want you to run a marathon."

Say what?

So I know you are probably thinking I'm crazy at this point, saying to the world, "God wants me to run a marathon." But it's true. Here's the thing. He's not asking me to quit anything that I have been doing. I'm still doing my job, I'm still hanging with my husband, hanging out with friends and family. I'm not doing this to say, "Hey, look how cool I am." I'm doing it to be obedient to God and through it He is showing me how much I am capable of doing.

I started out in August just running 30 seconds every five minutes. I found a great training program that increased my running time each day. After four months of training, crying, anxiety, asthma and anger, I just ran for a full hour last Friday. I went a whole five miles. I had to get in the shower quick to take care of my asthma that was flaring up. And while in the shower and cried. I never thought I could do that. I never in my life thought that I could run that long, think it was fun, struggle at the end and still make it past my goal. I never thought I could. But I did. All because I was obedient to a call and put in the work to make it there.

I have faced my fears on this journey. I've understood I've let fear reign for too long in my life. I've let laziness keep me from doing things I wanted to. I've realized I held onto things that were keeping me from bigger and better things down the road. I've been blessed on this journey to have my husband right along side me and we have faced some of my biggest fears together (like needles!) and in the process have begun to live healthier lives. 

Am I near to a marathon? Not yet. But I'm closer than I was back in September. So as my 10K comes up and the new season of the Biggest Loser starts I watch with tears as some new people start on a journey so much like my own and I have become very reflect-ful (can you tell?) about all that God has done in my life. I also find it fitting that my 10K at the end of the month is being held by none other...than the Biggest Loser.

So here I am. I'm on the flip side. I used to be that girl on the treadmill feeling stupid for trying to run a minute while the girl next to me was at minute 20. I used to think, "I could never do that." And now I'm the girl on the treadmill turning to the person next to me trying to run a minute and saying, "You can do this."

And I'm not just talking about running. 

Dicipline

This week has been a blessing and a challenge all at once. Jared and I have finally gotten some time to actually sit and enjoy talking together without too much chaos (when Duchess is around, there is always chaos). But just as that small moment passed, it was gone again with the whirlwind of work and things to do.

It's also been difficult to find the motivation to go running. I'm sorry, but 45 minutes is a long time! Sunday we were exhausted from the weekend. But we still went running...through the Christmas lights! We went through the neighborhood and saw all the pretty houses all decorated. Tuesday was the same. We went a little bit on a different route, which ended up going right through sprinkelers, but we had fun and ran the entire way.

Yesterday was difficult. I woke up not feeling well (and we all know how little it takes for me to not feel well) but I needed to get some work done and still be on time for my commitment for Redeemed. So my run got pushed back to after work...9:30 pm. UGGGGGG. It's too late to go running outside so that left me doomed to the treadmill.

I seriously considered not going. After all, I was tired, hungry and hurt from the day before. But I knew that if I didn't do this run, my run on Friday was going to be that much harder. Plus, I was stressed out about work, so a run was what I needed to get all that negative energy out.

So 45 minutes later on the treadmill I finally ended my run. Not going to lie, it was a different experience. I ran the ENTIRE WAY. I out ran people that started after me. There was a person who came, ran beside me for 10 minutes, got off, came back and ran again. When they left, I was still running. My biggest obsticle while running wasn't my body (for the first time)...it was my mind. I was SO BORED. But I found distraction between all 10 TV's in front of me and jammed out to my music until the very end. When I was done, I felt better than when I started. I felt like I had accomplished something. Plus, I realized that I had become "that person" from my days in high school. I would go to the YMCA, see people jogging for a long time on the treadmill and I could barely do two minutes. I would get so jealous of them. Now I had become what I had previously envied. All it took was some hard work and dicipline.

Many times in our spiritual walk with Christ, we tend to judge our walk to everyone elses. I used to envy people who were "more spiritual" on the outside than me. I still sometimes envy people who lead large ministries and have more resources than I have. But what we have to realize is that we all have access to the same Savior. He wants us to all expeirence His grace, His love and His amazing plan He has for us on Earth. But instead of working so hard to make whatever we want to happen on our own, we should be working hard to get to know Him on a personal level. We should acknowledge that He knows the inner depths of our beings, no matter how hard we try to hide our deepest secrets. We should try to get to know as much as we can the depth and breath of His love. Because even a little glimpse of that can change our lives.

Why do we memorize scripture, read our Bibles or go to church? They aren't a checklist to say "I'm spiritual." They are obedience tools, or a "training plan" that God gives us so that we can grow to be more like Him. That's what we are training for right? Our whole exsistance is to glorify His love to the world around us that so desparately needs it. Plus, we feel so much better after a mini talk with God, kind of like we feel after we have a good workout.

So the next time you are tempted to not go to church, read your Bible or spend time with Him, remember that it's not a "have to." Rather, it's a "get to." We get to "train" our brains to know Him better and live out His love in our lives. The more you obediently follow the training program He's given us, the more He is going to reveal Himself in your life.

Then fasten your seat belts kids. Once that happens, it's going to be a wild ride.

Submission

Jeremiah. I do not know a lot about him but I’ve been learning! That’s why today’s blog is about Jeremiah and the word he had from the Lord.

I have been going through the chronological Bible and boy, am I making some connections I haven’t made before! There was a section of last week where I had missed a bunch of days of reading. So thanks to the ESV and YouBible people, I listened to the scripture that I hadn’t read yet on my way to work. The section I was on was Jeremiah. What was really cool is that I was able to hear all the chapters as one and I found an amazing story indeed!

I’m going to start in chapter 18, since that’s where I started in my car.

The Lord gives Jeremiah a vision of a potter. Verse 4 says “but the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.”

It continues, “Then the Lord gave me this message, “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, run down, and destroyed, but that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would? ... Say to them this is what the Lords says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.”

I love that visual! The Lord can make good things out of bad even if the process sometimes hurts and takes a while. What we are about to find out is that Israel goes under such a process.

In chapter 26, the Lord tells Jeremiah that he needs to stand in front of the Temple of the Lord and make an announcement to everyone there. What I find really important is that He tells Jeremiah to “Give them my entire message; include every word.” (Jeremiah 26:2b) Then goes on to say, “Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour our on them because of their sins.” (Jeremiah 26:3)

Even before the Lord tells His people about his plans for their destruction, He is already hoping He doesn’t have to do it! I think we can all identify with not wanting to discipline our children, but we are willing to if we have to for their benefit!

So what does He say? “Tell them that the Lord says, ‘You must obey me! You must live according to the way I have instructed you in my laws. You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again. But you have not paid any attention to them. If you do not obey me, then I will do to this temple what I did to Shiloh. And I will make this city an example to be used in curses by people from all the nations on the earth.’” (Jeremiah 26:4-6)

Ouch. Tough parenting. But in order to make a new pot the old pot has to be destroyed right?

But the crowd responded in typical bad behavior fashion:

“Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people. All at once some of the priests, the prophets, and the people grabbed him and shouted, ‘You deserve to die!’” (Jeremiah 26:8)

All I can say is, “Run Jeremiah, run!”

However, the Lord took care of Jeremiah. Long story short, the people did not kill Jeremiah.

But King Jehoiakim was much different. The prophet Uriah was telling people the same thing and the king killed him. Not looking too good for Jeremiah or the people of Israel.

So now some Biblical history! In 2 Kings chapter 24 we find out that Babylon invaded the land of Judah and King Jehoiakim surrendered to King Nebuchadnezzar and paid tribute to him for three years. However, he then rebelled. When he rebelled, Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders destroyed Judah (just like the Lord promised!) and Jehoiakim died. His son Jehoiachin became the next king (verse 6). He however, did evil in the sight of the Lord just like his dad and he only lasted three months! King Nebuchadnezzer came up and besieged Jesrusalem and King Jehoiachin surrendered.

So Jerusalem was destroyed, just like Jeremiah had told the people at the temple. King Nebuchadnezzar exiled 7,000 of the best troops and 1,000 craftsman and artisans who were fit for war (verse 16). King Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Zedekiah (formerly Mattanhiah) king. But as war continued, there was a lot of talk amongst the people to rebel against the Babylonians and regain their city back. King Zedekiah was caught between the will of his people and the will of the king who appointed him king of Judah!

Now back to Jeremiah, chapter 27.

The Lord tells Jeremiah to fasten a yoke to himself and send messages to the kings that have come to see King Zedekiah in Jerusalem (verse 3). This is what the Lord said:

“Charge them to give their masters a message from me. Tell them, ‘The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says to give your masters this message. “I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit. I have at this time placed all these nations of yours under the power of my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made all the wild animals subject to him. All nations must serve him and his son and grandson until the time comes for his own nation to fall. Then many nations and great kings will in turn subjugate Babylon. But suppose a nation or a kingdom will not be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Suppose it will not submit to the yoke of servitude to him. I, the Lord, affirm that I will punish that nation. I will use the king of Babylon to punish it with war, starvation, and disease until I have destroyed it. So do not listen to your prophets or to those who claim to predict the future by divination, by dreams, by consulting the dead, or by practicing magic. They keep telling you, ‘You do not need to be subject to the king of Babylon.’ Do not listen to them, because their prophecies are lies. Listening to them will only cause you to be taken far away from your native land. I will drive you out of your country and you will die in exile. Things will go better for the nation that submits to the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon and is subject to him. I will leave that nation in its native land. Its people can continue to farm it and live in it. I, the Lord, affirm it!”’” (Jeremiah 27:4-11)

Whoa!! That’s a big command from the Lord! Just like the clay submitted in the hand of the potter, the Lord wanted his people to submit to the authority God has placed over them or they would be destroyed! The Bible goes on to say that this was the same message to King Zedekiah. So the question is, did Zedekiah listen?

The Bible says that he didn’t listen (chapter 37 verse 2) but he called for Jeremiah and asked Jeremiah “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.” This makes me laugh. I feel like he did what many of us do today. We know we are not in the will of God, but we ask Him to bless our plans anyways. The Lord tells Jeremiah “The king of Judah set you to ask me what is going to happen. Tell him ‘Pharaoh’s arm is about to return to Egypt, though he came here to help you. Then the Babylonians will come back and capture this city and burn it to the ground.’”

How’s that for a direct answer?

Long story short, Jeremiah gets arrested on false charges. The king gives him special treatment as a prisoner. In my opinion (and I may be wrong) I think it’s because he believes Jeremiah. But deep down, he likes the idea of being a sovereign king. He likes the idea of being in control and calling the shots. However, he is having to conduct a war in a city that is low on morale and food. Letting his troops hear that they are going to lose doesn’t do much for them wanting to fight to save their city and make him king over it.

There comes a point where Zedekiah and Jeremiah have a heart to heart. Jeremiah has been in prison and the city is under siege. The king asks Jeremiah “I want to ask you something and don’t hide the truth” (chapter 38 verse 14). He asks what the Lord would have him do in this situation. Jeremiah tells him, “If you surrender to the Babylonian officers, you and your family will live, and the city will not be burned down. But if you refuse to surrender, you ill not escape! This city will be handed over to the Babylonians and they will burn it to the ground.”

I think this is an amazing point in King Zedekiah’s life! God is in the midst of bringing the destruction he promised on Jerusalem but he is giving the king one more chance. The Lord has already said it is his will for all nations to be subjects under Babylon and those who surrender will remain in their native lands and will live. Those who don’t will be destroyed. Surrendering to Babylon is equivalent to surrendering to the will of God, and this is the choice that King Zedekiah has at this moment!

Unfortunately, Zedekiah didn’t surrender. He said, “But I am afraid to surrender. For the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!” What is also not stated is that he would have to give up the dream of being a sovereign king and being in control.

Zedekiah was more afraid of what people would do to him rather than what the Lord would do through him. Because of his unwillingness to put his trust in the Lord, the Babylonians destroyed his family and Jerusalem. The very thing Zedekiah was afraid of happening if he surrendered happened because he didn’t surrender. The Bible tells us him and his family went through a gruesome and traumatic death.

While this is a very sad story in Zedekiah, the amazing thing is, God still brought about his glory through the Israelites. They were crushed just like the clay in the dream Jeremiah had under Babylon for a number of years. But the Lord reformed the pot and brought them back to their land to rebuild (details on that is a whole ‘nother blog). God still showed his glory to the nations and transformed the people of Israel though the reign of the Babylonians.

What should also be stated is you have that choice too. God is telling you to do something right now. I don’t know what it is. It may seem hard. It may be uncomfortable. But what you don’t realize is He has a plan for you and he wants you to fulfill it and see God’s glory shine in your life to those around you! What it takes however, is submission to the process. Being reformed into the person Jesus has planned for you isn’t easy.

This story taught me that yes, the process is hard. But I cannot let the fear I have had in my life keep me from surrendering to the process. I am going to have to give up control of a few things. But I hold onto the promise that God has that He has a future for me if I look for Him wholeheartedly.

I’m willing to do it and I have already begun the process. The question is, are you?