Spiritual Growth Archives - Page 8 of 13 - Sharla Fritz
March 1, 2016

4 Steps to Take When You’re Discouraged

WHEN I'M IN THE DESERT OF DISAPPOINTMENTI NEED TO REMEMBERONLY GOD CAN QUENCH MY THRIST

Years ago a friend came to our house broken and discouraged. His heart was more than bruised. It had been stomped on, kicked in, and used as a punching bag.

His wife had just asked for a divorce.

My husband is a pastor and this man was not only a friend, but a member of our congregation. He came to my husband for counseling. For support.

That first night all we did was hug him. Cry with him.Sit in shock with him.

He came often to talk with my husband, but one day he arrived when my husband wasn’t home yet. This twenty-something man shuffled in like a person sixty years older. Shoulders slumped, he made his way to the sofa, but didn’t even make it to the seat. Instead he slid down to the floor in a ball of tears and desperation.

My kids were running around the house and I wasn’t sure what to do. So I just slumped down on the floor, leaning against a nearby chair, and sat with him.

As his sadness permeated the room and my own soul, I remembered Psalm 42–the place I always go when my heart is shattered. While we sat on the floor I shared how this psalm encourages me when I’m in a pit of discouragement.

Acknowledge the Feelings

King David must have been in a broken state when he wrote the words:

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad? (Psalm 42:5a)

I love how David talks to his soul. He takes the first step and acknowledges the sadness, the depression, the emptiness.

The first step I take is to recognize all the pain in my heart. I name the emotions no matter how ugly. 

4 STEPS-DISCOURAGEDLook Toward God

But David doesn’t let his heart stay in that desperate place. He immediately encourages his soul:

I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and  my God! (Psalm 42:5b)

The second step to take when I’m heartbroken and discouraged is to stop looking at the problem and remind my heart to look toward God. 

After I acknowledge my discouragement I need to turn to the Source of hope.

Remember God’s Help in the Past

Next I need to remember how God has brought me through all my other deep and desperate places. David wrote:

 Now I am deeply discouraged,
    but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
    from the land of Mount Mizar. (Psalm 42:6)

I need to recall how the Lord has guided me through my valleys and back to the mountaintop. He has brought me through sadness and depression before. He will do it again.

Turn Times of Discouragement Into Times of Intimacy with God.

Finally, I need to realize that times of discouragement can be a time of intimacy with God. 

David wrote:

As the deer longs for streams of water,
    song for you, O God. Psalm 42:1

When the world stomps on my heart there is Someone who can mend it. and satisfy my soul. When I face deserts of disappointment, I need to realize that God is the only One who can truly quench my thirst and satisfy my soul.

When I face deserts of disappointment, I realize God is the only One who can truly quench my thirst. Share on X

I’m not sure my words of encouragement helped my friend going through a divorce more than just sitting with him.

But Psalm 42 is the place I go when discouragement and disappointment visit my life.

Psalm 42 is the first psalm in Book II which includes Psalms 42-75. This book of psalms is sometimes called the “Elohim Psalter Part 1” because Elohim is the name for God used most often. Elohim is the Hebrew name for God that is used in the very first sentence of the Bible. So the name Elohim reminds us that He is the Creator, the One who began it all. Many of the psalms in Book II are written by David, but some are written by the sons of Korah– Levites that David put in charge of music at the tabernacle.

 

Next step: Are you brokenhearted or discouraged? Which of the four steps do you need to take today? Acknowledging your feeling? Looking away from the problem and toward God? Remember God’s help in the past? Realizing this time of disappointment may lead to greater intimacy with God? Journal your response.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth, Taming Your Tongue Tagged With:
February 23, 2016

Directions to the Perfect Way

 

God'sDirections

When my husband is driving, I sometimes  often need to resist the urge to give directions. You see, I want to say things like:

You’ll want to turn left here.

It’s better if you avoid that road.

You’re going that way?

And it’s all because I think my way is better.

Now, over the years my tendency to be a back-seat driver has slightly diminished because I have realized something:

My husband knows the way.

I have often struggled with being a backseat driver in my life as well. I know God is supposed to be the One steering me through the course of life, but I want to be the one in charge. 

As I have been reading through the psalms, God continually reminds me that He knows the way. The best way.

Psalm 18 says:

As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 18:30)

PerfectWayDavid tells me that God’s way is perfect. The Hebrew word for way is derek which means road, journey, path, or course of life. And the word perfect in Hebrew means complete and whole. It is used often in the Old Testament to describe the animals that were to be brought for sacrifice in the temple–without blemish.

God’s path or road through life is complete.

It isn’t deficient or lacking.

It is not defective or flawed.

Although the world continually tries to get me to follow current trends and popular advice, it usually doesn’t take me long to discover those ways are inadequate.

Only God’s way is perfect. In other words, if I follow God’s directions, I will always be on the right road.

David takes this idea of God’s perfect path a step further in verse 32:

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (Psalm 18:32)

This makes things a little more personal. It might be fairly easy for me to agree with the fact that God’s way is perfect–for other people.

But to believe that God makes my way perfect means I have to stop giving the directions and be willing to take them. It means I have to admit:

My way is flawed

My way is deficient

My way is not perfect.

Not very easy for this recovering control freak.

But God invites me to take His hand while He guides me on the path He has designed and trust that it truly is perfect for me.

God invites me to take His hand and trust that the path He has designed is truly perfect for me. Share on X

In His love, the Father has laid out a road that brings me closer to Him.

In His wisdom He has found the best lane to travel in.

In His power He enables me to follow the route He has planned.

Background information: Psalm 18 is a personal psalm of praise. It was written by David, a “servant of the Lord.” David instructed the choirmaster to use this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him form the hand of his enemies–especially Saul. If you would like to join me in reading through the psalms during this Lenten season, download this free reading guide.

Next step: Pray with me, “Lord, forgive me when I have doubted that Your way is perfect. When I have insisted on a path of my own choosing, no matter how flawed or incomplete it was. Help me to wholeheartedly believe that You are guiding me on the best possible path to a fulfilling life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With:
February 22, 2016

How a NOT-To-Do List Can Help You Succeed

packingtime2

Today I’m posting over at my friend Melanie’s site. Read this preview and click to read the rest!

Last year started out with grim news.

My husband was diagnosed with lymphoma.

It was a shock for this guy who never takes a sick day. He never had any symptoms. He didn’t feel ill.

not-to-do-listSoon all of our to-do lists were relegated to the garbage can. Instead of our usual work and social activities, our schedules were crammed with doctor visits, tests, and treatments. Our over-packed lives had to make room for more important things. I personally needed to weed out the frivolous to find time for what was necessary—being available for my husband….

Read more…

 

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , ,
December 15, 2015

The Characters of Christmas: The Shepherds

TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY

Good news.

Doesn’t your heart do a happy dance when you hear that phrase?

For me, this year started out with a lot of bad news. My husband was diagnosed with lymphoma. A friend of mine lost her battle with lung cancer. Life seemed to be one long string of bad news.

But in the middle of the year things started to turn around. My husband, John, responded well to chemotherapy and we rejoiced when his oncologist gave us the good news that he is officially in remission. Then my daughter shared the happy news that she and her husband are expecting baby number four. And the cherry on top was the news that my daughter and her family are taking an a sabbatical from their work in China and will be here in the U.S. for six months.

Lots of good news!

I bet the shepherds near Bethlehem on that Christmas night felt much the same way. The whole nation of Israel had been groaning under Roman rule. They were tired of seeing foreign soldiers in the streets. They were tired of obeying a ruler who lived far away. Life seemed like a long string of bad news.

So when the angel announced that he had good news for them, he immediately had the shepherds’ attention:

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

THE shepherdsThe shepherds didn’t wast any time in going to see what all the good news was about. They raced to Bethlehem to see the baby and immediately told other the good news (Luke 2:17). They praised God for all they had seen and heard (Luke 2:20).

As I think about the shepherd’s response I am humbled. 

You see, the good news they received did not immediately change their financial situation. Sharing the good news probably gave the their 15 minutes of fame, but it didn’t get them wealth or power.

Still, they realized that this was the best good news and so they told others and praised God.

I, on the other hand, may not always be exuberant about spiritual good news. I can’t wait to tell everyone the happy news that my grandchildren are coming for Christmas, but I may be timid about sharing the best news of Jesus coming for Christmas. I may be brave about talking about my new book, but may be timid about talking about the new life I have in Christ.

So this Christmas I’m praying that I will be more like the shepherds–rejoicing in the best news ever!

This Christmas rejoice in the best news ever--Jesus Christ is born! Share on X

Jesus Christ is born! We are rescued from sin and death! In Christ we have life and peace! We are welcomed into God’s family. 

Next step: I would love to hear your good news! Share any good news you received this year in the comments below. And think of one way you can share the best news of all this Christmas!

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth
September 29, 2015

When Your Life Takes a Plot Twist

This week I’m privileged to be featured on the incourage site. If you’re not familiar with this site you might want to sign up to get their posts–wonderful, encouraging stuff every day!

I love a good story. I like getting lost in a fictional world filled with interesting characters and an intriguing plot. Give me romance and mystery. Provide me with adventure and astonishing developments in the storyline.

In my own life, however, I greatly prefer a predictable plot. I would like my life to have the pace of a well-crafted story of my own choosing. No unexpected plot twists for me, please. Just pleasant days filled with laughter and friends. Years of successful work and close family ties.

Unfortunately real life isn’t like that. The plot that I planned out for my time on earth simply hasn’t materialized. Every chapter has had surprise twists. Events I expected to happen never did. Things I said I would not do under any circumstances became the very things God asked me to embrace.

Recently life delivered an unexpected development in my life tale.

My husband has been diagnosed with lymphoma….

To continue reading, click here to head over to (in)courage

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , ,
September 8, 2015

You Are God’s Chosen Instrument: 3 Ways to Make Music in His Hands

choseninstrument

Piano is my chosen instrument. 

I started playing the piano when I was five years old and loved it from the beginning. The ability to make music with my own fingers seemed like magic to me.

After a year of piano, my parents bought a spinet organ and for about seven years I took lessons on that instrument, but it never had the same magic for me. When I switched back to the piano I was much happier. While a powerful organ can blow your socks off, an organist never has the same control of the touch and sound that a pianist does.

This week I was reading the well-known story of the conversion of Saul in Acts 9:1-19. I have read this story many times so I asked God to show me something new this time around.

And what I noticed was in the exchange between God and Ananais–the man God sent to Saul after Saul’s encounter with God on the road to Damascus. Ananais was pretty skeptical about going to see the man responsible for executing Christians all around the Roman kingdom. But God reassured Ananais that this was the plan:

“The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” Acts 1:15

Saul (or Paul–as he was later known) was God’s chosen instrument.

And I thought: What significance is in the phrase “chosen instrument”? If I am also an instrument of God, what does that mean?

First of all, when an instrumentalist performs, the audience rarely praises the instrument. They applaud the performer. As an instrument of God, I do not receive the admiration and acclaim. God does.

Second, the instrument cannot make music on its own. It relies on the hands of the performer. Yes, now there are marvelous machines that can be attached to pianos to make music automatically, but even there the machine is made and programmed by human hands. Music is dreamed up by talented composers. On its own, the piano can only sit on a stage and take up space. I sometimes think that I am like the machine that can produce something wonderful on my own, but in truth it is all in the hands of the Creator who made me, the Programmer who guides me, and the Performer who works through me.

piano keysFinally, I thought of how a piano doesn’t rebel in the hands of a musician. My piano doesn’t stop making sound if it doesn’t like the song I’m playing. It doesn’t run out of the room if it doesn’t agree with my musical interpretation. It doesn’t pout and complain if the song is too difficult. Here is where I am much different from my piano!

Paul was God’s chosen instrument to the Gentiles of his day. And he acted as an instrument should. He worked for the glory of the Performer. He relied on the power of the Creator. He didn’t complain if the song was too hard.

I believe we are each God’s chosen instrument. The Father lovingly chooses each of us to play for His glory. He works through each of us in various concert venues around the world. He produces beautiful music in those who yield to His gentle touch. 

Next step: Reflect on your role as God’s chosen instrument. How have you made beautiful music in the hands of God? How have you performed for your own glory or tried to make music on your own?

 

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , , ,
September 1, 2015

Finding Faith When Life Hurts

GoToJesus

Today I’m over at my friend Meadow Rue’s blog. Meadow Rue Merrill is an award-winning writer, contributing magazine editor and mom of six including Ruth, who was adopted from Uganda. Meadow doesn’t wear a clerical collar. She didn’t graduate from seminary, but she believes that God is intimately involved in her everyday life, an experience she shares in her weekly newspaper column, “Faith Notes.”

The year started with ominous news. A few days into 2015 our family doctor called with the results of my husband’s recent CT scan. “Sorry to say—” His voice broke. “It looks like lymphoma.”

So began a journey we never wanted. After the initial phone call there were biopsies and PET scans. My husband, John, had appointments with cancer specialists and oncology nurses. We learned the jargon of sickness that no one really wants to know.

The first day of chemotherapy, John sat in the infusion chair for seven hours having two powerful medicines pumped into the port near his right shoulder. The first medicine had to be administered slowly – for five hours it slowly dripped into his veins. When the oncology nurse came with the second bag, she wore a Hazmat-style suit of goggles, gown, and gloves. And this is what they are putting inside my husband? I thought…

Continue reading at Meadow Rue’s site

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth
July 9, 2015

6 Ways to Worship When Your Worship Has Grown Stale

Psalm 29-2

I remember a day when worship happened instinctively.

The sky was bright with the setting sun.

As the sun bounced it’s rays on the clouds the sky turned gold, then pink, then purple.

I stopped watering my begonias for a minute and worshiped.

I have to admit that too often the only worshiping I do is at church on Sunday morning. And sometimes what I am doing in the sanctuary can’t even be called worship. Even though my mouth may be mumbling words of praise, my mind wanders to my grocery list, my upcoming appointments, and just where the lady in front of me got that cute dress.

But I want to learn to praise my awesome God who deserves adoration. So this week I am asking God to teach me to worship.

Scripture tells us:

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. Psalm 29:2

Here are some ways of worship I have already tried:

  • Praying the psalms. I knelt down at my chair and prayed through psalms of praise like Psalms 8, 19, 29, and 33. I spoke them out loud.
  • Listening to praise music. I pulled up a praise station on Pandora and worshiped along with the music for 15 minutes.
  • Spontaneous worship. I looked for glimpses of God in my ordinary day like the spectacular sunset or a butterfly flitting around my garden. I praised God for His beauty evident in creation.

Here are some ways I am going to try in the future:

  • A new setting. I am planning to go to a church that I do not regularly attend that has a beautiful sanctuary. I want to go when the place is quiet so I can worship in solitude.
  • Create a worship board. I want to make a visual tool for adoration. Using pictures of things that remind me of God, I will create a photo collage.
  • Using hymns. Great hymns like “How Great Thou Art” and “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” inspire praise when we really study the words. I am planning to memorize the words to some classic hymns.

As I expand my worship experience, I hope to become a more proficient praiser of my awesome God!

Next step: Which of the worship experiences above sound interesting to you? Choose one and implement it this week. Whatever you decide to do, do it for the Almighty God.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: ,
July 2, 2015

Freedom From The Tyranny Of People-Pleasing

God has given me freedom, but I don’t always live as if I am free. I get tangled up in the chains of ambition and people-pleasing. Although I am free in Christ, I sometimes willingly step into shackles that prevent from living in that freedom.

It seems like this is nothing new. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, he said,

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. (Galatians 5:1)

The Galatians had experienced the freedom of salvation in Christ–the joyous freedom that comes when we realize that there is nothing we can do to earn salvation. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. Christ has already done everything necessary.

But they had been convinced by other people that they needed to follow some of the old laws, such as circumcision. They were willingly stepping into the shackles of trying to please other people by doing things God had told them they didn’t need to do.

And when I read this passage again, I realized that, in a way, I had done the same thing. Lofty ambitions, avid goals, and the desire to do what the “experts” tell me I need to do have chained me to an unrealistic work pattern. I have probably been trying to do more than God has asked me to do–more than I was meant to do.

Sisters in Christ, I hope that you have not been shackled to people-pleasing and working beyond what Christ has asked of you. But if you have, here a few steps you can take to break free of the chains.

  1. Write down everything that you do during a normal week and everything you feel you “should” be doing. Include everything from cooking meals and laundry to driving kids to school and organizing play dates.
  2. Take your long list into God’s presence and mentally lay it at His feet. Pray over each item. Ask yourself questions like: Is this activity necessary? Is there a simpler way to do this chore? Why am I choosing this activity–is it because God asked me to do it or I am doing this simply to impress the neighbors or please other people?
  3. Eliminate the activities that God asks you to purge from your calendar. Find simpler, less stressful ways to accomplish some of your chores. Do what God is calling you to do–but not more.

Experience the freedom of doing what God has asked you to do. Live free.

Next Step: Follow the three steps above to break free of the chains of people pleasing. Write Galatians 5:1 on a sticky note and display it where you will see it often.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: ,
June 23, 2015

Great Expectations: What to Do When Life Disappoints

We expect great things out of life. But often life disappoints us.

A while back, my husband and I were scrolling through Netflix, trying to find something to watch. I spied a movie with a plotline described as, “An accomplished pianist’s life takes a terrible turn. An aimless college student becomes her caregiver and the two form a bond that enriches both their lives.”

The movie had me at “accomplished pianist.” As a pianist myself, I’m drawn to stories about musicians. This movie sounded perfect.

The only problem was the movie wasn’t really about a musician. The main character only played the piano once. Music never had a major role in the plot. I was disappointed.

The movie did not live up to my expectations.

Life is Full of Disappointment

Life is like that too, right? I mean, most of us have experienced disappointments, setbacks, even tragedies that we did not expect. All our hopes and dreams become like deflated balloons that sink from the ceiling and lay around on the floor.

And if we’re not careful, our joy and trust can burst and disappear.

I think the problem is when we put our hopes and expectations in the wrong things. We expect life to treat us well. If you live in America, the land based on the “pursuit of happiness,” you expect your life to improve, to get better every day.

However, Jesus told us if that is our view of life, it will not live up to our expectations. He said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Living in this sin-sickened world, we really can’t assume we’ll have a perfect life. Instead we can expect pain, sickness, and stinking problems.

Someone Worthy of My Expectations

This sounds pretty grim until I realize that there is Someone worthy of my expectations. God has promised to never leave me, never forsake me. He is faithful. He is loving. He is good. While my life here won’t be perfect, I can expect God to always come through when I need Him. I can trust that He has a fantastic plan for my life.

John 3:14-15 (MSG) says:

In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.

Look to Jesus–trusting and expectant–and your life will be real. Maybe it won’t be the life you had planned. Perhaps it won’t be the life you had carefully arranged. Maybe it won’t be the life you had shaped in your mind. But trusting in the God who loves you more than you know will give the life you were meant for.

Life won’t live up to our expectations. But God will never let us down.

Next step: What do you do when life disappoints? Is there a part of your life that is not living up to your expectations right now? Write it on a piece of paper and offer it to God in prayer. Ask Him to help you let it go. Pray that He will help you trust Him for the most awesome life possible. 

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: ,
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