07302022 Praying for What God Wants

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our active and purposeful God. God is always doing something good, even when we see only bad, or when we see stagnation or inactivity. God is always working with design to accomplish His purposes.

When we don’t know what God is doing, when we don’t understand His purposes or know His objectives, it can be hard to know how to pray. Thankfully, God gives us some knowledge in His Word that reveals some of His purposes. The Bible may not reveal specifics for individuals, but it does disclose universal objectives that God always desires. Those are things for which we can confidently pray.

One of my favorites is found in Hebrews 12:11. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

This gives us a definite desire to pray for as we walk through the unpleasant training – that God would grow in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful thing that we definitely desire? That when the trial is over, and after the fertilizer (manure) has worked its way into the ground and has fed our roots, that we would blossom and produce pleasant and desirable fruit?

In addition to providing a good way to pray, this verse also offers hope, in the reminder that this is what God is doing. As unpleasant as things are in the midst of the trial, it is for the purpose of bringing about a very good result. The fruit doesn’t appear overnight, but it does come within the plan of God.

May God continue to grow His good fruit in you, and may you be encouraged by realizing the growth that He intends.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

07232022 Eternal End

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God in whose presence we will soon be united. It is a wonderful hope to know that we will each enjoy eternal fellowship with our God and Savior and with each other in His presence. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

This thirteenth and final category of God’s blessing is that of the eternal end of the believer. Even if there were no other blessings whatsoever, this category alone is sufficient. Since some of these verses deal with the threat of death, there will be some overlap between physical protection and the ultimate end, but the emphasis is on what happens at or after death.

God chooses our inheritance. “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved” (Psalm 47:4). We have an inheritance waiting for us that is like no other. God knows and plans our glorious end.

God redeems our life. It is never lost. “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction” (Psalm 103:4). This redemption is abundant. “With him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:7). There is no squeaking through for the Christian, no barely making it into some menial survival. Our eternality is never in question.

God often delays our death, and He preserves our soul both before and after. “He preserveth the souls of his saints” (Psalm 97:10). Even when death comes physically, it is not a permanent death. “He hath not given me over to death” (Psalm 118:18). Death doesn’t win.

When death does come, God receives His children into glory. “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24). God receives them gladly, viewing them as precious. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). Death is actually a victory, an advancement, and a celebration.

Death is just the beginning of an incredible eternity, the blessings of which cannot be fully described or imagined. Nor will they ever end. “Thou … settest me before thy face for ever” (Psalm 41:12). “I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:6). Eternity in heaven is the hope of the believer. All things will be put right and will remain that way forever, with never any more threat or defilement.

As we have seen before, the appreciation of God’s blessing to His children is often enhanced when we see how different it is for the wicked. That is nowhere more evident than in this category. When it comes to the threat of death, the wicked will be shattered. “But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses” (Psalm 68:21). They will be destroyed. “All the wicked will he destroy” (Psalm 145:20). They cannot stand or survive. “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight … Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing” (Psalm 5:5-6).

The wicked will perish, ultimately destroyed as a result of their willful sin and rejection of God. “The way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:6). “Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous will be desolate” (Psalm 34:21). Death is not merely ceasing to exist, but is the beginning of eternal judgment.

The end of the wicked is final and thorough. They are completely cut off and left in perpetual ruin, so that there is not even any memory of them. There is nothing that remains behind of any value or estimation. “O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end … their memorial is perished with them” (Psalm 9:6). “For evildoers shall be cut off” (Psalm 37:9). “The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Psalm 34:16). For unbelievers, nothing good happens after death.

In conclusion, the life of the believer is not always filled with health, wealth, and pleasures. Those aspects are part of the blessing of God, and they do happen in varying degrees and for varying stretches of time. These material aspects of blessing are just the tip of the iceberg, however. The fulness of God’s blessing expands far beyond circumstances into valuable categories that really cannot be measured: general pleasantness of life, productivity and success, expressions of God’s favor, importance to God, access to God, the nature of our path, divine guidance, stability, internal and emotional support, help in times of trouble, response in our failures, mercy when facing judgment, and our eternal end. Indeed, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly” (Psalm 1:1).

This study has been important and helpful for me, and I trust that it has encouraged you as well. Take care.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

07162022 Facing Judgment

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who sees us through His perfect Son.

While each of the categories of blessing already studied are wonderful, the current category is quite significant due to the potential ramifications. We are now looking at God’s blessing to believers when they stand before His judgment. No man has any hope in such a position, unless God extends blessing to him.

The first aspect of blessing in judgment is that God delays His judgment. “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering” (Psalm 86:15). God has incredible patience, and His anger is slow to arouse toward His children. Because of this longsuffering, we face God’s judgment far less often than we deserve.

The second aspect of blessing in judgment is that God is a forgiving God. In the list of divine benefits recorded in Psalm 103, notice what stands at the top of the list. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities” (Psalm 103:3). The redeeming factor is certainly not that we have no iniquities that require forgiveness; rather, it is that God grants His forgiveness in spite of the quantity of our iniquities. “Thou answeredest them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them” (Psalm 99:8). “Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away” (Psalm 65:3). To be forgiven in spite of our guilt and to have restoration with the One we have offended is a blessing indeed. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1).

The third aspect of blessing in judgment is God’s careful and purposeful chastening. God does not let His children sin without consequence or impact. Sometimes divine correction is needed. Even this is a blessing, because God’s chastening is a sign of His loving intervention, and it is for the purpose of teaching, training, and guiding. “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law” (Psalm 94:12). When God chastens, there is actually benefit.

The fourth aspect of blessing in judgment relates to God’s character. “God judgeth the righteous” (Psalm 7:11). The believer does not need to fear the erratic or senseless judgment of an evil or unstable judge. “The Lord, the righteous judge" (II Timothy 4:8). God always makes the right judgment. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). He doesn’t let evil go, but He doesn’t declare evil when there is none, and the extent of His judgment is appropriate to the offense.

The fifth aspect of blessing in judgment is the end result of having a righteous judge. “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:22). When believers stand before the Righteous Judge, having no personal merit to acquit them, they are not condemned. Their souls are redeemed. The judgment poured out in substitution through Jesus allows believers to stand without condemnation. The Judge accepts them as righteous.

When unbelievers face divine judgment, all the opposites are true. They also experience some patience in spite of their frequent offenses, but there is a limit to God’s longsuffering. If they refuse to submit, they face the risk of His anger, which may express itself suddenly. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little” (Psalm 2:12).

Instead of forgiveness, there is pursuit. The wicked are constantly on the run, trying to stay ahead of judgment, but they cannot change the outcome of their path. “Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them” (Psalm 35:5). There is no peace while under this constant threat of being caught and dealt with.

When it comes to results, the wicked reap the benefit of their actions. “The LORD … plentifully rewardeth the proud doer” (Psalm 31:23). They don’t get away with anything. They don’t get off easy. In the ultimate judgment, they have no hope of acquittal. “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment” (Psalm 1:5).

This blessing of the righteous Judge has tremendous impact both in this life and the next. What a blessing to experience patience, forgiveness, and purposeful correction. What a blessing to experience only just correction. What a blessing to anticipate the final declaration of eternal redemption.

Praying for you as you labor for our good God.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

07092022 Regarding Failures

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our graciously and patiently forgiving God. He treats us far better than we deserve.

The eleventh category of blessing is also related to circumstance, but even more unexpectedly than the previous topic of troubling times. This time the blessing of God is seen even in the midst of self-imposed failure. In other words, the believer falls due to his own weakness, poor choices, or sin, but God still has expressions of blessing for him.

When a believer falls, his fall is temporary. God limits the time of failure. He remembers him and gives hope again. “For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever” (Psalm 9:18).

When a believer falls, his fall is only partial. He is not completely or irreparably brought down. God holds his hand and helps him to recover and continue on. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:24).

When a believer falls, God helps him. God sustains him and raises him back up. God gives renewed strength. “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down” (Psalm 145:14).

Rebellion can take a believer in the wrong direction, but God does not abandon him to destruction. When the believer moves to return, God heals him and delivers him from the finality of the destruction that his actions would otherwise have brought. “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107:20).

Rebellion can also take a believer into deep darkness, but God is able to bring light once again. Returning to God brings not condemnation, but light and freedom. “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder” (Psalm 107:14).

Wonderfully, a believer’s failure never has to be the end. Although there may be consequences of wrong choices, God is able to reverse the sad situation. He can restore in ways that may have seemed unimaginable. “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad” (Psalm 14:7).

This remnant or vestige of God’s blessing even in sin and failure is reassuring and is quite a contrast to what happens to the wicked. The righteous don’t get all the consequences they deserve, but the wicked do. The wrong actions of the wicked result in violence upon himself. “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate” (Psalm 7:16).

Instead of rising back up after a time of failure, the wicked fall completely. They are thrust out. “Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee” (Psalm 5:10).

Then the wicked embark on a path of sin, their end is sad. They stumble and fall. “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell” (Psalm 27:2). They stumble and perish. “When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence” (Psalm 9:3). They are thrown down and are unable to rise again. “There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise” (Psalm 36:12).

Certainly, we do not want to tempt God or try to take advantage of His love and compassion. However, it is a great comfort to realize that God does love us so much and so loyally. How many times have we acted in ways that should mark the end of grace received? How often have we done things to alienate ourselves from God? If we got what we deserved, we would have passed the point of no return long ago. It is an incredible blessing to have a God whose desire is always to help and restore. Undoubtedly, each of us has received this particular blessing of God more often that we realize. Here we are, years or decades down the spiritual road, and in spite of our abundant failures, we still stand beloved by God. We still stand in a position of favor and fellowship with Him. We still receive His grace and strength. When it seems that God’s blessing should be forever forfeited, even then His blessing continues.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

07022022 In Times of Trouble

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the Omnipresent God. He is the one who never leaves us, even in the worst of times.

While some of God's blessing is manifested as desirable life circumstances, the majority of His blessings are more habitual and lifelong, more spiritual than physical. For most of this study I have focused primarily on divine blessings that are independent of circumstances. This tenth category of blessing, however, has everything to do with circumstances, but in an unexpected way. These are blessings that God gives particularly in circumstances that are difficult. The life situation does not look like blessing, but God blesses precisely because the life situation is hard. This is interesting, because the difficult times of life are when we might argue that God is not blessing, when in fact those times are the avenue for Him to pour out His blessing.

This blessing related to trouble extends through the entire process. Before the trouble ever comes, God prepares us for its advent. “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight” (Psalm 144:1). Not only does God prepare us ahead of time, but He also prepares a place of protection ahead of time. “My goodness, and my fortress; high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust” (Psalm 144:2). These things do not miraculously appear after trouble comes; they have already been available and ready.

When the trial arrives, God’s blessing continues in many ways. God is the refuge that is needed. “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:12). “The LORD is his refuge” (Psalm 14:6). “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).

During the trial, God is a supportive ally. He knows every detail of the overwhelming situation. “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path” (Psalm 142:3). God is very present during the trial. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). God supports His children. “Thou maintainest my lot” (Psalm 16:5). “The LORD lifteth up the meek” (Psalm 147:6).

During the trial, God listens. And answers. “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears” (Psalm 18:6). “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble” (Psalm 91:15).

There are numerous ways of describing the support that God provides in a trial. He sustains the one who is suffering. “The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing” (Psalm 41:3). God hides the one who is hunted by trouble. “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me” (Psalm 27:5). God revives those who are oppressed by the trouble. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me” (Psalm 138:7).

God’s blessing is shown at the end of the trial. God rescues with His salvation. “I will deliver him” (Psalm 91:15). “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD; thy blessing is upon thy people” (Psalm 3:8). God gives relief after the time of difficulty. “That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity” (Psalm 94:13). God quiets the storm. “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalm 107:29). God provides new life and refreshment to replace what has been oppressive. “He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings” (Psalm 107:35).

God’s blessing even extends beyond the trial, giving lasting benefit. In Psalm 66, the psalmist describes a very difficult, multi-faceted time of extraordinary oppression. He speaks of being refined like silver, of being caught in a net, of buckling under an oppressive burden, of men riding over his head, of passing through flaming fire and through floods of water. Then he tells what happened afterward. “But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place” (Psalm 66:12). This “after” blessing was rich and impactful for some time.

From before the trouble until after it, and everywhere in between, God provides blessing particularly intended for His children who are struggling. This blessing is poignantly contrasted with what happens to the wicked in the same setting. They cry out for help, but God does not answer or help them. “They [enemies] cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not” (Psalm 18:41). Instead of being rescued, these people are brought to ruin. “He casteth the wicked down to the ground” (Psalm 147:6).

What a comfort it is to realize in the midst of trouble that God has not removed His hand of blessing. Rather, He is blessing perhaps in more ways than ever before, as He lovingly protects His children, carries them through the distress, and brings them out in abundance.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA