As Long as I Have Breath

by Bruce Gordon

  Here’s a challenge for us all: Could we each live with kavanah in four of our daily activities:

  Praying to God

  Reading the Word

  Performing acts of loving-kindness

  Doing our life’s work

  Questions

  How have you practiced kavanah in your spiritual life? When have you not practiced kavanah? How has your relationship with God been affected by your practice or lack of practice of this discipline?

  What keeps you from practicing kavanah?

  What steps could you take to deepen your kavanah in the four daily activities above?

  What do you think would happen in your life if you practiced kavanah in such a way that you were intensely aware of God’s presence with you throughout the day?

  [1] Michael Marmur, Abraham Joshua Heschel and the Sources of Wonder (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2016), 61.

  11

  Bet Av

  Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

  JOHN 14:1-3

  I STOOD BESIDE THE TOUR BUS and looked out at the Judean wilderness; we were about fifty miles southeast of Jerusalem and twelve miles north of Masada. It was hot and still, and all I could see was a rocky desert interspersed with many ravines. So much history was embedded in this place.

  My musings about this history were interrupted by our guide saying, “Time to get back; we are heading home!”

  What a welcome word: home. I wondered how many travelers had lost their lives journeying through this place on their way home.

  I climbed the steps into the bus and took one last look back, and as I did, John 14:1-3 went through my mind: My Father’s house—a place is being prepared for me there.

  Jewish scholars talk about the house of the father; in Hebrew it’s called Bet Av. When Jesus spoke the words of John 14, He’s referring to Bet Av as it related to Jewish wedding customs. In that day, a prospective groom would build a room onto his father’s house as a dwelling for himself and his future bride. Jesus’ disciples would have immediately understood what Jesus was talking about in this passage. They had certainly watched many groomsmen diligently and excitedly building homes for their brides.

  What an amazing picture this is of our future home and of God our Father. Here are some points about Bet Av:

  Bet Av is a picture of a Jewish father providing a place for his family under his care and protection.

  God longs for all of us to come to His house and know His love and care.

  To lose your Bet Av is to lose everything. The parable of the Prodigal Son is about the son returning in shame to his Bet Av. We know that the father lovingly and graciously received him.

  Bet Av is connected to redemption—bringing a family member home. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father would do everything to bring his child to safety and security.

  Jesus has provided a way for us to be born into our eternal Bet Av.

  Jesus, the Bridegroom, is absolutely and intently preparing a Bet Av in His Father’s house for you, His bride. Be encouraged and know that you’re deeply loved and accepted by the Father. Your Bet Av is waiting.

  Questions

  Reflect on John 14:1-3. What stands out to you?

  Bet Av is very personal. Every Jewish father took great pride in establishing a home for his family. What does your Bet Av mean to your family?

  What family values do you want to instill in your children and grandchildren that would connect to the concept of Bet Av?

  12

  Perseverance

  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

  JAMES 1:4

  TWICE DENISE AND I HAVE found ourselves at the top of Masada, looking out over the Dead Sea and marveling at both the Judean countryside and the amazing site on which we stood. There is a reverence one feels as you come to understand what happened here. In some ways, it’s holy. Tourists are quiet as they wander through the ruins.

  The Romans conquered Jerusalem in AD 70. Many men, women, and children were massacred. However, a small number of Zealots escaped and fled to Masada. Nine hundred and sixty Jews at Masada resisted the Roman military as it forcefully took control of Judea. As the Romans were closing in, these Zealots feared falling into the Romans’ hands. In one last act of resistance, they all took their own lives.

  The lesson of these Zealots is not in their end—suicide is never a good solution. Rather, the lesson is in their unbending devotion. Masada stands for absolute focus that allows no compromise. Masada stands for persevering when the odds are stacked against you.

  In the Bible, this is referred to as being steadfast. The Greek word is hypomenō. The word has a military connotation that means staying power, following through, hanging in there when the heat is on. Our Jewish guide informed us that Masada is the location where young men and women are commissioned into the Jewish military. The site was chosen because it illustrates the concept of hypomenō.

  God wants to see us be examples of hypomenō. But unwavering faithfulness can be difficult. I know that I need others to encourage me, cheer me on, pray for me, and support me when I fall. With the help of others, I’m able to be an example of hypomenō. In turn, I can help others exhibit this same steadfastness.

  Whether it’s the dramatic example of the Zealots at Masada or the quiet example of a Christian friend nearby, we can find encouragement to be faithful to our Lord.

  Blessings as you stick to it. Be steadfast. Persevere.

  Questions

  Who in your life embodies the spirit of hypomenō? What can you learn from his or her example?

  When have you experienced hypomenō in your own life? What obstacles did you face? How did steadfastness help you overcome those obstacles?

  What discourages you from hypomenō? What could you do to grow in this area?

  In what areas of your life do you need hypomenō right now?

  13

  Walking in God’s Stride

  Enoch walked with God.

  GENESIS 5:24

  WHENEVER I READ THIS VERSE, I am intrigued. What was Enoch like? What was the relationship between God and Enoch like?

  Walking with God is not just for Enoch. In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers says we must “Get into God’s stride.”[1] So what does this look like?

  Micah 6:8 states, “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

  I compare walking with God to walking or having lunch with a close friend. We laugh, talk, listen, share our hearts, and focus our attention on each other. When we walk in God’s stride, He becomes our heart’s greatest desire. When we walk in God’s stride, meeting with Him isn’t reserved for Sunday morning. To walk with God, we need to say no to other things. Walking with God has a letting-go aspect to it as well.

  Denise and I were having breakfast recently at a restaurant, and I watched another couple as they came in and sat down. She was on her phone and paused to order and then continued to talk. He looked out the window. She ended one call only to take another within five minutes. This continued throughout the entire breakfast. This is not walking in stride together.

  Thomas Merton has a prayer in his book Thoughts in Solitude. I pray this for myself. You may want to pray it for yourself.

  My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I
do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.[2]

  So, my fellow traveler, may we walk in stride with God and not always have to be in charge. Here are three aspects to living this out.

  You must walk in stride with God purposefully.

  It is more fulfilling to walk with God in community with others. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” A few benefits of community are to encourage and be encouraged, to have sounding boards for input and perspective, and to have a safe place to share and collaborate.

  Walking in God’s stride can change with our seasons of life and that’s okay.

  In Genesis 5:24 we read that Enoch walked with God, he didn’t run. I know that the days of Genesis were a different time and that today the world moves at a faster pace. So often I feel that I must run. Yet, the message for me is to remember Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” God wants us to slow down, to still the frenetic noises in our head and to walk with Him so that we might listen and know Him.

  Questions

  What does walking in God’s stride mean for you in this season of life?

  When have you walked closely with God? Describe your life and your relationship with Him during that time of closeness. What were the benefits?

  Recall a time when you were not walking in stride with God. Why were you reluctant to walk with Him during this time? What were the consequences?

  What do you need to let go of in order to slow down and listen more intently?

  [1] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1935).

  [2] Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude (New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1999), 79.

  14

  Victory over Strongholds

  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

  PSALM 43:5

  THE AUTHOR OF PSALM 43 faced an oppressive challenge that caused him to despair. The word hope in this verse conveys an expectation that God will break through that oppression and bring light, justice, truth, and joy.

  I love the picture this brings to my mind of an unstoppable force, pounding through an obstacle on my behalf, clearing the way.

  I do have another picture in my mind, though, and it’s me with my small hammer pounding on a concrete wall while Jesus quietly watches me try and do this all by myself.

  What foolishness! We have a powerful Savior who is able to break through strongholds where we have given the enemy a foothold in our lives. If only I would turn to the Lord, the One who is mighty to save, rather than tackling these issues on my own and in my own strength. Can you relate?

  But what is a stronghold? As the years pass, a person’s characteristics tend to become more accentuated. Strongholds are exactly that, they’re unresolved issues in our lives, which if left unchecked, can negatively impact us.

  Here are three strongholds that we face in the 55+ demographic.

  Regret. The question uppermost in the minds of many is, “What could have been?” There’s regret as we look back and wonder about past decisions and their consequences. We struggle, knowing that the years ahead are fewer than those behind us and we realize there isn’t a “do-over” in life.

  Unresolved anger. We haven’t released the bitterness we carry toward others, toward circumstances, and toward ourselves, and it continues to eat us alive.

  The attitude of “I’ve paid my dues.” This really is a form of pride with a refusal to get involved, to learn, or to take direction from others.

  May we take note of what we are hanging onto and not allow the enemy to deepen footholds in our lives. May we turn to the One who destroys strongholds and brings hope.

  Questions

  Read Psalm 43. What obstacles did the writer of Psalm 43 face? What did he ask the Lord to do for him? What brought him hope?

  What obstacles and strongholds do you face in your life?

  Do you find that you fight against strongholds rather than turning to God? In what ways do you do this? Why do you do this?

  In this season of life, do you find it harder or easier to turn to God? Why?

  Read Psalm 43 again. What benefits will you gain if you turn to God for help?

  15

  The Remedy for Insecurity

  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

  PHILIPPIANS 4:6

  MORRIS DIRKS, AUTHOR OF Forming the Leader’s Soul, talks about an issue that most of us struggle with.[1] He addresses the feeling of “not-good-enough-ness.” It’s the inner voice that constantly whispers to us, “You’re not good enough.” We take this on as our identity. We feel unworthy. We feel insecure.

  Dirks suggests that our struggle is really with shame.

  Guilt requires forgiveness, which comes to us freely through Christ’s work on the cross. But shame requires acceptance or closure. Because we don’t deal with our shame, we struggle with anxiety. We either withdraw from others or seek acceptance from others.

  But Paul says, “Don’t be anxious about anything.” The Greek can be rendered: “Don’t be anxious even in one thing.”

  So, my friends, what’s the answer? Read the rest of the text. It says: Give thanks. I think this means that we shouldn’t go into tomorrow and try to do what belongs to tomorrow. Instead, when I feel anxious, I give thanks for all I have today and focus on how God provided for me, protected me, and directed me yesterday and today. This is a principle given by God. It works. Try it. I know that my wife, Denise, keeps a gratitude journal. She finds that it develops a habit of thankfulness.

  The voice that you hear saying, “You are not good enough,” comes directly from the enemy, not from God. You’re forgiven by God, loved by God, and accepted by God. It’s a lot to be thankful for!

  Questions

  When have you felt “not-good-enough-ness”? How has this feeling affected your life, your relationship with God, and your relationship with others?

  What issues of shame have you faced? Confess these to God and accept His full forgiveness. Knowing you are forgiven, release yourself from the tight grip of anxiety by remembering that you are loved and accepted by God.

  How does cultivating a spirit of gratitude directly combat the insecurity of “not-good-enough-ness”?

  What specific steps can you take to develop a habit of thankfulness?

  [1] Morris Dirks, Forming the Leader’s Soul (Portland, OR: Soul Formation, 2013), 77–89.

  16

  Fighting Fear

  Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

  I have called you by name, you are mine.

  ISAIAH 43:1

  KEVIN DEYOUNG LED HIS congregation in prayer not long after the 2016 presidential election. The first part of the prayer resonates with me because it focuses on the sovereignty of God.

  Our good and gracious heavenly Father, we praise You for Your almighty and ever-present power by which You uphold, as with Your hand, all things. When we don’t know what will happen with our health, we trust You. When we don’t know what will happen with those we love, we rest in You. When we don’t know what will happen with our nation, we turn to You.[1]

  This prayer turns our whole attention to God. Anxiety and fear arise from a lifestyle that forgets God. Forgetting God breeds fear because without God there is no absolute to turn to.

  So, my friends, choose to believe the 365 times in Scripture that it says, “Fear not.” This has nothing to do with feelings; rather, it’s a choice.

  As I write this devotional, we’re in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The world is anxious and fearful. And yet, God is eternally powerful, sovereign, gracious,
and loving. When I’m anxious, I think of Isaiah 43:1 and am comforted that He calls me by name and that I belong to Him.

  In anxious times there really is nothing better to say other than “Thank You, Lord, that You’re sovereign. You reign over all. You are the Almighty. You are all-knowing. You are infinitely present. You are all-wise. You love me. Lord God, You are with me, and I will not fear.”

  Shalom. In the middle of anxiety and fear, I have peace. You can too.

  Questions

  What are you fearful and anxious about? How have your fears and anxieties changed over the years? Are you more or less fearful now than when you were younger? Why do you think this is?

  In your opinion, why does forgetting God breed fear and anxiety?

  List out what you know to be true of God. How do these truths help you to combat fear and find peace?

  Do you agree that “Fear not” is a choice that you can make? Why or why not?

  What can you do to address fear and anxiety in your life?

  [1] Kevin DeYoung, “A Prayer for Our President: Post-Election Prayer,” November 15, 2016, www.thegospelcoalition.org.