Tag Archives: Ridgetop Reflections

But God

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“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

“David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.” (1 Samuel 23:14)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead.” (Acts 13:29-30)


Did you notice the two-word phrase found in each of these passages? Those two words are rich with hope for times like these. In this week before we celebrate Easter, we are especially drawn to that last passage from the Book of Acts. The enemy thought he was finally victorious in his lifelong opposition against the King of the universe, “but God” raised him from the dead.

The virus that continues to spread across the globe has gripped our world with fear and uncertainty about the future. But God is still perfect in his love. He is still infinite in his wisdom. And God is, and forever will be, sovereign in his control.

No matter what you may face today, those circumstances do not get the final word. Our enemy is a great deceiver, but he does not get the final word. This coronavirus is invisible and deadly, but for those who know our resurrected Savior, it does not get the final word.

Because there is always a “but God” who works in all things “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV) And he always gets the final word.

Note: All Scripture references from the New International Version (NIV)

Eight Powerful Words

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By: Julian Wells

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

Sometimes, it’s the simplest Bible verses that have the greatest impact when we face the inevitable challenges of life. And the events of recent weeks in our nation and around the world certainly qualify as challenging and fearful. Almost five years ago I published this article which I have edited in light of those current events.

In my mind, I don’t know if there are eight more powerful words to minister to us in times like these than those found in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Such a simple verse, easily memorized, yet packed with extraordinary theology and practical application.

Implicit in those eight words are the ideas of rest, trust, reflection, and surrender – all essential elements of the abundant life Christ desires for each of us (John 10:10). But in these troubling times they take on even greater significance.

In my writing and teaching, I often stress the importance of spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible Study, worship, and service in the Body of Christ. But another discipline that is often overlooked is that of listening to God. In fact, in my experience, it may be the most important spiritual discipline.

And no verse of Scripture better sets the stage for listening to God than “Be still, and know that I am God.” Voicing those words in my mind several times a day has a way of quieting my spirit so that I am better able to hear his still, small, but unmistakable voice. They so effectively convey the promise of God’s continued presence and intervention in our lives for good. (Romans 8:28)

No matter what circumstances you are facing in your life today, I promise you Psalm 46:10 will minister to your heart.

  • Grieving over the loss of a loved one? … Be still, and know that he is God.
  • Wrestling with a life-changing decision? … Be still, and know that he is God.
  • Out of work or considering a job change? … Be still, and know that he is God.
  • Considering a move to a new home? … Be still, and know that he is God.
  • Dealing with a financial hardship? … Be still, and know that he is God.
  • Stricken with a life-threatening illness? … Be still, and know that he is God.
  • Perplexed by the endless mysteries of life? … Be still, and know that he is God.
  • Or paralyzed with fear over the threat of a global pandemic? … Be still, and know that he is God. (But also be prudent and maintain social distancing!)

Bottom line – there is no situation or circumstance you may face this day or for the rest of your life for which Psalm 46:10 will not comfort you, encourage you, and give you a clear sense of direction. I challenge you to stop several times each day, quiet your mind, and let God minister to your heart as you rest in the truth conveyed in those eight powerful words, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I guarantee you it will be time well spent.

“Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)

Clothed With Compassion

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Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

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Kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness, and patience seem to be in short supply these days. The society around us is looking more and more like the days Paul described in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 where so many have become “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

May our lives as Christians stand in such stark contrast to those trends that it demands an explanation. May we always be quick to explain that the hope, kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness, and patience others see in us is rooted in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And may we always be prepared to introduce them to the Savior who “bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV)

“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” – Fred Rogers

The Word Became Flesh

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“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. … For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:14, 16-17 ESV)

While our most familiar Christmas accounts are found in the pages of Matthew and Luke, in recent years I have been drawn more to John’s account. John’s presentation of the Christmas story is very unique from the other synoptic gospels because John’s purpose was uniquely different. Those other gospels focused heavily on presenting the detailed events of Jesus’ life. John’s purpose was to capture the person of Jesus Christ.

imageJohn’s account of Jesus’ birth was very plainly spoken. Only nine words in length, it can be easily memorized. But while short on words, it speaks volumes theologically. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14 ESV)  We sometimes miss the awesome impact of that simple truth in our own Christmas traditions. We are thrilled each year by the thought of the spectacle of that night. We imagine the majesty of the angel and the heavenly host that appeared to the shepherds; the simple, yet touching manger scene with the precious little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

I love what Luke says concerning Mary’s reaction to all the events of that night. While the shepherds gazed in awe and wonder at the spectacle and all who heard their story “were amazed at what the shepherds said to them”, Luke says Mary “treasured” them up and “pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19 NIV) At Christmas, we could all use a little less hustling and bustling and a lot more treasuring and pondering … treasuring and pondering the person of Jesus Christ – who He is and why He came. And nobody answers those questions better than John in the pages of his gospel.

From his unique perspective as the self-described “disciple whom Jesus loved“, (John 13:23) John offers us the most comprehensive and insightful look into the heart of God found in all of Scripture. He understood better than anyone that Jesus came to show us the Father; that he spoke to us the very words of God so that we can better know the Father more intimately and personally ourselves. 

Only through John do we hear Jesus tell Phillip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. … The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”  (John 14:10-11 NIV)

That is the unparalleled message of Christmas – that Jesus came to show us our Heavenly Father – a message so uniquely  and profoundly articulated by John with those memorable words, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

I pray that this Christmas you will ponder those words, treasure them in your heart, and reflect upon their implication for your life. El Shaddai, The Almighty God, is also Immanuel, God with us. May you experience the reality and the power of His presence this Christmas as never before. And the Gospel of John would be an excellent place to start!

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3 ESV)

God’s Precious Thoughts

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By Julian Wells

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17 NIV)

I am a big fan of the Psalms. I read through them at least twice each year, turn to them often when the inevitable trials of life strike, and reference them frequently in my writings.

I am especially fond of the psalms of David. And of those, Psalm 139 is certainly one of my favorites. David, a man after God’s own heart, pours out his heart to God in Psalm 139 with refreshing honesty and passion – qualities that I continually strive to attain in my own writing.

David’s words convey genuine amazement and wonder toward the God he loves and knows personally and unquestioning acceptance of the divine mysteries he is unable to comprehend.

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. … Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely O Lord. … Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:1-2, 4, 6 NIV)

As I encountered Psalm 139 again recently in my morning devotions, the verse that heads this post resonated in my heart quite like never before. It kept echoing in my mind until I sat down to begin drafting this post.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!”

As you read through the account of David’s life in 1 & 2 Samuel and digest all the psalms that he wrote, you quickly get the sense that time alone with God was a passion and a priority for David. God’s thoughts were precious to him. They were his lifeblood.

And the same should be true for us if we wish to live a life that is truly pleasing to God and that serves God’s purpose in our own generation as David did in his. (Acts 13:36) The enemy will work tirelessly to prevent that from happening. And in today’s digital environment, he has many tools at his disposal.

That is why for many years I have made it a daily practice to schedule time alone with God first thing every morning – even if that meant getting up at 4:30 a.m. before my daily commute into Washington, DC. I believe that was David’s practice as well.

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3 NIV)

It was also the example our Lord modeled when he made his dwelling among us:

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

In the morning I’m best able to guard that time alone with God from distraction or interference. Like David, I need that daily divine connection like I need oxygen.

I need it to ground myself in God’s truth before I am bombarded with the world’s lies. I need it for divine direction in a world that seems to have lost its way. I need it to find hope in the face of the world’s desperation. I need it to experience God’s perfect peace in the midst of the world’s chaos.

But mostly, I need it because God’s thoughts are precious to me. And the closer I grow to him, the clearer I hear his still small voice amidst all the surrounding noise.

” Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)