Dr H Reflections

The Peace Child ∙

The Peace Child ∙

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him, God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you, who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. – Colossians 1:19-22

Luke 2:9-14

9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,

10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

11 “The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

13 “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying,”

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

The Sawi people of Western New Guinea, now known as Irian Jaya, consisted of approximately 400 individual tribes. Each tribe had its own distinct worldview and belief system. Many were headhunters and cannibals, living in a manner utterly alien to the Western world.

The Sawi practiced a dreadful and horrifying cultural tradition: the worship of treachery. Betrayal, murder, and cannibalism were not only practiced but were revered as time-honored customs within their mythic traditions.

War and violent bloodshed were a way of life. Revenge was considered both manly and essential. Treachery was regarded as the highest virtue. They would feign friendship only to betray, murder, and eat their allies. Consequently, when they heard the story of Jesus Christ, they presumed Judas was the hero. The Sawi admired Judas because they themselves were a tribe that celebrated treachery. In a word, they were a tribe of Judases.

In 1962, Don Richardson, a Christian missionary from Canada, began working with the Sawi. A linguist and Bible translator, he developed an alphabet for the Sawi language and eventually translated the New Testament into Sawi. He dedicated 15 years of his life to living with and among them. Communicating the concept of redemption and the idea that one would die for another proved challenging. Sitting among the tribe, he prayed, “Lord, help me. I need a gift of wisdom.” The Father provided the perfect redemptive analogy: the Peace Child. This was the key Richardson needed to communicate his message.

The Peace Child was one person the Sawi would never betray. In an extraordinary gesture, a tribal leader gave his own child, the Peace Child, to an enemy tribe. According to custom, peace would be maintained between warring tribes as long as the child lived. War and betrayal were unthinkable; no one would betray the Peace Child. This concept became the perfect metaphor for the Sawi to understand what God the Father had done. It opened their hearts to the Gospel story.

Richardson explained that the Lord Jesus Christ was God’s Peace Child, given to remove the conflict between man’s sinfulness and God’s righteous judgment. The Father had surrendered His own Son, the ultimate Peace Child, to bring peace to all people. Cannibals were transformed into Christ-followers.

Over the years, most of the Sawi people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, with many becoming missionaries to neighboring tribes. As for the Peace Child, he became the first Sawi to graduate from higher education and went on to become a primary school principal.

REFLECT & PRAY

Paul’s approach to evangelism was adaptive and transcended cultural norms and religious boundaries. His primary concern was to do whatever it took to make disciples.

Father, I want to follow Your command to make disciples. Enable me to be adaptive, sensitive, aware, and willing to become whatever it takes.

INSIGHT

The Father sent His Peace Child, His very own Son, into the world.

Colossians 1:20 [Through the Lord Jesus Christ] God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

The Lord Jesus Christ commands the children of the King to carry the message throughout the entire planet.

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

While the meaning of this verse is clear, delving deeper and unpacking it a bit provides even greater insight. The sentence contains only one verb: “make disciples.” The Greek word for this is matheteuo. It is imperative, meaning it is a command, and it involves instructing others in the ways and teachings of a teacher. However, it goes beyond mere teaching; it encompasses the idea of becoming attached to the teacher, following them in both belief and conduct – in other words, becoming a disciple.

The words translated as go, baptizing, and teaching are participles, indicating the manner in which the primary command is to be fulfilled.

Going into all the world and making disciples necessitates effective communication. Communication requires mutual understanding between the sender and the receiver. Making disciples of all nations demands a sensitivity to the culture, beliefs, and value systems of the people being reached. With wisdom and discernment, ideal redemptive analogies often emerge.

Paul shows the way.

1 Corinthians 9:20-23

20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.

21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Paul became all things to all people so that he could save some. It’s a paradox: Paul was free from all men, yet he served all as a servant. Because of his freedom, Paul was free to serve others, putting aside his own rights for their sake.

“We are your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

The phrase “all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:22) is often misinterpreted to suggest that Paul changed his message to please others. In reality, Paul was consistent and unwavering. He was a herald, an ambassador, not a politico.

Paul was given the task of ministering to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8). He began preaching in synagogues and then reached out to Gentiles (Romans 15:20). Paul bridged cultural divides between Jews and Gentiles by respecting the customs of both groups. He didn’t flaunt his freedom before Jews or impose the Law on Gentiles.

Paul wasn’t inconsistent; he wisely adapted his approach. His sermons in Acts reflect this: he started with Old Testament patriarchs for Jews and the God of Creation for Gentiles. Paul tailored his message to his audience without compromising its truth.

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You ain’t seen nothing yet ∙∙

You ain’t seen nothing yet ∙∙

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19

Revelation 21:5-6 Behold, I am making everything new! It is finished!

On May 17, 1971, the musical Godspell opened off-Broadway. Composed by Stephen Schwartz, this modern-day song-and-dance production is based on the Gospel of St. Matthew. The 2011 revival ran on Broadway from October 13, 2011, to June 24, 2012.

Godspell presents a series of the Lord Jesus Christ’s parables, interspersed with music primarily set to lyrics from traditional hymns, culminating in the passion of Christ. The show features several remarkably entertaining and poignant songs.

Among them are Day by Day

Day by day, Day by day

Oh Dear Lord, Three things I pray

To see thee more clearly

Love thee more dearly

Follow thee more nearly

Day by day

Suppose a child of the King chooses to walk with the Father day by day; where do they begin? Where do spiritual renewal and formation start? The first step is to recognize that spiritual renewal comes from God. Our goal should not be to seek the experience of renewal itself but to seek the One who renews our spirit.

The Father redirects our thinking, teaching us to shift our focus from the daily necessities of life to seeking God first.

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“Spiritual renewal doesn’t come from seeking spiritual renewal. That only results in a temporary emotional high lacking the true substance that God can provide. Instead, seek God and surrender your will to His. Let it be your first thought each morning when you start your day” (Steve Arterburn).

The Exodus from Egypt reveals the ways of the Father, presenting a repeatable pattern. “It is his standard modus operandi with us, through the finished work of Christ on the cross” (Ortlund and Hughes). The Exodus is a story of redemption, where the people of Israel were freed from slavery and given the freedom to worship the Father in a completely new way.

The Father continually echoes the spirit of the Exodus in the lives of His children, redeeming them from the bondage of sin so they may worship Him in increasingly profound and heartfelt ways.

As children of the King, walking with the Father renews us day by day. This renewal is not external; it takes place within.

2 Corinthians 4:16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed day by day.

REFLECT & PRAY

“God loves new things: new songs, new hearts, new heavens, new earth, new names. We should not always look for Him to do in our lives what He has done before, but should learn to expect the unexpected” (Stanley).

Father, thank You that You are always prepared to begin something new in our lives as we seek to walk with You day by day.

INSIGHT

Isaiah 43 concerns a not-too-distant future time when the Jewish people would be in Babylonian captivity. The Exodus from Egypt provides a pattern for future exodus-like redemption. The past provides an example of the Father’s miracle-working power. “God’s past actions provide the foundation for his present and future works because his nature is unchanging” (Briley). The Jewish exiles are to trust the Father and depend upon Him for redemption from Babylon.

Isaiah 43:19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

The Father is about to do something new for Israel. From His eternal perspective, the Babylonian captivity is already over. It simply has to be worked out in time. This latest act will be both innovative and unexpected, much like a sprout emerging from barren soil. “He would do for the captives in Babylon what He had done for their ancestors in Egypt, namely, make a highway for them through the wilderness and provide them with water (Exodus 17). Instead of turning a sea into dry land, He would turn the dry land into waterways (cf. Isaiah 35:6-7)” (Constable).

As children of the King, we are called to actively apply the timeless principles of our faith to our present-day circumstances instead of solely dwelling on past memories and longing for the “good old days.”

“God never acts out of character, but a part of his character is that he never runs out of new ideas. And he is able in amazing new ways to reenact the exodus in your life and to lead you through some Red Sea barrier confronting you today” (Ortlund and Hughes).

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

A whole new way of life is now open to every child of the King. However, this can only be realized through faith in the Father, the living God. Unfortunately, many children of the King have lost their sense of the presence and reality of the living God in their lives. How do we get it back? It starts with choosing to walk with Him day by day. We need to humble ourselves and ask the Father for help.

Just as the Father helped and promised to help Israel, He also helps every child of the King.

Isaiah 43:22-44:11

22 But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me, O Israel!

25 I – yes, I alone – will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

6 This is what the LORD says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.”

8 Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses – is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock – not one!”

22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”

23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains, and forests and every tree! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel.

Renewal and spiritual formation begin within us. “Reformation is the recovery of God’s purpose for us. Revival is the recovery of God’s life in us. God loves to renew confused and tired people . . .. What, then, is reformation? Reformation is God renewing in our hearts a passionate clarity about his purpose for us. It is God reawakening in us a love for his truth and his standards. It is God preparing us for the display of his glorious salvation as we reshape every aspect of our lives . . ..” (Ortlund and Hughes).

We have only to seek the Father in our need and ask for help. A new beginning awaits. The best is yet to come! You ain’t seen nothing yet!

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Yada, yada, yada ∙∙

Yada, yada, yada ∙∙

You know me, O LORD; You see me, and You examine my heart’s attitude toward You. – Jeremiah 12:3

Psalms 139:1-7

1 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.

5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

On April 24, 1997, the widely acclaimed television sitcom “Seinfeld” featured an episode titled “The Yada Yada.” Within this episode, the character George Costanza expresses his frustration with his girlfriend’s tendency to truncate her stories and omit essential details, replacing them with the phrase “Yada, Yada, Yada.”

The phrase “Yada, Yada, Yada” has become firmly rooted in popular American culture and continues to be relevant today. It is often used as a cliché to express a disparaging attitude. Typically, it is employed to dismiss or diminish something that is perceived as uninteresting, tedious, or monotonous. This phrase serves as a modern-day equivalent to saying “blah, blah, blah” or to convey sarcastic disregard. It represents a predictable, repetitive, or commonplace idea, serving as a quick way to bypass or overlook unnecessary details. When there is something that can be skimmed over, “Yada, Yada, Yada” is used in its place.

There has been much discussion about its origin. It’s not that difficult to get to the bottom of it. The term “yada” is the transliteration of a Hebrew verb that means “to know.” When something is common knowledge, “Yada, Yada, Yada” is interjected, meaning “You know,” or “You know what I mean?”

Psalm 139 expresses David’s deep and affectionate bond with the Father, enveloping the reader in a sense of divine intimacy. David eloquently portrays the Father’s complete understanding of all things and all individuals.

This poetic masterpiece can be seen as a heartfelt love letter from David to the Father. It overflows with adoration, love, loyalty, devotion, and awe. This is Theology 101 regarding God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence expressed as a love song, a poem, rather than some cold, abstract theological treatise.

Psalms 139:1-3

1 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

The Hebrew word translated as “examined” is chaqar, which connotes a deliberate search and thorough exploration to learn people’s sentiments and expose their weaknesses. The Hebrew word translated as “know” is yada. It means to know, observe, realize, care, understand, and express concern.

The Father does not merely know about us; He knows us.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

The Hebrew word rendered as know in this verse is bin. It denotes to understand, perceive, comprehend, consider, care for, and bring insight.

You know everything I do.

The Hebrew word translated as “scrutinize”or“search out”is zarah. Zarah originally meant to winnow or scatter, disperse. It came to mean having explicit knowledge of a person.

The Father’s presence is intimate and all-encompassing. He actively and intimately envelops us, discerns our innermost being, and explores the depths of our minds and hearts with a depth surpassing our self-awareness. His omniscience extends to every aspect of existence. He never learns new things because He has always known and continually knows everything.

The Father knows each of us deeply and completely. He has pierced all of our defensive fortifications. It is as though He gets inside our minds and hearts and knows our thoughts, emotions, needs, dreams, aspirations, and fears with unparalleled clarity.

David loves the intimacy and immediacy of being known. He craves it; he pleads for it. Yet, such intimate and expansive knowledge overwhelms his mind and confounds him.

“Our human brains strain under the weight of the idea. It is too exalted for us to comprehend. But when we come to the frontier of our capacity to understand and can go no farther, we can still bow in worship at the immensity of the knowledge of God!” (MacDonald).

One can easily be frightened and troubled by the Father’s omniscience. Yet the recognition that omniscience is coupled with His lovingkindness alleviates all concerns.

REFLECT & PRAY

The omniscience of God is both awe-inspiring and overwhelming, but it also comforts and assures us. It is a small step from fearing that we cannot escape Him to worrying that we might.

Father, thank You for knowing me intimately at the deepest level. None of my personal faults are repugnant to You, and Your response to them is even greater love.

INSIGHT

Psalms 139:6-7

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

During David’s time, pagan worship was centered around local and restricted deities, such as the sea, the sky, the harvest, and the underworld. This is how it was for polytheists. However, it was different for the Father. He was not limited in this way. The Father’s presence is everywhere; he is all-seeing and perceives all things in all places.

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

David does not wish to hide and evade from the Father; instead, he embraces Him. David acknowledges that his ability to comprehend the Father’s omniscience is beyond his grasp. He realizes that the Father’s knowledge and guidance are his protection. The Father keeps him safe.

The Father is truly amazing, awe-inspiring, and wonderful. David knows he can never fully grasp it. He is not equal to it. He realizes he can never fully understand the depths of the Father’s greatness. Trying to comprehend the incomprehensible hurts his brain. David gives up trying to understand the inscrutable. Instead, he shifts his focus to adoration and worship. David reveres, honors, and worships the Father for who He is, what He does, and what He has done for him.

Romans 11:33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

Yada!

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Exceptional people ∙

Exceptional people ∙

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. – 1 Timothy 1:15

1 Timothy 1:12-16

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,

13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them all.

16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then, others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

David Halberstam’s well-known and well-used phrase, “The Best and The Brightest,” originated from the title of his 1972 book. The book thoroughly examines the key figures within the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. It effectively captures the mindsets and tendencies of these individuals, shedding light on the series of decisions that plunged the United States into the Vietnam War.

Halberstam delves into the perspectives and backgrounds of these American policymakers, exploring the factors that contributed to the United States’s involvement in Vietnam. He unravels their histories and backstories. What did they have in common? What drove them?

Halberstam describes them as “men that never failed.” They moved from major success to major success, and their achievements shaped their mindset and outlook. Because of their success, they could not recognize that their Vietnam policies were not working. Their string of accomplishments distanced them from the everyday American. They felt no need to keep the American public in the loop. Their overconfidence and hubris led to government secrecy and failed policies that have since become synonymous with the Vietnam War.

The “Dream Team” brought together by Kennedy and described by Halberstam was one of the best groups of high-level advisers that an American president has had. Nevertheless, they utterly failed to manage a war against a third-world state (genzconservative.com).

Regarding a similar group of individuals with remarkable ability and aptitude, John F. Kennedy once quipped at a dinner honoring Nobel Prize winners, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

On planet Earth, there are many times and places where the “best and brightest” rise to prominence and become successful. It is a natural pattern in the world. But in the Father’s kingdom, this is not so. The Father often selects very difficult, rebellious, defiant, and stubborn people to serve Him. He uses ordinary, flawed raw material to create delightful, devoted souls who desire nothing more than to serve Him faithfully.

Consider John the Apostle. In the Gospels, he and his brother James are called the “Sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). By nature, they were passionate, quick-tempered, and prone to acts of retaliation. They were fiery and demanding. When it came to love and compassion, they were more than a few bricks short of a full load. Their solution to a problem was markedly harsh, violent, and blunt.

Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and burn them up?”

But after a lifetime of walking with the Lord, John the Apostle came to be called the Apostle of Love. This was a remarkable transformation for an exceptional person, exceptionally irate, that is.

Paul the Apostle was also unique. He referred to himself as the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:12 – KJV). He was exceptional when it came to being a blasphemer, persecutor, and outrageously offensive, ruthless opponent. Before his conversion, he ravaged the church, entered house after house, dragged off men and women, and imprisoned them (Acts 8:3).

Unlike John, Paul’s transformation was remarkably abrupt. On the road to Damascus, he had a very close encounter of the third kind with the Lord Jesus Christ, which was nothing short of transformative. Paul was irreversibly altered, never the same again.

The Father uses exceptional people. Many are exceptionally bad people with challenging temperaments, attitudes, and pasts, while others are exceptionally ordinary people. Who does the Father choose now have totally lost my contacts these are these were all out of order

1 Corinthians 1:27-28

27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

REFLECT & PRAY

Whom does the Father choose? He often selects those who are notably ordinary or even strikingly flawed. The Father showcases His boundless compassion, love, mercy, and grace through these choices. He truly is wondrous and awe-inspiring.

Father, as I ponder my life and recognize my inner, hidden life and insecure, ugly, vengeful thoughts, I can hardly imagine how You could possibly choose me to serve You. I stand in awe. Thank You for Your perfect patience.

INSIGHT

When we consider John and Paul, it is blatantly apparent that their salvation and selection for the Father’s service are totally undeserved and unmerited. The Father demonstrates remarkable grace, mercy, and kindness. He does so for every child of the King.

John was transformed from an angry son of thunder to the gentle, kind “Apostle of Love.” This occurred because of a lifetime of getting to know and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

“No one persecuted the early Christian church more zealously than did Saul, and no one preached forgiveness more than Paul” (Stanley).

“The grace of God turned the persecutor into a preacher and the murderer into a minister and a missionary! So dramatic was the change in Paul’s life that the Jerusalem church suspected that it was a trick, and they had a hard time accepting him (Acts 9:26-31)” (Wiersbe).

“Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners” even some of the most defiant and vile. The Father has mercy on them, and so they serve as remarkable examples for others who would later believe in him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16 ).

Regrettably, many children of the King become so discouraged that they feel they are the worst sinner ever. Not! However, in comparison, they cannot hold a candle to the apostle Paul.

Do you have a lamentable past? Rejoice; the Father is at work to transform you into an exceptional, devoted child of the King.

Philippians 2:13 God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

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Wilderness Therapy ∙

Wilderness Therapy ∙

This was the regular pattern – at night, the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD’s command wherever he told them to go. – Numbers 9:16-18

Deuteronomy 8:2-18

2 Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

4 For all these forty years, your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell.

5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.

7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock!

16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.

17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, “I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.”

18 Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful.

Trails Momentum of Henderson, N.C., is a therapeutic outdoor-adventure program for young adults based upon Wilderness Therapy.

Wilderness Therapy has the potential to be a transformative experience for young adults. Taking participants out of their comfort zones and challenging their boundaries encourages pursuing new goals and passions while testing and affirming their faith. Through Wilderness Therapy, young adults can experience personal growth and expand their horizons.

This journey of self-discovery provides young people with a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their capabilities, and their limitations.

Those who successfully navigate the challenges of Wilderness Therapy often gain a newfound sense of self-awareness and discover inner strengths they never knew existed. They develop self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment by facing and overcoming challenges that they previously thought were insurmountable.

Wilderness Therapy is nothing new. The Father used it to guide and transform the generation of Israelites. Wilderness Therapy successfully transitioned the people from slavery to becoming resilient inhabitants of the Promised Land. A unique aspect of the Father’s Wilderness Therapy program is that He is always present, providing constant support to those who embark on this journey. They were never alone in the wilderness.

The Father’s presence among His people was not that of a mere observer but of a leader. The Lord led them using the cloud. He directed the Israelites to move or settle down and determined the duration of their stay in each location, whether for one night or two days, a month, or a year (Numbers 9:22). The Father guided them and directed them on every leg of their journey (Duguid and Hughes).

REFLECT & PRAY

How blessed we would be if we went when the Father told us to go and stayed when the Father told us to stay! Obedience brings blessings (Stanley).

Father many children of the King are reticent to travel or move about. You use Wilderness Therapy to transform lives. Encourage me to be willing to follow You wherever Your love leads.

INSIGHT

The wilderness in the Scriptures is not just a physical place but also a symbolic one representing spiritual trial and growth. It often serves as a significant setting for spiritual growth and character development. Through various stories, it becomes evident that the wilderness is integral to the development of resilience, faith, leadership, and deeper reliance on God.

In the wilderness, all familiar comforts and securities are stripped away, forcing people out of their comfort zones and requiring them to rely solely on the Father’s provision. A new and profound experience with the Father often leads his servants into a more intimate and profound relationship with Him.

The lessons learned in such desolate places prepare God’s servants for the challenges and responsibilities ahead. Even the Lord Jesus Christ was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the enemy.

He is the ultimate prototype for overcoming life’s trials and tests through obedience and reliance upon the Father and His Word. The Lord Jesus Christ had internalized the Scriptures, memorizing them in the context of life’s vicissitudes. In each situation, He quoted Old Testament Scriptures, the firm foundation upon which He stood to resist and overcome. He was armed with the sword of the Spirit, the living Word of God.

Matthew 4:3-4

3“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Deuteronomy 8:2)

Matthew 4:6-7

6 “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God’” (Deuteronomy 6:16).

Matthew 4:9-10

9 Satan said to him, “All these I will give you if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

The Father’s sovereign and purposeful guidance and leadership of His people is seen in how He led them in the wilderness. The Israelites stayed in one place for as long as God intended, and each experience along the journey was purposeful and not coincidental (Wenham). The people had to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. They had to follow God’s visible guidance each day until the cloud came to a halt – this required unwavering obedience to His will (ESV – Notes).

“There was no place for fussing and crying out, ‘Are we there yet?’ What they had to do was watch the cloud and follow carefully wherever it went. . . This journey is at the will of the Lord himself and under his direction every step of the way” (Duguid and Hughes).

It required forty years and the death of an entire generation for the Israelites to learn to trust God more than their eyes or emotions.

What does it take for us to learn to trust God in the same way?

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