Dale Cresap's blog

Pain and suffering come to everyone. These ‘ordinary’ wounds are a normal part of life. How do you respond to them? If you respond with self-pity and resentment, or lash out in returning the attack against those who have inflicted them on you, then they will not only remain as ordinary wounds but you will escalate a downward spiral and become embittered. The other alternative is to transform them into ‘sacred’ wounds. In this case you look beyond the perpetrator and your own pain to see my redemptive purpose in them. This gives them transformative power in your life. All wounds start out as ordinary. Do you have the vision to see them as sacred? 

Do you want answers to your questions, and right now? The answers to questions of fact are more readily available now than ever before. Then why do you still have questions? Do you find that many of your questions are phrased as ‘why’ rather than ‘what’ or ‘how’? Database searches are not as effective in addressing questions of this type. Yet these are the questions you can’t escape, or shouldn’t, for they deal with questions of being and meaning and purpose. Do you find that these are more difficult than questions of fact? Yet the answers are readily available if you come to me, even if obtaining them involves an ongoing walk with me. 

Now that you walk with me and see how involved I am in every aspect of your life do you ever wonder how you got along without me? You didn’t. Even when you were estranged from me I met your needs, as I send rain and sun on the just and on the unjust. What do you have that you did not receive? I open my hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Consider the implications of that. Can you see in hindsight my goodness poured out upon you? You love me because I first loved you. If I would do this while you were opposed to me how much more will I do for you now that you have responded and embraced my love? 

How are you judged by those within your church? Since you have adopted the same beliefs that they have it is easy to get acceptance on the basis of what you believe. They are in on the same deal. How are you judged by those without – your family and employer and co-workers? They don’t care so much about your beliefs and are more interested in your behavior and performance. Do you see that this is a higher standard? But one does not contradict the other, for if your faith is true, it will result in truly virtuous behavior. This process takes time. Continue to cooperate with my deep transformative work in your life while your fellow believers and I give you the final result on credit. 

Have you ever heard someone say that they couldn’t forgive themselves? They may accept that God will forgive them, and even those whom they have offended, but they just can’t forgive themselves. This sounds like a pious argument of high character, but it is really an extreme form of pride. Consider what it implies. That they hold themselves to higher standards than other people, or that they are the type of person who does not sin. The position of greater humility is to acknowledge that you need forgiveness from others and from God, and receive it with gratitude. If I can forgive you, you can forgive yourself. 

Do you read the Bible? Has it become familiar and commonplace to you?  It claims to be living and powerful and active. So every time you read it, is it as for the first time? This is not a reasonable expectation for most books, but if my Word is living it should be fresh every time you read it. Do you expect this? Whether the Bible is something you study like any other book or whether it speaks with a living voice every time you read it depends on what you anticipate when you open it. If you do so expecting to hear my voice in the expression of a living relationship you will.

Do you have a song in your heart? Rejoicing is a normal and important part of the Christian life. Does the song in your heart come out of your mouth? Is it possible to be joyful with no visible manifestation? You may be self-conscious about the quality of your voice. I am aware of how much talent I gave you and I still want to hear you sing. The Psalms admonish this and the standard of performance is to make a joyful noise to me. Everyone can meet that. If you feel awkward doing this in public look for opportunities to do it in private. I am aware of your every thought but I want to hear your voice.

You know as a matter of principle and doctrine that I am with you always. You have my word on it. Are you more aware of me when you are having a bad day? Is it in those difficult times that your faith is tried and you need to call out to me and depend on me? In contrast is it easy to forget that I am with you when everything goes smoothly with no problems? I came to give you life and joy. I am with you during the difficult times but I don’t want you to associate me only with your problems. Make it a point to remember me with gratitude when you are having a good day. Share it with me and it will be even better. 

Do you expect to require training and practice to acquire a new skill and become proficient at it? Many believers will expect this for every area of their live except their faith. But faith can grow and gain strength by practice and experience like anything else you do. Ask those whom you consider to be strong in the faith if they started out that way. Soldiers train in a safe place before going into battle, and athletes train in a gym before competition. You can apply the same principle for the practice of your faith, looking for safe places to develop it so that it will be strong when you really need it.