When God Is Silent ...

Sometimes God seems silent and distant. Let's just admit it. We cry out for his help, for answers, for him to come through for us, and ... nothing. Or so it seems. This can feel defeating, disheartening, lonely. But there are answers.

I take some solace in the fact that people in Bible times also went though times of silence from God. In Psalm 28:1, King David said,

O Lord, you are my rock of safety. Please help me; don't refuse to answer me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die.

So far in David's trouble, God had seemed silent. But "God's delays are not God's denials." David still believed in God as his solid rock even though it seemed God was not answering his pleas for help. David must have had to go back to what he had said in Psalm 27:14; he needed to be patient and continue to wait on the Lord, trusting him even in his silence.

Trust God even in his silence. That may mean a transformation of your heart. That may take an attitude adjustment. Look at David's heart in Psalm 28:7:

The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Through the various troubles and painful circumstances of his life, David chose to be joyful. His heart was filled with joy, not with bitterness, anger, resentment, or anything else. A heart of joy naturally bursts out in songs of thanksgiving!

You and I have a choice as we go through troubles, painful circumstances, and even God's apparent silence. It all starts with trust. If you trust God and wait patiently on him, he will answer you. You can have joy in him and believe in him as your strength and your shield even when you are not hearing from him at this time. Trust that he is working behind the scenes in your life. Trust that he is working for your good. Trust that the pain has a purpose in your life. Trust that you are clay and he is shaping you.

One more thing. I believe that sometimes God is speaking, but we are simply not hearing him. Hearing from God takes attentiveness on your part. That means spending time with him each day.

God speaks through his Word. Don't say God is silent if you are not in his Word!

God speaks through other people. Don't say God is  silent if you are not meeting with other Christians on a regular basis.

God speaks through inspired authors. Don't say God is silent if you are not reading.

God speaks through the circumstances of your life. Don't say God is silent if you're sitting on the couch watching TV.

What do you think about this? Have you gone through times of God's silence? What happened? What have you learned?

I Need Someone to Teach Me How to Live

I confess, even after 51+ years, I need the Lord to "teach me how to live" (Psalm 27:11). I don't have this life-thing all figured out yet. I'm reminded of that fact every so often when I think I have everything under control.

God knows the best way for me to live. He knows the path ahead of me much better than I do, so I can trust him to lead me in the right direction (Psalm 25:4-5). Imagine taking a tour through a forest led by a guide who has been down this trail thousands of times, and yet constantly questioning his decisions or wanting to go your own way. Isn't that what we do with God?

When I say, "teach me how to live, O Lord," I must do 4 things: (1) humble myself; (2) surrender my will to his; (3) spend time with God alone so I can really listen to him; and (4) obey, no matter what I think or others tell me. I'm sure there are more. But these are the main ones for me.

God will teach me how to live when I live a God-centered (not a me-centered or problem-centered or what-everyone-else-thinks-centered) life. King David lived a God-centered life. in Psalm 27:1, he said, "The Lord is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid?" The apostle Paul understood this as well: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). Both of these men put their focus on God, not their problems. They trusted God with all their hearts, and leaned not on their own understandings!

God will teach me how to live when I trust and obey his Word. I need a standard for how to live my life, and I believe God's Word is that standard. I will choose to trust God's way of doing life, which he has revealed in his Word. I believe His Word gives me the very best way to live my life, and I believe he never ever teaches me how to live in a way that is contrary to his Word.

God will teach me how to live when I choose to spend time with him. I've found that it takes discipline to make time to spend with him each day, but I can not know how to live if I don't! God desires to spend this time with us and teach us his ways: "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me'" (Psalm 27:8). What a privilege it is to hear God say, "Come, take some time and have a conversation with me today. I want to talk to you and hear from you." I want my response to always be like David's: "And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'"

God will teach me how to live when I wait patiently for him (Psalm 27:14). God does not work on my timetable. Sometimes I'm not sure if he's listening or not. Sometimes my Plan A does not work out, even when I thought I was doing it his way. Sometimes God teaches you in the midst of the pain, uncertainties, and waiting. Patience takes trust. Trust takes patience.

God is teaching me how to live today. How is he teaching you to live? 

Repost: Summer Small Groups: Some're Here, Some Aren't

What is your small group doing this summer? Did you know that summer can actually be the BEST time for small groups? It’s a great time to get outside together, serve together, do more socially together, play together, learn some new things together. What’s the key word here? That’s right … together! Here are some ideas:

• Pull out your calendars now to plan when you will and won't meet over the summer.
• Make a commitment to one another to be there whenever possible.
• Go on trips together: camping, vacation, etc.
• Lighten up the Bible study for the summer and do some devotional stuff together.
• Do more Bible do's rather than Bible studies.
• Meet on the deck, back porch, or at a park.
• Study the one another passages from the New Testament over the summer, and do each of them in a creative way. (A group I led did this one year. We rotated homes and whoever hosted planned the "one another" study and application. One week we served one another by washing each others' cars. Another week we encouraged one another by doing a fun affirmation exercise. Another week we spoke one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs by having a creative worship time at a park. Every week we offered hospitality to one another without grumbling!
• Serve together. There are lots of great serving projects you can do, especially outside, over the summer. Need ideas? Go to Steve Sjogren's Servant Evangelism Page for hundreds of them!
• Have fun!
• Invite some friends who are not in a small group (or in a church) to join you!
• Go fishing together (or biking, hiking, swimming, rock climbing skydiving, etc.)
• Add your ideas! Respond to this post and add your own ideas for summer fun and discipleship. 

Does Your Small Group Have the Igor Syndrome?

Many small groups are like Igor in Young Frankenstein. One of my favorite scenes in the movie shows Igor, played by Marty Feldman, and Dr. Frankenstein, played by Gene Wilder, talking. Dr. Frankenstein says, “You know, I’m a brilliant surgeon. I can help you with that hump.” To which Igor responds in perfect deadpan, "What hump?"

This happens so often to people, families, companies, and churches. We get so used to living with some unhealthy condition that we just get used to it. We become oblivious to a huge hump or dysfunction that keeps us from living a healthy, productive lifestyle. After awhile, we become desensitized to its reality and to the negative effect it's having on our life.

When our church assessed the health of our groups, we discovered that many were unhealthy in certain areas and, until they took the assessment, were completely unaware of, or at least apathetic toward, the debility. In fact, many groups became aware of some of their unhealthy issues just by doing the assessment. I tell several stories of these groups in Small Group Vital Signs, but one story stood out. Gail's group scored the lowest of all our groups, and yet most people may never had seen it. The group was coasting along, not growing, not making an impact, and yet no alarms were going off. In fact, it was slowly dying, but the death spiral was still pretty incomprehensible. Our assessment, coaching, and training helped Gail's group to get healthy and it started growing immediately. Now it's multiplying and making an impact on others.

How is your group doing? Are you healthy? Are you sure? Take our FREE Small Group Health Assessment to gauge your group health. It will take you less than 10 minutes to take the assessment, and you will receive a report that will show you how you're doing in each of the 7 vital signs of health. If you want, you can forward this report to your coach or small groups point person for accountability and support.

Don't be like Igor. Get some help with that hump!

After taking the Small Group Health Assessment, come back and comment below!

Small Group Dudes Are Talking About Small Group Vital Signs

I'm blessed to have partnered with many people over the years who have in one way or another shaped my thinking about small groups, community, discipleship, and ministry. I've been to the same conferences with many of them, been a part of the same teams and networks, and hung out together over dinner just talking life. I've read many of their books, articles, blogs, Facebook posts, and tweets, and perhaps they've read some of mine. That's one of the things I love about small groups ministry: the community of people who are gurus, advocates, cheerleaders, trainers and teachers. We don't always agree with one another, but we're definitely all on the same team!

Today, I'm sharing some words from just a few of them about my book, Small Group Vital Signs.

"The only people who should not read Small Group Vital Signs are those who love to sit home in the dark by themselves or are addicted to mediocrity. For everyone else get ready for a tune-up and an upgrade!"

- Thom Corrigan, author of 101 Great Ideas to Create a Caring Group

"At Saddleback, we encourage every member to be a part of a small group and complete our Spiritual Health Assessment and use the Health Planner to grow as a Christ-centered believer. In Small Group Vital Signs, I was pleased to discover a similar approach to group health that any leader can use to lead a life-changing group! The assessment is revealing, the seven vital signs are biblically-based, and Mike's suggestions to improve each area are grounded in years of practical application."

- Steve Gladen, Small Groups Pastor, Saddleback Church, and author of Small Groups With Purpose and Leading Small Groups with Purpose

 

"Don't mess around. If you want to lead a healthy small group -- if you want to see healthy small groups in your church -- you need to read this book."

- Sam O'Neal, content editor for Threads by LifeWay

"Small Groups aren't the answer. Healthy small groups are. Michael Mack has written the kind of book that you can read today and put into practice tomorrow.

- Adam Workman, Small Group Pastor, LifePoint Church, Reisterstown MD

Thanks, guys! 

Take the FREE Small Group Health Assessment here!

Get more information about Small Group Vital Signs and purchase your own copies here. (Quantity discounts of 10-35% off are available!)

If you've read Small Group Vital Signs, please write a review on Amazon here!

How to Win the War with Yourself -- The Secret of the Third Force

Do you ever find yourself in a war with yourself? I have. In fact, I sense I'm in the battle right now. We all do. King David did. Often this battle is waged between what seem to be two opposing forces inside of us, but there is a third force that trumps those two.

Yesterday I read Psalm 22, in which King David went back and forth between what his heart was telling him and what his mind was saying was true. Click here now to read Psalm 22 in a separate window. It's a war between your feelings and your reason, between your emotions and your intelligence.

In verses 1 and 2, David feels as if God has forsaken him, that he is distant. His heart feels ignored by God.

In verses 3-5, it seems like David is trying to convince his mind of some facts about God. He  states, But I know you are holy. I look to history and see you've been involved in people's lives.Looking at how God has acted before in our lives or the lives of others often helps us see the truth more clearly.

In verses 6-8, David goes back to feelings. These verses, as well as much of Psalm 22, are Messianic. These foreshadow what would happen to Jesus at the cross. But David was feeling this himself here as well. His heart was troubled not only by God's apparent silence, but by what people were saying about him. This is his heart speaking again, and this can feel very real and be very difficult as we walk through dark valleys (Psalm 23:4).

As in verse 3, David begins verse 9 with he word yet. He puts his heart on hold for a moment to reengage his mind about what he knows is true. This is very healthy! Looking at his past reminds him of God's goodness. Earlier he looked at the lives of people who went before him. Now he looks back at how God has worked in his own life.

In verses 11-21, David goes back to his feelings and pleads to God for help. David's emotions are raw and they are real. They are based on the dire circumstances of his life. He was hurting. He really had been betrayed. He was probably alone, hence he felt lonely. He had very real enemies who wanted to inflict very real pain on him.

I've been there. I am there right now. And perhaps so are you. You have very real life circumstances that don't seem fair. You are hurting and alone. You've been betrayed and maybe there are even people who could do harm to you if you let them. All this can be said about King Jesus as well as King David. He understands what you and I are going through because he went through it himself

Like David and Jesus, take your pleas to God. Seek his strength and comfort (see Psalm 23:1-2). Ask him to rescue you!

David turns to praise in verse 22. His ultimate purpose through all he was going through was to bring glory to God ... to worship him and to tell others about him. This is worship-evangelism! Whatever we go through in life as a Christ-follower should lead us to this same place -- worshiping God and telling others about him.

In verse 24, David again engages his mind. Note that even though David felt like God had forsaken him, he now proclaims the truth -- that God has not ignored his people in need, that he has not turned and walked away, that he has listened to his people as they cry out to him for help. This is a remarkable verse and shows the remarkable faith of King David.

This is important. Like David, we should be in touch with our feelings, but we should not let them rule us. We also must be in touch with the truth of God's Word and choose to obey it regardless of how we feel. We find balance there and decide to believe God's truth, not our feelings. 

In verse 25, after all of this back-and-forth between David feelings and mind, the third force enters in and takes over. Now we hear from his will. Notice: "I will praise you ... I will fulfill all my vows..." The will has the final say.Why? Quite simply, "for the Lord is King" (verse 28).

Perhaps you feel like giving up on something or someone. Maybe you feel like giving in to anger or self-centeredness or an addiction. Perhaps you've made a vow that you don't feel like keeping. Maybe you feel like God is not near and you can't get back to him. It's time for the will to take over! It's time to say, "Not my will, but yours be done." It's time to surrender your feelings and perhaps what your own mind is telling you and allow God to lead you on his path (Psalm 23).

Start with verse 25 and say, "I will praise you ... I will fulfill my vows." Let God's will have the final say.

What do you think about this? How have you seen your feelings and mind collide? How has your will helped win the war?

For more on this subject, read "The War Between the Heart and Mind" on the Ultimate Productivity Mastership Blog.

How I Prepare to Spend Time with God

As I sat down to spend time with my Father this morning, I went through a ritual of sorts. Not the kind of dead ritual of thoughtless, purposeless religious duty, but a heart-felt practice I've developed over the years. I share it here hoping that you may find something that helps you drawl closer to God each day.

This is not a list. I don't do everything here each day and not in any set order. These are just some of the things I pray as I sit down to spend time with God:

Thanks for the privilege of being able to come to you. I know it's only possible because of what Jesus did for me.

I surrender what I want for what you want with my life. Not my will, but yours be done.

 You alone are God. I praise you. You are worthy of my praise, adoration, love ... all that I am. (I often speak attributes of God, especially those that feel very true that day.)

I am sorry for my sin. (I take some time and take an inventory of where I've fallen short and confess it to God. I try to be tough on myself here and ask myself before God if I am really sorry for my sin.)

What do you want me to see today? What do you want me to hear from you?

What do you want to change in my heart?

In what area(s) am I conforming to the world rather than to you?

What part of my mind needs to be transformed/renewed?

Help me to be humble and quiet before you so that I can truly hear what you have to say to me. Help me set aside my own agenda or anything else that would keep me from hearing from you.

I know I have an enemy who does not want me to talk with you or hear from you. But I know you are for me and are fighting for me. Send your angel armies to protect me today. (I sometimes spend time here asking for God's protection on my family and every other part of my life.)

Thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides me, comforts me, and counsels me. You have taken up residence in my heart and you have given me power through your Spirit to do the things you are calling me to do.

As I read your Word today, I acknowledge that it is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I want it to be my guide for living. I believe your Word gives me the way to live life your way, which is the absolute best way for me to live. I accept your Word for what it says.

Help me to obey what you tell me in your Word and through your Spirit. I will obey your Word!

It's not about me. It's all about you. I am your vessel. Show me what you want me to do today. Show me how you can use me to bring about your purposes. I am no longer my own. I belong to you.

I love you, Lord. I love you Father. I love you Jesus. I love you Spirit. I love you ... but I know I only can do that because you loved me first. Thank you for your unconditional love for me. I know I don't deserve it on my own accord, but I thank you Jesus that you redeemed me. I love you.

Step Up to the Call: Seven Vital Signs of a Healthy Small Group

Larry Baxter, Small Groups Coordinator at Calvary Baptist Church, West Lafayette, Indiana, blogged recently about my newest book, Small Group Vital Signs and also posted the video of the session I led at Cincinnati Christian University last year.

Step Up to the Call: Seven Vital Signs of a Healthy Small Group

I really appreciate the kind words!