Praising God in adversity

Just listening to Australian preacher Katherine Ruonala’s podcast “Praising God in adversity - Part 1" [Transcript of part of the podcast [3]]

Referencing the narrative of Paul & Silas in prison, who didn’t complain about having been beaten for their faith, but, instead chose to sing hymns to God at midnight in the prison. See Acts 16:16-40]...

“God wants to release you into hope. So that you can begin to celebrate...”

Katherine Ruonala goes on to remind us that we NEED TO TAKE THOUGHTS THAT OCCUR TO US CAPTIVE, especially those thoughts that aren’t any good for us [distracting thoughts, worries, etc]...

“[We should say] God, I take those thoughts captive, that are exalting themselves above the knowledge of who you are. You are good, you are lovely, you are wonderful. And I’m not even going to think about these other things [distracting thoughts, worries, etc] My heart’s desire is simply to enjoy you; is to love you & enjoy you.” [1]

Katherine Ruonala goes on to make a VERY important observation about any negative thoughts we continue to allow into our own minds:

“Can you enjoy Him [The Lord] when things AREN’T the way that you want them to be in your circumstances around you? If you can’t, then the circumstances are probably going to get worse, because it’s going to prove to be an EFFECTIVE TOOL OF THE ENEMY [Satan]. It’s like, “oh, that’s working!” But if you are unmoved by the things that the enemy brings to you, & instead, turn it around for good, saying [to yourself], I’m not even going to entertain it, I’m not going there. I’m not going there devil, I’m going to sing. I’m going to sing praises to God. I’m going to be looking out for opportunities to minister, to release the love of God...”

That point seems vital to me: Unless we choose to take captive any thought(s) that are negative & self-destructive, then we are in danger of becoming more & more subject to such thoughts. And we definitely don’t want to go down that road!
It is therefore VITAL that we so order our own thinking that we DO decide to take negative thoughts captive, just as many times as they occur to us. They probably won’t just occur to us once per day! They may occur to us ten times, or a hundred times, or a thousand times per day. What matters is our firm determination to take negative thoughts captive NO MATTER HOW OFTEN THEY OCCUR TO US.

I’m sure Jesus wasn’t tempted by the devil just the one time recorded in the Bible (see Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13) but was tempted pretty much every day of his life, just like we are. In fact Luke 4:13 tells us “When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him UNTIL THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY CAME.” So clearly Jesus was tempted again, at a later date.

Back to the negative thoughts that occur to our minds...
Negative thoughts grow more powerful in our minds IF we allow them to “roost” there. So we need to ruthlessly root them out & deliberately decide to think about positive things INSTEAD. They may try to come back, countless times again, but if we are unmoving in our RESOLVE to reject any & all negative thoughts, regardless of how many times they occur to our minds, then we will take back control of our own thinking. This is self-help at its best! It is also what the Lord God wants us to do. [2]

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[1]
Katherine Ruonala is referring to the first point of the Westminster Larger Catechism, which begins with:
Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

[2]
2 Corinthians 10:5 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, AND WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST.”

Romans 12:2 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

[3]
Katherine Ruonala - Praising God in adversity - Part 1 [Podcast]

[21 mins 21sec’s into podcast]
“God wants to release you into hope. So that you can begin to celebrate, “Thank you Father, thank you Lord, that you are faithful & true. You are my divine distraction, God, you are my divine obsession. God, I take those thoughts that are exalting themselves above the knowledge of who you are. You are good, you are lovely, you are wonderful. And I’m not even going to think about these other things [distracting thoughts, worries, etc] My heart’s desire is simply to enjoy you; is to love you & enjoy you.
Can you enjoy Him [The Lord] when things aren’t the way that you want them to be in your circumstances around you? If you can’t, then the circumstances are probably going to get worse, because it’s going to prove to be an effective tool of the enemy [Satan]. It’s like, “oh, that’s working!” But if you are going to be unmoved by the things that the enemy brings to you, & instead, turn it around for good [like Paul & Silas - see Acts 16:16-40]... say, I’m not even going to entertain it, I’m not going there. I’m not going there devil, I’m going to sing. I’m going to sing praises to God. I’m going to be looking out for opportunities to minister, to release the love of God. To know, this is my divine purpose; is to love God & enjoy Him forever. To bless Him. I’ve been created for fellowship with Jesus. I’ve been created for fellowship with God Himself.”

‘Heroes’ & violence

Just read Proverbs 3:31-32 (NLT), which reads:
31 Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly.
You can read other versions below [1]

As I thought about this proverb, I wondered about the ‘heroes’ I have. The no.1 position is Jesus... no surprises there! And He wasn’t a violent man at all.

Who are some of my other heroes?

My wife (an excellent example of a mature Christian, with a lovely, gentle faith)
Katherine Ruonala (Australian preacher, who shows the love of God as well as preaching it)
C. S. Lewis (Writer & inventor of Narnia, a parallel of Christianity)
Vincent van Gogh (Painter)
John Martin (Apocalyptic Painter)
Arthur Rackham (Illustrator)
Anne Sudworth (Modern Painter, alive today)
There are lots of others!...

... but look at some of the film & TV ‘heroes’ I have, or have in the past, admired:

Dr. Who
Neo (The Matrix films)
Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
Gandalf (the wizard) (Lord of the Rings)
The Terminator (From film series of same name)

You know, when we look at the men & women in films & TV shows, more often than not, they ARE violent, & we (even secretly) do admire them.

In my defence, I would say that it is not the violence of these characters that I admire, it is the determination, courage, personal conviction, skill & single-mindedness that they portray that are the real characteristics that I so admire.

It is Neo’s determination to keep getting up, when repeatedly knocked down by Agent Smith in “Matrix Revolutions”, which I admire, not the fighting.

It is Aragon’s & Gandalf’s obvious determination to fight the forces of evil to the bitter end, which I admire. The fact that this determination requires physical (often brutal) fighting is not the really admirable bit!

How could the Terminator (a cyborg killing machine!) be a ‘hero?! Well, again, it isn’t the violent fighting in the films which I admire, it is the single-mindedness, the absolute determination to complete the task at hand, which I like... OK, so the Terminator is programmed, so it pretty much has to do what the program calls for, but I still saw it as a kind of determination!

I suppose I have always felt that I personally buckled under pressure, & so I admire characters that do not do that, come what may, including there own demise!

Maybe we do admire determination, courage & these other characteristics. But even then, if these characters’ determination & courage (which is admirable) is expressed in violent behaviour (which is not admirable) then that raises the question, should we have these folk as ‘heroes’ at all? Proverbs 3:31 (NLT) seems to me to be pretty clear on this point, for it states, ‘Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways.’

I definitely DO NOT want to copy anyone’s violent behaviour, even so called ‘heroes’ of mine! The end never justifies the means: we can never justify violent behaviour, no matter what the provocation or expected solution we are aiming for. I’m sure that when God judges us, if we have employed violence to achieve our goals or aims, then He will take a very, VERY dim view of that. Just look at the mediaeval Crusades, for example. I’m sure no Crusading knight is going to be able to stand in front of Jesus (the King of Peace) & say, “We fought & killed to further your cause.” That kind of “logic” just isn’t going to fly with Him! There may well be quite a few surprised people in the queue of people being judged by the Prince of Peace!

Returning to the Bible, look at Proverbs 3:32... it says God detests violent people. Obviously God does not expect us to model our behaviour on violence, but on peace. If you read the Bible with this idea in mind, you will find many, many references to what God requires of us: peace. We can infer then that Godliness is in part also peacefulness. And that God wants us to be peaceful, peace-loving, peace-honouring people. That idea is backed up by Jesus’ own words in Matthew 5:39 (NLT), ‘But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.’
And when it came to Jesus arrest & questioning, He submitted Himself to insults, blows, torture & eventual execution, without EVER offering threats or violence to anyone else. So if Jesus is really our no.1 hero, then shouldn’t we follow His lead & be peace-loving too? I know that’s what I aspire to.

[1]
Proverbs 3:31-32 (NLT)
31 Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly.

Proverbs 3:31-32 (ANIV)
31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
32 for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

Proverbs 3:31-32 (AMP)
31 Do not resentfully envy and be jealous of an unscrupulous, grasping man, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).

Proverbs 3:31-32 (MSG)
31 Don't try to be like those who shoulder their way through life. Why be a bully?
32 "Why not?" you say. Because God can't stand twisted souls. It's the straightforward who get his respect.