Several years ago I had the pleasure of meeting author Peter Lundell at a Christian writers’ conference. Since then I’ve been enjoying his monthly blog called Connections. With permission, I’m happy to share with you his latest post. I hope you find it as meaningful as I do.

Here’s a challenge: Don’t criticize anything or anyone for twenty-four hours.

If you think, What a dumb idea! You just lost it.

Start over.

When I first heard that and tried it years ago, I challenged myself to not criticize anyone for twenty-four hours. And I failed every day.

But I was making progress—-at least I was now aware. And I was surprised at how critical I was of others. Simply becoming aware of how critical I was made a huge impact on me.

I mentioned the challenge to others and was surprised at how many laughed at its impossibility. Then one day I got through twenty-four hours without criticizing anyone or anything. Wow!

A few days later I did it again.

I kept it up, and eventually it became normal to not criticize others and simply not make judgments. I’ll still call something what it is—but without criticism and simply as representing what Scripture says. It’s keeping myself out of the judgment seat that belongs only to God. The New Testament is full of verses that tell us to adhere to God’s righteousness and yet leave the judging to God.

This practice applies when you’re driving, reading the news, speaking about people who aren’t there with you—whatever. Let’s lose that critical attitude the way people want to lose weight.

I still have days when I catch myself criticizing, but at least I catch myself. And my wife says I’m a far more positive and less critical than I used to be. The choices we make will steer our lives.

It’s amazing how deciding to make a small, specific change—without excuses—can adjust your personal character. And it’s amazing how intentional and repeated practice can develop a new nature in that part of your character.

I find that when I choose not to criticize others, I don’t miss anything. Because there was never any value in it in the first place.

Would you take the challenge?

www.peterlundell.com

Photo credit:  geralt/Pixabay

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“Peace is something that we all desire, yet often feels elusive in today’s world. Even before the pandemic hit, the fast pace of American culture combined with the ever-increasing usage of technology has many of us feeling frantic and frazzled. Cheryl Elton has made it a life goal to pursue Christ’s perfect peace, and today she shares what she has learned through Scripture and experience about finding peace in a chaotic world.” (From Hope Unyielding podcast show notes)

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The Bible is not a book full of clever maxims, helpful suggestions, or do’s and don’ts—it is the book of LIFE! As such, its many principles and paradoxes challenge our human thinking: when we give, we receive; when we lose ourselves, we find ourselves; to be rich, we must become poor; exalting ourselves, we’ll be humbled, but humbling ourselves, we’ll be exalted.

God longs to fill us and be part of all we do, all we are, and all we become, but His hands are tied if we’re hanging on to our human pride. When we think our ways are better than His and fail to lay down our preconceived ideas and rationalizations rather than accept His truth, He can’t go to work. Relying solely on intellect, talents, relationships, possessions, or wealth to make it through life fails to put us in a position to receive the fulness of grace, peace, and blessing He longs to give us.

The solution? Humility.

Humility is a characteristic God values highly, because He knows He can work with those of a humble heart. Only when we recognize the poverty of our own souls do we realize our desperate need for a Savior.

There’s a wonderful peace when we can honestly approach God, life, and one another with humility. Humility isn’t denying your strengths; it’s being honest about your weaknesses. Humble servants of God recognize that by themselves they can do nothing. Their strength and enablement come from Him alone.

In one of his writings, well-known South African pastor Andrew Murray (1828-1917) describes the Christian heart of humility and the wonderful peace it brings to the soul:

Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.

Are there areas in your life in which pride still has you holding on to the reins? Perhaps it’s time to release them into the Master’s hands.

“And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  (1 Peter 5:5 NLT)

With open arms He’s standing ready to shower your life with grace, to give you perfect quietness of heart, and to fill you with His peace “when all around and above is trouble.”

God values humility.

Copyright © 2020 Cheryl Elton

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A new year brings hope, a sense of fresh beginnings and better days. For many, it’s a time to set goals and sharpen our focus on what is truly important.

Enter the “SMART” acronym . . .

A well-known business model for setting goals and objectives says SMART goals are: S-specific; M-measurable; A-attainable; R-relevant; T-time-bound.

A lot has been written on these highly effective concepts, and they offer a practical measuring stick for success when making personal goals.

But let’s also consider Ephesians 6, which gives us the crucial reminder that at its core, all of life is spiritual.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  (Ephesians 6:10, 12-13) 

For those endeavoring to live a “God-first” life with spiritual goals front and center, I offer a complement to the original SMART model with this new version:

S-Spirit-led; M-meaningful; A-actionable; R-redeemable; T-timely.

When setting goals, let’s consider:

 SPIRIT-LED:  Are we seeking God’s wisdom in making our goals? Let’s be sure He is directing us to do what we do, so our lives can bring glory to Him.

 MEANINGFUL:  Will this goal help or hinder my spiritual growth? Is it significant to my life, my personal ministry, or the kind of person I want to become?

 ACTIONABLE:  Am I able to take action on this goal? How will I do so?

 REDEEMABLE:  Does the goal help me overcome poor habits I may have had in the past, and draw me closer to God?

 TIMELY:  Is this the right time for pursuing this goal?

As we enter a new year, let’s make sure we spend quality time with the Lord to gain His wisdom and direction in setting our goals—SMART goals that we can live out to His glory!

Copyright © 2020 Cheryl Elton

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With more national shooting tragedies making recent headlines, and discussions of gun control taking center stage yet again, we realize afresh the brokenness of the world around us.

If we take the time to look deeply into our own hearts and lives, we recognize that in different ways we are all broken people, desperately in need of rescue and wholeness.

As Christians, we have a message of hope to share—Jesus Christ has come to redeem us from this dark and broken world! He is very much alive today, working to heal our lives, while we look ahead with anticipation to a coming day when there will be no more sorrow, death, or tears.

But while we wait, perhaps it’s worth considering: does my life hurt or help those around me? Do my words and actions reflect the love of my Savior and lead others closer to Him?

The gospels present the familiar story of Christ’s feeding a multitude with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish. It’s the only miracle of Jesus—aside from the resurrection—that’s recorded in all four gospels, each presenting distinct details which add to the story.

In John’s gospel, Andrew offers a solution to feeding the multitude: bring Jesus a boy with his lunch. When put into Jesus’ hands, the boy’s five loaves of bread and two fish (clearly inadequate to feed upwards of 5,000 people), end up feeding the entire crowd.

In Matthew 25, our Lord speaks of a coming day:

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (verses 37-40)

This passage speaks of relationship and service—to all who are in need, including the followers of Jesus who will at times suffer.

Those who are not suffering will be judged on their willingness to lovingly serve those who are. When they do, it is as if they serve Jesus Himself!

When we see the lost, the poor, the hurting, how will we respond?

Do I sometimes turn away from those with need, thinking it is too great for me to help?

Like the boy’s simple lunch: whatever I have to give, and however small—a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, a phone call, a prayer—when given to Jesus, allows Him to multiply the blessings and do the work that I cannot.

Copyright © 2019 Cheryl Elton

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Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ? To live, speak, and function as He did while on the earth?

What quickly comes to mind may be His many miracles, or His powerful teaching through parables. But what if we looked at His operating focus? Were there specific strategies underlying His purpose?

Can we imitate the same?

Following are 5 key points from the Scriptures that give us insight into how the Son of God operated while on the earth:

Jesus did nothing of Himself.

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19)

Nothing Jesus did originated from Himself; He only did what the Father showed Him to do. We see throughout the gospels His habit of close communion with God,  spending much time alone with the Father and in prayer.

Jesus didn’t seek to do His own will, but God’s will.

I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  (John 5:30) 

See also: John 6:38, 8:29, Matthew 26:39.

Jesus spoke not from Himself, but only what God wanted Him to.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.   (John 14:10)

See also: John 7:16, 8:26, 38.

Jesus was mindful of who He was and where He came from.

Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.’  (John 8:42)

See also: John 16:28

If we’re mindful of who we come from, we should be mindful of who we represent.

Jesus never promoted self-glory but made sure God got glory. 

Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:5-11)

See also: John 8:53-54

Jesus “emptied himself” of all His reputation and the things due Him as the Son of God. He didn’t “toot his own horn,” but remained humble, allowing God to exalt Him.

As Christians, we represent the Lord Jesus Christ on the earth today!

It is our greatest privilege, challenge and opportunity to live as He lived; to show the world the love and power of our wonderful Heavenly Father.

What if we ask the Lord how to incorporate these principles each day? How exciting our days might become!

Copyright © 2019 Cheryl Elton

Based on a CD message from Kingdom Faith Ministries, Int’l

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Imagine yourself gathering with Jesus and His closest followers for dinner—not just any dinner, but the meal that will be their last before the Messiah is led away and crucified.

That evening, Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples are recorded in John 14–16. He spells out what is coming: He will be leaving, but the Father will send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who will teach all things to those who believe in Him.

John 15 gives a beautiful illustration of how we are to bear fruit in our lives by abiding in Jesus Christ. It begins: 

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . . Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:1-8 NKJV)

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches.

A branch in and of itself does not bear fruit. It must be connected to the vine to receive the nourishment it needs. Through Jesus Christ, we receive the spiritual nourishment needed to bear good godly fruit in our lives.

Notice the word abide—used 10 times in six verses of this section alone! It means to remain, continue, or live in union with. This connection—one that abides in the vine—denotes an ongoing relationship with Christ.

To reach the deeper levels of our faith—that of abiding—we must intentionally strengthen the quality of time spent with Him.

How often do we sit quietly and simply enjoy His presence?

Abiding is more than reading our Bible for 10 minutes in the morning and then leaving God on the table as we hurry to our next task.

Abiding grows our relationship with Him from being a morning-only appointment to an all-day awareness of His presence.

Abiding is not an emotion achieved, but an ongoing relationship enjoyed.

Abiding means Jesus is no longer simply someone we read about and can quote, but a living master and friend; one we are engaged with throughout the day.

Abiding is obeying Jesus’ words to us. We’re aware when He brings His word to our remembrance, and we do what it says.

Abiding in Christ, we learn to hear His voice. We begin to recognize the “still small voice” of His Spirit speaking to ours.

Abiding gives us the inner rest and refreshing we need to do the work He has called us to do. How often He supernaturally rewards the time spent in abiding, so we do less, but accomplish more for His glory!

Abiding in Christ we bear fruit. We experience His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The Spirit works to grow these Christlike qualities in us, as we learn to abide in Him. This beautiful, ongoing, intimate relationship with the Lord allows us to not only bear fruit, but much fruit, in our lives!

Copyright © 2019 Cheryl Elton

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Do you have a quiet place you go to be alone with God? A place where you pour out your prayers and praises and seek His counsel?

For me, during my early years as a Christian in high school and college, a local park and nearby beaches were my special places. I loved to sit and watch the tide roll in, reminding me of God’s faithfulness as I quieted my heart in His presence. Today, I have my comfy chair at home.

Quiet time with the Lord is imperative if we want to maintain peace in our lives. Jesus tells us in this life there will be trouble—but in Him we find peace.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NIV)

Seasons of trials, conflict, afflictions, and adversity are inevitable in this life. The world is a volatile and unpeaceful place, and tuning in to the news often inflames uncertainty. If we let it, anxiety and worry can easily consume us on every front.

A respected ministry leader and teacher I know once suggested that peace is our greatest spiritual weapon.

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. (Romans 16:20 NKJV)

God’s peace is the only weapon that can work instantly, to crush Satan under our feet! Only by maintaining peace in our minds and hearts will we be able to hear from God when the storms come.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV)

The antidote to so many of our struggles is found in His presence. There is no greater habit we can incorporate into our lives than quiet time with Him in the secret place each day.

Silencing our hearts through prayer and His presence, God brings His Word to our remembrance, He gives us wisdom; He speaks His counsel into the depths of our hearts.

Jesus, the One who has overcome the world, is in you. Talk to Him often and share your life with Him. Let His peace rule in your heart—the wonderful peace found only in His presence.

Copyright © 2019 Cheryl Elton

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A new year brings hope, a sense of new beginnings and better days. For many, it’s a time to redefine goals and sharpen our focus on what is truly important.

As Christians, perhaps now more than ever we need to stay strong in the Lord.

 Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  (Ephesians 6:10)

This verse begins a section of scripture—Ephesians 6:10-17—which gives us the crucial reminder that at its core, life is spiritual. We’re to “put on” the armor of God to ready ourselves for the spiritual battle at hand, and to be victors in this life through Christ.

The armor we’re told to put on is the:

• Belt of TRUTH
• Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS
• Sandals of PEACE
• Shield of FAITH
• Helmet of SALVATION
• Sword of the Spirit—the WORD OF GOD

The armor of God is more than just a protective covering—it’s the very presence of Christ Himself. By putting on the armor of God, life becomes no longer about simply fulfilling our own desires, but allowing ourselves to be transformed into His likeness, so we may carry out His work in the world.

As the only offensive weapon on the list, the sword of the Spirit is significant.

From the original Greek, verse 17 reads: “the sword of the Spirit is the word (rhema) of Christ.”  

A rhema (word) is a “speaking.” This certainly includes the written word of God. In the gospels we see Jesus, when confronted by the devil, bolding proclaiming “It is written . . .” as He quotes from the Old Testament.

Most notably for us today, a rhema is also a speaking by the Holy Spirit into our Spirit—a revelation word for a specific situation in the moment. The rhema of Christ must be wielded like a sword—spoken out and acted upon—to yield the results God desires.

God has given us this magnificent imagery of the armor so we might draw near to Him and experience His presence and power—thereby enabling us to be victorious in the spiritual battles of life.

The power of God is demonstrated by the rhema of Christ.

Perhaps our greatest goal for the new year should be to sharpen our swords—to spend more time in His presence, to learn to hear His voice as He speaks rhema words to us—and to proclaim His word, His power, and His love to the world around us greater than ever before.

I want to start the new year strong—strong in the Lord, equipped with the full armor of God—living day by day in His presence.

How about you?

Copyright © 2019 Cheryl Elton

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A few days ago I lost my favorite watch. After stumbling through the day feeling like part of my arm was missing, that evening I found my watch.

What joy!

A few days later, however, remembering the lost watch incident, my joy was not as intense. After a week, the joy had completely faded away. Yet at that moment the watch was not lost again!

So what happened here?

Simply that what was now lost wasn’t again the watch, but the joy in finding it!

Chinese Christian teacher Watchman Nee likens such an example to the Christian experience. He wrote about the joy we experience when first saved, but over time often dissipates, resulting in a life of spiritual highs and lows, or what Nee calls times of “joy” or “dryness”.

Most think a joyous feeling denotes spiritual height—so when we lose our joy, we ramp up efforts to regain what we think we lost, by going to church, more Bible reading, etc.

But here’s the point: although our joyous feeling is at times lost, the object of that joy—Christ—is not!

What is the secret to lasting joy, and what does it look like?

Nee writes:

Christians nowadays incline too strongly towards a life of feeling. Yet God does not say to live by feeling but He says to live by faith. After years of experience you will come to realize that joy and dryness are really the same.

Oh that we may not act like those with a small capacity—in joy they dance in the house; in dryness they drench the wall with tears. If we live by faith we shall not be swayed by either of them.

Even so, let it be plainly understood that we are not people without emotion. We do have feelings of joy as well as dryness. But we ought not allow these external sensations to touch our inward man . . . the joy which the outward man feels is not that which the inward man enjoys in the Lord, because this latter joy is most deep and unshakable.[1]

Through all life’s seasons, feelings fluctuate. But a life of faith gains joy—and strength—through the inner awareness of the source of that joy, Jesus Christ!

. . . the joy of the LORD is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

As times of joy and dryness become one, inner strength emerges—the deep unshakable joy of His presence—the secret to lasting joy!

[1] Watchman Nee, The Salvation of the Soul, (Christian Fellowship Publishers 1978), p. 114-115.

Copyright © Cheryl Elton 2018

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