I have heard said that the biggest problem in the church today is that it does know how to differentiate the voice of God and the voice of Satan. I would like to argue that this statement is correct.

We know that Satan is our accuser. He is looking to steal from you, kill your desire, and destroy your life. He hates you. How can the church possible mistake that terrible voice with the loving Father?

Easy, we think they are our voice. Have you ever had thoughts of shame, depression, and unworthiness? Where do they originate? Do you really hate yourself? Does God hate you? No, Satan is the one who hates you. He is the one who wants to see you fail and wants to keep you from walking into all that God has for you.

How do we differentiate between the voice of the enemy and the voice of God? The more we know the character of God; the more we will know His voice. God loves us. God is for us. God believes in us. God will lead us to hope and life. (If you doubt any of this read Romans 8 multiple times.)

This is so important because you will live out of the voice you are listening to. If you believe the lies Satan throws at you that you are worthless, a failure, and that those you love would be better off without you, than you will not live out of the unique calling God placed into your life. Instead you will try to be whoever you can that would cause you the least amount of pain. If you believe that if people knew the real you they would reject you, then you will always live your life behind a mask so nobody would ever know the real you.

So how do you know which voice you are listening to? Look at the fruit. If the thoughts are leading you into life, peace and freedom, it is from the Holy Spirit. If it leads to depression, pain, fear, and immobility, then it is from the enemy.

Even conviction can come in either form. True conviction comes not at the sound of God’s displeasure in us, but at the moment He turns the light on brightly enough for us to see our imperfections. His light does not expose us in anger but in love wanting us to correct the errors keeping us from more of Him. He exposes unhealed issues in our hearts, so we can bring them to Him for healing. Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we do not change and grow. Satan is the one that points out sin to shame us and create fear that will lead us away from God and others.

It is important to discern the voice of who is speaking to us. The voice of God, even when exposing sin, offers hope and life. The voice of the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. Whenever you recognize the voice of God in your life, embrace it freely. If it is from the enemy, reject it boldly (2 Corinthians 10:5).

John Eldredge's newsletter from the other morning reiterated the thought from the previous post regarding what we are afraid to ask God for. I have included the email text below.

Do You Want to Get Well?
2/17/2010

The shriveled figure lay in the sun like a pile of rags dumped there by accident. It hardly appeared to be human. But those who used the gate to go in and out of Jerusalem recognized him. He was disabled, dropped off there every morning by someone in his family, and picked up again at the end of the day. A rumor was going around that sometimes (no one really knew when) an angel would stir the waters, and the first one in would be healed. Sort of a lottery, if you will. And as with every lottery, the desperate gathered round, hoping for a miracle.

It had been so long since anyone had actually spoken to him, he thought the question was meant for someone else. Squinting upward into the sun, he didn’t recognize the figure standing above him. The misshapen man asked the fellow to repeat himself; perhaps he had misheard. Although the voice was kind, the question felt harsh, even cruel.

“Do you want to get well?”

He sat speechless, blinking into the sun. Slowly, the words seeped into his consciousness, like a voice calling him out of a dream. Do I want to get well? Slowly, like a wheel long rusted, his mind began to turn over. What kind of question is that? Why else would I be lying here? Why else would I have spent every day for the past thirty-eight seasons lying here? He is mocking me. But now that his vision had adjusted to the glare, he could see the inquisitor’s face, his eyes. The face was as kind as the voice he heard. Apparently, the man meant what he said, and he was waiting for an answer. “Do you want to get well? What is it that you want?”

It was Jesus who posed the question, so there must be something we’re missing here. He is love incarnate. Why did he ask the paraplegic such an embarrassing question?

(Desire , 33–34)

This is an article I received from a Koinonia House eNews regarding fasting this Lent. I thought it would be helpful information about our attitude toward this season and toward fasting. Whether you consider to fast anything this Lent is up to you, but use whatever season you're in to lead you closer to God and Jesus. For more information on fasting, see our other post on "What I Have Learned from Fasting."

No Fasting God
from the February 16, 2010 eNews issue

"My dad asked me what I was giving up for Lent this year. I told him I was giving up God for Lent so I wouldn't have to feel guilty." - A Catholic teen overheard on a bus.

Ash Wednesday is upon us, a day when Catholics gather to have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross as a sign of penitence and dedication to Christ. It marks the beginning of the 40 days leading to Easter. The idea of community repentance and fasting is a good one, one that could bring much spiritual fruit in our churches if practiced with the right heart. The question is, how much of Lent becomes just another gotta-do religious act? If Christians from any denomination choose to take this time to seek God's face in the days leading up to the celebration of our Lord's death and resurrection, that is excellent. Prayer and fasting are still biblical, but they must be done carefully and in truth.

Many instances of fasting are found in the Old Testament; Moses fasted for 40 days when he went up to receive the Law from the LORD (Exo. 34:28); Daniel entered into a three week partial fast which removed all delicacies (pleasant bread, meat and wine) from his diet (Dan 10:3); the people of Nehemiah's time fasted and prayed and repented in sackcloth as the Law of the LORD was read to them (Neh. 9:1); Esther and her maids fasted from both food and water for three days before she went in to speak to the King in order to save the life of her people (Est. 4:16).

Fasting does not only belong in the Old Testament, though. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert before choosing his disciples (Luke 4). In Acts 13, the church at Antioch was fasting and praying when the Holy Spirit told them to separate out Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work He had for them. Jesus never said, "If you fast…" he said, "When you fast…." (Matt. 6:16) and prayer and fasting can still be a valuable practice for the Church today. In fact, Jesus indicated that certain evil spiritual forces are only driven out by fasting and prayer (Mark 9:29).

Before beginning a time of prayer and fasting, though, it is important to keep some things in mind:

1. Fasting is not an obligation.

   The purpose of fasting is to seek God's face, to examine oneself and get any unconfessed sin out in the open. It's a time to put other things aside and remember that nothing is more important than Jesus – a time to remember our "first Love." It's a time to once again present ourselves as living sacrifices before God, humbling ourselves before Him in love and worship, saying, "Here I am, Father. I'm Yours." There is little value in fasting as merely a religious act, out of guilt, or because everybody else is doing it.

2. Don't be a self-denial hero.

   Fasting is not about the simple act of going without. It is not a battle of self-control or willpower. We should save willpower for dieting. Fasting is about putting God first in our lives, setting aside other things that are just not as important as our relationship with Him.

3. Fasting requires care and prudence.

   While Moses survived 40 days without food and water, his circumstances were especially unique. People have died through imprudent fasting.  Both entering into a fast and getting off a fast should be done slowly and gradually, so as to give they body time to adjust, and it can be wise to get a medical examination before starting a major fast.

   For some people, fasting can be harmful. Certain people should never fast all food, especially people with a history of eating disorders, those with heart conditions, diabetes, hypoglycemia, or pregnant or nursing women.

4. Fasting food is optional.

   There are many ways to fast. A 40-day food-free fast is possible and can be spiritually beneficial, but it can also be life-threatening if not done properly. There are partial fasts, like when Daniel avoided meat and wine for three weeks. There are short food-free fasts like Esther's three days. Some people fast only one day or one meal - or one day each week.   Many people go on juice-only fasts, which can also be cleansing for the body.

   There are many things that can be fasted without starving oneself, however. Some people give up chocolate and sweets, and others give up watching television. Any things that could come between us and God are good candidates for fasting, especially our time wasters, like computer games or endless texting on the phone.

5. Don't let Satan get you down.

   God can use our fasting and prayer times to win powerful spiritual battles, and, because of that, Satan is guaranteed to try to discourage us. We need to be ready for opposition and distraction, determined to keep our commitment to the end, but we also need to remember our artillery against the Enemy is prayer and worship. Any time we get discouraged and aggravated or distracted, we need to quickly take the matter before the Throne of God. As James 4:7 says, "…Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

6. Focus On God.

   The purpose of fasting is not simply the act of self-denial; it is a time to come before the Lord. If we give up watching our favorite show, it should be because we are putting that time toward the purpose of seeking God. Setting aside our golf clubs for a month is fairly useless if, instead of playing golf, we just go bowling.

   When we fast, we need to set aside specific time to dedicate ourselves to going before God. He is the whole point of the fast, after all. And beyond our special quiet time with our King, we should enjoy worship and prayer throughout the day, taking every opportunity to enter His presence. Bill Bright writes:

   "Read His Word and pray during what were mealtimes. Meditate on Him when you awake in the night. Sing praises to Him whenever you please. Focus on your Heavenly Father and make every act one of praise and worship. God will enable you to experience His command to "pray without ceasing" as you seek His presence."

7. Any time can be good for a fast.

   It may be the season of Lent, a popular time for fasting and prayer. However, fasting is not limited to set times on a calendar. Community fasting and prayer can be a powerful weapon and an excellent way for a church body to get on track with the Spirit of God. However, the most important time to fast is when the Spirit leads us.

May God bless us all as we come before Him and prepare our hearts to serve Him now and every day throughout this year.

Tuesday night, December 29th at the Onething09 conference, Allyson Prior brought forth this beautiful song describing the desire and hunger of a Christ-follower to stay true to Jesus. It also describes the motivation and encouragement to keep coming back to Jesus. This song has had a great effect stirring up deeper devotion and love in me personally as I have listened to it repeatly and have given it to many friends. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Love You Rightly

You will not despise I my weak love
You will not deny me
You will not despise my weak love
You will not despise it

Cause You love me / Just as I am
You love me / Just as I am
You created me / in my mother's womb
Just as I am

Even though my love is weak
You will not deny it
For You will not
No, You will not
Turn away a broken and a contrite heart
Cause Jesus, You died for me
And, Jesus, You shed Your blood for me

And I believe that prayer You prayed
"Father, I desire that those You gave Me
My bride will be with Me forever"

I believe it
I believe that prayer
I believe this is Your desire

So I'll keep coming back to You
Even in my weakness
I'll keep coming back to You
Even in my brokenness
Even in my weak frame
I am weak, but my spirit is willing
My spirit is willing to follow You
To follow You
So come awaken love
Within my heart tonight
Come, awaken love in my heart tonight

I need Your strength
I need Your grace
To receive Your love
Give me grace / give me strength
To receive Your love
I keep coming after You, Lord

Give me grace
Give me strength
To love You rightly, God

Cause my broken and contrite heart
You will not deny
And, You do not despise my weak love
You receive my love
Cause even though I'm tired, I'm loving
Jealous for my love

When I'm weak You take me as I am
I am Your delight
My love is valuable to You god
You value my heart
You value my weakness
Even when I feel so weak
Even when I feel so broken
My love is valuable to You

So I'll keep coming back
Oh, Ill keep coming back

Give me grace
Give me strength
To love You rightly, God

Though I've fallen a thousand times
Though I've messed up a billion times
My declaration tonight is
I'll keep coming back through repentance
I'll keep coming back through repentance
Cause You made a way for me
I'll keep coming back

This is my portion
This is my reward
That You love me as I am
That You love me as I am

Even tonight I'm running to You, Jesus
Even tonight I'm coming back to Your heart
And I pour out my affections on You, Jesus
My devotion on You, Jesus

Give You my heart, my soul, my mind, my strength
I give You the reward of Your suffering
I give You what You want
My heart, my soul, my mind, my strength
I'm Yours

I'll keep coming back

Running to You Jesus

Give me grace
Give me strength
To love You rightly, God

Image courtesy of Michael Belk

As a follow-up to the Book Review on Where Is God? by Dr. John Townsend earlier in the week, I was thinking about how John the Baptist dealt with his doubts in Matthew 11.

We are told in Scripture that John the Baptist was in prison, and he sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask if He was the Christ. Why does John ask this question? He was there at Jesus' baptism. He said Jesus was the lamb of God. He saw the dove descend on Jesus. He heard the voice from heaven saying Jesus was God's Son. Why does John now doubt?

Remember that John the Baptist is currently in prison.

So how does Jesus answer John? "The lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised..." Miracles John. Miracles are following the Son of Man. This is what you were looking forward to. This is what you prepared the way for. Jesus then ends with this statement, "Blessed is the man who does not take offense at Me" (Matt. 11:6).

Was John the Baptist taking offense at Jesus? John knew the stories coming to him. He heard that the miraculous was happening. Why did John ask Jesus if He was the One? Because John was in prison. Sure Jesus, you are helping all these other people out, but what about me? What about my circumstance?

This past week my wife and I received news that the child we had been approved to adopt was accidentally also approved to some other family. There are obvious questions that immediately arise as this is not typical and quite frankly suspicious of how it could happen. We have caught some inconsistencies in the stories we have heard that gives greater questions to what is really going on. What are we supposed to do?

• We can step back and accept the story as is and just proceed with another referral. This could be God's sovereign plan to leading us to the daughter He picked for us.
• We can demand that the truth come out and hold people accountable to the promised referral we already have.

There may be a number of other options that could be right. What are we supposed to do? And how does this relate to John the Baptist?

Jesus gives John the Baptist two answers that we can use in our current circumstance.

1. Focus on the Good God Has Already Done. - Jesus told John all of the things that Jesus was doing. When we focus on what God has not done, we get offended by Him. It is the same thing we are told in Hebrews. We are not to forgot the good that God has already done and let our hearts be hardened. By focusing on what God has done and His character, we have faith that He will come through for us in our current circumstance.
2. Ask Jesus for Clarification When in Doubt. - Jesus does not condemn John the Baptist for asking if He was the One to come. Jesus just redirected John's focus back on His goodness. Jesus also followed up with a great commendation on John the Baptist saying that no man was greater than John. "You're ok John. I haven't forgotten you. You are still highly regarded in the kingdom."

You may not be in a physical prison, but the doubts that come at us can very well feel like a prison away from God's goodness. Focus on God's goodness and ask for clarification. He may not give you the answer you want, but He will give you the answer to get you through.

Please pray for my wife and I as we navigate our current situation with our adoption.

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

I (Kevin) have been thinking lately on accountability. I remember in college being convicted of the above verse knowing God wanted me to confess sins to some trusted friends. After some time wrestling with God, I followed through and made my confession, officially entering into the realm of accountability. Now someone else besides me and God knew my deepest darkest.

The problem I had with this experience was that it did not end my fallings or sin. I still struggled and I still fell. Beyond that, I did not start moving to get beeter. Why do I need to bear my pain and shame to someone else if I do not get the healing promised here?

I continued in my Christian walk with the commitment to accountability desiring freedom from sin and a closer walk with God. We would come up with great questions to ask each other to help cultivate openness and exposure of sin. Always ending with the penetrating question, "Did you just lie to me?"

Unfortunately, these times together were just a recap of how well we were or were not doing. Knowing we will be held accountable by someone else had some merit, but in the end the fruit was not healing.

As I have been rethinking accountability recently, a blatent truth just hit me about what I was not experiencing in these accountability groups. What does James 5:16 say? We are not only to confess our sins, but the requirement is also to pray for each other. It is the prayer of a righteous man that is powerful and effective; not the confession. How much more quickly would I have found the healing if I realized this sooner?

image courtesy of Despair, Inc.

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. - Proverbs 28:13

What is the importance of confession? Have you ever thought about this question? So many times in my Christian walk I have been told that without confession there is no forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrightousness" (1 John 1:9). The problem is we have already been forgiven (1 John 2:12). And, if that were not the case, we would never have confessed all of our sins in order to find complete forgiveness.

So, what is the importance of confession? There is an interesting passage in Hosea that I believe brings to light God's desires for confession. It is found in Hosea 2: 5–13 and Hosea 14–23. The book of Hosea is about how God made the prophet go marry a prostitute to symbolize God's love for Israel. This passage shows the rationale of the importance of exposing sin.

What is God’s response to Israel’s sin? He actively blocks her path to keep her from her lovers; he takes away His provisions for her; and He exposes her lewdness.

Is the response based out of anger or love? LOVE. How do you know? Israel could not receive God's love for her while she was still holding on to other lovers. He removed His blessing, not as a form of punishment, but in an attempt to make her feel her weakness without Him. He knew her attachment to these other lovers would hinder her from receiving the full measure of His love, and He loved her too much to leave her sin hidden.

What is God’s attitude once He exposes her? This part is just amazing. Once He gets her to a place of weakness, He tries to win back her affection. He allures her. He speaks tenderly to her. He starts to give back that which He withheld. It is amazing to see God as such a jealous lover that fights for His bride, yet after fighting He does not assume her love. He humbly seeks to win her favor. The God, who can do anything He wants, does not presume that we will respond, but seeks to make us want to by courting us.

How does the relationship change between them? Before the relationship was a servant/master. Now, it is one of lovers - a husband/wife. Do you see? This is God's plan. He wants intimate lovers, but sin hinders our view of Him and the best we can see the relationship being is servant/master. We confess our sins, not for the forgiveness. We confess our sins in order to walk out our forgiveness. Because I know that I am forgiven, I can expose my sins to the light of His love to see He does not hold hatred or disappointment in me, but love and forgiveness.

Leaving our sins hidden in darkness exposes lies we believe about God's forgiveness - that we have gone beyond His grace or He will not take care of me. We are not some sort of project that we have to be corrected or supervised in order to gain His favor. He loves us because He delights in us. We bring Him joy.

Sin saddens God's heart not because it angers Him (remember Jesus dealt with that), but because He loves us so much He wants us to experience all of the joy in His heart for us. Stop worrying about your ministry or what other may think of you. Confess your sins so that you may run in the delight of God's extravagant love for you.

Romans 8:1,

Kevin Shorter
follow us at @praytelNET

My favorite Christmas album comes from pulling together songs from a variety of artists and albums that I have collected over the years. I love Christmas, and I love Christmas music. Below I have put the songs in order of how they are on my collection. I did not know how to do this with Amazon's playlist.  Three of my favorites were not on Amazon, so I have put some alternatives with references below in red. 

If you do not like all the work in getting separate songs, then I would highly recommend Russ Taff's A Christmas Song album. This has been my favorite complete Christmas album for a long time. Please let me know if you feel I missed anything. But if you add one, tell me which you would remove. Enjoy.

The Christmas Song - Marvin Gaye
White Christmas - Russ Taff
Away in the Manager - Derri Daughterty / Julie Miller
O Holy Night - Mylon LeFevre (Harry Connick Jr.)
Carol of the Bells / What Child is This? - Yolanda Adams
Babe in the Straw - Caedmon's Call
Winter Wonderland - Steve Taylor
Zat You, Santa Claus? - Louis Armstrong
Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Kim Hill / Phil Keaggy
A Cradle Prayer - Rebecca St. James
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Russ Taff
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Brian McKnight
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear / O Little Town of Bethlehem - Amy Grant / Sandi Patty
        O Little Town of Bethlehem - Sarah McLachlan
Christmastime - BNL
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Russ Taff
Christmas Dreaming - Frank Sinatra
Merry Christmas Baby - B.B. King
Little Drummer Warners - Animaniacs (no alternative, see video below)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings - BNL / Sarah McLachlan
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Betty Carter / Ray Charles
Manager Throne - Derri Daughterty / Julie Miller

"Quite often people ask me, 'How can I pray for you?' I always answer them
the same way. I want them to pray that where ever I go and whatever I do,
I will never leave my first love." - Dr. Bill Bright

With all the work that Dr. Bright did through Campus Crusade for Christ and the Jesus Film, how could this be his continual request? Wasn't this a natural overflow of the work he was doing?

Steve Douglass, the current president of Campus Crusade for Christ, recently sent out his monthly newsletter to the Crusade staff family on this topic. In it he states three reasons maintaining your first love as a leader is difficult.

1. It is easy for a busy leader not to find time to spend with God.
2. It is also easy for a focused leader to basically ignore God during the day.
3. A confident leader can think too highly of his or her abilities.

Confidence is only valuable when it has as its foundation a deep love for God. Paul, a highly educated apostle, told the Corinthians that he resolved to know nothing while he was with them, so that their faith may not rest on man's wisdom [or power] (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

Dependence on your strength or ability will only produce fruit that will ultimately be burned up in fire. We need to depend on God, and maintaining our first love is a prerequisite for that dependence.

• What are some ways that enable you to keep God as your first love?

"If I failed to maintain my first love, my disobedience
would undermine all I hold dear." - Dr. Bill Bright

tomb image courtesy of Joel Milhouse

I was reading The Jesus Storybook Bible for my daughter the other night. We were on the story of the women who went to Jesus' tomb on resurrection Sunday. As I was reading it to her, I was struck by how it related to the post last week on God Works All Things for Good. The story comes from John 20:1-18, but parts are found in the other Gospels as well (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, and Luke 24:1-12).

Roughly the story goes as follows. Three women went to the tomb on Sunday morning with spices for Jesus' body. When they got to the tomb, the stone that had covered the entrance had been rolled back and Jesus body was gone. As they pondered what happened, two angels appeared to them saying Jesus had rose from the dead and to tell the disciples to go to Galilee to wait for Jesus. They ran back to the disciples to tell them what they had saw. The disciples did not believe them, so Peter and John ran to the tomb to check it out. They went in the tomb and believed. Mary Magdalene had gone back to the tomb with the two disciples, and she stayed there after the disciples left. And, as she lingered she met with Jesus.

We must understand the troubling time this was for the followers of Jesus. There was excitement surrounding Jesus and a belief that He was the Christ, but no matter how much He said it, the followers did not believe that Jesus had to die. We see this most clearly in the two who met with Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33). They had heard that the women spoke of the empty tomb and seeing angels. They had even heard that Peter and John had verfied the tomb was empty. But Jesus had died and that was the end of the hope.

Whenever we try to interpret events apart from God's inpiration, we are bound to get them wrong. It is obvious that Mary Magdalene did not understand what had happened to Jesus. She had seen the empty tomb and had angels tell her that He has risen, but she still believed him to be dead. When Jesus appeared to her (not knowing it was him), she asked him where Jesus body was taken.

The thing that I admire about her in this story is that even though she did not understand, she continued to struggle with what had happened and to try to find Jesus. And by persisting with it, she was the first to see the risen Christ. In seeing the risen Christ, she was able to understand that all was well.

There will be events in your life that will be hard for your to interpret in light of the truths of Scriptures. Continue to fight through them in prayer. Pursue God to help give you understanding. "God, You say You work for the good of all things, but how can the death of my loved one be made good?" It was this kind of pursuit that was rewarded for Mary Magdalene with a visitation from Jesus. Jesus loves to be pursued.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. - James 4:8