Two-Way Journaling by Lyle Thomas

Ps. 70:2. “May those who try to kill me be defeated and confused. May those who are happy because of my troubles be turned back and disgraced.”
I am struggling with this verse today because of a new development in the saga of my being accused of being a false teacher here in the city. I was praying about it last night in the park where Pushkin was shot and realized that I was taking on the same attitude as if going into a duel and felt that the Lord wanted me to be different. Then three of my students asked to pray for me, sharing a picture that one had gotten of a Tsunami, with the idea that God is an unstoppable force. I thought it was right on the money, but it was hard to feel. They asked some good questions, and I felt like the Lord may be challenging me to find compassion for them rather than as an attempt to defeat them.

Even today I am still torn between thinking about “preparing” for a meeting with these men about this and the idea of loving them. Frankly, I don’t see much of any evidence of Jesus dealing with the religious leaders with anything other than hostility. When is that also appropriate? On the other hand, it may be wise here to take the approach that we are colleagues, brothers in Christ, and that unity is more important than “winning.”  As to 70:2, I remind myself that I am not fighting flesh and blood. At worst, they are captive to a spirit that is not of Christ. What do you want to say to me, Lord?

I am a Tsunami. I am on the move, and nothing can stop the force of my love coming into this world and forming it into my image. I am the force of Love, and nothing is more powerful in this universe. I am unstoppable. I am great and Almighty, but I am the force of love, which is not the force of the world. I am not the force of hatred, violence, of control and manipulation. I am another force of another kind; I am meek and mild in my power. This is a spirit that the world does not know, but it is able to recognize it as somehow different, and that my force has a kind of authority that is different but good. This is the force of love that will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children back to their fathers. It is the kind of love that will win the hearts of Russians back to their Heavenly Father, a love that sent My Son to die for the lost, not as one who makes them bow the knee. That is not my way. I do not force myself even with good arguments. I do not force myself with imposing questions and ways that demand submission. I am another spirit, and you can find me only in humility and meekness.

But I have such good arguments, Lord. Why give me such a strong mind if not to use it?

Your mind belongs to me, and it is to be used when and where I desire for my glory. Your mind is being used now in the writing of your courses, and that is pleasing to me. In this situation I want your heart more than your mind. Give your heart to me, submit to my leadership, to my process, to the force of my love, and then your mind will follow behind in submission to my process. This is my way.

What heart do you want me to have for them, Lord?

I want you to have the heart of a servant. You are here to serve the city, to serve My Church, and to serve my servants, so serve them.

They might ask me to serve them by renouncing something that is of you.

I will never leave or forsake you, and you will never renounce the faith and calling that I have given you. You are a carrier of something unique and precious that I have given you. What I have given you is a gift for this country, and you yourself are a gift for this country. I have sent you, and I bear responsibility for what I have started. This is my ministry, and I will see to it that it continues to the end, to the release of my full glory. Even if you were to stop doing your ministry, my ministry would not stop. I am unstoppable. They may kill the body, but not the spirit.

OK, but even if I were to stop doing one kind of ministry, I can’t just let their objections stand, or else those who are now doing that ministry will also be persecuted. They need defending.

Follow me in the process and watch me do the defending. I will lead you by the heart that I have given you, and you will know what to say at the right time.