Who am I Hurting?

"'Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah.

Do not weep or pray for them,

and don't beg me to help them,

for I will not listen to you.

Don't you see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

No wonder I am so angry!

Watch how the children gather wood

and the fathers build sacrificial fires.

See how the women knead dough

and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.

And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods!

Am I the one they are hurting?' asks the LORD.

'Most of all, they hurt themselves,

to their own shame.'"

Jeremiah 7:16-19 NLT

I dishonor God by failing to acknowledge Him as sovereign and staying true to Him alone.  But mostly it hurts me as I remove myself from all that is good and right (James 1:17).  How so?

Cultivate.  What seeds am I sowing?  What attitudes do I nurture?  What activities and mindsets do I promote, especially as a parent and a believer who is always watched by those around me?  If I look closely, I discover that I cultivate a spirit of busyness, pride in accomplishments, emphasis on education yet I ignore God, as if He is simply a means to another end.  Instead of looking to Him as the Source, as the Purpose, as my All in all, I use Him as the power to drive my agenda and to make my own selfish plans come to fruition.

While this sort of ungodly focus does fail to show respect and regard for God who is worthy to be praised at all times, it also hurts me.  It is to my own shame that I fail to see the value in connecting with God throughout my day, in teaching my children to look to Him as their source of wisdom, understanding and help, in growing in my bond with Him by trusting Him with every decision that must be made and every insecurity that wears me down.  I am made for relationship with God so when I neglect this higher purpose, I am missing a big chunk of what it is to be human as my Creator intended.

When I commit to cultivating my relationship with God, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

Dedication.  I faithfully attend church every time the doors are open.  I can be counted on to raise my hand whenever help is needed.  I'm devoted to the disciplines of my faith; reading the Bible daily, praying, fasting, discipling others.  I work hard to live a pure and holy life as is expected of me (1 Peter 1:15).  While I know the law doesn't save me, I try hard to adhere to it out of reverence to God.  Yet something is missing.

On the surface, it seems I am living the kind of life that would please God, that would give Him great pleasure, yet I'm missing the point.  You see, I am dedicated to a religion instead of a relationship with God.  I fail to perceive the God who is behind everything I'm doing as a living, breathing God who can be known and who desires that I grow closer to Him each day.  As my bond with Him grows, I'll find I'll want to gather with other believers and serve as He moves me.  As He and I become more intimate, I'll discover that a deep desire for the disciplines will well up inside of me like a hunger that must be satisfied, and a longing will develop to walk according to His indwelling Spirit who leads me in a way that honors His law (Galatians 5:16-18).  I am made for God, so when I dedicate myself to religious activity, I am missing out on the sweet thrill of drawing close to the One who made me and loves me perfectly.

When I dedicate myself to the Lord Himself as a living, breathing God, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

Sacrifice.  There are many gods to whom I can sacrifice.  I give up family time, a social life, and my health in order to taste success.  I surrender free time so that I can build up my bank account as I believe every responsible adult should.  I want a nice house and car so I work hard and reward myself with the finer things.  In order to taste happiness, I go after my dreams.  

This is the way most of us live our lives, willingly giving up lesser things in order to gain what is deemed as more valuable.  Yet in my desire to realize the American dream, I forget about the One who gives me life and breath.  Without Him, I wouldn't even exist let alone be able to run after all that I think will fulfill me.  I can even fool myself into believing that Jesus died so I can taste a rich and meaningful life, so He must want me to live life to the fullest, making the most of every opportunity to reach my full potential.  The problem is, I ignore God Himself, failing to realize the best way I can keep from wasting the one life I've been given is to honor Him by giving myself to Him as a living sacrifice, offering myself up as an instrument of righteousness to be used as He best sees fit (Romans 6:13, 12:1).  This is the kind of sacrifice that He desires.

When I sacrifice myself to the Lord, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

I dishonor God in many ways as I fail to acknowledge that He is at the center of all things.  I nurture the wrong things, commit myself to religion or tradition, and I surrender myself to what is temporary and shallow. When I live in such a way, I do more damage to myself than to God.  I was meant for so much more than all these things.  I was made for Him, and when I cultivate a bond with Him, dedicate myself to Him, and sacrifice my own will for His, I will discover what it is to live the good life.  I am only hurting myself when I live fail to live for Him!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can taste the riches God has in store for me by drawing close to Him.  

When do I focus on doing for God instead of getting to know Him?

How much do I know God for myself?

     

Easily Deceived

"Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon,

bow as they are lowered to the ground.

They are being hauled away on ox carts.

The poor beasts stagger under the weight.

Bot the idols and their owners are bowed down.

The gods cannot protect the people,

and the people cannot protect the gods.

They go off into captivity together.

Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,

all you who remain in Israel.

I have cared for you since you were born.

Yes, I carried you before you were born.

I will be your God throughout your lifetime--

until your hair is white with age.

I made you, and I will care for you.

I will carry you along and save you.

To whom will you compare me?

Who is my equal?"

Isaiah 46:1-5 NLT

I get caught up in worldly mindsets without consciously realizing what has happened, bowing to the gods of science and education, tolerance and "love".  I slightly adjust my views, my thinking, until it lines up with popular philosophy.  I'm still a Christian, I mean I still believe in God so everything's okay, right?  Or should I be concerned?  

Impotent.  Whatever I trust in, extol, fight to the death to defend; if it is outside of Jesus Christ it cannot save me.  As good as it may seem, if it's not from God it will do nothing to stop God's discipline, the shaking He allows in order to draw mankind back to Him, the wake-up call necessary to get the attention of those who have fallen asleep, drugged by the world's anesthesia.  I'm a fool to trust in such nonsense.

Yet it makes sense to my mind, easily slipping into my consciousness without detection.  And before I know it I'm believing ignorance is the enemy and education will save us from what ails society without ever considering the impact Jesus Christ can make in the hearts of man.  Or I'm buying into the mindset that love comes in many shapes and sizes and I must be tolerant of the latest deviancy, failing to ever reach out with the Gospel of grace, empowered by True Love.  Or I am caught up in the belief that scientific advances can cure cancer, wipe out world-wide hunger and end global warming instead of getting on my knees and enlisting the help of the One who holds all power in His hands.

Whatever I trust in apart from God is impotent to make any lasting change or bring about salvation.

Faithful.   While I'm off "saving the world," getting caught up in following empty theories or chasing rabbits down meandering trails, God is busy holding all things together, reaching out to the lost and caring for His image-bearers.  Whether or not anyone ever acknowledges it, He is faithful to give life and breath to millions of people.  We depend upon His grace, never being able to think a thought or take a step without Him.  

Yet countless many fail to realize their dependency upon Him.  How many times has He saved, shielded, protected?  How often does He give good, bless, provide?  Still, many think it is by their own hand, due to their own smarts, because of their wise planning that such bounty has entered their lives.  Meanwhile, God continues to care for His children, even those who haven't yet given their lives to Him through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Even if few ever acknowledge so, God is faithful to take care of His creation.

Deception.  In ancient days, people bowed down to Bel, Nebo, Ashtoreth, Molech and Baal.  Many sacrificed to them, giving of their children, their purity, their livelihood, believing such "gifts" would appease the wrath of these gods and deliver them into the good graces of these deities.  Yet they were deceived into believing these impotent gods would somehow make their lives better, bringing meaning and favor into the emptiness of their souls.  Many died waiting for such foolishness.  Today man is more evolved and is all but immune from such idol worship.  Or so goes the common belief.

Yet how many bow down to the god of women's reproductive Rights, the Right to choose, or the Right to her own body and have killed millions of defenseless children as a result?  What about the god of Lust?  Countless bow before it's altar of pornography, both soft and hard, mainstream and sordid, contributing to the explosion of human trafficking and the sex trade.  Then there's the god of Love that we all desire to bow before, leading to a low view of the pure form and the wide acceptance of Gay marriage.  And so we see, nothing has really changed all that much from the days of ancient society.

Mankind has been deceived into idol worship even though no one calls it as such.

It's easy to conform to the thinking of this world, slowly drifting away from God's best for me and His ongoing transformation process.  As I do, I risk worshiping other gods, even if I wouldn't label it as such.  I place my trust in the impotent, even though God is the only One with the power to save me and the rest of mankind.  Even if He is never acknowledged as the One who truly cares, He is faithful to hold all things together.  Still, I am easily deceived by the same gods who lured the Israelites away from God.  Yes, I am firmly in God's grip through faith in Jesus Christ, yet I have to admit how easily deceived I am.  I must never forget how much I depend upon His grace, and keep my eyes on Jesus who is always at work perfecting my faith.  It is only in Him that I can stand firm!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stand firm on the Truth.

How do I get sucked into popular mindsets, unintentionally worshiping at an altar I never wanted to bow before?

When am I ignorant of God's faithfulness in my life?  How can I intentionally acknowledge His constancy?  

False Strongholds

"Tyre has built herself a stronghold;

she has heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets."

Zechariah 9:3

Soldiers who have endured combat rely on their buddies to help them survive.  As they fight the enemy, a bond is formed as they watch out for one another.  They look to each other for help; no one can fight a war alone.

I can never forget that I am involved in a war.  It is not a battle waged against flesh and blood, but a spiritual war.  Satan wants to take God's place and he will do everything in his power to diminish the ranks of the Lord's soldiers.  It is important that I keep this truth in mind as I maneuver my way through life.  It is equally as vital that I remember on whom I can rely.  The psalmist had it right when he said, "I lift my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

Take a moment to listen to Casting Crowns sing, "Praise You in this Storm," and meditate on the message of this psalm.  

As much as I want to say I always rely on God to get me through life, I have to admit there are many other fortresses behind which I seek shelter.  Even though I know He is my, "refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble," (Psalm 46:1) I continue to turn elsewhere for help; I rely on false strongholds.

Money

It has been said that money will buy a bed but not sleep; books but not brains; food but not appetite; finery but not beauty; a house but not a home; medicine but not health; luxuries but not culture; amusements but not happiness; religion but not salvation--a passport to everywhere but heaven. (Voice in the Wilderness)

I may not have a lot of money, but there are ways that I lean on it as my security.  I listen to the financial gurus who tell me I should carry a certain amount in my savings account in case of emergencies and that I should prepare for retirement.  Experts are constantly bombarding me with information about how to make my money work for me, how to get the most out of my money and where is the best place to invest my money.

It makes me think of "The Beverly Hillbillies," that sitcom from the 60's in which the poor family discovered oil on their property and became sudden millionaires.  They abruptly moved uptown into a mansion, but never really left their backwards, country ways.  The Clampetts gained access to parts of society they were never before allowed to observe, but they really didn't care.  To them, money was not all that important.

If only I could adopt this attitude.  Unfortunately, I often buy into the worldly point of view that money will give me a sense of security and will act as a buffer against hard times.  As all too many people found out when the stock market crashed, hard-earned money is easily lost and is not a wise foundation upon which to base my life.

Jesus taught that, "No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money."  (Matthew 6:24)  If I am depending on money to provide my sense of safety and give me confidence to face the unknown future, I am turning my back on God to fulfill those roles.  Money cannot save me, protect me or sustain me; only God can do that!

Money is a tool that can be used by God, but it is also the most powerful hindrance of my ability to fully trust God.

Education

We are living in an age of education.  I am always hearing the message that education is the key to success and will break the bonds of poverty.  George Washington Carver, a slave who went on to become the president of the Tuskegee Institute and an important scientist, said that, "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom."  He knew that schooling was the means by which he was able to accomplish so much with his life.

The mistake is when I place my trust in the right degree, believing that my preparation will mean I'll never go without work, always be successful and never need worry.  Unfortunately, all too many people have realized this is not the case.   Education has now reached the point where many diplomas are not worth the paper they're printed on; the quality is decreasing while the cost is increasing.  So many people have earned higher degrees that diplomas have lost their attraction for employers.

Instead of putting my faith in education, I could take the advice of the psalmist who said, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."  (Psalm 111:10)  As I place God in the position He deserves as Lord of my life, respecting Him as the Giver of life and all good things, I will put less and less stock in my level of education and more and more in what's really important.

Jesus taught that I should, "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)  If I pay more attention to what God is doing around me and less toward striving to reach my own personal goals, He will provide for my needs.  Education will never be able to protect me, save me or guide me.

Education can give me knowledge and provide opportunities, but only God can be trusted to guide me and give my life meaning.

Plan

My plan was to go to college, earn a degree and enjoy a successful career.  Reality turned out a bit different.  I went to college, got married, had a child, finished my degree, gave birth to triplets and put my all into motherhood.  I never imagined myself to be a mother.  I never particularly enjoyed children but God knew better. As the wisdom of Solomon reminds me, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

I had a plan for my life, but only God knew the design He had for me!  In His sovereignty, His plan trumps anything I can drum up for myself. If I were to choose, I would have never decided to raise four daughters as a stay-at-home mother.  But God ordained it and it came to pass.

If I put my faith in the plan I have for myself, trusting that if I follow the steps, everything will turn out right, I'm bound to be disappointed.  Instead, if I follow God and trust Him for the path my life will take, I will live a life of hope and peace.  Knowing the One who holds the blueprint for my life has a way of setting my mind at ease when it comes to thoughts of the future.

Trusting in my own plan for my life will lull me into a false sense of security while giving the reigns over to the LORD will lead me down a path of assurance and serenity.

Remembering the truth as I battle through life will give me the ability to continue.  God is my refuge and security.  He is my source of strength.  Only He knows the future and has my life in His hands.  If I put my full faith in Him, I will be able to avoid the false strongholds of money, education and creating my own plans.  Then, I will fully devote myself to God and not focus on my own sense of what I should or should not do and can truly say,

"The Lord is my light and my salvation--

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life--

of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust in God and God alone.

When do I give money too much power in my life?

How do I rely on the plan I've made to get me through the day instead of trusting God for His?