KLOVE Radio Features – September 2023

BANGING ON A COCKPIT DOOR

Have you ever banged on the cockpit door of a commercial jet demanding to know if the pilot knew what he was doing? Probably not. So, you’re trusting a complete stranger with your life when you fly. I’ve done it hundreds of times. How much more should we trust the God Who has never failed us, and never will? I don’t want to get to Heaven and have Him say, “Francis, what were you so freaked out about down there? Did I ever fail you?” I know that exact conversation won’t happen, but as unbelief amazed Jesus on Earth, I’m sure it amazes His Father as well. The Bible says that trust brings safety. “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture…I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken.” (Psalm 37:3,25) Trust God, the only Person who is completely trustworthy.

DELIGHTFUL DANCE OR DREARY DRUDGERY

Disappointments are one of the great ways we are seduced by the enemy of our soul into being discouraged, sad, and depressed. The cure for disappointment is letting God schedule all of our appointments. Then we won’t be “dissed.” That would be far better than going from one “dissed” appointment to another. If something DIS-appoints you, perhaps it was an appointment that was not meant to be, or not at this time. If, on the other hand, we put God in charge of our schedule, and our appointments, then when the chess pieces on the board move around, we have little to no emotional attachment as to where they land. When our hearts are filled with complete trust in the only Person who knows what’s best for us, life becomes a delightful dance, and not a dreary drudgery.

GOD’S PERFECT SCRIPT

God has meticulously crafted a perfect script for each one of our lives. It’s actually the best of all possible options, because only He knows what we need and how to fulfill our purpose on Earth. That’s why it’s so heartbreaking when we chase after every other possibility than believing that God alone knows what our future should be. Sure, trusting God completely requires crazy faith and absolute surrender. It means relinquishing control. But, until we accept that there’s no other way to experience lasting purpose, peace, and fulfillment, we’ll chase every mirage until we’re exhausted and depressed. God’s script for us is perfect. It can’t be improved. We just need the courage to follow Him with unwavering trust. When we do, we discover the genius of God’s perfect plan. 

PREFERENCE CHRISTIANITY

Before you can really love your life, you have to solve the riddle of life. Paul the Apostle said, “I’ve learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” (Philippians 4:11) That’s why the greatest hindrances to you loving your life are your Preferences and Expectations. “Preference Christianity” implies that we know what’s best for our lives, and “Expectation Christianity” leads to disappointment and discouragement. Both are us playing God. It’s what the Pharisees did, and the opposite of what Jesus preached. Jesus said “Your will be done, not My will.“ and “I do nothing, except what I see my Father doing.“ (John 5:19) Man playing God is exactly what Lucifer did. He said, “I will…be like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14) If you know the future, then preferences and expectations are great. But, frankly, neither you, or anyone else, does.

DON’T BOW TO EVIL

In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the Jewish leaders came to arrest Jesus, He identified Himself and said “I am He.“ Immediately, all those who came to arrest Him fell over backwards. Without missing a beat, they got up, dusted themselves off, and continued in their insane commitment to arrest Jesus. We live in that kind of an age as well, where people are so committed to deceptive ideas, no matter how irrational and evil, that when God shatters their plans, they shake it off and refuse to acknowledge that God is just wanting to protect them. The peer pressure of the crowd will only increase, as will their rejection of those who follow Jesus and refuse to follow their evil ways. As Jesus promised, “…the person who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

LEARNING TO LOVE YOUR SCRIPT

If someone asked you if a certain movie you saw was good and you said, “It was absolutely amazing, but I didn’t like it at all,” they’d probably be mystified. But that’s exactly what many people do. The all-powerful, loving God has written the most amazing script imaginable for each of our lives, and yet most people don’t like it. They don’t love the life a Perfect Father has written just for them . . . a script written to bless them beyond words! So, what’s the only reasonable conclusion? We don’t need a new life. And we certainly don’t need God to write us a new script. We just need a new perspective! Ask God to open your mind and heart to see the only reality that makes any sense: the Abundant life Jesus promised isn’t a pipe dream. It’s God’s will for your life.