The Fine Art of Allowing God To Be Your Defender.

Read: Exodus 14:14, Romans 8:31, Romans 12:19, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 3:22, Mark 14:61, James 1:19 

It's not our natural inclination to be silent sometimes. 

This is especially true when someone is being rude, abusive in speech, wrongly accusing us, trying to malign our character, misrepresent the truth or a multitude of other things.

We're all growing in grace and in those moments, we are most likely quick to try to defend ourselves, however, we have to be careful to no not rely on our emotions in those moments as often times we can make things worse by our response. 

We need to immediately seek the Lord and ask for His wisdom and help to know how to respond which in the moment may be difficult...however, all it takes is a real "in the moment" silent or spoken prayer that will truly help you and I!  

We also should remember that there were times when Jesus, even though He had all the authority and facts to do so, He didn't defend Himself when accused.

God is still writing your story!

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 139:16, Proverbs 3:1-8, Romans 5:1-5

I'm reminded of many conversations and experiences I've had over the years with people. 

I've experienced, observed or heard a retelling of a series of events or a single event that took place that didn't go as planned and then feelings of "defeat", "failure", "life is over" and etc begin to crept in. 

In our weakness as human beings, its pretty normal to feel that way but if you are in Christ then you are a new creation and those feelings should not last as you turn from your feelings and what you see to faith instead. 

The Importance of Making His Name Great

Read: John 21:15-25, John 3:30

God calls Pastors/Elders/Shepherds to seek to be faithful shepherds of The Flock...He does not call the same to seek after fame and celebrity status. Popularity may happen but staying grounded and faithful in the calling God has placed on your life as a Pastor/Elder/Shepherd and grounded in His Word is vital.

My observation of many of today's "Modern" church "leaders" is that they often get this wrong and it flows down to everything they do from communicating and teaching God's Word on down to the flock that they are to shepherd...wrong attitudes and motives. They simply seem to have this backwards!