Just praying through some issues right now and landed on something sweet from the Lord. There are a variety of things that I observe or encounter that just make me angry. Whether it be the sad reality of abortion in the United States, race relations, sexual degradation in mainstream pop culture - or more on the ground things in my own personal relationships - addictions, dysfunction, selfishness, insecurity; let's sum it all up in a word - Sin. Sin makes me angry and I know it makes a lot of people angry, even if you don't use the religiously charged word "sin." I see outrage in my newsfeed every single day. Outrage over all kinds of injustices and wrongs. And as I was praying through a few specific issues that have caused me to be outraged, angry... and unfortunately, hard and embittered as a result (because what then follows when our outrage is left unanswered? How many times does that emotion well up, and the circumstances and conditions stay the same, before we become callous?) - as I was praying - the word of the Lord spoke softly in my rage -
"for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" James 1:20
It really says it all there. But I had to go hunting some more. Because I said to myself - What then produces righteousness? What can I do? What can I pray for? What characteristics need to be in my life (or someone else's) to produce this righteousness we all fundamentally long for?
ha. :). Will I ever learn? What the Lord was already speaking to me as I began to pray today... a lesson He has been pleading with my heart to accept for my whole life - spoken through Paul to the Philippians (1:6, 9-11):
"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ..."
Did you get that, dear soul? He began the work. You did not. He will bring it to completion. Not you, my dear.
"...And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may be approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
ha! Righteousness that comes *through Jesus Christ* - not through my anger, outrage, conviction, self-discipline, or repentance, even - but *through Jesus Christ*
and not only that - but what's it all for? The glory and praise of God!
The message here echoes in a song that's been reverberating in my head/voice/community for the last couple of weeks:
You are worthy of it all
You are worthy of it all
For from you are all things
And to you are all things
You deserve the glory
So stand back, self! Lay down your weaponry of anger and arguments, and just start welcoming His kingdom and His righteousness. Self, start proclaiming His Truth to your own heart, over your people, your relationships, the injustices that pain you. He put all those things in your life to begin with and has a plan of righteousness and redemption far beyond your imagination, which feebly stretches to hope for "justice." Will you be a herald of the truth - of the victory - or will you wallow in the pain and lay down in defeat, saying this is the way things are?
For they are not!
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."
Revelation 21:3-6
