by Donya Dunlap | Sep 16, 2016 | Bible Study, The Spiritual Life
Have you ever thought of the Holy Spirit as a gift before? I hadn’t. Not until I read a passage in Luke that changed my thinking.
God is our loving Father
Jesus tells the disciples a story of a father in Luke chapter 11. His child is in need of food and Jesus asks His listeners if they believed the father would give his son a stone or a scorpion instead.
Of course he wouldn’t!
A loving father will only give his children helpful things. Tucked into Jesus’ conclusion is the following treasure:
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! – Luke 11:13
Did you catch it? Jesus doesn’t promise physical blessings. He promises the gift of the Holy Spirit sent directly from our Heavenly Father for our good.
The gift of the Holy Spirit
Most of the time I think of the Holy Spirit as a person of the Trinity—a theological truth. But He is so much more than a philosophical or theological construct! He is a precious gift, dwelling inside our very beings to comfort, correct and guide us. He gives us wisdom and reveals to us the truths of God’s Word and His will.
The thing I love most is the Holy Spirit operates just as the Father does. My earthly father wouldn’t have given me the keys to a car at eight (or sixteen for that matter). Neither does the Holy Spirit give us things we aren’t ready for, even when we think we are mature enough to handle them.
Your wish list
What do you really, really want from God? A mate? A child? A ministry? Is it possible God knows you aren’t ready to handle your desire just yet? Instead of giving you a stone or a scorpion, He has given you the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you into maturity so you are ready to receive your heart’s desire when the time is right.
But, as it is written, “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
God has so many wonderful things prepared for us as His children. He has promised to lead us into them if we allow the Holy Spirit to have rule over our hearts. So I ask you…does He? Or are you too busy chasing your dreams and desires to be still and listen to what He might be saying to you?
Don’t do as I have done
Listen, I’m not judging. I’m speaking from experience. I’m a pro at doing first and praying later. But I also know, when I finally take my hands off the wheel and determine I will sit still until God reveals what direction I should take, THEN He starts moving and directing. Before that, He can’t show me because I won’t sit still long enough for Him to share His plan!
Is that you today? Do you feel like you have been running in circles? Do you believe God has been ignoring your pleas for direction? Maybe it is time to relax for a while. Spend some time thanking God for what He has done in your past and surrender your desire to micro-manage your future. He’s a good Father. Let Him do His thing.
In just a few more days, the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series will be live! It’s an unusual series. Less of a structured blog post and more of a glimpse into how I journal Scripture. If you would like notifications of when these and other posts go live, please subscribe today! As a thank you, you will receive a free gift from me—The Wonder Woman’s Manifesto.
by Donya Dunlap | Sep 13, 2016 | The Spiritual Life, Write Hard Things
I remember like it was yesterday. Taken off guard, eyes tearing in the middle of my work day. I had never heard the words before. But as they danced along the radio waves they burned themselves on my heart.
She loves her mama’s lemonade,
Hates the sound that goodbyes make.
She prays one day she’ll find someone to need her.
She swears that there’s no difference,
Between the lies and compliments.
It’s all the same if everybody leaves her.
And every magazine tells her she’s not good enough,
The pictures that she’s seen make her cry.
She would change everything for happy ever after.
Caught in the in between, a beautiful disaster,
But she just needs someone to take her home.
Beautiful Disaster
by Jon McLaughlin
She’s a beautiful disaster, and she is everywhere
I see her every day.
Online. At the grocery store. Walking her dog across the street.
I read her story in the headlines.
Suicide. Cutting. Body shaming. Rape. Teen pregnancy. Abuse. Trafficking victim. Orphan.
I see people shake their heads at her wondering what went wrong. I try not to shake them and scream.
We went wrong. We did this to her.
Church members. School teachers. Relatives she thought she could trust. We look, but we don’t see. Smiling and nodding and moving right along. Clicking our tongues. But do we help? Do we love? Do we go beyond the how are you to find out what’s really happening in their world? In their heart?
Maybe she is you
Praying that someone will want you, need you, love you. Feeling very much alone. Not measuring up to the ads on tv, the magazines, the Instagram models around you every day. Pressured on every side to give yourself over to the lust in another person’s heart. Wearing a mask of normalcy and hoping that no one can see how you really feel. Willing to give up everything just to be happy. Just to be known. Just to be loved. Only seventeen, or twenty-three, or thirty-one…but oh, so tired.
You need to know…
You are not alone. I know it feels that way. I know it seems that there is not another soul on earth that understands you.
But you need to know, the God of creation formed you in love exactly how He wanted you to be. Then, knowing that sin would keep you from His presence, He sent His own Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for your sin. That penalty is death. Jesus died in your place. There is no greater love than His.
Jeremiah 31:3 – I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. (ESV)
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
Psalm 147:2-4 – The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. (ESV)
We are all God’s daughters
He created us, but He also gives us a choice. To join His family or to go our own way. Where we start does not determine where we end.
We must give our hearts and souls to the One who loves us all with all He is. His Word says even now He is preparing a heavenly home for those who put their faith in Him.
Will you give Him your heart in return? It may be battered, bruised, and worn out from being used by those that promised love and didn’t deliver—but He can make it whole again.
We have a responsibility to each other
Maybe you aren’t the broken one. Or maybe you were and God healed you. You have a responsibility to show His love to the hurting around you.
Sometimes we need to pause long enough to see the pain behind the fake smile. It takes just a minute to give a hug, lift a prayer, or send a text. But it can mean the world to someone who just needed to know another living soul cares about them.
Be that person. Be the one to pull off the mask of “I’m okay” and share a much needed hug. We’re all in this thing called life together.
If you feel I wrote this post just for you, I also wrote a book just for you. It’s called Forgetting the Fairy Tale and a version of this post is included as the Preface.
I want you to know that I see you. I’ve been you. Somedays I still am. But you and I, we have hope in Jesus. He has changed my life and He can change yours too. I hope you will read the book and tell me tell me what you think in an Amazon review on Facebook or in a message. I’d love to hear from you.
by Donya Dunlap | Sep 9, 2016 | The Spiritual Life
There’s an ongoing struggle I have with the Gospel. It’s the part where Jesus does everything.
When I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a young child, it seemed easy. But as I grew, both chronologically and spiritually, I became aware of all the commands of Scripture. I began to feel an immense pressure to measure up. To make Jesus pleased with me. I didn’t understand His love is not based on my performance.
My parents and my teachers meant well. But instead of raising an obedient little grace girl, they raised an anxious ball of nerves that believed Jesus was mad at her all the time for being less than perfect.
To this day, I struggle with living in grace and giving grace. I continually remind myself Jesus’ love for me hasn’t changed from day one. He loves me today just the same as He will love the future me in Heaven. What a great relief this knowledge is to “Type A” me!
The basis of grace
Thankfully, God prods me occasionally to help me stay on my grace-girl path. This week’s nudge came from one of my favorite books of Scripture.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
– Ephesians 2:4-10
It makes sense that I cannot earn my salvation. There could never be an act of kindness or a series of good works to equate to the holy Son of God coming to earth for the express purpose of enduring torture and dying to pay the price for my sin. I can never earn or repay that gift.
But things get sticky when I get real about my life. I want to serve God well, lead people to Jesus, and use my talents to bless His daughters. I find myself fretting if I’m enough. How can I do more? Be more?
We are God’s Workmanship
This passage blows all those questions away with a kiss. God made us alive in Christ. God is creating us into everything He desires for us to be. We are HIS workmanship. The only part we play is showing up. The timing and process are on Him.
This means I can let go of the pressure of trying to accomplish 1,001 things in 24 hours. There’s no need to compare myself to others who are seeing success faster than I am. I can release worry and rest peacefully at night. I can be flexible when circumstances change. If we fight Him in this, we interrupt His craft, causing pain to ourselves in the process.
We can create, but we’re not the Creator
God has hardwired us in His image. In part, this means we enjoy creating. We desire to mold our lives into perfect resumes, beautiful children, lovely homes, and a respectable retirement account. There’s nothing wrong with any of this, unless we hold so tightly to our designs the Creator cannot change them without breaking them. In keeping our lives protected with tightened fist, we make ourselves as God. We commit idolatry.
So make your plans and set your goals. Work hard, for God is pleased with our diligence. But keep an open hand. Seek God’s face in setting new directions for your journey. Look to Him for guidance each step of the way. In doing so we keep ourselves under His protection as He molds us into who He has designed us to be.
Are you raising your children to think Jesus is upset with them all the time? Do you think so about yourself? Continue the conversation in the comments below.
by Donya Dunlap | Sep 6, 2016 | The Spiritual Life
The question mark in the quotation
Have you ever come across a confusing passage of Scripture? I have. In fact, two verses in Hebrews have always bothered me a little.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. -Hebrews 13:5-6
The middle phrase, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” is quoted often, and almost every time it is used, the reader starts with, “for he hath said.” I understand why they do. Their point is usually something reassuring about how we are never alone. God is always with us. We can be encouraged and emboldened by God’s presence in our lives. While these facts are true and encouraging, the overlooking of the first part of the verse sparks a question mark in my mind.
The colon between contentment and companionship
For a time I thought perhaps the person who came up with the verse divisions for Hebrews just got these verses wrong. Obviously it is two separate thoughts and they just put a colon there instead of a period by mistake. Right? This explanation didn’t really seem right to me. I felt in my heart there was a deeper meaning I wasn’t seeing. The colon connects the dots between two seemingly disconnected thoughts. We will never be content with the things we have until we realize Jesus is all we need.
When we look to a boyfriend or spouse to meet our every need we will be disappointed. Only Jesus can be everything we need. When we look to shopping to make us feel pretty or chocolate to feel calm we are putting a band-aid over the hurt only Jesus can heal. Nothing in this world can provide contentment except for Jesus. Only when we accept Him fully into every area of our lives will we begin to walk through life in power. He is our Help. He is our Protector. And He is all we need.
The cravings of our hearts are simply guideposts pointing to Jesus. Our healing and sufficiency is in Him alone. The temptations of this world bring pleasure for a moment then, leave a greater void than we had to start. The only path we can take to wholeness this side of Heaven is contentment with Jesus alone. All other paths lead to greater grief and unquenchable desire.
by Donya Dunlap | Sep 2, 2016 | The Spiritual Life, Write Hard Things
Giving thanks for answered prayer is a joy when the answer is yes. But God’s answer doesn’t always come to us in the form we request. Sometimes God answers in an unexpected turn of events. And sometimes He simply says, “no.”
Fifteen years ago I thought I had my life all planned out. I was going to marry the man of my dreams and have a family and be a faithful servant in our local church. I didn’t understand why God let it all fall apart.
Three years ago I moved to Charlotte to start a women’s ministry. I thought I might stay there forever. God had other plans.
Six months ago my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I wanted her to stay here. I wanted her to be well. God said no.
Blessings in disguise
These three seasons of prayer reflect extremely difficult times in my life, but looking back, I can truly give thanks for what God has done. My life as a single has brought amazing gifts I could never have imagined and opportunities to serve God that others envy.
My time in Charlotte was full of challenges and blessings. I learned so much and I grew in my relationship with Christ. I don’t regret one minute of my short time there.
Now, I wish more than anything that I could hug my mom again and talk with her. The pain of her absence is with me every day. But she’s with Jesus and I wouldn’t take her away from Him if I could. Her body is whole and she is with people she loves who have gone before her. I’m happy for my mom.
Prayer changes us, not always our circumstances
Above all things I pray that God will honor His promise in Psalm 37:4 to give me the desires of my heart. But before He does, I ask that He first align my desires to His will. I have learned I don’t always know what is best for myself. But if I surrender my will to His loving hand, He will work all things together for good—both for my benefit and for His glory.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:11
When I was young and my tender heart was broken I couldn’t see the good. Still, time has shown God’s promises to be true. God does give His children all good things. The difficult thing is to remember that Matthew 7:11 is true whether or not our circumstances appear to be good.
Even in the midst of our darkest days, God’s Word is true. Trusting in His promises can give us peace and hope to carry us through the trials we all must face. If we choose to run to God in our pain, we will be protected from the bitter thoughts, anger, and fear trying to rob us of our joy, health, and testimony.
The Great I AM can be trusted with little me
I wish I knew 15 years ago what I know today. I wish I had trusted God more and been more faithful during difficult trials. Those things that brought me great pain I now count as precious in my life. Even in my current grief, I can find reasons to give thanks. It’s not always easy, but I know that God is at work, even in the death of my mom.
As I look to the future and the uncertainty of what tomorrow holds, God’s faithfulness in the past and His promises for the present give me courage. Regardless of whether or not my prayers are answered according to my plans, I will choose to be thankful. I will remember Romans 8:28 and I will trust the Spirit who is holding me up before the throne, seeking God’s best for my life.
