Dictations From The Spirit

On our own we wander about
Searching for what makes sense.
Recoiling at the misunderstood.
We mount our meager defense.

Thoughts that we’re not in control
Percolates fear of the unknown.
Denying evidence of creation.
Snubbing a Creator’s seeds sown.

If we were willing to press pause,
Take time to examine and inspect.
Proof of God’s gracious provisions
Would become difficult to reject.

Blessings seemingly undeserved.
The fortuitous sequence of events.
Were they just random acts of luck?
Or His love coming to our defense?

Such a confession moves the heart
To let go of life’s steering wheel.
Placing trust in an invisible hand
That leads us beyond what we feel.

But how does one come to believe
In so great a surrender’s demand?
Our blinding selfishness is forgiven
As we see the holes in Christ’s hands.

Beautiful is the scarred hand of God.
The faithful’s hand He won’t let go.
He guides us through life’s struggles
Assuring us we are never again alone.

What we want to do, we don’t.
What we don’t want to, we do.
Oh, the wretched flesh of ours.
Obeying anything but the truth.

Our hearts know what is wrong,
And they also know what’s right
Yet they yield to the darkness
And turn their backs to the Light.

We endlessly worry in our fears.
Where deadly choices are made.
Anxieties are for this life alone.
With no fear of beyond the grave.

What’s behind this daily struggle
Is our thinking we are in control.
What is missing amongst this folly
Is the safety of our eternal soul.

Yet we blame this unknown God
For choices made by all but Him.
But we reject the one He did make.
To pay the price to forgive our sin.

What if we discovered the truth?
The One we choose to not believe.
That He looks at everyone in love
Not in judgement but to redeem.

This demands giving up control,
And trusting in His faithful grace.
Our fears give way to the victory
By Jesus in conquering the grave.

Will we let ourselves feel the peace 
Of lives under Sovereign control?
By the One with nail-pierced hands.
The eternal Shepherd of our souls. 

When I pray seeking an answer,
But silence is all that’s provided.
Could it be the answer was given,
But I’ve rebelliously denied it?

How many times have I railed
Against things I don’t understand?
My role wasn’t to have the answer,
But simply trust it’s God’s plan.

For the Lord sees things I cannot,
And knows things I do not know.
This forces me to make a choice
Is God Almighty my friend or foe?

What lies beneath this daily fight
Is He someone who I can believe?
Is His character ever trustworthy?
Faith demands this for I can’t see.

What is available is past events.
Do His actions warrant my trust?
Let’s start with human creation
The miracle of life out of dust.

Countless prophecies given -
The majority being fulfilled.
The greatest was His only Son.
To save me He must be killed.

He rose again, as He promised.
Proving He’s faithful and true.
The prophecies left unfulfilled
Why won’t He fulfill them too?

So, when I pray for answers,
And silence is all that I hear.
If I see His past faithfulness,
The silence is actually fear.

When answers aren’t apparent
They’re likely already there.
It’s on the other side of faith
Providing the answer, “where?”

We listen to the silent music,
And an alarm that has no sound.
Answering questions never asked.
Never finding what was found.

We worry when there is no fear.
Imprisoned by walls not there.
We accept truths with no fact.
Holding what should be shared.

We make this gift of human life
Even harder than it already is.
We strive for endless desires
Like an FBI’s most wanted list.

We want to live the way we do.
Ignoring there’s another way.
Even if it promised true hope,
It would require us to change.

But if there’s a universal truth,
Would we choose to believe?
Or bury it in our foolish hearts.
Denying it’s what we need.

If there was a love available
We’d feel safe in our thoughts.
Even seeing us at our worst 
But remains no matter the cost.

The choice is there every day
To take a chance and believe.
Stay jailed by walls not there?
Or trust truth and be set free?

God provides your every need
And never leaves your side.
He will always tell the truth.
It’s impossible for Him to lie.

You were designed to be loved,
And worth His life to be saved.
New life has great purpose.
Never to be alone or be afraid.

So, are you tired and worn out
Is peace an elusive pursuit?
Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ,
And the love He has for you.

What do people mean when
They say time has run out?
If there is more than this life,
Then time’s end is in doubt.

What was once thought final,
Now warrants a second view.
Wondering what else there is
I have believed but isn’t true.

Why are lies and deception
So easy to come to believe?
Seems they feed all the wants
While dismissing the needs.

But when the truth arrives -
Knocking on my heart’s door.
A foundation is established.
Birthing a heavenly rapport.

Full of grace and forgiveness.
Unveiling a love like no other.
Failures replaced by purpose.
Gifts for frontiers to discover.

God’s time does not run out.
Possible conquers the never.
His kingdom becomes home.
For I am with Him forever.

When I look to the heavens
And call out Your name,
Am I truly looking to listen
Or just wanting to complain?

Are these recurring grumbles
Revealing a painful truth?
Are they unconfessed sins
Of my rebellious youth?

When will all Your lessons
Be displayed in my faith?
A world seeing submission
Not demanding my way.

The Spirit that indwells.
The Authority of my soul.
Whispers words of grace
And a real truth to be told.

“Have you bothered to ask
What’s behind your offenses?
It’s your ego and pride
Firing up your defenses.”

“You think it is others
Causing your complaints.
I am working with them
To create in you a change.”

“They are My instruments
To teach you a new song.
Humble contriteness
Is what makes you strong.”

“My thoughts are not yours
As your heavenly Father.
My will for you, My child,
Is to trust in what I offer.”

“When you fully surrender
And trust in My provisions,
You will find good purpose
In My sovereign decisions.”

“The choice is now yours to
Let the offenses be released.
My forgiveness and grace is
Where you’ll find true peace.”

When a man’s pride props him up,
He admires what’s in the mirror.
His image crumbles under truth.
What remains is reality’s fears.

Woe is that point in a man’s life.
What he thinks matters is unveiled.
No longer as glorious victories,
But in how many times he’s failed.

Thinking pursuits and achievements
Are what shape a man’s reputation.
They turn out vain and vapid under
Heaven’s righteous examination.

The true measure of a man of God
Need only span his heart’s size.
Is there room for humbling truth
Or closed off in comfortable lies?

What if he were to ask the people
Whom he’s cared for and touched.
Do they feel safe within his heart
Or passengers getting just enough?

If this were the end of the story,
All would be left is condemnation.
But that is not what God desires -
Forgoing judgment for salvation.

For the Lord can do amazing things
With a man who swallows his pride.
When he declares need for His help
From a heart broken and contrite.

His Word forms a new foundation,
And opens up an enlightened path.
Letting forgiveness fully abandon
The guilt and shame of the past.

The true test of the man of God is
Will his loved one’s see the change?
Will they get a taste of Christ’s love
From the fruit of redemptive grace?

Lord, I’m struggling once again
With the shallowness of my faith.
I know your Word.
It’s true, I’m sure.
But why can’t I trust and obey?

Even in the days I didn’t believe.
When looking back at the years,
You were always there.
You’ve always cared.
Proving the futility of my fears.

You would think after all this time,
With the blessings You’ve bestowed.
I would be at peace
With my belief,
And be at rest with the God I know.

But even with the simplest of things,
I find myself in the same old place.
Failing once again.
Fearful if I can
Surpass the boundaries of Your grace.

My child, I knew we’d be here today.
Your thoughts are no surprise to Me.
This is nothing new
To trust what is true.
Let me remind you of My history.

For three years, My disciples followed me,
And heard every word that I had said.
How I fed the crowds.
Silenced the stormy clouds.
And even raised Lazarus from the dead.

But when My time had finally come
To deliver the world from shame.
I was all alone.
My friends were gone.
But I still loved them all the same.

This is true for you as well.
You’re a finished work in My eyes.
You’ll continue to fall.
Struggle to climb the wall.
But I will always be by your side.

So, hang in their My beloved child.
Your life is a long-distance race.
Remember these words.
They’re true for sure.
There are no boundaries of My grace.

It is easy to rejoice and be glad
In God’s giving provisional ways.
But how much will we rejoice,
When His provision is to take away?

Trust is tested by circumstances
That drive us to question His love.
It is in these moments of confusion
That He tells us His grace is enough.

For without our pain and suffering,
Our fellowship in Him is incomplete.
For that is the price He paid for us.
To conquer death and be redeemed.

Faith can be a sweet and simple thing
When life goes as we expect and plan.
But when the rug is pulled out from us,
It is only then we come to understand.

That His promises as Savior and Lord
Become fulfilled and believably real.
Bridging the gap between His truth,
And the lies coming from how we feel.

This forces us to ask tough questions
That challenge our human perspectives.
Learning both His thoughts are not ours,
And His sovereign good will’s directives.

Despite our inadequacy and failures,
We are commanded to keep the faith.
We then learn it is not what we do,
But what He does in love and grace.

This is why when He tells us to walk,
Solely by faith and not by our sight.
For in our lonely and darkest times,
He’s revealed as our Friend and Light.

Therefore, I beseech you precious child
To trust in the command to not be afraid.
For God will always be your hope and rock
Out on the deep waters of real faith.

So many years ago
I confessed and prayed
The reality of my condition
And the errors of my ways.

I lifted my shameful head
And gazed into the sky.
Not knowing what to expect,
But the status quo must die.

Then the Father of Lights
Unveiled the Prince of Peace.
The Spirit cradled my soul
And made my blind eyes see.

He showed me a different love
Of undeserved forgiveness.
Undeniable proof at the cross -
A sacrificial and faithful witness.

He’s revealed His character -
Especially in suffering and pain.
Giving a peace and a hope
That’s impossible to explain.

Even after all these years
Of my rebellion and pride,
He’s been true to His promise
Of never leaving my side.

Forgive me for my selfishness,
And thank You for Your grace.
Help me to fully surrender
To the wisdom of Your ways.

May the world see that Your love
Is what they all truly need.
Your truth provides a foundation
We can stand on and believe.

So, my God, please put to use
That prayer made years ago.
May the changes You’ve made
Reveal a God who can be known.

Thank You for not giving up
On Your flawed adopted son.
I look forward to serving You
Until I come before Your Son.