Dormant Deliverance

The nature of our sin produces continual crisis. Our current line of solutions is not working to resolve the guilt, shame, and fear inherent to the sinfulness. In an attempt to resolve our crisis produced by the nature of sin, we seek deliverance. God has designed us to live within a context of love, joy, and peace. We are not designed to live in a constant state of pressure, stress, and anxiety. But the nature of sin brings these traumatizing by-products along with the guilt, shame, and fear that are embedded in the sin nature. The craving for love, joy, and peace is a residual part of the image of God lying dormant within our souls that is searching for redemption. We cannot stay in our crisis. The need for restored control and resulting peace prompt the search. Motivated by crisis, people inevitably embrace their redemptive need. Invariably this promotes a redemptive process to meet the redemptive demand.

BIBLE TRUTH
“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. . . . They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly" (2 Tim. 3:1, 5 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Although God desires His creation to seek Him for redemption, we continue to devise our own salvation strategies to dissipate the conflicts. Compelled by the redemptive need, all of humanity will either employ self’s redemptive process, or choose participation in Christ’s redemptive process. Self-effort naturally embraces the lie of the sin nature that states we can be complete apart from Christ. This perversion contradicts God’s truth that we can only be complete in Christ. Two choices are laid before us. Either we continue in our way ever seeking new remedies to meet the demands of our soul, or we seek peace through Christ. May we be willing to give up our solutions for His salvation.

PRAYER
Lord, when I refuse to confess my sin, my body wastes away, and I groan all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline is heavy on me. My strength evaporates like water in the summer heat. So, Lord, I confess my sin to you. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Ps. 32:3; Ps. 51:12)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

My Behaviors Are My Solutions

In spite of our best efforts, our behaviors are only our inadequate solutions aimed at resolving the deeper problem. This deeper problem cannot be resolved by our own power no matter how diligent the endeavor. The implementation of our solutions drives our lives. We utilize all our energy and try to employ others to facilitate our remedy. But as we pursue various resolutions to this deeper problem, we only add more problems to our lives. It permeates all we do.

BIBLE TRUTH
“But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me" (Rom. 7:23 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
The deeper problem is best defined as the nature of sin that resides within all of us. This nature of sin is incorporated into the essence of who we are. All aspects of our being are infected, not just affected, by sin. This sin nature controls our desires and the behaviors we choose, and establishes our state of being. Because of the sin nature life is dominated by guilt, shame, fear, anger, loneliness, and a propensity to seek self-interest. Brokenness leads to Christ's redemptive process, which delivers us from the deeper problem of sin.

PRAYER
Father, I long to experience the joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, I desire to rejoice as those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (Ps. 32:1–2)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Psalms 63 Prayer Pattern

This psalm was chosen to provide a model designed by God showing ways we can approach Him in a desperately dependent fashion. Use Psalms Prayer Patterns to pour out your heart to God while acknowledging your weakness and His strength, as you grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Psalms Prayer Pattern

O God, you are my God;
     I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
     my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
     where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
     and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
     how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
     lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
     I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
     meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
     I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
     your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
     They will go down into the depths of the earth.
They will die by the sword
     and become the food of jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
     All who trust in him will praise him,
     while liars will be silenced.       —Ps. 63 NLT

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Psalms 111 Prayer Pattern

This psalm was chosen to provide a model designed by God showing ways we can approach Him in a desperately dependent fashion. Use Psalms Prayer Patterns to pour out your heart to God while acknowledging your weakness and His strength, as you grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Psalms Prayer Pattern

Praise the LORD!

I will thank the LORD with all my heart
     as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the LORD!
     All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
     His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
     How gracious and merciful is our LORD!
He gives food to those who fear him;
     he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people
     by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good,
     and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true,
     to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people.
     He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
     What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom.
     All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!       —Ps. 111 NLT

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Psalms 51 Prayer Pattern

This psalm was chosen to provide a model designed by God showing ways we can approach Him in a desperately dependent fashion. Use Psalms Prayer Patterns to pour out your heart to God while acknowledging your weakness and His strength, as you grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Psalms Prayer Pattern

Have mercy on me, O God,
     because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
     blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
     Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
     it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
     I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
     and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner—
     yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,
     teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
     wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
     you have broken me—
     now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
     Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
     Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
     and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
     and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
     and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
     then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord,
     that my mouth may praise you.

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
     You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
     You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her;
     rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
     with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
     Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.       —Ps. 51 NLT

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Psalms 143 Prayer Pattern

This psalm was chosen to provide a model designed by God showing ways we can approach Him in a desperately dependent fashion. Use Psalms Prayer Patterns to pour out your heart to God while acknowledging your weakness and His strength, as you grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Psalms Prayer Pattern

Hear my prayer, O LORD;
     listen to my plea!
     Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
Don’t put your servant on trial,
     for no one is innocent before you.
My enemy has chased me.
     He has knocked me to the ground
     and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
I am losing all hope;
     I am paralyzed with fear.
I remember the days of old.
     I ponder all your great works
     and think about what you have done.
I lift my hands to you in prayer.
     I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude

Come quickly, LORD, and answer me,
     for my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
     or I will die.
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
     for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
     for I give myself to you.
Rescue me from my enemies, LORD;
     I run to you to hide me.
Teach me to do your will,
     for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
     on a firm footing.
For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life.
     Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies
     and destroy all my foes,
     for I am your servant.       —Ps. 143 NLT

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Psalms 142 Prayer Pattern

This psalm was chosen to provide a model designed by God showing ways we can approach Him in a desperately dependent fashion. Use Psalms Prayer Patterns to pour out your heart to God while acknowledging your weakness and His strength, as you grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Psalms Prayer Pattern

I cry out to the LORD;
      I plead for the LORD’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
      and tell him all my troubles.
When I am overwhelmed,
      you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
      my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come and help me,
      but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
      no one cares a bit what happens to me.
Then I pray to you, O LORD.
      I say, “You are my place of refuge.
      You are all I really want in life.
Hear my cry,
      for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
      for they are too strong for me.
Bring me out of prison
      so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me,
      for you are good to me.”       —Ps. 142 NLT

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.