A Controlled Burn - Martin Wiles

Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. Psalm 115:3 NLT

What appeared uncontrolled someone controlled.

Dusk descended on our campsite as my wife and I enjoyed the third of our four-day camping trip. As she stood before our one-burner stove popping popcorn, she asked, “Is that a fire on the other side of the lake?”

I had seen what she saw, but thought it was lights from houses on the mountainside. It wasn’t. I walked to the lakeshore to get a better look. Sure enough, fire ascended and descended up several mountainsides. The site shed a beauty I’d never seen against the dusk-dark sky.

Then a hint of fear grabbed me. I know the damage wildfires can do. Although this burned on the other side of the lake, I wondered if it was headed our way. After taking a few pictures, I started back to our campsite. My wife had good news. A fellow camper reassured her the fire was a controlled burn. He even told her how to know.

Controlled burns burn in a straight line. Wildfires rage in jagged patterns, rising to enormous heights and entering and exiting every nook and cranny. When I looked at the fire, I saw what the fellow camper said about the fire. Our fears disappeared, and we enjoyed looking at what we before had feared.

Sometimes I mistake a controlled burn for a wildfire in other areas. Listening to the news on television or some other media source usually does the trick. Corrupt political leaders. Governments divided and out of control. Crime escalating. Abuse rising. Fathers leaving. Marriages dissolving. Kids rebelling. World climate rising. The environment changing. But then I read this and other verses that assure me God’s doing a controlled burn.

God possesses a perfect and permissive will. Many things that occur in this world and in people’s lives fall under His permissive rather than His perfect will. But even those things He controls and can bring good from. Such as persecution against Christianity. Instead of stamping out Christianity, persecution has a historical record of causing it to explode.

The same is true in our personal lives. When things appear out of control like a raging wildfire, they aren’t. God is performing a controlled burn. All we must do is cooperate and trust until it burns to the point where He puts it out.

Don’t fear the fires that appear out of control. God is executing a controlled burn.

Tweetable: Does your life seem out of control?

Prayer: Father, we trust You to bring and allow things into our lives that will grow us spiritually and form us more into Your image.

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Flashback Friday - The Green-Eyed Monster - Martin Wiles

Craving what others have blinds one to the riches they possess.

Dad introduced me to him. He called him the green-eyed monster and warned me about the consequences of letting him catch me. To a young boy, the idea of a real monster was extremely frightening. I certainly didn’t want him catching or eating me. I saw enough monsters on television shows and movies without having to worry about another one. But this one didn’t come with an ugly face, big teeth, long claws, or a furry body. This monster was inside of me, fed by desires I shouldn’t have. His name was jealousy.

"You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them" (James 4:2 NLT).

God calls my jealousy sin—plain and simple. God himself is jealous, but his jealousy is for my affection and not the sinful type. He is my creator and won’t allow me to divide my loyalty between him and something else. When I’m jealous, it’s of someone—whether of something they possess or because they’re endowed in ways I wish I was.

Jealousy demonstrates ingratitude for what God has given me by craving what someone else enjoys. More often than not, these cravings will lead to sinful actions. I’ll steal, undermine, gossip, or maneuver to acquire what I suppose I should have.

Jealousy also evidences laziness. Instead of trying to uncover the wonderful blessings God has given me—and be satisfied, I sit back and lust after what others have. Besides this, jealousy has a bad habit of birthing other harmful emotions like anger, depression, regret, and hate. It will consume my happiness. Instead of enjoying the opportunities and play toys God has given me, I’ll continually long for what I don’t have but others do.

Don’t let jealousy steal your joy. Enjoy what God has given you.

Tweetable: Is the green-eyed monster sneaking up on you?

Prayer: Thank You Lord Jesus for what You’ve given us. Teach us to be satisfied so that our longings won’t be for what others have. 

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Running Away - Martin Wiles

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. 1 Kings 19:3 NLT

Running away isn’t always a bad thing to do.

My wife and I have faced various financial struggles, one of which led us to run away. Not because we thought we could leave our troubles behind or because we didn’t trust God to care for us, but because we needed time to reflect and regroup.

Our go-to spot was the same as always: the mountains. We didn’t stay in a fancy hotel, attend shows, or eat at nice restaurants. Rather, we chose a tent overlooking a beautiful lake, and we ate hotdogs, hamburgers, bacon, and country ham instead of steak, seafood, and pork chops.

Three days of running away revived our spirits. We hiked nature trails and marveled at God’s creative genius, and we sat in the campsite and enjoyed each other’s company. We needed nothing more than still moments before God.

Elijah was a runner too, but for a different reason. He’d defeated more than 800 false prophets, which didn’t please the wicked queen whom they served. Jezebel put a death sentence on Elijah’s head, telling him he’d be dead by the next day. In fear, he ran until he landed in a cave where God reassured him, not by miraculous events but by a still small voice that assured him God still controlled his life events. Elijah’s unfounded fear prompted him to run.

Jesus ran too, but not from unhealthy fear. He ran deep into a garden to find reassurance and strength to face what lay before Him: the cross. His Father’s gentle whispers gave Him the courage to die for humanity’s sins.

Running away for the right reason gives me a chance to be still before God, a practice that enhances my faith and promotes my spiritual growth. As I walked through nature, God reminded me He controlled our situation. I didn’t know how we were going to pay our bills, but somehow anxiety over the how no longer controlled me. God would provide the means. I’m His child, and He has promised to care for my needs.

Running away to a quiet place also helps me hear God. Noise can drown out His still small voice. I need His daily guidance, but I truly need wisdom when things are out of sorts.

When you run away for the right reason, God will reward your flight with peace, assurance, and guidance.

Tweetable: What are you running from?

Prayer: Father, when we run, help us to run to You, the author and finisher of our faith.

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Miracles Still Happen - Martin Wiles

But I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe in me. John 10:38 NLT

We needed a miracle—and quickly.

A serious financial setback had hit. At the moment, our past-due electricity bill was the most serious fallout. My wife tried to find help, and did. The week we needed help, only one caseworker was on duty.

“You need to get here early,” she told my wife. At 7:05 a.m., we lined up at the doors, which didn’t open until 8 a.m. After making sure everything was in order—and that we qualified by our income—the caseworker gave us a time to return for processing: 3 p.m.

At our designated time, we returned. The receptionist made copies of our driver’s licenses and social security cards and took our paperwork to the caseworker. A few minutes later she returned: “Houston, we have a problem.”

When we moved the last time, I had forgotten to change the address on my driver’s license. Everything had to match, which meant going to the Department of Motor Vehicles and getting back in thirty minutes, the final time the caseworker would see us.

“I’ll pray for you while you go,” the receptionist echoed.

With a disgusting look on my face and little faith in my heart, I set out. To my surprise, I was immediately processed and out within ten minutes.

I’d just witnessed a miracle. Sure enough, I made it back by 3:30 p.m., and the caseworker processed the paperwork and paid our bill in full.

Jesus confronted doubters too. He told them if His words weren’t enough to convince them He was the Messiah that they should believe His miracles. In the Old Testament, miracles were spectacular. Jesus toned them down a bit. Today, they are perhaps even more miler—but only because of our expectations that they must be large and noticeable.

The greatest miracle is when God changes a person’s heart by forgiving their sin and giving them a new nature. But He also performs other miracles every day. Like helping me get where I need to be and back within a certain time.

God’s little miracles don’t have to be enormous. We just need faith He can do what we need Him to do. Doubt binds His hands, but our faith frees Him to give us what we need. And He performs them because He loves us.

Believe God can give you a miracle today.

Tweetable: Do you need a miracle?

Prayer: Father, we believe You are still a miracle-working God who works on our behalf.

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Throwback Tuesday - Investing in Others - Martin Wiles

Investing is important, but where one invests is even more essential.

The options for investing money are innumerable. Many contact a brokerage firm for assistance. Some investments are safer than others. One risky investment is a margin account. Investors are allowed to borrow a portion of the money needed to purchase securities. The risks in this type of investment should be evident. A downturn in the economy could cause one to lose all the money they originally invested while still owing the brokerage firm the money they borrowed. A double hit.

Jesus once healed a man possessed by a legion of demons. As Jesus was leaving his area, he begged to go with him, but Jesus instructed him to invest where he lived. "'No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.' So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him" (Luke 8:39 NLT).

Investing in others is a mental exercise. If I don’t consciously put forth the effort, I’ll miss needs all around me. I’ll be so wrapped up in my little world that I’ll completely miss the opportunities to help others that God sends.

Investing in others also requires an emotional response on my part. I can assist others for the wrong reasons. Recognition, compensation, adoration. Only by developing empathy for others will I reach out for the right reason. Empathy is more than feeling sorry for someone; it involves entering into their situation and feeling it from their perspective as much as is possible.

And of course, investing in others entails physical action. I can see and feel other’s pain, but unless I commit to active involvement those actions are worthless. This involves time, effort, and often cost but is acknowledged by God as a wise investment.

Let God open your eyes to the investment opportunities that surround you.

Tweetable: Are you investing in others?

Prayer: Father, prompt us to take the investment You’ve made in us and multiply it other’s lives. 

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