Who to Trust?

"Do not put your trust in princes,

in human beings, who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the LORD their God."

Psalm 146:3-5 

It's election season!  As we delve into another long period of mud slinging, broken promises and hopeful anticipation, let's carefully consider whom we should entrust with this job of leading our country, of changing policy for the better, of directing the course of our future.  

Often, I place my faith in people who make confident and optimistic claims of their ability to create a better world in which we live.  I wonder about the direction this country is headed and wonder which candidate I should entrust with my vote, hoping against all hope that this time will be different, that this politician will truly live up to his lofty promises, that this man or woman will shake up the status quo and get things done.  

It's easy to place my trust in someone who makes wonderful pledges, has a sincere heart and a good plan, thinking if we don't elect the right person all will be lost.  Or is my trust better served in another place?

Help.  There is only so much man can do to help his fellow man.  He can claim to be trustworthy, but he will always change his mind on some point as his perspective changes throughout his life, letting down many people in the process.  Humans also tend to make lofty arguments about their ability to judge judiciously, giving everyone a fair shake.  I wonder, though, if it's even possible for any created being to think and act impartially 100% of the time.  We can also have the best of intentions to provide for all who are in need, but man is only man, after all, and will fail to deliver at some point.

If I place my hope in mankind, politician or otherwise, I will be let down.  Man is here today and gone tomorrow; what impact can mere humans make on their own?  Therefore, trust that is placed in the Lord our God, maker of heaven and earth, is a trust well-placed.  I will never be sorry that I placed my confidence in Him to uphold "the cause of the oppressed and [give] food to the hungry."  (Psalm 146:7)

As election season approaches, may I remember to choose a candidate wisely yet remember that God is the only One who can truly help in a way that makes a lasting difference.

Liberation.  People gather to protest.  Thugs take the opportunity to loot and wreak havoc.  Commentators and self-appointed spokespeople give their opinions.  Still, people remain imprisoned by their own destructive lifestyles, blinded by ignorance, and toppled off their pedestal by foolishness.  Is there anyone who can save us from ourselves?

Only God is able to set free those who are bound by sin and the consequences of destructive choices.  Only God can open up the eyes of the arrogantly unknowing.  Only God has the ability to place all things in proper order, giving deference to those who humble themselves before Him (v 7b-8).

As election season approaches, may I remember to choose a candidate wisely yet remember that God is the only One who can liberate us from our foolish ways.

Protection.  It's hard to see the vulnerable taken advantage of:  Widows suffer.  Orphans long for a loving home.  Single moms do the best they can.  Leaders rise up, making claims of passing laws to protect their rights, dispersing funds to help their plight, and forming committees to study how best to preserve lives.  Still, while their efforts are appreciated, there is only so much man can do on his own.

If I think that man is the one who is my best chance at protecting the mentally ill who suffer, or the alien who came with the hope of a better life only to be taken advantage of, or the homeless who are at the end of their rope, I'll be disappointed time and time again.  While those who follow Jesus are called to take up the cause of such as these, it is only through the power of a loving God that anyone is able to accomplish anything of worth.  It is God who is the ultimate Protector, who watches over the weak and upholds the cause of the vulnerable.  Therefore, I'd best align myself with Him and join in where He is already at work.

As election season approaches, may I remember to choose a candidate wisely yet remember that God is the only One who can protect the helpless.

As politicians make grand speeches and deliver inspirational messages, its easy for me to jump on their bandwagon, believing they will be the one who can bring about the change we so desperately need.  Unfortunately, if I place all my trust in man I will be let down.  Therefore, I'd be wise to trust in God who is the only One who can truly help, liberate and protect.  He is my great Hope, and I will never be disappointed when I place my faith in Him!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to believe He is my only hope.

When do I get caught up in a politician's promises, hoping they will give us a better tomorrow?

How am I foolishly giving man the confidence that only God can handle? 

Examination

"Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 139:23-24

When I was younger in my faith, I couldn't point out many sin problems.  I knew I suffered from a severe case of impatience and short-temperdness, but it was hard for me to root out any other issues that might offend God.  Then I grew closer to the Great Examiner of my heart and I discovered the ugly truth:  There is no area of sin with which I am not infected, making me even more thankful for Jesus Christ my Lord who has rescued me from this body of death!  

I am completely incapable of examining my own heart.  I am unable to see myself accurately.  Since I can't self-diagnose when it comes to sin, I had better leave that job up to God.  What happens when I invite Him in for a thorough examination?

Search and Try.  Whenever I go to the dentist, I endure his bright light as he peers into my mouth, searching for issues that may cause problems in the future.  Invariably, he'll discover something I knew nothing about; a tiny cavity in the making, gums that are becoming inflamed, or fillings that are weakening.  He also can objectively give me an accurate assessment of my brushing and flossing job, showing me areas I'm neglecting or pointing out particular surfaces to which I must pay special attention.  He does this all for my welfare, not to make me feel bad.

It's the same with God.  When I place myself on His examining table, He can show me areas that cause problems in the way I interact with others, or unhealthy methods for coping that I've adopted, or wrong attitudes or thought patterns regarding life and love, especially when it comes to the way I think about Him.  As I endure His bright Light, He lovingly shows me where I'm off, giving me a gently rebuke for how I've resisted His better way as He renews my mind (Romans 12:2).  His love for me gives me confidence as I place myself under His authority, giving Him a chance to purify my heart.  All the while, I know the exam is for my own good and His glory.

When I invite my kind and loving Father to examine my heart, He will gently search my heart.

Root Out.  I have a friend who maintains a beautiful garden.  As her children have grown, however, her priorities have changed and the job of tending the garden has fallen by the wayside.  To help curb the growth of weeds that have taken over, she borrowed her neighbors pigs.  As they foraged for food in her plot, they rooted out most of the unwanted plants, doing double duty of consuming the weeds while tilling up the soil, saving her hours of back-breaking work.

God has a similar ability to separate the godly stuff from the offensive ways as He continues His examination of my heart.  While I may see no problem with certain attitudes, He shows me how they are offensive to Him and destructive to me.  He is able to give me insight into what makes me tick, burrowing deep to bring dark secrets out into the Light where they can be dealt with.  Healing comes as I repent of these ways I was never meant to follow.  I need God's loving ability to root out the wrong thinking, habits and attitudes buried deep within me, knowing all along that He has my best interest at heart.

When I invite my gentle and gracious Father to examine my heart, He will expertly root out what doesn't belong there.

Lead.  The baby robin sat perched on a piece of exercise equipment in our barn.  My daughter discovered the little guy when she entered the cavernous building we use as a gym one morning in order to work out.  Even though we opened the large door in order to let him out, he would not budge an inch on his own, despite his mother's desperate calling in the adjacent yard.  We had to use a mat to guide him toward the door where he hopped out to freedom, reunited with his relieved mother.

I can be just as ignorant of God's better way for me.  I tend to wander, just like that baby bird, getting myself into tight spots, impossible predicaments, and destructive difficulties.  As God shows me how I'm wrong, He doesn't leave me there, wondering how to do better.  Instead, He shows me a new and improved way to communicate, gives me a more healthy method for coping with stress, or opens up my mind to a more beneficial attitude.  However He chooses to reveal this better way, I must be ready to follow Him wherever He leads me, trusting that He has an emotionally and spiritually prosperous path for me to walk.

When I invite my wise and considerate Father to examine my heart, He will lead me down the path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

While I may be encouraged to conduct a self-exam when it comes to certain aspects of my health, it is impossible for me to accurately assess my own spiritual well-being.  For this I need my Father who can expertly and lovingly examine my heart, root out what doesn't belong there, and replace it with His better way.  When I place myself under His bright light of scrutiny, I will find freedom and healing.  This is the kind of examination I need not fear.  This is the kind of examination that is for my good and His glory.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him look deep within my heart.

When do I assume I'm okay, or fear God's intense scrutiny?

How can I remind myself that God is for me, not against me?     

Who are my Enemies?

"O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!

Get out of my life, you murderers!

They blaspheme you;

your enemies misuse your name.

O LORD, shouldn't I hate those who hate you?

Shouldn't I despise those who oppose you?

Yes, I hate them with total hatred,

for your enemies are my enemies."

Psalm 139:19-22

It's easy for me to think of people as my enemies.  After all, I'm human and people often rub me the wrong way, sometimes speaking out against me, or defying my plans, or seeming to rue my happiness and success.  Can't I catch a break here?  So I label people as enemies, but most of the time I'm off in my thinking.  

How did David think?  Who did he label as his enemy?

Speech.  "Keep Calm and Ignore Haters."  I see it in social media outlets all the time.  One group speaks out against the actions of another group. Or the attacks are personal, one person giving negative feedback to another.  The attacked ones circle the wagons and take their defensive positions, calling on their comrades to ignore the "haters" and press on.  Little notice is given to the intent of the speaker or the message found therein.  Instead, the stance is taken that if anyone speaks against me, they are my enemy and their influence should be removed from my life.

David had a different idea of who his enemies were.  Instead of focusing on his own feelings, reputation or success, his attentions were geared toward God and His status.  Speak out against me, that's okay.  Say something disrespectful of my God, game on!  Not that I'm ready to fight a battle because that would be a fight I could never win.  But I must stop thinking of those who say a negative word against me as my enemies.  God might be using them to humble me, or to deliver a message to me, or to give me a chance to show grace.  It's time to remove the label "hater" from my vocabulary and only concern myself with the fame of God's name. 

I can consider those who curse God's name and speak out against Him as my enemy, and let the love of Jesus flow into their lives (Matthew 5:44).

Defiance.  I have my own ideas of how life should be lived, what is important and what is not, which causes are worthwhile and which are fluff.  It could be that animal rights are high up on my list of importance so if anyone has a different way of thinking and finds themselves standing in my way, I label them as my enemy.  Or I'm all worked up about saving the earth and slowing global warming.  If someone else doesn't have the same sense of urgency as I, thus holding up progress toward a cleaner atmosphere, I've gained a new adversary.  Or I find myself looking for ways to curb the global population explosion, believing it is vital to limit family size in order to prevent future suffering.  If some don't agree, failing to heed my warnings, I remove myself from their list of friends.

David didn't waste his time making enemies of those who didn't agree with him.  Instead, He focused on those who rose up against God's best for His people.  I can do the same, seeing the enemy as the one who causes suffering for the vulnerable, who rises up against God's will for His creation, or whose hatred for God is evident in the way they defy Him.  It's time I stop worrying about those who don't agree with me and think about who doesn't agree with God.

I can consider those who defy God and His ways as my enemy, and start praying fervently for them.

Work.  She had it out for her, or so it seemed.  No matter how hard this woman tried to make something good out of her life, this former friend was there to destroy her efforts.  She was actively working against her plans, seeking to stop anything good from coming out of her life.  This kind of opposition seems like enemy material to me.

David had a different way of looking at things.  While he long had people who sought out his destruction, it was those who actively opposed God that he considered as his enemy.  My true enemy is the one who tries to stop the good that God is doing, who works against what He is bringing about all around me, who resists His good plan.  Thankfully, there is no match for God, and He can fight this battle without my help.  He is not at all worried or threatened by the opposition of man, so I need not be either.

I can consider those who work against God as my enemy, and look for ways to overcome evil with good (Proverbs 25:21-22, Romans 12:21).

While it's easy for me to think of those who speak negatively about me, or defy my will, or work against my plans as my enemy when it's really those who do so against God who earn that label.  Even so, as a follower of Christ who is filled with His Spirit, I'm called to love these enemies, pray for them, and overcome their evil with good. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to not take offense at every stray word spoken against me.

When am I hypersensitive, focused on defending my choices and lifestyle?

How could I pay more attention to God's choice and will for my life? 

I AM

"God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you."'"

Exodus 3:14

It left us feeling empty and discouraged.  The Theory of Everything, a highly acclaimed movie nominated for five Academy Awards and winner of the Oscar for Best Motion Picture of the Year, failed to lift our spirits or expand our minds to the realm of new possibilities.  Instead, this movie left us asking, "Why is it that such a brilliant mind fails to acknowledge the most obvious answer to the question that has been the basis of his life's work?"

If Stephen Hawking were to ask me to show him the theory of the existence of everything, I would answer him in the same way God answered Moses when he asked who he should tell the enslaved Israelites had sent him:  I AM.

Spend a moment worshiping the Answer to all of life's questions, the Foundation that holds up all things, the Maker of heaven and earth (and great minds) who is worthy to be praised.

God's not dead, nor is He irrelevant.  He is the Theory of Everything.

Masterpiece

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained fro me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

How amazing are your thoughts concerning me, God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand--

when I awake,

I am still with you."

Psalm 139:13-18

I am a masterpiece.  I am not being arrogant or narcissistic when I make such a claim, but am acknowledging the work of my Maker's hand.  How can this attitude, which is so often hard to come by, change my life?

Thoughts of Me?  I sometimes think about what it would be like to be President of the United States, carrying the load of that office on my shoulders.  There must be a thousand details to take care of in the course of a day, and while he has a staff to help him track his responsibilities, the buck stops with him.  He is ultimately in charge and therefore accountable for every action he takes, all the decisions he makes, and the directions he follows.  And each and every one influences millions of people.  Whew!  Talk about pressure!

Now multiply that by a million and I have an inkling of God's position in the heavenlies, reigning over all the earth in majesty and glory.  With all that He has on His plate, why on earth would He ever think about me?  Or for that matter, how on earth would He ever have time to give me a second thought, let alone a first one?  But He does.  His eye is on me, tracking my comings and goings, and He actually thinks about me more than I could ever imagine.  Can I picture how many grains of sand are on a beach?  His thoughts number even more than this.  Incredible.

I must have quite a bit of value in God's eyes if He cares enough to think about me and give such intimate attention to me.  It's time I start living like I believe I'm precious in His eyes and worth more than gold and rubies to Him(Matthew 10:31, Malachi 3:17).

Uncountable.  I recently sat in on a mandatory meeting where my sister's caregivers met with a social worker and attempted to quantify her care needs.  It was a gruelingly tedious process where six categories of care were scrutinized and her caregivers rated the frequency of care needed each day as well as assigning a level to that care, whether verbal, partial or full.  This data was translated onto a numerical scale which gave the state of Washington where she resides an indication of how much care she needed.

As I listened to the endless barrage of questions, I thought how glad I was that I wasn't the one required to quantify such a thing as the care of another human being.  How can one measure the love these caregivers show my sister?  Is it possible to gauge the level of respect they give her as a human being?  How can their heart be shown on a scale from 1-10?  Does that truly reflect what they are doing for her, the difference they make in her life, the impact these selfless men and women make in our family?  I think not.

Similarly, there is no way I can quantify what God does for me, let alone the attention He gives to me.  His attentiveness is simply always there.  And He makes all the difference to me.

I must have quite a bit of value in God's eyes if He gives me the highest level of care possible.  It's time I start living like I believe I'm the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8).

Ever present.  It's hard for my finite mind to grasp the concept of infinity. In fact, when I try to do so it hurts my brain.  I don't need to fully understand something, however, to believe it to be true.  And this is the case with God's presence in my life.  He is always there.  Even when I sleep, completely unaware of my surroundings and totally vulnerable, He is aware and in control, watching over me.  

I need never worry that He'll abandon me because of my unfaithfulness, for He is faithful.  I don't need to wonder if He'll leave my side when I doubt, because He is always sure.  It is never in the realm of possibilities that my fears will cause Him to give up on me, because He is courageous enough for the both of us.

I must have quite a bit of value in God's eyes if He has vowed to never leave me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6).  It's time I start living like I believe I'm firmly entrenched by His side, a masterpiece of His own hand.

It's easy to live like I'm not that important, to value others as precious but not see the same thing about myself.  Today it is my desire that I start valuing the attention God gives me as a sign of my own worth.  He thinks about me continually, His attentions are unable to be quantified, and His presence in my life is constant.  If the Maker of heaven and earth gives me such tender loving care, it's time for me to accept the fact that I'm His precious work of art.  I am a masterpiece.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to believe His high opinion of me.

How do I treat myself or think of myself as if I weren't worth much?

How can I honor God by honoring all of His creation, including myself, in the way I think and speak about myself?

Omnipresent

"Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,'

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you."

Psalm 139:7-12

I can, and often do, try to run from God; but I can't hide from Him.  It may sound scary, but is this a bad thing?

Nothing Off-Limits.  The sign beckoned me, causing much speculation and theory formation.  What's behind that door?  The "No Admittance" sign and locked door prevented my co-workers and I entry into the mysterious room that lay behind, but we could only imagine what was so important that it had to be locked away.

I often try to pull this trick on God, marking certain parts of my life as off-limits to God.  Or there are some areas not acknowledged in polite society and I assume God will honor such boundaries as well.  Or I'm scared out of my wits to face the fears I hide away in my heart, ignoring them and hoping they will go away and trusting that God will do the same.  

God, while a gentle and loving God, is also my Father and knows when it is time to bring certain issues to light, helping me to face them head on where they can be dealt with.  As He walks me through the cobwebs, I find these once-overbearing issues losing their power as they are brought into the Light of my Father's attention.  I am then free to move forward in grace.

There is no place that is off-limits to God, where His hand of discipline and rescue cannot reach.

Never too Far.  He went in the opposite direction.  The thought of traveling to the wicked city filled with darkness and cruelty and actually telling them off scared this profit out of his wits.  He simply could not picture himself committing such an act of what amounted to suicide.  These people were known for their creative ways of torturing those who ticked them off.  What would they do to him?  How could He do God's bidding (Jonah 1)?

We all know how it ended up for Noah, finding himself in the belly of a giant fish for three days.  God knew exactly what Noah was doing, could see how he tried to run away to Tarshish instead of making his way to Nineveh.  And God did whatever it took to capture Noah's attention, restoring him to a right relationship with Himself.

No matter where I go, I will never be apart from God's loving guidance and His tender support.  Even if I do my best to push Him away or build an impenetrable barrier of self-sufficiency around me, or ignore His advances; He will still do His part, loving me too much to leave me to my own devices.

Nowhere is so far that God's reach is not further still.

No Secrets.  No one knows what is hidden in my heart.  I've never mentioned this area of sin to another soul.  There are fears I am pretty good at hiding away, pretending like they don't exist.  It's easy to sweep my problems under the rug, hoping they'll go away.  To God, however, nothing is secret.  He sees it all.  

It's easy for me to think that if no one else knows the secret, then God doesn't either.  If a child-molester can pose as an upstanding citizen, then perhaps not even God can rescue his victims from their earthly hell.  Or if the morally bankrupt husband can pull the wool over the eyes of those in church leadership, maybe God doesn't even perceive the evil he is committing.  Or if the cheating boss is able to swindle his way to the top, is it possible that God cannot even stop His destructive ways?

No.  Even the most evil of deeds done under cover of darkness are completely visible to God.  The blackest of night is as midday to Him.  Nothing is hidden from God, of this I can rest assured.

Even the most horrible deed done in secret is completely known to God.

God is everywhere, aware of everything and able to perceive all things.  Therefore, nothing is off-limits to Him, nor is there anywhere that is out of His reach, any darkness that is hidden from Him.  His omnipresent nature is to my benefit, and I can trust Him to always discipline, rescue, guide, support and see me.  To answer my question, then, no; God's omnipresent nature is not a bad thing.  It is good, very good.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God, knowing that I am never out of His reach.

How do I fear that someone is getting away with hurting many, and there's nothing I can do about it?  How would knowing that God sees everything done in darkness and trusting Him to fight that battle set my mind at ease?

How do I run away from God?     

Well-Known

"You have searched me, LORD,

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, LORD, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain."

Psalm 139:1-6

I often feel neglected, not understood, or too complicated to be fully known.  To be honest, sometimes the feelings coursing through this broken flesh are so complex that I cannot begin to figure them out.  But God knows me intimately.  He gets me.  He perceives the intricacies of my inner workings and the reasons why I do the things I do. He understands everything about me, and this blows my mind!

What does it mean to be so well known?

Ways.  I have some strange methods for coping with the stresses of life.  When the going gets rough, I tend to do some bizarre things in an effort to comfort myself, to get myself through the difficulties, to self-medicate.  I also have a unique way of thinking that is peculiar to myself.  No one else gets why I think this way, or reason in such a manner, or rationalize so readily.  I also have been known to react in ways that don't make sense to me or anyone else.  My motivations for doing things and my attitude toward life is often warped.  In short, I'm one hot mess!

As strange and quirky are my ways, God is intimately familiar with what makes me tick.  He sees what causes me to gravitate toward the destructive ways of handling the stresses of life and purposefully walks me through hard times in order to teach me His life-giving ways.  Furthermore, His personal knowledge of the inner workings of my mind leads Him to gently instruct me in how I'm off and shows me the more constructive thought patterns that benefit my life (Philippians 4:8).  Since my Father knows me so well, He is an expert in how best to train me in righteousness, giving me many opportunities to put into practice what He's taught me through His Word and prayer about how to live this life the way He meant me to live.  I am definitely a work in progress.  The good news is that He never gives up on this transformation process (Philippians 1:6).

God knows me so well that He is familiar with all my ways, and loves me enough not to leave me in them.

Days.  I think I'm so sneaky.  I know how to hide my bad habits, to rationalize my poor use of time, to pretend like the words I say are meant to build others up when in reality I'm thinking of no one but myself.  Still, God is not fooled.  He sees everything I do, taking note of each word I speak and the motivation behind it, even knowing what I'll say even before I do.  He is able to distinguish between authentic concern and a facade.

Since He is my Father through faith in Jesus Christ, He has my best interest at heart.  Therefore, I need not fear such intimate knowledge or intense attention to my every moment.  Instead, I can see it as proof of His love for me, that He cares enough to pay attention to what I'm doing.  

I remember many a time as a mother of four daughters when my attentions were sought as my girls played at the park.  "Mommy, watch!  Look at this!"  Then said daughter would proceed to perform some kind of acrobatic wonder.  "Wow!  That's great!"  I would respond.  Other times we would be at home and they would approach me with a work of art.  "Mommy, look what I made!"  She'd beam with pride as she revealed her latest masterpiece.  All we ever want is for someone we love to notice us.  This is the heart of our Father.  He cares enough to notice us throughout our days.  Never must we beg for His attention because we always have it.

God cares enough about me to pay attention to how I spend my days, giving me much motivation to please Him in word and deed.

Hemmed In.  I don't like feeling vulnerable, exposed or defenseless.  It makes me nervous when I'm called to share an intimate feeling, or try a new action or game in front of others, or travel down an unknown road without knowing where it will take me.  I'd much rather be secure, doing what I'm comfortable with, or going places I've already been.  

It gives me much comfort, then, to know that I'm completely protected by a God who has all power and authority to guard me from any harm.  He has already gone before me, paving the way and clearing away that which would harm me.  He also has my back, coming along behind me to defend me against surprise attacks.  In addition, His hand of blessing is on my head, guiding me, holding me close, keeping tabs on the pulse of my life.  While it would seem like such attentions would smother me, it works to coax me into abundant life, like a seedling being tended to by a master gardener.

God has me hemmed in, giving me security as I live my life in the great unknown.

It is hard to imagine how well God knows me.  To realize He is intimately involved in the inner workings of my life, transforming me into the woman He's created me to be; that He cares enough to pay attention to how I spend my days so I'll care enough to live for Him; and that He has me covered, giving me a strong sense of security to live care-free, is to recognize the advantages of being well-known by a God who loves me.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to live for Him.

When do I feel misunderstood yet fail to realize God's perfect understanding of me?

How can I take advantage of such a relationship as this, with a God who knows me so well? 

Topsy-Turvy God

"I give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart;

I will sing your praises before the gods.

I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.

I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;

for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name."

Psalm 138:1-2 NLT

God surprises me every time.  If I expect Him to come from the right, I'm startled when I turn around and He's showing up on the other side.  When I think He'll act immediately, His plan is for me to wait, or if I assume I know what's best, He'll invariably give me a lesson on His radical best that blows my mind.

God doesn't operate according to the norms and traditions of man.  He has His own ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Supreme.  There are many gods created by man.  As many people groups as exist in this world, there are at least as many religions, methods for finding peace and purpose, and convictions that drive each life.  I could never succeed at counting all the regimens that people follow in a quest for a longer, more meaningful, healthier, success-filled life.  

Yet as happy as the worshipers of these gods may be, or content as the followers of these alternate lifestyles are, or as positive as the influence of these lifestyles are, they are not God.  There is only one true God, and only He is above all things.  Anything else I choose to trust in, then, will one day let me down.  Therefore, I would be wise to pin my hopes on the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth, giving Him praise in the midst of all other gods, religions and lifestyles.

God's dominion and power is not diminished by the plethora of other alternatives.

High. A successful CEO or politician is all about his own agenda, intent on exalting himself and those with which he has surrounded himself. He knows how to use people, befriending those who can help further his career and staying away from those who can do nothing for him. Rarely will he stoop to the level of the lowly, considering their needs as important or caring whether they suffer or not.  As long as his needs are tended to, this kind of leader is content to focus on his own life.  After all, he must do what is necessary to make it to the top!

God does not follow this template.  As powerful as He is, able to do more than I could ever imagine, He is never so high that He will not stoop low to regard the lowly, to care for the humble, to consider the poor (Psalm 138:6).  In fact, His eye is even on the humble sparrow as it flits from bush to bush in its search for food.  If His scope is so wide, He will surely pay attention to my needs and tend to my hurts (Matthew 10:29-31).  

God's high position does not prevent Him from seeing and caring for even the lowliest.

Trouble.  In this world I'm used to bearing the consequences of not only my own stupid actions, but also the foolish ones of those around me.  I learn early on that if I make that bed, I must lie in it; or that I must suck it up and carry on, taking like a man what's coming to me;  or fighting my own battles, cleaning up my own mess, facing my own demons.  It can be discouraging as I face this difficult life alone, left to deal with troubles all by myself, in the best way I know how.

God has a different plan (Psalm 138:7).  He doesn't adhere to the "every man for himself" mentality and He certainly doesn't offer His assistance to only those who are able to help themselves.  Instead, He protects, is in the business of preserving all life not matter how messy or lowly, and He saves even if He must step in to rescue me from my own stupid decisions.  While He is disciplinary in nature, His desire is always to draw me closer to Him.  Therefore, whatever it takes to show me the way to Him is what I can expect from Him, especially if that means giving me a hand when I'm overwhelmed with difficulties.  

God is kindhearted, even if I expect Him to leave me alone to get myself out of my own mess, He'll often surprise me by extending a helping hand right when I most need it.

It's easy to pigeon-hole God, placing Him in box and expecting certain behavior from Him based on past experiences or flawed expectations.  Still, God is God and His nature is not diminished by my faulty ideas.  His supremacy places Him above every other religion or god but does not prevent Him from caring for the lowly, nor keep Him from helping me, even if I don't deserve it.  He is a God who surprises me every time.  He is a topsy-turvy God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him be God.

When do I limit God by expecting little from Him?

How do I pigeonhole God, placing Him in a category where He doesn't fit?   

Proof of His Love

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever."

Psalm 136:1-3

I read the words on the page proclaiming of God's amazing, enduring love, but how do I know it is real?  How do I know He loves me?  I mean, really know deep in my heart without a doubt?  How can I take a risk to place my entire life in His loving hands, trusting that He won't hurt me, exploit me or let me down?  It takes faith.  

Here is some evidence of His great love to bolster my faith.

Great Wonders.  Standing under the expanse of sky that crisp, clear night, I am struck by the enormity of the universe and of my own tiny, insignificant life.  In comparison to all the twinkling stars I see sprinkled throughout the dark canvass above me, I realize there is a great Force at work in this world who has created unimaginable wonders, things I can barely comprehend let alone try to mimic: Oceans teaming with wildlife, a plethora of flora and fauna waiting to be discovered, a sun whose rise and fall I can set my watch to, and the moon whose glorious glow, in the words of Clement Clark Moore, gives "the lustre of mid-day to objects below."  (Psalm 136:4-9)

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from recognizing such wonders?  "His love endures forever."  A God who would grant such glorious gifts to His most prized possession, His beautiful image bearers, is the God of a permanent kind of love of which I can never lose.  I am secure in the love from a God such as this.  If He can perform such miraculous, creative wonders, is there anything He will not do out of His great love?  Nope, nothing is off-limits to such a loving God!

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is all of creation of which I am an integral part.

Salvation.  There is a track record of salvation written throughout the pages of scripture.  God is continually at work saving His people (Psalm 136:10-16).  Sometimes its the oppression of sin and fear that holds me down, compelling me to call out to the One whose sword can free me from the guilt and anxiety that often comes with living in a fallen world.  Other times its the so-called impossible situations I often face which send me to my knees where I find delivery from what I once labeled as my lot in life.  Then there are the times when I'm confronted by the ugly monsters of life, the giants that bully me into submission, giving me cause to cry out in desperation to the God who fights these overwhelming battles on my behalf.

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from remembering such salvation?  "His love endures forever."  A God whose heart is inclined toward the suffering of His people produces the kind of love on which I can count.  His love will never let me down, and there is never a time when I cannot cry out to Him and expect Him to ride in on His great white stead and rescue me from my present danger.

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is His willingness to rescue me.

Sovereignty.  Protection.  Provision.  Blessing.  Rescue.  Despite my unfaithfulness to a God who is in complete control, He still chooses to remember me, to see me in my current situation, to comfort me in all my troubles.  His authority over all things is often forgotten as I go about my day, attempting to feebly protect my wounded pride with coldness of heart, guarding against every conceivable disaster with insurance and money in the bank, and struggling to rescue myself from the stresses of life by using my own twisted methods of coping.  I find myself failing miserably, yet He never writes me off as a lost cause, always ready to use His sovereign power for my benefit.

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from realizing such perfect authority over all things?  "His love endures forever."  A God who is completely in control of all things yet yearns for me to willingly submit to His perfect plan for my life is a God whose love can be trusted as safe, faithful, and abundant.  He does not need me, yet He wants me.  And not just parts of me as I so often tend to give, but all of me; every nook and cranny of my heart.  

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is His sovereignty over all things yet willingness to be a personal part of my seemingly insignificant life.

It's sometimes hard to believe anyone, let alone the God of the universe, could love me.  He is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing; why would He care about me?  The beauty of this God of all gods is that He is made of love.  And the proof of His great love is written throughout His creation, found in the way He chooses to save me, and in His sovereign power that is used for my good.  This is some evidence of His love which can propel me forward into His waiting arms.  Why wait another minute?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust my whole life to such a God as this.  

How do I hold out on God, unsure of His love for me?

When do I doubt His love despite the fact that there is evidence everywhere?