How to See Clearly - Martin Wiles

There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

~1 Kings 19:9 NLT

None of us had ever experienced what we were about to do.

Eight couples from our church traveled to a cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a marriage retreat. My wife and I had stayed in several cabins over the years—some we enjoyed, while others were misrepresented by the rental agency. Not this one.

Our little convoy turned off the main road and ascended a narrow road until we reached Summit View Lodge—a four-story cabin nestled on the side of a mountain. Everyone wanted to visit the top level to see the view. Surrounding us were mountain ranges folded upon mountain ranges. Sadly, trees, smog, and low-hanging clouds kept us from seeing clearly what we might have otherwise observed.

Elijah had a sight problem as well, but trees, pollution, and clouds had nothing to do with it. He had defeated hundreds of pagan prophets in a mountaintop contest, but the wicked queen wasn’t pleased with his efforts. A twenty-four-hour death sentence sent him running. His first stop was a broom tree where he asked God to take his life. Then he traveled to a cave where once again depression overshadowed him like a lurking animal. But amidst his despair, God helped him see clearly.

Fear, anxiety, and depression kept Elijah from seeing what God wanted to do in his life—just as clouds and smog kept us from seeing the totality of our mountain view. Adopting Elijah’s solution, running, is an easy escape point when things aren’t going our way or when we can’t see which way they are going at all.

Taking advantage of the abundant life Jesus offers requires a clear view—even when circumstances are against us. And this requires several steps, which Elijah eventually took.

First, we must believe God is with us and is concerned. Elijah’s running was unnecessary. God could handle a wicked queen. 

Second, we must ask God to help us understand the situation fogging our sight. God gave Elijah understanding in the cave. 

Third, we must accept our circumstances by faith. We won’t always understand what God is doing or why.

Finally, we must release despondency to God. Discouragement and depression will only further cloud our vision. Releasing it by faith clears things up.

Regardless of what clouds your view, God can help you see clearly.

Father, when the situations of life keep me from seeing clearly, help me to trust you to clear things up.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Changing Seasons - Sophia Widholm

He hath made every thing beautiful in His time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV 

I enjoy the changing seasons. Summer drifting into fall. Winter fading into spring. Each transition brings a fresh aspect of seasonal beauty to life. But what about those seasonal changes that aren’t fixed in a calendar year? Those transitions that aren’t between spring and summer but are stages in life. 

Solomon said God makes everything beautiful in His time. From God’s perspective, changing seasons of life are beautiful and appropriate just like seasonal changes on the calendar. But sometimes we struggle to embrace those transitions. 

Some, like me, enjoy having a routine. It’s steady. It’s familiar. When life gets a little crazy, that routine helps us feel secure. And once we’re secure, we don’t want to readjust. But sometimes God asks us to step forward with Him into something new. Just like the seasons, God makes every change He brings into our lives have a proper time and place. Trusting His wisdom in choosing when that time and place is helps us overcome the fear of changing. 

Growing up in the Appalachian foothills, I had a love-hate relationship with Georgia summers. I relished time away from schoolwork, but loathed the smothering heat and stuffy days. Over time, though, I realized I could appreciate summer—not because I loved everything about it, but because God created it to have a special place among the seasons. 

Learning to enjoy every season of life requires a willingness to trust the Lord’s wisdom in leading us there. 

Is God leading you to a new stage? Are you hesitating in fear, resisting the next step? Ask God to help you see the beauty He sees in that season and to give you the courage to step into it. 

Father, help me to see each season as a beautiful gift from You. Help me to trust Your timing and wisdom. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Sophia Widholm is a professional writing major who wants to use her words to edify other believers. When she is not at college, she enjoys baking sourdough bread and taking walks in the North Georgia mountains. She is considering ways to serve the Lord after graduation through writing.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Spirit Clouds - Martin Wiles

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. John 3:8 NRSVUE

A much-needed vacation took me to the mountains of Tennessee. I found myself nestled in a cabin high in the Great Smoky Mountains. Each morning, I sat on the porch, admiring the handiwork of my Creator, listening to the birds and turkeys, feeling the gentle breezes, and watching the sun rise above the distant peaks.

One morning was different. The sounds were the same, but the sun didn’t immediately appear. Instead, dark storm clouds marched through the valleys and hopped over the mountaintops. After dropping their cargo in the form of light rain showers, they gave way to wisps of white, dainty clouds that flittered west to east and south to north. As I watched these spirit clouds, I thought of God’s Spirit.

In Greek, the same word is used for spirit and wind. Although I can see the effects of the wind, I cannot see the wind itself. Nor can I view God’s Spirit—only His workings in the lives of people, myself, and the world.

Like the clouds, God’s Spirit is often silent. We hear no audible voice—just a small but effective nudge within our spirit, guiding us in the right direction or to the correct decision. At other times, God’s Spirit is loud. We don’t have to wonder if it is him speaking to our spirit. His voice comes through loud and clear, as clouds that bring vociferous claps of thunder and downpours of rain.

The work of God’s Spirit can be obvious, such as when he brings a change in our lives that is evident to others. Or his work may not be so obvious, as when he slowly changes us from the inside out. Changes that take months, or even years, to ripen to maturity.

As I witnessed the spirit clouds comfort me on that early morning, so my spirit is calmed by knowing that God is always present with me in the form of his Spirit, giving me wisdom and guidance for every decision in life. The clouds went where God sent them, and he never sends them in the wrong direction.

Learn to listen for God’s still small Spirit voice. Then act on what he guides you to do.

Father, thank you for guiding my steps through the still small voice of your Spirit.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

We Need Revival - Patricia Jordan

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Proverbs 29:18 NIV

One summer, I attended one of those old-time camp meeting revivals in Western North Carolina, where my husband and I live. This was my second summer of attending the tent meetings. I have a friend who attends the host church, and she invited me to her church’s revival. I went and enjoyed it so much that I returned again the following summer.

The host church covered the tent floor with wood shavings. Nightly, a great lineup of spirit-filled praise singers started and ended the meeting by singing wonderful gospel songs. In between the music, men and women prayed at the altar. Then one of the preachers approached the podium and preached an inspiring message. 

The preachers came from nearby towns scattered across the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as some from as far away as Mississippi. They each realized it was up to them to spark the revival flame. The preachers and singers knew we live in a dark world. The Spirit anointed each one to be a gospel messenger through their talents and calling. 

Our souls are in a dark place without the light of the gospel message being placed within them. Without Christ, we wander through life looking for meaning, even spiritual meaning. But because we know no restraint but God's law, we never find that peace that passes all understanding.

One night, I relaxed in our backyard, enjoying the stars that sparkled across the sky. After a few minutes, I felt in my spirit that God told me that the brightly lit stars represented believers. The dark sky represented the darkness of this world. That’s when I realized how much we need revival. As Christians, we have the responsibility to share God’s message with the world.

Think of ways you can help revive this dark world. 

Heavenly Father, cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Forgive me of my sins. Set my soul and heart on fire for revival. In Jesus' name, amen.

Patricia and her husband are both Christians who stay active in their faith. They are also Air Force veterans. They have three daughters, two granddaughters, and one great-grandbaby. They live in her hometown of Sylva, NC. Patricia went to college, intending to become a writer. After dabbling around at writing, she finally got serious about it and wrote a self-help book about her own journey of overcoming depression (Westbow Press). She enjoys gardening and staying in touch with her extended family. She believes in daily Bible reading as a means of spiritual growth and mental and emotional wellness.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Finding Peace - Martin Wiles

And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50 NLT

For me, finding peace means heading for the hills.

Regardless of how taxing my dilemmas, I can always re-focus when I view the mountains—up close and in person. Every motel in Maggie Valley, NC, has riverfront rooms, since a river runs down the main street.

The room our family stayed in on one occasion wasn’t extraordinary, yet it was. A screen door shielded the back door, and the temp was cool enough for us to open the back door and listen to the roaring creek. This we topped off by sitting on the cozy porch and enjoying the sounds and views. The following day, I took my computer to the porch and sat on one of the wooden rockers while I penned my morning devotion. I found peace. Trouble was, though, I couldn’t stay there.

The sinful woman couldn’t remain in her location either, but she found a peace she could carry away with her. Somehow, this immoral woman found her way into a religious snob’s party. Jesus happened to be there, and she immediately zeroed in on Him. In fact, He was why she was there in the first place. Her tears tumbled on His feet, she wiped them with her hair, and then she anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume. Luke doesn’t tell us she asked for forgiveness—she didn’t have to. Her actions showed she wanted it, and Jesus granted it. She could leave in peace.

Although I can renew my peace in the mountains, I can’t discover it there—unless it happens to be where I meet Jesus. Meeting Him is the key for peace. Only as we do what the sinful woman did can we find peace that won’t fluctuate with life’s situations. She recognized her sinfulness and went to the person who could solve her problem and soothe her soul. The peace Jesus offered was connected to the forgiveness she desired.

Knowing all of our sins were taken care of at the cross allows us to live in a state of continual peace—regardless of our circumstances. We don’t have to worry about judgment or condemnation. Jesus took that in our behalf. What the Father placed on Him, He won’t judge us for. Nor will He allow us to endure more than we can handle with His power.

Find your peace in Christ and nothing else.

Father, thank You for the peace that comes from knowing You accept, forgive, and love me. 

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A Different Plan - Martin Wiles

You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, but you are not the one to do it. 1 Kings 8:18-19 NLT

We almost made it . . . but then had to make a different plan.

My wife and I and my brother and sister-in-law were on our way to Sassafras Mountain—South Carolina’s highest point. My brother and I had visited numerous times as we hiked portions of the Foothills Trail, and my wife and sister-in-law had been once.

But none of us had visited since officials constructed an observatory tower that provided handicapped accessibility and afforded views of four states. Of course, we wouldn’t have seen them on that day because clouds enveloped the sky and rain poured. We just wanted to make the trip and see the beautiful fall foliage.

One-half mile from the top, a light appeared on the car’s dashboard: low fluid. My brother and sister-in-law had recently purchased this older car because the transmission in the one they had gone out. Now, we all wondered if this car would be any better. We pulled to the side of the road, lifted the hood, and watched smoke boil from underneath.

At least we rested on a steep incline. “We can just turn around and coast back to the highway,” I told my sister-in-law. And after the engine cooled off, that’s exactly what we did. The light never appeared again. We stopped at a local country store to check the water and the oil level. All were fine.

We rode around a bit in a local town and then headed back, never to see the light again—and never to see the new tower on Sassafras Mountain either. We comforted ourselves by saying God must have had a reason He didn’t want us to make it to the top. Perhaps He did; maybe He didn’t. Nevertheless, we followed a different plan.

God had a different plan for King David, too. After he had conquered his enemies, he wanted to build a permanent resting place for God’s Ark of the Covenant. This symbolized God’s presence with the nation and housed the Ten Commandments God had given Moses on Mt. Sinai. But God had a different plan for David. He told him his intentions were good, but Solomon, David’s son, would build the temple.

When God brings a different plan, complaining isn’t the route to go—but it is often our first choice. If we believe in God’s sovereignty, we can see the different plan as from Him and believe He has a reason for changing it—even if we never know this side of heaven. Unfortunately, complaining keeps us from seeing the change of direction.

During the change, we can ask God for understanding. Perfect wisdom resides with Him. He may not tell us all the details of the change—or all the reasons—but His Spirit can guide us in our new direction.

Of course, changing plans is an excellent time to check for disobedience, just as we checked the fluids under the hood as soon as possible. Disobeying God moves us away from His intended purposes.

If God brings a different plan your way, ask Him for guidance and go His way. No better way exists.

Prayer: Father, when You have a different plan, give us the faith to obey without question.

Tweetable: How do you respond when God sends a different plan? 

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Walking Through the Shadows - Martin Wiles

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Psalm 23:4 NKJV

Our destination lay just a little over a mile away.

After hiking three miles and setting up camp, my daughter and I headed for the summit of Sam’s Knob. Getting there required passing various shadows, some of which could have proved dangerous. We passed the shadow of the creek, which we rock-hopped. We passed through wild berry patches, and we knew what animal loved to feast on them. We didn’t care to see him—at least, not close up. And we climbed a steep, rocky path before reaching the summit, rocks on which we could have easily injured ourselves.

When we finally reached the summit, we agreed the journey through the valley was worth it. Three hundred- and sixty-degree views greeted us, and we marveled at God’s beauty. Although thunderstorms dotted the surrounding peaks, they could not spoil our joy.

As summer neared, David and other shepherds made their way to the mountain peaks so their sheep could find fresh grass on which to graze. Getting there required passing through mountain valleys where robbers and predators lurked. The summit is probably where David was when the prophet Samuel visited his father’s house to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king of Israel. David did not fear while on his journeys to the mountain peaks. He knew his Shepherd would protect him.

Shadows make the things they represent appear larger than they are. Nor are the shadows the real thing—although they represent reality. Shadows cannot hurt me, although some of the things they represent might. The shadow of a tree is harmless; the shadow of a bear lurking in the berry path might not be.

Although mountain valleys are beautiful, I often must pass through difficult shadows before reaching the summit. Unless I take a helicopter, no other way exists to reach the peak without passing through the valley.

Our Shepherd gently guides us through the valleys of danger, discouragement, depression, fear, and anxiety—protecting and leading us each step of the way.

The shadow we all want to avoid is death, but that, too, is only a shadow. When we know Christ as our Shepherd, death becomes only that moment when we close our eyes to open them in heaven. It cannot harm us, nor does it have any power over us. Jesus defeated death, and when He is our Shepherd, we will too.

Death is powerless because God has forgiven all our sins, He has released us from condemnation, and He has accepted us into His family. We have no reason to fear.

Don’t let life’s shadows frighten you. Your Shepherd will lead you safely through each one.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for guiding us through the valleys to the mountaintops. 

Tweetable: Do you fear the shadows? 

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Flashback Friday - Perspective from the Mountain - Martin Wiles

Perspective from the Mountain

Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. Exodus 17:12 NLT

Hindsight is twenty-twenty. Height also has the potential to change perspective.

I sat on the jagged summit of Tray Mountain in northern Georgia, United States. Three hundred sixty-degree views are normally enjoyed from this peak…but weren’t on this day. Cool winds of winter had settled in along with clouds from a stubborn cold front. What should have afforded me panoramic views beyond description now only delivered clouds, wind, and a brief view of what might have been. Read more...

Tweetable: What is your life perspective? 

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Throwback Tuesday - Wilderness Thinking - Martin Wiles

Wilderness Thinking

Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea…But forty years after the Israelites left Egypt…Moses addressed the people. Deuteronomy 1:2-3 NLT

What should have been a four-hour drive took us twice as long…but it was our fault. 

Once, my wife and I—along with another couple--rented a cabin in the Tennessee mountains. We had no specific plans other than to visit antique shops and thrift stores. After four days of doing what we love, we headed home…a short four-hour drive. Yet it was eight hours later before we finally pulled into our driveway. We didn’t get lost, nor was traffic the culprit. Love for flea markets was. We chose to stop at several on the way home.  

The Israelite’s trip was lengthier for a different reason. Read more...

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Looking with Fear - Martin Wiles

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. Exodus 14:13 NLT

For four long hours, I trembled in fear. The only thing that stood between me, my son, and our certain demise was a .38 pistol.

On one of those rare instances when my son hiked with me in the mountains, we decided on an overnight camping trip—a short distance down the Appalachian Trail. The trail was easy, and we planned to stay in one of the shelters. No setting up a tent, which hopefully would help my son enjoy the trip a little more.

At dusk, two young men arrived and set up a tent site twenty yards away. We spoke, ate our supper, fixed our sleeping quarters, and hit the sack. Several hours into the night, I heard pots clanging and voices yelling. I knew the verdict. Black bears robbed their camp, stealing the only food they had to eat for their three-day excursion. 

Sweat beaded on my trembling body. Would the bears amber into our shelter looking for food, which we didn’t have? My son slept while I feared. Although the bears never entered our spot, I lay awake all night, frightened of the deadly possibilities that roamed just a few yards away.

Moses led 600,000 men plus women and children, and they all feared as they watched the Egyptian army coming to recapture them and return them to Egypt where once again they’d serve as slaves. The Red Sea lay in the other direction. Despite danger behind and ahead, their leader told them not to fear. God would intervene. And He did. He opened the Red Sea for the Israelites and then closed it on the Egyptians.

When it comes to living life, only two options exist: live it with fear or live it with faith. Choosing fear means living with worry, anxiety, and a prevailing attitude of uncertainty—all of which make life miserable. We’ll make our own plans, manipulate people and situations for our own good, live with selfishness, and always wonder whether we’ve done enough.

Living with faith brings the opposite results. Since we trust God to guide our life and handle each situation, we can operate each day with peace and joy. He’ll handle anything that comes our way—or give us the wisdom to. We’ll lie down in peace at night, knowing He protects us.

Don’t let fear rob your life of joy. Live with faith.

Prayer: Father, help us to live each day by faith and not fear.

Tweetable: Are you living with a spirit of fear? 

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Taking the Long Way - Martin Wiles

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. Exodus 13:17 NLT

My wife and I planned the short route, but nature took us the long way around.

Honeymooning in the Great Smokey Mountains always brings surprises, and it did for us. As we ate our breakfast at a local pancake house in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on a crisp November morning, we watched flakes of snow begin. Loving snow—but not seeing it often enough—we decided to head to one of our favorite places where we hoped to see more … and in a more beautiful setting: Cades Cove.

We weren’t disappointed. The snow was light, but it blanketed the grass and trees, making the picture-perfect setting of the cove even more breathtaking. When the time arrived for us to make our way back home, we planned to take the scenic route through Newfound Gap and over the mountains to Cherokee, North Carolina. Nature changed our plans.

Newfound Gap, with Clingman’s Dome nearby, hosts wicked weather in the winter, and park rangers often close portions of the road. They had. This meant we had to travel back to Gatlinburg, take a secondary highway a number of miles to reach the interstate, and then go home. A much longer journey, and not nearly as scenic. We had no choice—and it was for our own safety.

Neither did the Israelites have a choice. After four hundred years in slavery, God finally delivered them. But He didn’t lead them along the shortest route to the Promised Land. He feared if they saw war, they’d want to return to Egypt, which also wasn’t in their best interest.

When we let God guide our lives, He doesn’t always take us down the short cuts. Sometime, the long way around is best, even though we might not think so. Instead of rebelling and forcing ourselves down the shortest way, we should remember God sees what we can’t—just as park rangers knew the weather along the route my wife and I wanted to travel.

God continually molds us more into the image of His Son, and this often happens through the long routes that teach us patience and trust. They also build our faith. He may also be protecting us from some unknown danger or preparing us for a battle we’re presently not ready to fight.

When God takes you the long way around, accept by faith that He knows what’s best.

Prayer: Father, when the journey is long and arduous, help us trust You to take us the right way.

Tweetable: Is God taking you the long way around? 

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God Commands Our Worship - Martin Wiles

Series: Nature Lessons About God

The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God. Psalm 104:21 NKJV

Worship sometimes takes work.

My brother and I trudged over a high mountain aptly named. Rocks groveled under our feet, and our feet ached by the time we reached the top—but it wasn’t our destination. The next mountain was. That peak reached even higher. We had been there before, so we knew what lay ahead.

Prior to reaching the peak, we came to a 360-degree overlook. Standing, or sitting, on the rocks allowed us to look at the mountains surrounding us, feel the wind as it curled through the valleys, and observe the clouds as they flitted like angels.

We walked on. Reaching an Appalachian Trail shelter, we unloaded our gear and set up our tent. Nearby was an outcrop of rock. Sitting there allowed us to see far into the distance … hundreds of miles away on a clear day. We wondered over the beauty of the surrounding mountains and marveled as they grew smaller as they shrank into flat plains.

From this vantage point, watching the sunset that evening and then rise the next morning led us to worship the One who had constructed this beautiful place. We didn’t need a church building—or anyone else around us. What God provided in nature was sufficient for the moment to draw us closer to Him and realize how big He is and how small we are.

The psalmist recognized how nature can command worship of this same God. The young lions roar as they pursue their prey, but know where it comes from.

Worshipping God in nature has characterized all people groups. Unfortunately, sin led most of them to worship things God had made rather than God Himself. Sun worship, moon worship, polytheism, and other forms of worship resulted.

Only by hearing about the true God, and then believing in Him, can nature do what God intends for us to do: worship Him, not His creation. And once we do, then we’ll want to care for what God has made. 

We won’t litter—but we might clean up after those who do. We’ll recycle to cut down on trash. And in many other ways, we’ll work to preserve God’s earth so that others can see the beauty of nature and be drawn to the Creator.

Take care of God’s creation, so you and others can enjoy the beauty of what He has created.

Prayer: Father, we adore the creation because we see You in it.

Tweetable: What are some ways you worship God? 

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