Listening to God; September 6, 2022

Posted on September 10, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 85:8 I will listen to what God the Lord will say;
he promises peace to his people, his saints–
but let them not return to folly.

This verse starts with an extremely wise position: listening to God. The Japanese expresses it as a desire: “I want to hear what the Lord God will declare.” We have a bad tendency not to listen when God tells us stuff, and it’s recorded in the Bible all the way back to the Garden of Eden. I bring this point up frequently in sermons, but if we want to hear God, we need to start with the commitment to obey whatever He says to us. The latter part of this verse deals with that, saying, “let them not return to folly.” I think just about everyone has experienced being corrected by God, and then we turn around and do whatever it was again. That is certainly the height of foolishness! At the same time, we often fail to include ourselves  in “God’s people, His saints.” The terminology here is perfectly in line with New Testament usage, where Paul consistently refers to all believers as saints. We tend to feel the term implies perfection, when Biblical usage flat doesn’t do that. We aren’t saints because of what we have done or not done, but because of what God has done for and declared about us. He says we’re saints, and that settles it! The flip side of that is that even saints have the tendency to “return to folly,” and we are not to do that. Every child of every parent does foolish things at times, but that doesn’t make them any less children of their parents. On the human level that shouldn’t be surprising, because there’s no such thing as a parent who hasn’t been foolish, in their own childhood or recently. We cannot rely safely on our own “wisdom,” because doing so will quickly demonstrate it’s not wisdom at all. We all need to take Proverbs to heart: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6) That’s why we need to listen to God!

This is certainly the story of my life. I’ve “returned to folly” more times than I could count! As is said frequently in politics, the coverup is worse than the crime. When I blow it I need to be completely open and honest about it, rejecting excuses even in my own heart. That’s not easy! I like to “maintain the façade” as much as anyone, but I have learned, both from Scripture and from experience, that’s not the wisest course. I have felt for a long time that Proverbs 3:5-6, quoted above, and James 1:22, about deceiving yourself, were written expressly for me. They were written for millions of other people as well, but they were certainly written for me! I have found that intellectual conceit is one of the biggest obstacles to hearing God correctly, and I’ve got plenty of that! However, by God’s grace I also have a strong desire to hear and obey Him, and He’s still working on me to straighten me out.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your incredible patience with me over the years. Help me never be satisfied with my current level of growth, but keep pressing in for more of You, more of Your Spirit, so that I may be more like Your Son indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Provision; September 5, 2022

Posted on September 9, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 81:10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

I can’t read this verse without remembering the story of the dentist who took the last part out of context and posted it on the wall of his clinic! God certainly wasn’t talking about filling teeth in this verse!  Jokes aside, the context of this verse is the admonition to listen to God alone, and not to other gods. God is reminding Israel of His power by speaking of the Exodus, and then He tells them He will meet their needs. Back then, people were in danger of starving to death because of climate, because no rain meant no crops and thus no food, whereas today the biggest reason for starvation is politics, since modern transportation makes it possible to transfer foodstuffs around the world. The big focus of a lot of religions back then was actually weather, pleading with deities for rain in season, and God is reminding His people that’s no problem for Him, if they would just listen to Him and be obedient. This has been a continuing issue throughout history. Jesus famously addressed it with, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) If we keep our focus on God and what He wants us to do, we have no worries about our needs being met.

This is something I have known from childhood, but the level of my “seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness” has certainly been variable. I was sharing with people just yesterday how our financial income level has generally been so low we haven’t had to pay income tax, but God has provided abundantly, often in ways that didn’t interest the IRS. I deal with people all the time who are anxious about their supply. I try to point them to God, but most often they can’t seem to believe He is like He is. I am to live my life as an example to all who see me, seeking to help them understand that God is indeed no respecter of persons, playing favorites, (Acts 10:34) but is gracious to all who turn to Him in truth. My prayer is that more and more people would repent and believe, opening their heart to receive God’s provision of salvation and everything else.

Father, You know my heart, and how You have transformed it to be more and more like Your own. I am indeed far more concerned with the salvation of those around me than I used to be. Thank You. You indeed “work in me to will and to do Your good pleasure!” (Philippians 2:13) I ask that You work through me by Your Spirit to bring more and more to repentance and faith, for a massive increase in Your family, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Focus; September 4, 2022

Posted on September 9, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 71:23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you–
I, whom you have redeemed.

Singing praise to God brings joy. The Psalmist is evidently in a pretty rough situation, but when he shifts his focus to God, the joy returns. I have known for many years that the more we focus on ourselves and our situation, the less joy we have. This is something I consistently tell people who come to me for counseling, but it’s something every human being struggles with. The Psalmist here is reminding himself that God has redeemed him, and that is likewise the source of our joy. We do need enough self-awareness to know from what we have been redeemed, because rough circumstances are a symptom, not the cause. We need to recognize that we are sinful beings, ignoring God and even actively disobeying Him, and only the redeeming work of Christ on the cross gives us an eternal hope. It is when we shift our focus to God and what He has done for us that we are able to receive the joy that He intends for us.

I am in some difficult training in this area at the moment. My wife and I went on Friday to see the surgeon who did her back surgery a few years ago, and he did a nerve block injection to help with her current pain. Sadly, I got up this morning to discover she had a very rough night with pain, having to take a pain pill around 1:30 this morning, indicating the benefit of the very painful injection lasted less than 48 hours. That’s not my pain directly, but my wife and I are indeed one, after over 53 years of marriage, and I would rather bear the pain myself than have her endure it. I find it’s easier to praise God in the middle of my own difficulties that it is to do so in the middle of my wife’s pain. Today being Sunday we have a full schedule, and the challenge is to focus on the reason behind all the things we have to do. That is actually a challenge for every church staff member every Sunday, because the job can obscure the reason for it all. I need to be consciously focused on my marvelous Savior, and not on all the lesser things that vie for my attention. I’m speaking on Guidance this morning, and I must accept and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit whatever that means, and not wallow in self.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that Cathy says her pain is less than when she got up. I pray that You would enable us both to focus on You, trusting You with ourselves, with each other, with this church, and with everything else, so that Your plans may be fulfilled in and through us, or even in spite of us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Emergency Prayers; September 3, 2022

Posted on September 5, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 70:5 Yet I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.

This whole Psalm, though brief, isn’t quite as short as Nehemiah’s “telegram prayer” mentioned in Nehemiah 1:4, but we’ve all been there, needing help and needing it promptly. Just yesterday someone posted on Facebook a picture of a sign that said, “There’s a reason for everything. Sometimes the reason is that you’re stupid and make bad decisions.” That’s all too true! In such cases, God’s reason for allowing it is to help you grow up and make better decisions. That said, God is never mean, and often our greatest need is simple humility, so He allows us to fall flat on our face. That’s a good position for prayer! David had people seeking to kill him many times in his life, and sometimes they were his own children! That came about through his “stupidity and bad decisions” when it came to parenting, but God rescued him anyway. When we come right down to it, God is incredibly patient with us, teaching us the same lessons over and over until we really grasp and apply them. It is entirely appropriate to pray when we are in trouble of any sort, but we need to have teachable hearts, not going through one crisis only to make the same mistakes again.

This certainly applies to me! I have commented many times that if I had been God, I would have squashed me long ago! I have learned, often the hard way, that the time to develop a deep relationship with the Lord is before the crisis hits. Every crisis has indeed deepened my relationship with Him, but it’s the daily listening, with a heart fixed on obedience, that makes the biggest difference. Recently I have had several unexpected opportunities for ministry. If I hadn’t already been “in hearing distance” of the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to meet those opportunities. It’s a truism, but I don’t know what tomorrow holds, or even today, for that matter. Emergency prayers aren’t bad, but I need to be in constant communication with my Lord and not allow anything to panic me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for getting us through the day yesterday, and that the driving went so smoothly to Sasebo and back, despite the downpour as we were leaving the hospital. Thank You that the nerve block seems to be helping Cathy, and that we were informed of other options besides more metal in her back. Thank You for the surprisingly good report from a friend who has cancer. It’s nice to shock doctors that way! Thank You for the various things You have planned for today. Help us recognize them and flow with Your Spirit, not complaining or getting in Your way but allowing You to use us for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Recognizing God; September 2, 2022

Posted on September 5, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.

Several parts of this Psalm have been set to music, but as famous as this verse is, I don’t off hand know a musical setting for it. However, it is memorable nonetheless. We tend to think of God sporadically, on special occasions of one sort or another. However, as this verse says, God is at work on our behalf all the time. There is a poem I have seen many times in a frame, superimposed on a picture of footprints on a sandy beach, that talks about God carrying us through the roughest parts of our lives, but our not recognizing it. That poem is popular because it is so true to experience. Sometimes we feel God’s presence and sometimes we don’t, but that isn’t because He has changed. As God famously said through one of the Levites, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) We often have great difficulty getting quiet enough to recognize His presence. Even so, He daily bears our burdens, even as it says here. Too often we demand feelings, emotions, before we will acknowledge God, not realizing that very demand is what is hiding Him from us. We need to have faith that He is indeed there, caring for us, tending to us, guiding us into His good plan, whatever it might feel like in the moment.

This is a big one, and it’s an area where I’m still growing. I am aware of God probably a good bit more than the average person, but that doesn’t mean I’m sufficiently aware of Him. Part of that is that my physical being can only tolerate so much of Him, but a bigger part is that I am self-centered and easily distracted. I have seen the hell on earth that some people generate from being so self-centered, but I don’t avoid it completely myself. I too need to do better at being still and knowing that He is God. The better I recognize Him, the better I will recognize the countless things He does for me, and the more grateful I will be. And of course, gratitude is the key to happiness. Being self-centered leads to feelings of entitlement and victimhood, and that’s the opposite of happiness.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I am indeed surrounded by countless examples of Your grace toward me. Help me recognize them and give You the thanks and praise You deserve, for my blessing and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Purpose of Blessings; September 1, 2022

Posted on September 4, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 67:1-2 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

The more I read the Bible the more I am impressed that even in ancient times people wanted the whole world to know about God. They had a strong awareness of being the chosen people of God, but the ones who had their heads and hearts on straight wanted everyone to know about Him and His salvation. Sadly, instead of standing firm in that, they tended to copy the very nations they were called to transform by example. I’m reminded of something that has been said about the immediate political situation in the US: “The only way the Republicans can lose in November is to act like Democrats.” Ironically, it looks like several are starting to do that. As Paul famously said, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) The devil is such an effective liar, he often convinces us to abandon the very things that are to save us. Until very recently, America sent out far and away the greatest number of Christian missionaries across the world, but American society in general has too often demonstrated a repudiation of the Gospel. That said, genuine evangelism is always on an individual level. A major reason Billy Graham was so effective was that his life was totally congruent with his message; his integrity spoke as loudly as his words. Like the writer of this Psalm, we are to seek God’s blessings not just for our own sake but so that others may know what kind of God we serve, and be drawn to Him as well.

As a Caucasian with an American passport ministering in Japan, this certainly applies to me. Ever since the end of WWII, and actually before that, the Japanese have had an admiration and envy of America and Americans, but there has been an unfortunate tendency to copy the bad parts more readily than the good. I am not to minister as an American, but rather as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) Every part of my life is to be a testimony of the character of God, demonstrating His power, grace, and love, laying a foundation for the Gospel I proclaim. As Francis of Assisi said, “Preach constantly. When necessary, use words.” It’s nice when people like me, but I’d far rather they fall in love with Jesus. I am greatly blessed, but those blessings aren’t to stop with me, but rather flow through me to others, drawing them to repentance and faith.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the opportunities You’ve given me to minister in the past few days. I pray that everyone with whom I interact would indeed know Your salvation because of what You do for and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Heart Attitude; August 31, 2022

Posted on September 4, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened

This little verse in an anonymous Psalm expresses an important truth. Everyone sins, but how we respond to those sins, our attitude toward them, makes a huge difference. We are all too prone to revel in sin, to “lick our lips” over it, so to speak. I think that cuts us off from God worse than the act itself. The Bible deals a lot with heart attitudes. David messed up big time, but his heart attitude was such that when what he had done was pointed out to him, he repented in truth and made no attempt to defend himself. (Psalm 51) In contrast, we sometimes delight in much lesser sins, not realizing that our delight walls us off from God. Hanging on to unforgiveness, for example, keeps us from receiving God’s forgiveness, (Matthew 6:14-15) and even ridiculing others puts us in danger of the fires of hell. (Matthew 5:22) How many people court that danger unwittingly? As David recognized, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) Heart attitude is everything.

I’ve been on all sides of this issue more times than I could keep track of. I’m grateful to say that at this point I believe I am far more humble before God than I have been in the past, recognizing the magnificence of His grace toward me. I can look back and see countless times that I toyed with temptation, reveling in it, so to speak, even when I didn’t follow through in physical action. If I had been God, I probably would have squashed me then and there! However, God is indeed working in me both to will and to do His good pleasure, (Philippians 2:13) and it gives me peace and joy to see that happening. This principle of heart attitude can be difficult to get across to others if they aren’t spiritually sensitive, so I’ve got to keep praying and depending on the Holy Spirit. He alone can get past the lying barriers the devil sets up to try to keep people from knowing the truth that will set them free. (John 8:32)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the man You brought here yesterday and for what You did in him during that time. I pray that Your words through me would indeed penetrate and stay with him, setting him free indeed. He is very aware that he is currently far from You. Help him realize that all he has to do is turn around, and You are right there. He is getting a taste of hell on earth. Help him repent and believe so that he may receive heaven, on earth and for eternity, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Joy of the Lord; August 30, 2022

Posted on September 1, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 65:8 Those living far away fear your wonders;
where morning dawns and evening fades
you call forth songs of joy.

There is no limit to God, and so no limit to His influence or to how His creation should respond to Him. The NIV says, “Those living far away,” but the Japanese sticks with “The ends of the earth.” It should be noted that that influence is for good. Fear is mentioned, but that is in the form of awe and respect. It’s the “songs of joy” that should catch our attention. Our theme for the readings at this point is “The Joy of the Lord,” and the Bible is certainly filled with it. When we decline His joy, we are really turning our backs on our Creator. As Dennis Prager has said, “You’ll never meet a happy leftist.” That’s certainly not to say that we are to be “happy, happy, happy, joy, joy, joy” all the time, but it is to say that a correct awareness of our Creator and His love for us is a deeply joyful thing. That’s why C. S. Lewis titled his autobiography, Surprised by Joy. Of course there was a pun there, because his wife’s name was Joy and he married late in life, but he was deeply aware of the joy of the Lord, even though he is seen as a very serious person. If you are a committed “sourpuss,” you have no reason to look forward to heaven! Both the Bible and those who have had near-death experiences report that joy is something of a foundation for everything there, so we would do well to get into practice!

Having been born and raised in Japan, I have always latched onto Bible verses that could be seen as referring to Japan, such as this one. After all, Japan has long been called the Land of the Rising Sun. References to islands also ring my chimes, for the same reasons. The idea that God would call forth songs of joy from Japan is deeply exciting to me. I remain convinced that Japan has to be special in God’s plan because the devil has been so reluctant to let go of it. Right now one of the things it’s famous for is a high suicide rate, but I believe God wants to flip that around and make it famous for His joy. I have been planted here as His agent, and that means I must be an agent of joy. That’s not superficial and material, but the deep joy of knowing God’s love and responding to it in repentance and faith. Japan has a terrible track record in terms of responding to the Gospel, but nothing is impossible for God. The idea of God pouring His Spirit out on this nation gives me deep joy indeed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed walk in Your joy even as I look forward to the indescribable joy of being in Your presence for eternity. May I draw more and more people into Your joy, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Timelessness of the Bible; August 29, 2022

Posted on September 1, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 64:10 Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him;
let all the upright in heart praise him!

When I read this Psalm this morning I thought I was reading about modern American politics! I guess this just shows that human nature has been perverted from the beginning, and only the externals change. Our current society would be unrecognizable, certainly magical, to someone from David’s time, but the basic things of the human soul haven’t changed. That’s why the Bible is as relevant today as when it was written, and for that matter, why the US Constitution is as vital today as when it was written. That’s certainly more recent than King David! We keep running into the reality that God is outside of time, so all times are the same to Him. That’s why it is so important that Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) That is recorded right after the Beatitudes, and it’s followed by various passages that intensify things that are stated in the Old Testament. God knew our hearts when He spoke to Moses and the prophets, and He certainly knows our hearts today. That’s why He spoke through Malachi, “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6) He knew what He was getting into when He created us and gave us free will; He’s not surprised by our stupidity. That’s precisely why He caused the Bible to be written: so that we would better understand our own proclivities and know how to stay out of trouble. We can’t avoid trouble completely, because we have to live with everyone else, such as the people David was writing about in this Psalm, but if our focus is on God and walking with Him, we will be blessed indeed. (John 16:33) That’s why we need to keep reading the Bible, regardless of how many times we’ve read it before, to ingrain it in our heart and mind. (Psalm 119:11)

This is an awareness that has grown in me over the years. I guess it’s a sign of maturity! I am not to be surprised at my own failures, much less at the failures of others, but at the same time I’m not to excuse them. I am to remember that God has provided a way out of it all through His Son, and both walk in that way myself and proclaim it to all who will receive it. I am to keep taking in His Word, though I first read through the Bible by the time I was 10. I’m still learning to live it out! I am to keep sharing His truth with those around me as He speaks it to my heart, always confirming it with and grounding it in the Bible. The Holy Spirit is the reliable guide for that. I am to rejoice that He knows me completely, better than I know myself, and likewise rejoice in the privilege of learning to know Him better, looking forward to the time when “I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Father, thank You for Your timeless Word. Thank You for speaking through it to me day by day, drawing me closer to You. Help me be more and more effective in sharing it with others in ways they can receive it, so that they too may be protected from the wiles of the devil and their own foolishness, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Focus on God; August 28, 2022

Posted on August 31, 2022 by jgarrott

Psalm 63:6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

This Psalm speaks beautifully of the blessings of being in a situation where we are forced to depend on God. The preface to this Psalm says he was “in the Desert of Judah,” which is a very dry place indeed, and that means it was when he was being actively pursued by Saul, who wanted to kill him. As has been said, such a situation can really focus your attention! Life can be extremely distracting in many ways, so God allows things to catch up with us sometimes to teach us to fix our focus on Him. Insomnia is a frequent result of accumulated stress, and David had the perfect answer. If he was awake, he would think of God. The devil doesn’t like that, and when we choose that over anxiety, the devil generally gives up and lets us sleep! The next verse very poetically gives the result of that: “I sing in the shadow of your wings.” Letting praise and worship songs run through our heart and mind is a marvelous habit for any time of the day or night!

This is something I experience frequently. I woke up this morning with a worship song running through my mind, but I don’t remember which one it was, because the songs that have been made from this Psalm drove it out! Just a week ago I allowed several minor things to pile up in my heart and mind and I was in very rough shape just as the service was about to begin, and I’m the pastor! Today, however, those issues have been resolved and I am at peace. We are such fragile beings! Whether circumstances seem good or bad, I need to keep my focus on my Creator, my Savior, and allow His Spirit to fill my heart and mind. That is indeed the path of rest and blessing that I am to follow, and to teach others to do likewise.

Father, thank You for Your overflowing grace toward me. Help me appropriate it fully, not taking it for granted but living in constant gratitude and obedience. I ask for clear guidance and anointing as I speak this morning, that each one who hears, in person or electronically, may hear You indeed and be transformed, as You intend and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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