Jumping to Conclusions

"'Yes,' the man told him.

'They have moved on from here,

but I heard them say,

'Let's go on to Dothan.'

So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan

and found them there.

When Joseph's brothers saw him coming,

they recognized him in the distance.

As he approached,

they made plans to kill him.

'Here comes the dreamer!' they said.

'Come on,

let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns.

We can tell our father,

A wild animal has eaten him.

Then we'll see what becomes of his dreams!'"

Genesis 37:17b-20 NLT

The brothers were consumed with jealous bitterness.  While it was true that their younger brother was a spoiled brat who could do no wrong in the eyes of their father, there was more to their hatred than simple resentment.  Because of this boy, none of them could have a close relationship with their father.  Each of them felt like a failure around this greatly admired man.  A son wants nothing more than the acceptance and love of their dad, but with Joseph around, their father seemed to only have eyes for the favored one.  They could never live up to the patriarch's high expectations, and that gaudy robe was only a painful reminder of this difficult truth.

Anger and hatred can stem from many sources.  Whatever the root, however, the result is the same: the hurt that turns to bitterness influences the way I think which, in turn, impacts my actions.  This may be one of the most powerful reasons why God commands His people to freely offer the gift of forgiveness. (Ephesians 4:32)

When I hold onto the pain wrought at the hand of another, I may assume they are my enemy.  When I see this person enter my life, I jump to the conclusion that they are here to inflict harm, thus withholding the love of God that is to freely flow through His people.  Instead, there may be another reason for the visit, but I'll never find out unless I give them a chance through the grace that God so liberally gives.

Eyes of God

As a people, we are rich.  I don't mean with money and stuff, although that is true for the most part.  What I am getting at is that we are abundantly blessed with a great inheritance from a gracious and extravagantly generous God.  He not only offers us a second (and third, and fourth, etc) chance when we fall for the lure of our sinful nature, but He lavishes us with His abundant love, He showers us with one blessing after another, and He cares about all the little things that trouble my heart.  We are rich indeed.

Most of the time, however, I go through life without realizing how rich is this legacy of faith that I've come into through Christ. (Ephesians 1:18)  Instead I see only the damage done by destructive hands, the injustice caused by greed and selfishness, or the difficulties that naturally occur as I live in a fallen world.  

If I am to be able to respond to the people God has placed around me in a loving way, it is vital that I use God's eyes through which to view the world.  When I look through my own sin-clouded lenses, I am unable to see the goodness of God.  If, however, I take on His perspective by offering myself as a living sacrifice and refusing to buy into the ways of this world, I will better be able to see things as He does.  (Romans 12:1-2)  Only then will I be able to see people as God has created them to be, loving them right where they are as I pass on the wealth of blessings God has given me.

If I want to love people as God calls me to, I will need to have the eyes of God.

Led by the Spirit

Playing "Follow the Leader" with a group of elementary-aged children is interesting.  While I would never normally walk like a duck or climb over a pile of sand, I just may do so when being led by a young child.

Likewise, letting my flesh lead me through life will mean that I will engage in all kinds of activities and behaviors that do not please God.  I may find myself lured into thoughts of lust, tempted to explore sexual pleasures readily available through any electronic device, convinced I am justified in my hostility toward a co-worker, deceived into thinking I'm striving so hard to reach the top for the good of others, or tell myself I'll only indulge in one drink.  (Galatians 5:19-21)

When I let God's Spirit lead me, however, I will find a different kind of fruit being produced.  Instead of my sinful nature winning out, then, I will notice a compassion for those who are hurting well up inside of me, a sense of well-being that is not dependent upon my circumstances flood my soul, a calm tranquility that cannot be explained build up in my heart and a desire to do good guide my actions. (Galatians 5:22-23)  Only then can I have any hope of treating people in a way that would honor God.

If I want to love people as God calls me to, I will need to be led by His Spirit.

Kingdom-Minded

My mind whirls like a high-powered computer as I lay sleepless beside my slumbering husband.  If I can save about $50 on groceries, I might have enough to pay the phone bill.  Then, there will only be a couple more expenses to cover this month.  Or, I might be able to scrimp on gas by staying home all week, skipping all my ministry activities so we could cover the water bill.  That's a great idea.  Maybe there's more I haven't thought of.  Ugh, why can't I go back to sleep?

A mind focused on meeting physical needs is a mind that worries at three o'clock in the morning.  Jesus taught us that only unbelievers should think this way because they don't have a benevolent Father to take care of them.  As children of God, though, those who follow Christ do enjoy this benefit.  Since my heavenly Father knows what I need and is perfectly willing and capable of supplying those requirements, I am free to focus my mind of His kingdom instead. (Matthew 6:31-33)  

In this way I will be able to concentrate on the ways God is working all around me and join in with what He is doing.  A mind focused on worldly worries, however, will never detect these activities and will only tend to what will not last.  My focus, then, determines the nature of my actions.

If I want to love people as God calls me to, I will need to be kingdom-minded.

It is easy to only treat people the way they treat me, or to let my feelings influence my actions.  If I am to truly let the love of God flow through me, though, I will need to take on His way of seeing those around me, let His Spirit lead me, and focus my mind of kingdom pursuits.  In these ways, I will not jump to conclusions, but will stand firm on the solid rock of my faith in Christ.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can let go of all the hurts that can lead to hatred and bitterness. 

How do I focus on my needs, acting like I don't have a Father in heaven who takes care of me?

When do I follow only my flesh, letting my feelings be my guide?

Better Left Unsaid

"This time he told the dream to his father

as well as to his brothers,

but his father scolded him.

'What kind of dream is that?' he asked.

'Will your mother and I and your brothers

actually come and bow to the ground before you?'

But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph,

his father wondered what the dreams meant."

Genesis 37:10-11

The dream filled the boy with a feeling of self-worth and purpose.  If God has placed me in such a high position, I'd better let everyone know so we can all be on the same page!  And so he shared the details of the dream with his family, telling them how their bundles of grain bowed before his, and how the sun, the moon and eleven stars did the same. (Genesis 37:5-9)

Joseph might have thought his family would be happy to hear this prophetic dream, but he miscalculated their reaction.  As was to be expected, his brothers only hated him all the more and even his father was perplexed by this dream.  Jacob must have asked himself, who does this boy think he is?

I can find an important lesson in studying how Joseph handled this powerful vision.  There are times when I am tempted to tell everything I know, inciting others to hatred, jealousy or anger.  While some things need to be told, others are better left unsaid. Therefore before I speak, it is important that I take a sober look at my motivation for saying the words I'm thinking.

Prideful

His eyes took in the magnificence of his beloved Babylon.  "By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor." (Daniel 4:30)  Soon, this man found himself grazing the fields like an animal, taking seven years for God to humble the great and mighty king Nebuchadnezzar.

When this prideful king uttered those condemning words that fateful day, his purpose was to elevate himself and bring glory to his own name.  While I personally don't know anyone who is so full of himself, I can think of times when I say things only to improve my image before others, or to boost my own self-confidence, or to draw attention to my good qualities.

As a human with a sinful nature, I am naturally the center of my own universe.  As I come closer to the Lord, however, He is constantly wearing away those old selfish ways so I can let Christ be the focal point of every part of my life.  Carefully considering my speech before a word leaves my mouth is one way to honor Him as Lord.

If I'm thinking of a way to elevate myself, these are words that are better left unsaid.

Personal

Mary and Joseph watched in wonder as a steady stream of shepherds, grimy from their work in the fields, streamed into their tiny temporary home.  The men chattered about the wondrous angelic choir which had announced the birth of the tiny Savior minutes before, but fell silent as they stood before the babe in the manger, worshiping Him in humble awe.  As Mary gazed upon the scene, she held it all in her heart, marveling at the wonder of it all. (Luke 2:19)

Some messages are meant just for me.  In the same way that Mary treasured all the things she had heard and seen and pondered them in her heart, I would be wise to consider whether a message, experience or happening is meant to be shared.  

Perhaps God is using His Word to convict me of a certain area of sin.  Instead of keeping it to myself, though, I might feel tempted to challenge others with the same conviction.  Other times I may be inspired by the realization of a personal triumph of faith.  In the place of using the victory to spur me on, however, I may want to hold it up as some kind of standard for others to reach. Then there are times when a friend reveals a private struggle, seeking prayer and counsel from me.  While I may think her story is a good example of God's grace working in a redeemed life, betraying her confidence might damage the trust we have built.

If I receive a personal message that is meant only for my ears, these words are better left unsaid.

Manipulative

"I was deeply moved by your latest movie: You are a gifted actor.  I've seen every one of your films but I think this is the best one yet!"  It's easy to gush over celebrities or other people who are in a position of influence.  While I might mean the words I say, I must be careful that I'm not trying to flatter in order to gain their trust, perhaps winning the opportunity to benefit from their position of influence.

There are not too many opportunities in my life when I will run into a powerful person who could be used in a way that benefits me.  There are, however, many times when I am tempted to use my words to get what I want. 

If I overspent at the grocery store, I may think it necessary to fix a nice dinner for my husband and compliment him on his hard work on the job before I break the news to him.  Is my heart truly meaning what I say or am I just trying to use my words to butter up my beloved so he will more easily take the disappointment?

Or perhaps I mine for compliments from friends, using my words in a way that coerces them into building me up.  Other times I might simply lay on a guilt trip, bringing up past hurts as a way to lead my family into feeling shame.

If I am using my words as a weapon to achieve a goal that will benefit me, these are things that are better left unsaid.

In the same way that Joseph sharing his dream brought trouble upon himself, so my words can heap a world of hurt upon my shoulders.  Consequently, I would be wise to use the guidance of God's Spirit to choose them wisely.  If the message I'm about to deliver is for the purpose of building me up, is personal in nature, or is meant to manipulate others, these are words that are better left unsaid.  If I stay sensitive to the gentle quiet voice that discerns my own sinful motivations from His, my words will more often bring glory to God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to be a filter for my mouth.

When do I blurt out the first thing that comes to my mind?

How am I using my words to get what I want instead of to build others up, bringing glory to God?

The Right Time

"After this, Jesus went around in Galilee.

He did not want to go about in Judea

because the Jewish leaders there were looking

for a way to kill him.

But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,

Jesus' brothers said to him,

'leave Galilee and go to Judea,

so that your disciples there may see the works you do.

No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret.

Since you are doing these things,

show yourself to the world.'

For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Therefore Jesus told them,

'My time is not yet here;

for you any time will do.'"

John 7:1-6

Most gardeners possess an internal calendar of tasks and projects necessary for tending their yard, flowers and vegetables.  There is a specific time for every chore and it's important to know when to do each.  For instance, if I trim my Crape Myrtle bush in the early summer, it will not bloom that year.  Or, if I were to prune my River Birch tree in the Fall, it would bleed a lot of sap.  Instead, it's best to wait until after the new leaves are well established in the springtime.  Additionally, if I were to fertilize my lawn at the wrong time I could damage or weaken the tender blades of grass.  Knowing that there is a right time for every task is vital to the success of my garden.

In the same way that a garden flourishes under the care of a master gardener who understands the importance of timing, so my faith will grow and thrive when I submit to the master plan of the One who holds time in His hands.

Advice

People tend to love giving advice, but accepting it is a whole other thing.  Take Job, for example:  When he was going through the most difficult trial anyone could imagine, his friends were there to offer plenty of counsel, suggestions and opinions.  Unfortunately, most of what they said was not godly, helpful or even encouraging.  After awhile, their words even became downright condemning. (Job)

People mean well, but most tend to lean on their own understanding, thinking they have the solution needed to solve another's problem.  There are times I do the same as well, relying on my own common sense instead of seeking God's will to direct my words to a good friend.  

When money is tight and we have a hard time paying the bills, many give the suggestion that my husband should find a higher paying job or I should enter the work force.  If I take their advice without consulting God for His plan, I risk stepping outside His will and missing out on all the blessings found there.

When the children are exercising their strong wills and I experience constant opposition from them, the experts may tell me the exact opposite of how God wants me to handle the conflict.  If I never take this issue before the Lord, I'll never know how He wants me to guide my children through this time of testing.

When life gets hectic and the word "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe my life, well-meaning friends may have all kinds of advice as to what activities I should eliminate from my schedule.  Only the Lord knows, however, what He has prepared in advance for me to do, so it is best if I pay attention to what He is telling me.  (Ephesians 2:10)

Advice is always available, but if I want to live according to God's plan and help others do the same, I must stay in tune with Him.

My Plan

Humans love to make plans.  Whether it be financial strategies with the aim of becoming independently stable, personal plots used to reach a certain goal, or professional campaigns designed to fulfill a dream, every person tends to make some kind of plan for their own life.

My plans tend to be based on opportunity, expectations or tradition.  For instance, my dad went into barbering as his lifelong career because his best friend's father was a barber and took him under his wing.  My dad went to school and soon found himself practicing his newly learned skill, all because a door opened before him.

Similarly, a friend of mine in high school never thought about going to college because no one in her family did, and neither of her parents ever suggested it.  It was her expectation that she would get married and raise a family without ever considering higher education.  In contrast, I went to college out of a sense of custom: it just seemed to be the pattern that most people followed so I thought a person's life should follow the same path of graduating from high school, going to college, getting married and raising children.  

In every one of the above instances, none of us consulted God, inquiring as to whether the path I found before me matched up with God's plan.  Instead, we let our own understanding of where we fit into the world shape our future.

It is easy to make a plan based on my own ideas, but if I want to follow God's master plan for my life, I must stay connected to Him.

His Plan

She couldn't understand why God made her this way:  Her hair was jet black and stick straight and while most students in her class could easily reach the coat racks, she always needed help to hang up her jacket.  As a result, this young girl was often the butt of many-a-joke while she was in school.  Once she entered into the mission field, however, everything began to make sense.

You see, this young lady became a missionary to the Chinese people where she fit in quite naturally due to the very physical characteristics that used to bring her such grief.  God had a plan that she could not understand until later.

For this reason, it is important that I trust God enough to accept all the quirky qualities He has placed within me, believing that He will one day use it for His glory.  Instead of putting myself down, then, I can see myself as one who was "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)  God has a plan that I know nothing about, and to Him, I am a work of art that He purposefully placed right where I am.  Therefore, I need not worry about tomorrow because it's all mapped out.

God's plan is mysterious and masterful, but if I want to follow the path He has laid out for me, I must keep His sovereignty always in mind as I walk closely beside Him.

There is a time for everything, as Solomon so eloquently penned in Ecclesiastes 3.  Either I can base that timing on the advice of others or I can follow my own plan, but if I want to live based on God's purpose, it is vital that I follow His blueprint for my life.  Since He's the only one who knows that plan, then, I would be wise to stick closer than a brother to my loving Father.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay connected to my Master Planner.

When do I rely on my own common sense to make decisions instead of seeking God's will?

How do I ignore the still, small voice of God's Spirit as He tries to guide me through my day?  

Revenge is His

"Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi,

'You have brought trouble on me by making me

obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites,

the people living in this lands.

We are few in number,

and if they join forces against me and attack me,

I and my household will be destroyed.'

But they replied,

'Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?'"

Genesis 34:30-31

His anger burned within him.  How dare his father-in-law give his own wife away to another? Did she not belong to him?  They have given me a right to get even with them, he thought.  No one can fault me for avenging this great injustice.

So he captured 300 foxes, tying them tail-to-tail and fastened a burning torch to each pair of tails.  Setting them loose into the Philistine's fields, Samson had his revenge by destroying their wheat harvest as well as their vineyards and olive groves. (Judges 15:1-5)

While God used the ruthless rabble-rouser Samson to deliver the people of Israel from the Philistines, thus ending the punishment God had enacted on His people for their evil-doing, I cannot expect to live my life in such a vengeful way. (Judges 13:1-5)  When I take revenge into my own hands, there are unintended consequences, unforeseen fallout, and unexpected penalties for taking on this role of God.  There is a reason that vengeance belongs to the Lord.  (Romans 12:19)

Excessive

Jesus knew the hearts of men.  As a result, he would not trust any man until the time came that He would turn Himself over to those He created as a part of His Father's master plan of salvation for all mankind.  Before that time, however, He was wary of their judgement. (John 2:24-25)

I am also one of those sinful creatures who cannot be trusted.  When I let my feelings lead me, I tend to dole out a punishment that far outweighs the crime.  Seeing the pain that someone caused by their thoughtless gossip, for instance, I think the offender deserves to continue in life friendless.

When I suffer at the hand of another's greed and desperation, I want him punished to the fullest extent of the law so he can have plenty of time to think about how he hurt me.  

If I witness the grief of a mother at the hand of a ruthless killer, I can dream up all kinds of torture for him to suffer because of the anguish his actions brought about.

Vengeance belongs to the Lord because His punishment is always appropriate while mine tends to be over-the-top.

Unjust

"When I punish my children I dole out the sentence to all of them because I want them to unite against a common enemy: Me!"  I didn't know how to respond to this mother's explanation of her seemingly callous attitude toward disciplining her sons and daughters.  While I'm all for teamwork and camaraderie, I couldn't see the logic behind her theory.

Humans tend to enact punishment in a way that is unjust.  Since I can't see the big picture nor do I have any way of knowing how my decision will effect every single person who may be involved, I'm apt to hurt the innocent along with those who deserve what's coming to them when I carry out revenge.

Tender hearts could turn cold toward God because of the fallout caused by my actions intended to settle the score.  While I'm out to teach my foe a lesson, I could also unintentionally instruct bystanders in the finer points of merciless living.  I may fool myself into thinking I'm just paying back what it owed, but my family pays the higher price of having to live with an angry woman driven to bitterness by unforgiveness.

Vengeance belongs to the Lord because His punishment is always just while mine tends to hurt those who get caught in the crossfire.

Useless

She thought it would make her feel better, but all it did was send her deeper into the pit of despair and self-loathing.  While it was true that her husband hurt her when he decided to give his heart to another woman, her fling with the attractive man who always flirted with her at the gym did nothing to ease her pain.  Instead, it only added guilt to the already overwhelming pile of negative feelings weighing her down.  

Whereas revenge may seem like it will help to lessen the hurts caused by another, it usually only ends up complicating matters.  Moreover, seeking revenge on my own terms doesn't solve the root of the problem, but only serves to satisfy my own sinful desire to settle the score.  After the act is finished, the desire to retaliate is now in my enemy's court, setting up a never-ending feud that has the power to overtake my life.

Vengeance belongs to the Lord because His punishment is always beneficial while mine tends to promote a longstanding feud.

There is a reason God said vengeance belongs to Him.  This is because I tend to think up ways to enact revenge that is excessive, hurts the innocent along with the one who is the target of my attack, and is useless against solving the real problem.  Consequently, it is best that I take the advice of the Apostle Paul and leave room for the wrath of God, because revenge is His! (Romans 12:19)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can let go of my hurts and let God defend me.

When do I take matters into my own hands, thinking I need to defend my own honor?

How do I think more about my own reputation than I do of God's? 

He is with me. . .always!

"The LORD said to Jacob,

'Return to the land of your fathers 

and to your relatives.

I will be with you.'

So Jacob sent a message for Rachel and Leah

to come to the field where his flocks were.

there he said to them,

'I can tell that your father's attitude toward me has changed,

but the God of my father has been with me."

Genesis 31:3-5 NET

There was something different but I couldn't put my finger on it.  The wind that had buffeted the back of our house was still howling, but it there was a different tenor to it's rage.  I walked from the front bedroom where my family was sleeping peacefully and parted the curtains of a window in back of the house.  As I inspected the trees bending under the force of the storm, I pinpointed the difference;  The direction of the wind had changed.  

Taking this as a good sign that we were on the backside of the hurricane, I whispered thanks to God for protecting us.  Soon, the storm would be over and the clean-up would begin.

God was with my family as Hurricane Fran passed through our town in 1996, and I can trust that He will always be there, even when things seem to be going wrong.  He never ceases the pursuit of His own and is always working to refine our faith, all while providing His protection.

Tides Shift

Standing out in the water, I waited for the big one; the wave that would take me all the way into shore.  Finally, my patience paid off as I spotted it.  Placing myself into position, I waited until just the right moment before I started swimming to match the speed of the wave.  As it came upon me, I was able to catch it, letting the water take me all the way into the beach.

Body surfing is only fun when the tides are coming in.  Once the surge shifts and the water is moving out, the incoming waves always seem to be fighting the outgoing tides.  For this reason, it is important to know the tide times when playing in the surf.

While riding the waves is not as fun when the surf starts moving back away from the shore, there are many times in life when the tides seem to be shifting as well.  It may be that the once strong support for a ministry wanes so much that it is forced to shut down.  Or the attitude of my spouse changes so drastically that I wonder if he still loves me.  Or the direction in which my life is moving suddenly swings around in the opposite direction, leaving me feeling dizzy from the sudden change of direction.

No matter how many changes are going on around me, God is still with me, providing that solid rock on which I can stand.

Foes Pursue

They are always on high alert, looking for a target.  Their guard is never dropped as it seems their uppermost goal in life is to hunt down their prey.  While I could admire their tenacity, their thirst for the chase gets on my nerves.

Walking my two Labrador Retriever mixed-breed canines is an exercise in staying alert.  No matter where we go, they always seem to sense something that needs to be chased.  Most of the time their prey is a squirrel, but they've also been known to go on high alert when seeing a cat scurry into a storm drain or a black bird hop across the road.  Our dogs are expert chasers.

While I may not have anyone like my canine companions who are running after me, I do have a foe who pursues me.  Sometimes Satan uses a friend who means well but seems to have a knack for putting me down.  Other times it's an overzealous government employee who targets my ministry and sics the social service agency on me.  Every now and then I feel like someone is out to get me when I keep finding an extra charge on my grocery receipt.  

Whether it's criticism, sabotage or fraud, my real enemy is Satan who prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  For this reason I can aim my arrows at him instead of the people he uses as pawns, never forgetting that God's power is much greater than his. (1 John 4:4)

No matter how many people seem to be going after me, God is still with me, providing protection from my real Enemy.

Tables Turn

Things always get worse before they get better.

The darkest hour is just before the dawn.

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can rise up.

When I'm in the middle of the mess, stumbling around in the darkness, or skinning my knees on the rocks at the bottom of the pit, it's hard to remember the truth found in these quotes.  There are many times when God sends in the Calvary, but only when the darkest hour has come.

The cupboards are bare and my hope is nearly as empty when the knock comes at the door.  The due date has come and gone and the bill collectors are starting to call when the check arrives in the mail.  The pain has moved from intense to unbearable when the Healing Hand delivers a sense of peace.

God has a way of turning the tables, providing an unexpected outcome in a surprising way.  An enemy becomes a friend, a trap becomes a means of salvation, or the darkest time becomes the most blessed period of my life.  Therefore, when I reach a difficult period of life, it's time to start looking for the mighty hand of God to blow my mind.

No matter how bad things seem to be, God is still with me, waiting for just the right time to turn the tables.

There is a reason God instructed me to not try to understand what is going on. (Proverbs 3:5-6) That is because His ways are so much higher than mine and my mind is too puny to grasp the vastness of His plan. (Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 11:34)  All I need to keep in mind is that He is with me, even when the tides shift, my Foe pursues or I'm waiting for the tables to turn.  Knowing that He is with me always gives me the strength to carry on.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on the One who never leaves my side.

How do I turn away from God because the circumstances of my life seem overwhelming?

When do I miss the work of His hand because I'm too busy wallowing in my sorrows?

God is God

"When Rachel saw that she wasn't having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister.

She pleaded with Jacob,

'Give me children, or I'll die!'

Then Jacob became furious with Rachel.

'Am I God?' he asked.

'He's the one who has kept you from having children!'"

Genesis 30:1-2

There is a self-help book for any problem with which I could ever imagine being faced.  Talking heads dispense advice freely to anyone who tunes into their shows.  Friends stand waiting in the wings to tell me what they think I should do.  There is no shortage of opinions and guidance in this day and age.

The problem is that the only One who has the wisdom I need is God.  He is God, and I am not; nor is anyone else.  No one knows what I need besides Him!  Many times I forget He is sovereign over all things and instead I place my trust elsewhere.

People

I knew I could always go to her for good advice.  She always seemed to know what to say.  I never questioned if the opinions she so boldly proclaimed were truth, or if it was the right recommendation for me.  Instead, I accepted her guidance as good.

Most of us have that go-to person who we can always count on to know how to handle any problem.  While the advice they give may not be godly, it does sound good to my itching ears, so I follow it. (2 Timothy 4:3) 

The problem with this approach is I'm not taking God into account.  I'm leaving Him to sit on the sidelines of my life as I develop a strategy I think will work.  Meanwhile, He stands at the door of my life, waiting to be invited in. (Revelation 3:20)

God is the one who created me for a specific purpose. (Ephesians 2:10)  Only my Creator knows the plan that He has for my life. (Jeremiah 29:11) The problem I now face is not a surprise to Him!  Instead, this difficult time has gone through His hands as something that will be used to bring about good in my life. (Romans 8:28) If I don't seek Him out, however, I will know neither the plan of action I am to follow nor the positive fruit that results.

When I trust in people instead of God, I don't give His plan a chance.

Self

"He pulled himself up by his own bootstraps."  This phrase is often used to describe a resourceful person who found a way to help himself out of a tough situation.  Americans especially admire those who climb their way to the top using nothing but their own wits.

There was a television show in the '70s called "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams," in which James Adams lived out in the wild with only an old trader and a Native American as his human friends.  He was somehow always able to help those passing by who fell into some kind of trouble as they attempted to traverse the untamed land.

I always admired this character's resourcefulness and how he never seemed to fail to know what to do.  His independence really appealed to my own desire to live a solitary life surrounded only by animals who adored me.

In reality, though, there is nothing good found within me, that is in my sinful nature. (Romans 7:18) My own resources, abilities and discipline pales in comparison to the well from which my Father draws  (Psalm 50:10), the power He possesses (Ephesians 3:20), and His faithfulness on which I can always count (Psalm 33:4).

When I trust in myself instead of God, I miss out on seeing the work of His mighty hand.

Methods

He tried every method ever known to man to try to quit drinking.  While each may have worked for a time, he always returned to the comfort of the bottle.  Alcohol seemed to hold a power over him that nothing could break.

It is easy to turn to methods or strategies to try to solve my problems as well.  While the steps suggested may make sense and seem to work for a time, there is nothing that can replace the Lord as the healer of all my hurts (Psalm 107:19-20), the answer to all my problems (Colossians 1:17-18), and the only One who can satisfy my soul (John 6:35).  My friend discovered this when he turned his life over to Jesus and finally found freedom from alcoholism.

Instead of saying certain prayers to attain specific results, or doing good deeds as a way to make up for all my sins and gain God's favor, or thinking positive thoughts as a way to build up beneficial things in my life, all I need is Jesus.  He is the only answer I need seek.

When I trust in methods instead of God, I miss out on the saving grace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

There are many places I may turn to for help.  Only One, however, is the source of all good things.  When I trust in people, myself, or methods, I miss out on seeing God's plan unfold, witnessing His mighty power and finding Jesus, the only solution to all my problems.  It is my intention to always remember, then, that only God is God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust in God to satisfy every need I have today.

When do I trust in others instead of God?

How do I tend to seek out methods to solve my problems instead of going after God?

Hear From God Yourself

"Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran.

When he reached a certain place,

he stopped for the night because the sun had set.

Taking on of the stones there,

he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

He had a dream in which he saw a stairway

resting on the earth,

with its top reaching to heaven,

and the angels of God were ascending 

descending on it.

There above it stood the LORD,

and he said:

'I am the LORD,

the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.

I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth,

and you will spread out to the west and to the east,

to the north and to the south.

All peoples on earth will be blessed through you

and your offspring.

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go,

and I will bring you back to this land.

I will not leave you until I have done

what I have promised you.'"

Genesis 28:10-15

I'm sure Jacob grew up hearing of the promise of God from his father, Isaac, who heard it from his father, Abraham.  Did the power of it fade with each generation until it became a mere legend?  Maybe.  At least until Jacob heard from God for himself.  That personal word from God changed everything for Jacob.

It's the same with me.  I often read about the promises of God recorded throughout the Bible.  Until I establish my own relationship with Him, however, hearing from Him myself, it is only a story written in a book.  When I do begin to receive that personal word from God, it changes everything!

Commit

I love watching the butterflies and hummingbirds busily gathering nectar in my flower garden.  While they enjoy the fruits of my labor and seem to feel right at home there, they did nothing to establish the flowers.  It was my hand that planted the seeds, watered the ground, thinned the seedlings and fertilized the plants.  They simply enjoy what I have created and accept it as their own feeding place.

In a similar way, Jacob did not choose God.  He grew up hearing about God and the promises He made to his family.  He knew how God had chosen his people as the Lord's very own, but it wasn't until Jacob heard from God himself that he committed his life to the Lord.  He didn't acknowledge the Lord as his own God until this time, kind of like the way the butterflies call my garden their home.

I am also chosen by God to live for His purposes.  (John 15:16)  Until I commit my life to Him, however, He is only a far away God about whom I can read.  Even though the promises of God still stand, I have not made them my own until I acknowledge Him as my own God.  Once I enter into that personal relationship, as Jacob did, everything I know about God becomes personal as I accept Him as my own.

Instead of just hearing about His love for mankind, then, I experience the way He cares enough to comfort my troubled heart.  While I used to only read about the way God provides a way where there seems to be none, after I make Him my own God I see it for myself.  In the place of learning of God's presence in the lives of many, I begin to see His power working through me as I commit myself to Him, calling Him my own.

Hearing from God on a personal level brings about a commitment to Him as my own God.

Establish

It used to be just a patch of ground, ordinary in every way.  There was nothing special about the rocky soil that crunched beneath his sandals.  It was the same as all the land around him until God showed up.  The presence of the Lord made the place where Jacob dreamed of the ladder reaching up to heaven as sacred, so Jacob gave it the name of Bethel, meaning "house of God."

In a similar way, I am just an ordinary woman.  There is nothing special about me that sets me apart from anyone else.  The presence of God's Spirit within me, however, transforms my ordinary body into His temple.  For this reason, I can think like Jacob did and set myself aside, establishing my life as a holy place; not because of anything I have done but because the presence of God makes it so.

For this reason, everything I do becomes important.  How I spend my time reflects on the One to whom I've committed my life.  Since God goes with me wherever I go, I must ask myself if I honor Him in the places I choose to frequent.  The people I call my friends will either share my reverence for God's presence in my life, or they will degrade His holiness.

Hearing from God on a personal level leads to the establishment of my body as a temple and my life as an opportunity to worship Him.  (Romans 12:1)

Pledge

He gave the expected offering, but it wasn't accepted as he had hoped.  Instead, the fruits of his labor in working the soil were cast aside as offensive.  Cain grew angry, wondering why the Lord would look down upon his gift. (Genesis 4:2-4)

Cain's heart was in the wrong place.  Instead of giving what the Lord expected, he offered what he thought was a good substitute.  In his mind, the gift he gave was the best of what he had.  From God's perspective, though, it was simply an act of disobedience and willfulness.

I often carry the same attitude as Cain.  Instead of seeking to give my best to God, I settle for offering what I have left over.  The time I spend with Him is fleeting and squeezed in between other commitments   The money I offer is what's left over after I pay all my bills.  The service I commit to is only what feels comfortable to me because I would never agree to do anything I don't feel qualified to carry out.

From God's perspective, however, my heart is in the wrong place.  Instead of trusting Him and desiring to please Him in all things, I do only enough to get by.  A heart devoted to God will place more emphasis on spending time with Him in His Word, will set aside His money as soon as I get paid, and will go wherever He calls me to work, despite my feelings of inadequacy.  In short, giving to Him my first fruits in all areas of my life shows I trust Him enough to pick up the slack.

Hearing from God on a personal level gives me the chance to offer the best of what He gives me back to Him.

I have heard a lot about God over the course of my lifetime.  Until I heard from Him myself, though, it was only a collection of stories about a far-away God.  Now that I know Him on a more intimate level, I have the desire to commit my life to Him as my own Father, establish my life as His place of worship, and to pledge the best of that which He blesses me back to Him.  These are the ways a personal word from God changes my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can honor God with the choices I make today.

When do I do things out of habit instead of consciously seeking to please God?

How am I dishonoring God in the choices I make?