Praise Me now.

The temptation so often is to fret now and praise later. I want everything to be fixed and I want to know that every bit of my future is secure, then I’m ready to sing songs of praise.

But it’s easy to raise my hands when all is well and all my problems have happy endings. It’s easy to lift my voice when I can see how what I’m worried about will be resolved neatly like in those old sitcoms of yore where everyone always lived happily ever after at the end of every episode.

But to praise in the midst of uncertainty before I even know the outcome? That’s real faith.

That’s saying to God, “Your way is best, even if it’s not my way. You are worthy of my praise and worship, even if I don’t get my way in the end.”

The best testimony is to see a believer who has joy in the midst of trials — someone who can sing in the middle of the storm and not only when the sun is shining. That’s what gets people’s attention.

And that’s the kind of faith I want.

First of all, let me start by confessing that nothing is more annoying than looking at the alarm function on my phone and realizing that it is 4:59 and my alarm is set for 5. Few things in life aggravate me more.

Some would simply pop out of bed and begin the day early. They’d get a bit of a head start on the morning and all their daily tasks. Me? I’m rolling back over and cherishing those 60 seconds.

Then there are times when you look at the time and realize you have lots more night left to get in that cherished sleep. Those are my happy moments.

Of course, the best is turning off the alarm completely. Those mornings are the best.

As you may know, today marks the 89th birthday of Elvis Presley (or what would have been his 89th birthday). But few know that today is also the anniversary of the martyring of five missionaries to Ecuador, namely Jim Elliott, Roger Youdarian, Pete Fleming, and Nate Saint. Even though such news made the headlines back when it happened in 1956, such things go largely unnoticed and unremembered by most.

But not in heaven. In heaven, they have received their reward. They have heard the words of Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”

There are inhabitants in heaven from the Huaorani people because these men had the strong conviction to take the gospel where it had not gone before and to reach out to those who were formerly unreached. Because of their obedience (and the later obedience of Jim’s wife Elisabeth and Nate’s sister, Rachel), many of the Huaorani came to saving faith in Jesus.

While you may not hear much (if anything) about this particular anniversary today, it is a milestone in eternity. I can’t wait to one day meet them and thank them. I can’t wait to meet these tribal leaders who went from murderers to leaders in the faith. I know I will bow my knee and worship the Jesus who made it all possible.

“‘They say Aslan is on the move—perhaps has already landed.’

And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don’t understand but in the dream it feels as if it had some enormous meaning— either a terrifying one which turns the whole dream into a nightmare or else a lovely meaning too lovely to put into words, which makes the dream so beautiful that you remember it all your life and are always wishing you could get into that dream again. It was like that now. At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer” (C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe).

Aslan is on the move. If you don’t know, I’d recommend reading the books. They’re great.

I read something recently that resonated with me (and also convicted me quite a bit). I’m someone who would rather be safe than sorry, and comfort is usually my end game. May these words challenge you like they did me.

God did not call us to be safe, but faithful. Safe means taking no risks and never trying anything new. Faithful means that wherever I go and whatever I do, God is with me, regardless of what happens to me.

Safe means blending in. Faithful means taking up my cross daily and laying down my life in the figurative (and possibly literal) sense. May we all have a blessed year where we witness the faithfulness of God rather than merely a safe year:

“I am no fan of this new trend, wishing people a “safe” new year.

“It seems this cult of safety is advancing further into our vocabulary.

“It is a terrible value to base your year on.

“Imagine if the greats of history had decided to live “safe” lives, instead of good ones? Simply take those listed in Hebrews 11 – Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Rahab, Samson, Gideon… The list speaks for itself.

“Living for safety first will see you rendered next to useless.

“It is my genuine hope that I’ll continue to do many things this year that are not very safe.

“Because I hope to do what is characterised as “good,” not what is characterised as “safe.”

“Living for what is good and right involves risk and it involves pain – plenty of both.

“But when you do what is right, you can confidently entrust your safety to God.

“That is, God who says continuously to those who do such things, “Fear not, for I am with you.”

“This emerging safety cult is best nipped in the bud. Stop saying it and don’t start believing it.

“Meanwhile, I wish you a year in which you, “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” knowing that, “all these things shall be added unto you.” (even safety!) (Matt 6:33)

“Now, there’s something to base a year on.”
—Martyn Iles