This Better Work

Kingdom ways must work in the battlefield of our lives. If they do not, if I engage in biblical beliefs and practices, and I am left in the same condition I was, then I will jettison faith and look to some other way of help.  

Gratefully, Kingdom ways not only work but they are extremely durable, even to withstanding the gravest storms and darkest caves.  

I want to show you something particularly effective that we can call targeted reflection. In targeted reflection we move from a generic meditation on, for example, God’s goodness, to identifying specific areas of vulnerability in our lives and soaking in specific truth. Targeted reflection is essential when we are seeking to heal deep wounds or shame. It is a powerful way in which the Holy Spirit will minister the love of the Father and the Son into our darkest places.  

We have already seen meditation in warriors like David and Joshua. Consider these as I try to convince you of the power of biblical meditation: 

• Paul’s training his disciples in Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Or Romans 8:6, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”  
• The Apostle Peter trains his disciples, “Therefore, prepared your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).  
• Jude writes, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God anxiously waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life” (Jude 1:20-21).   

Can you feel the urgency and importance for us to be aware of where we set our minds? To be in Christ, to be baptized in the Spirit, and adopted into the family of our Father, is to be immersed in a different, Kingdom reality. We must choose to set our minds, to reflect/meditate/soak, on Kingdom truth.  

In targeted reflection, we learn to identify specific vulnerabilities and soak in specific truth. We see this in Joshua 1:1-9, which we considered last week. Remember, Joshua was next leader up to replace Moses and take Israel into the promised land. In the text, Yahweh targets specific emotions, “do not fear or be dismayed,” that will be triggered by a specific event – leading Israel into the promised land. Specific feelings. Specific trigger. Targeted reflection. Expected movement. “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Joshua 1:8).  

The ”book of the Law” refers to the first five books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Soaking in these will lead Joshua to discover, and be convinced of, the reality of the LORD and His faithfulness to His people. He does not abandon His people or lead them to defeat. These are the targeted truths Joshua needs to address his specific vulnerabilities.  

But Joshua cannot just drive through these truths like he is picking up McDonald’s. This is not a microwave. Joshua’s fears run deep and what he will face will be life threatening. The reaction must be immersion. He must be still and allow these wonderful truths of Yahweh to permeate his soul. Like marinating chicken for five minutes is useless. As if placing a hand on someone’s back is enough to massage out deep tissue soreness.  

Whereas general chemotherapy targets all multiplying cells, targeted chemotherapy, focuses treatment on specific molecules needed for diseased cells to grow.  

NOTICE the expectation of targeted reflection is faithfulness. Targeted reflection is not designed for us to sit around in our trauma and talk about it all day. It is not designed to immobilize us. The LORD trains us in targeted reflection as a loving way of healing our darkness in a way that we get to enjoy the abundance of His plan!  

Everyone of us has vulnerabilities. And they are not always obvious. And oftentimes Satan knows them better than we do. So, for example, I can be susceptible to feeling like a failure as I compare the size of my ministry to others. I can easily tear myself apart as to why my ministry is not as big or as “successful” as friends of mine. Oftentimes I am in the room with people whose ministries and churches dwarf mine. I hear whispers of failure. How can I survive? 

I soak in the faithfulness of our Father. I am convinced that what I have done, and am doing, is what our Father’s will is for my life. He loves me. Has a will for me. And wants me to gain Kingdom wins as He leads me. These truths bring me powerful contentment and joy even as my ministry faces struggles.  

But the temptation to succumb to failure is real and sometimes more powerful than at others. No sprinkling of God’s word is deep enough to penetrate the potential darkness of my failure. Giving the Holy Spirit free reign and targeted access continues to be transformative and protective.  

So, where are you vulnerable? Where have you been wounded? What scares you? Or what have you done? In what areas are you bound in shame? How deep is your dark? And what is the specific truth of our Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that brings light and healing?  

Write your vulnerabilities. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify and reveal. Pray. Breathe deep and then deeper. Set your mind on the Spirit. Let Him take your burden. Deeper still. Healing, breakthrough, comfort, readiness, strength, hope, confidence, and more will rise as you soak in the love and faithfulness of our Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  

This is LIFE in the Overflow…and this is what happens when the Trinity goes first.