At Every Crossroads, Choose the Cross!

6/14/2017

A wise friend of mine likes to say that the cross of Christ symbolizes the place where God's will crosses ours. We want to live a life full of joy and blessings, but along the way we reach crossroads in our lives that demand a decision: will we follow our own way or choose His? Our familiar path is suddenly interrupted. God confronts us with "cross purposes." From "rejoicing in trials" to "taking up our cross," how do we choose God's way when it seems so contrary to ours?

Stand at the Crossroads and Ask

A wise prophet provided us with the answer long ago. In these modern times when we are inundated with ways contrary to God's, the Lord has been drawing me back to Jeremiah's words. He says:

Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path and you will find rest for your souls. ~Jeremiah 6:16, NLT

At the point where a decision must be made, or where we feel overwhelmed with storms, choices, or possibilities and don't know what to do, we must STOP right there and return to the ancient way, the way the ancients sought God. Jamieson Fausset-Brown's commentary describes it this way: "Idolatry and apostasy are the modern way; the worship of God, the old way."*

As I've pondered this scripture over the last year and a half, the Lord has reminded me of this well-known "strategy" of the ancients, especially David:

"Praise is the gateway to blessing. I am the source of all joy, peace, and blessing in your life, and you do well to enter in to My Presence through praise. When I say 'Position yourself: stand in the ancient paths and inquire...' it is a request for you to enter the gates of praise and thanksgiving so that your joy may be full. Without Me you will know no lasting joy, nor will you experience the benefits I have outlined in My Word. Blessing Me leads to benefits: the benefits of an established heart, a sound and peaceful mind, and a quiet spirit that dominates even your physical concerns, causing all things to fall in line with My order and My ways. You are blessed when you bless Me first, whether in worship, tithing, or giving of yourself in some way to another. Each point of sacrifice releases a new benefit, a new revelation, a new experience in the Spirit for you. Why? Because the joy that fills a Father's heart will cause Me to bless in return! Your praise extended to Me will cause Me to extend My hand to you in response. You can move both heaven and earth through your prayers and praise: heaven, because I draw near to you when you draw near to Me, and earth, because the impact of light, no matter how faint or small, will always cause darkness to retreat."

One glance at the Psalms shows us that David's sacrificial praise often resulted in the benefit of fresh revelation from the Lord. (See esp. Psalms 98-103.) David knew that from the starting point of his trials, he could worship his way into God's Presence and emerge with joy. Many of his songs begin in turmoil yet end with prophetic perspective.

In contrast, Jeremiah prophesies (in 6:16, above) to those for whom the Word of the Lord had become unattractive and scornful. Israel was so caught up in her own ways that she no longer paid attention to God's ways. These "believers" were no longer choosing a lifestyle of worship, and Jeremiah prophesied that God would stretch out His hand against them. (Jeremiah 6:12.) God's will was "crossing" their own.

Today, we New Testament believers have so much more available to us spiritually! Christ has become our "new and living way" (Hebrews 10:20), and we can draw near to God in full confidence that His shed blood has opened the way for us to worship Him freely, without fear. The Lord is urging us to draw near, expecting good things, because we worship a good Father!

Higher than the Storms

In prayer this morning, the Lord continued to add these thoughts:

"Lift Me up! Lift Me up and I will in turn lift you up, over and above your circumstances. For the enemy has come in like a raging flood, in one last-ditch attempt to take your eyes off of Me and focus again on the storms. But I am LORD of the storms, and I ride on the wings of the wind! My way is in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of My feet. (Nahum 1:3, NKJV) If you continue to praise Me, you will find yourself above every storm, rejoicing in My Presence which is always there, as constant as the sun behind the clouds. I am your constancy - your constant source of strength and peace, your faithful light, your hope always. Look to Me in worship, for worship diverts your attention from lower things and refocuses your eyes on higher, heavenly things."

As I heard Him speak, I saw a picture of a believer traveling along a well-worn road, unimpeded for a time. The believer came to an intersection, a crossroads, where the enemy was working against God's plan for his life. It was a point of decision, a place where the fury of the enemy was released like a flood against him in order to divert him from his path. Sometimes, the torrent seems so furious and confusing that you no can no longer see how to progress. As he looked up to God in worship, he was able to mount up above the flood to see where his path continued.

The Lord is emphasizing today that worship will lift you high above both demonic and flesh-induced "storms" to bring you to a place where you can gain perspective. At every crossroads, you can choose the cross, embracing a sacrificial lifestyle of worship. As you lift Him up, He will also lift you up, allowing you to see the next steps for your life.

God's Way is in the Whirlwind!

The church at large has often focused on scriptures about the "still small voice" Elijah heard which was "not in the whirlwind." (1 Kings 19:11-12.) While this was true in Elijah's case, don't be deceived into thinking that God will only speak to you when things are calm and peaceful!

The enemy wants us to believe that when storms come, we can no longer hear God. We must remember that God can also be found in the whirlwind! (Nahum 1:3.) His path can be in the midst of the most fearsome storms. He spoke to both Job and Peter during storms, and His voice can be thunderous as well as silent. (See Psalm 29:5; Matthew 14:22-33.)

Are you at a crossroads in your life? Is everything around you stormy? Choose to embrace God's ways when they "cross" yours. Choose to bring a sacrifice of praise! Through the cross, you are seated with God in heavenly places. Worship Him, and He will make those storm clouds like dust beneath your feet!

*Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI 1961. Page 604.

Photo: Deborah Perkins / HisInscriptions.com

Deborah Perkins is a seasoned prophetic writer, speaker, and Christian leader with over 30 years of ministry experience across denominations. At God's request in 2013, she founded His Inscriptions, an online ministry devoted to helping people worldwide build life-giving communication with God. Through her website, inspired teaching and a weekly blog, Deborah offers discipleship to those who want to grow their relationship with God. Deborah is also fond of her hubby, 3 sons, and dark chocolate - in that order!