His Face Shines

"Restore us, O God;

make your face shine on us,

that we may be saved."

Psalm 80:3

My life lies in a precarious balance, so dependent upon the mercy of God am I.  Do I realize how fragile is this day I often take for granted?  How I assume the sun will rise up over the horizon in glorious splendor!  I step out of bed each morning at the beckoning of my alarm, not thinking twice that I've been given such a gift as another day to live.  My routine comforts me as I prepare my tea and tidy the house, but Who is it that hold my life in His hands?

It is my desire that I adopt the attitude of Asaph who realized how desperately he needed the restoring presence of the Lord.  I want to really grasp how much one fraction of a beam of His Light can return my life back to what He meant for me to be.  All I need is Him, and I will be saved.

Leadership.  Jesus was moved to compassion whenever He saw the crowds that desperately reached out to Him for help.  They wanted to hear the truth of the Good News, they longed for connection and craved healing of all sorts.  He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, eager for a leader they could trust to give them guidance and direction (Matthew 9:35-38, Mark 6:31-34).

I, too, am like those people who flocked toward Jesus as He walked the earth.  I need guidance and direction, and like in times of old, I have that leadership in Jesus Christ.  He is my Good Shepherd who came to lead me down paths of righteousness for His namesake (John 10:11-16, Psalm 23).  He shows me the path of life and helps me negotiate it's narrow, rocky way (Matthew 7:13-14).

I desperately need the leadership that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

Belonging.  I go to great lengths to try to belong, to fit in somewhere.  It is human nature to desire a family of some kind.  Some find this place in a gang who claims to care but is rooted in blood and power.  Others look for belonging at work, attempting to connect with co-workers who may be only looking out for their own best interest.  A few marry quickly, in need of making a family with the first one who shows interest, only to find there is nothing to bind them together and strife becomes their hallmark.  

All of mankind needs some kind of relationship, a connection with another living being in order to survive.  Even Grizzly Adams, the based-on-real-life television character who lived out in the wilderness alone, had his menagerie of creatures to give him a sense of companionship.  

No matter where I live or the direction in which my life goes, through faith in Christ I have this belonging.  I am His and He is mine, adopted into His family as His well-loved child (1 John 3:1, Psalm 100:3).  As such, I am part of a group of other believers from all walks of life who share my love for our Father.  Despite how things may look as we go through life together, we are a royal family who is well-cared for by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

I desperately need the sense of belonging that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

Provision.  I like to think I'm fine on my own, able to take care of myself, thank you very much.  I appreciate Someone caring enough to look out for me, but I often think there are some things I'd rather handle on my own.  I've fooled myself into believing I'm good at providing the things I need for life.

In reality, He gives me all I have (Psalm 8).  I used to think this thought was ludicrous.  When I reviewed my life, it occurred to me that I drove myself to work every day where I earned money to buy the things I needed and came back to the house I rented and kept clean and filled with the necessities of life.  I just didn't see where God fit into the picture.  Over the years, He opened my eyes to the reality of my dependence upon Him, whether I know it or not.  I realized that without Him, I couldn't even take the next breath let alone get out of bed and start my day.  This is my Father's world, and without Him, there is nothing for me to stand upon, no life to live, no heart to beat (Psalm 19).

I desperately need God's favor that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and gives me each moment of life and all that is necessary to continue living.

Like the psalmist, I desire God's face to shine on me because I know He is my only hope for restoration in this broken world.  I need His leadership, the belonging, and the provision of His sovereign hand that all come through faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  My life is in His hands, but there is no other place I'd rather rest!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with every detail, knowing that He is more than able to take care of me.

When do I hold back, attempting to do things on my own instead of letting God provide in the way He desires to care for me as His child?

How am I bent on self-sufficiency instead of dependence?       

New Pattern Taught

"For he gave his laws to Israel and commanded our fathers to teach them to their children,

so that they in turn could teach their children too.

Thus his laws pass down from generation to generation.

In this way each generation has been able to obey his laws

and set its hope anew on God

and not forget his glorious miracles.

Thus they did not need to be as their fathers were--

stubborn, rebellious, unfaithful, 

refusing to give their hearts to God."

Psalm 78:5-8 TLB

Hard-headed.  Obstinate.  Self-sufficient.  Defiant.  Hard-hearted.  Adulterous.  My flesh is bent on such destructive ways.  It's easy to become unfaithful, forgetting God's might and power in the midst of the mess that is called life.  I easily get caught up in the mindset of this world, going with the flow of living my own way, forgetting the One who made me for Himself.

In order to become a nation of faithful followers of Christ, we must teach a new pattern to the next generation or else they'll just do what comes natural to their sinful flesh.  If the Gospel is not proclaimed, the Way will be lost, the Truth forgotten, and the Life snuffed out (John 14:6-7).  The new pattern of Jesus must be taught to those coming behind us or else they will never know of Him and His offer of abundant life.

Keep Covenant.  Without guidance of any kind, an introduction to Jesus, I naturally think the way to a better life is through hard work, adherence to a standard, and maintaining good morals and values.  I think the way to God is through religion, following a set of principles and sticking to it's practices.  Since I am stuck in this body of death, I can't seem to get it together, resulting in a nagging guilt that colors everything I do as I attempt this empty way.  I begin to think if this is what faith is all about, I don't see why anyone would want to be apart of it.

Jesus came to usher in a new age, a different covenant than the one that required the following of rules and the offering of sacrifices.  The new covenant, is so much better and rooted in the work that Jesus has already done, not on what it's followers do (Hebrews 8:6, Galatians 3:21-22).  Therefore, freedom is found in Christ as we learn to simply follow Him as He leads us closer to His Father (John 6:44).

I must teach the next generation of the joy that is found in keeping the covenant of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Stay With Him.  The One True God is a relational God who is involved in the day-to-day details of my life.  He is not aloof and far away, keeping His distance so as not to be tainted by my mess.  Instead, there has been a pattern from the beginning of time of Him entering into the lives of those He created in His image.  

This is true of the people of Israel.  He never left them to their own devices after He delivered them from Egyptian slavery, washing His hands of them as if freedom was enough.  No, He never left them even when they gave Him every reason to do so by their unfaithfulness to Him, their constant whining and complaining.  Instead, He personally led them in His own unique way (Exodus 13:21).

In order to follow His lead in my modern life, I must pay attention, looking for the telltale signs of His mighty hand at work.  I can't expect to see a pillar of cloud towering above the path He wants me to take by day, and a column of fire lighting the way when the sun goes down.  That would be too obvious and impersonal.  Instead, His guidance is tailored to me as He leads me in a way I can recognize.  In order to go where He wants me to go, however, I must stay with Him instead of wandering off on my own.  This is not a practice that is naturally known to all, but must be taught.

I must teach the next generation the intimacy that comes in a personal relationship with a Shepherd that will personally lead them through each moment of their lives.

Accept Provision.  A constant hunger for more.  An unquenchable thirst for comfort.  A desire for power to dictate the details of my own life.  I am so much like the people of Israel who were given everything they needed, personally witnessing the power of the God who delivered them from harm's way, yet constantly displayed a spirit of discontentment and unfaithfulness (Numbers 11, 14, 20).

God is a generous Father who gives me far more than what I need.  He lavishes His love upon my life, sending little signs of His love for me throughout each day.  Yet, it's so easy to want more than what He gives, or even desire for it to come delivered in a different package.  My discontentment in what God has provided shows my utter lack of thankfulness for what is His best for me.  The new way that is so foreign to my ungrateful flesh is to develop a spirit of gratitude that comes with practice.  

I must teach the next generation the contentment that comes from accepting God's provision and seeing it as the lavish gift it is.

I live in the age of enlightenment where everything but the Truth is taught as virtuous.  In such a world, it is vital that I make it my mission to teach to those coming up behind me the new pattern of grace that comes through faith in Jesus.  In Christ, it is possible to walk in a new covenant based on grace and received by faith, to follow His lead in a world of independence, and to accept with gratitude what He graciously gives.  If no one tells them, those following behind will never know of such riches.  This is a new pattern distinct from the one that is extolled by the flesh and this fallen world, and it must be taught!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust in God's new covenant of grace and see the need to teach the truth to those coming up behind me.

When do I assume others know simply because I do?

How am I resistant to telling of the pattern of grace, fearing it rings hollow to young ears?

Diversity of God's Care

"Can you stalk prey for a lioness

and satisfy the young lions' appetites

as they lie in their dens

or crouch in the thicket?

Who provides food for the ravens

when their young cry out to God

 and wander about in hunger?"

Job 38:39-41 NLT

There is a bat living in the foothills of the Andes Mountains that is the size of a raspberry.  The lungs of the changeable lizard have the distinct characteristic of being the only home for the rare nematode worm.  In all, it is nearly impossible for man to identify all of the life that exists on this diverse planet, but these are two of the most recent discoveries.  Estimates of the total of land animals vary but fall between 1.3 for the amount of species that have been cataloged, and 10 million in all.  

Turning to the tiniest of creatures, the insect world, the numbers are even more astounding.  Scientists have cataloged around 900,000 different kinds of insects, but there could be up to 30 million in existence *.  Thinking about the variety of God's creation boggles my mind.

God put great thought into His creation, and His ability to oversee it all, placing each creature in the perfect environment and faithfully providing for their needs is mind-boggling.  With such a caring and powerful Father as this, why do I worry?

Provision.  Only God knows what I need.  He made me and knows me better than I can understand myself.  He also comprehends my situation, the circumstances in which He has placed me.  With such intimate knowledge of me, He is the only One who is qualified to know my needs perfectly and provide for the necessities of life (Matthew 6:31-33).

Still, I fight for what I think is rightfully mine.  I'm ambitious, going after the things which I find necessary.  I can't rest until I have figured out how me and my family will be taken care of.

If I would know the generosity of my Father, realizing that I can go to Him with these worries, leaving the need in His capable hands, then I would be able to turn my attention to Him and His kingdom, leaving the tedious and time-consuming task of providing to Him.  All that is necessary for me is to know Him and make Him known in my little corner of the world.

God is the perfect Provider for all my needs.

Production.  Only God knows the purpose for which He created me.  This is His world; His production.  And like some complicated play that He has written and produced, He has made each character to fulfill a certain role, to play a certain part, to fill a specific hole.  Without each of us doing our part, realizing our place, and responding to His direction, the show will flop.  While I can't take responsibility for the well-being of all of mankind, I can pay attention to what God wants me to do.

Therefore, when I see Him at work around me, being bothered by a need I notice in front of me, I can step in and do something to share God's love with those who are hurting.  Even if it seems insignificant, I can do my part to the best of my ability, surrendering my fears and doubts to Him so that I can be an instrument of His love in the little part I play.  As small as it seems, my obedience is noticed and makes a difference.  While I may balk at doing what God has placed on my heart, skeptical as to my ability to do such a thing, my willingness to be used by God will uniquely impact the world as I step into the role God meant for me to play (Ephesians 2:10).

God is the perfect Director of this production that we call life.

Power.  Only God has the authority and control to pull all the pieces of my life together.  He is uniquely qualified and equipped to work each part for His glory and for my good.  At just the right time, God is able to put everything where it should be.

While God did give us free will, making it so I must cooperate with His will if I want to see His purposes carried out in my life, He has unlimited power to constantly pursue me in a way that will show me His loving care for me.  It takes power to be able to pull that off for each of His image-bearers.  How can God oversee such intricate details, going after each sheep that has strayed and making sure every child knows of His love?  Now that is power!

With such a God as this, who wants to be known by each of us, how can I resist His advances?  Why would I hold Him at arms' length?  For what reason is there to keep Him at bay?  Not only is this powerful God mighty, but His love endures forever and is impossible for me to fathom.  His love is part of His character, making it impossible for Him not to love me.  Therefore, I have nothing to fear and need not resist His pursuit of me.

God has the power to pull all the pieces of His creation together, working each part into an intricate and beautiful tapestry.

If I had God's job, I would crumble under the pressure.  But God is perfectly qualified as my Provider, the Director of life, and is powerful enough to bring it all together.  If I doubt this truth, all I must do is look around at the great variety of His creation.  With such diversity of God's care, I know I can trust Him in all things.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can turn all my worries over to Him, knowing that He cares for me and is perfectly qualified to love and cherish me in just the way I need.

When do I try to be my own provider instead of letting my Father do His job?

How am I resisting His work in my life?

*http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/science/30species.html?_r=0

 http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/bugnos.htm

While I Praise

"As they began to sing and praise,

the LORD set ambushes against the men

of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir

who were invading Judah,

and they were defeated."

2 Chronicles 20:22

It's not exactly the expected response.  The odds were overwhelmingly against them.  A coalition of armies loomed before them.  The original inhabitants of the Promised Land who God commanded the people of Israel to leave alone all those years ago now threatened them with the war God initially sought to avoid (Deuteronomy 2:4-6,9,18-19). It seemed there was no way the people of Judah would get out of this alive.

In the midst of such a crisis, King Jehoshaphat worshiped the Lord and then he directed his people to sing God's praises.  It would seem the appropriate response would be to form a battle plan, but Jehoshaphat's attention was focused in another direction.  He had no idea how to protect his people from such a threat, but he did know Who held all the answers in His hands (2 Chronicles 20:12).

When I'm faced with overwhelming odds and it seems there is no hope I can do as Jehoshaphat did.  Against all common sense and what appears as a more responsible response to my problems, I can instead turn my eyes to the Lord as my only hope, seeking His will and trusting in His protection.  As I worship and adore Him for who He is and for what He is about to do, I may be surprised at what He does in the meantime.

Fighting my Battles.  It seems like I should be doing something.  The cancer doesn't take a day off from spreading.  My marriage isn't going to mend itself.  A job won't simply jump in my lap.  It's easy to think the responsibility to solve my problems and fight my battles belongs to me.  As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, however, I have a mighty Warrior who fights on my behalf!

There was another man who faced a formidable foe.  His name was David and he was a mere youth at the time of his encounter with Goliath, a seasoned and humongous soldier.  Still, David was not intimidated because his faith in God was strong.  He knew that no matter how great the opponent or large the obstacle, God is bigger still (1 Samuel 17:47).

Whatever giant I am facing, God is not overwhelmed nor is He at a loss for what to do.  When I place all my faith in Him, praising Him in advance for what He is about to do, obstacles will fall away, hardened hearts will be softened and doors once closed will now be open.

As I praise the Lord, He is busy fighting my battles for me.

Providing for my Needs.  The large cat with the fluffy tail sits for hours by the window, watching out for tiny frogs, slimy slugs or flitting birds to cross through his line of vision.  Our cat is not worried about where his next meal will come from.  I never see him fret about anything nor have I noticed him attempt to arrange for his own needs.  He trusts his masters to fill his food dish, replenish his water bowl and clean his litter box, freeing him up for more important pursuits (Matthew 6:25-34).

Midnight knows he doesn't have to worry about his needs.  He is well-cared for by a family who loves Him.  Similarly, I have a Father who knows my needs and delights in not only supplying those needs, but also giving me what I ask for (Matthew 7:11).  Therefore, I can do as Midnight does and focus my attention on more important pursuits (Matthew 6:33).

As I praise the Lord, He is busy providing for my needs.

Paving a Way.  He was scared out of his mind.  Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite troops, oppressed the people of Israel for 20 years with his 900 chariots and cruel ways.  In response to their cries for help, God had appointed him, lowly Barak, to lead 10,000 men to victory against this formidable enemy.  How could he face such a foe?

As he begged the wise and prophetic Deborah to accompany him to war, she reminded Barak of a very important fact.  As she exhorted him to go ahead for God would deliver Sisera into his hands, she asked, "Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" (Judges 4:14)

Similarly, God has gone before me, preparing the route, marking the path and paving the way.  All there is left for me to do is walk forward in faith.  The problem is, I can't see with my eyes all the preparations He has made.  All I see is the trouble that seems to block my way.  If I trust God, however, and believe He keeps His promises, I will soon reap the benefits of the groundwork He has laid (Hebrews 12:1-2).

As I praise the Lord, He is busy paving the way for me.

Trouble seems to follow me.  It's easy to get discouraged when the obstacles that stand before me look so imposing.  Instead of resigning myself to defeat, though, I can praise the Lord.  As I do what seems entirely inappropriate at such a time of crisis yet pleases God to no end, I will discover that He is at work on my behalf.  While my eyes are on Him, he is fighting my battles for me, providing for what I need, and paving the way for my feet to follow.  It's amazing what God does while I praise Him!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on the Lord, especially when the going gets rough.

How do I tend to think I have to come up with my own solutions?

When do I most often fail to trust God to provide for what I need?

All His

"O Our God,

we thank you and praise your glorious name!

But who am I,

and who are my people,

that we could give anything to you?

Everything we have has come from you,

and we give you only what you first gave us!"

1 Chronicles 29:14 NLT

Seriously?  I thought as I stood in the hot sun waiting for the tow truck.  First Donald's truck and now mine?  All at the same time?  When we don't have any money to spare?  I couldn't help but be a little ticked off at God, wondering how this fit into the good plan He has for my life (Jeremiah 29:11).  Lately, it just seems we've had one setback after another, almost like we can't catch a break.

It's funny how life can hum along with nary a hick-up for weeks at a time, and I rarely thank God for it.  As soon as things start going wrong, though, I'm quick to cast blame on Him.  Similarly, it's easy to start thinking my life is a result of my hard work, my effort, my smarts.  In reality, everything is His.  He created all things and made all people in His image, able to create, reason, repair, nurture; all traits that transfer well to the marketplace.  He even entrusted all of His masterpiece we call the world into the hands of man, giving us the job of stewardship.

Still, I often take ownership as if it's all mine, or thinking I'm responsible for it coming to be in my possession, or expecting clear sailing all the time.  In truth, without God's unmerited favor, I would have nothing and tribulation would be the rule not the exception.

People.  She's my daughter so I must make sure she makes the right decisions.  

I can't just stand by and let my friend marry the wrong man.

How dare she treat me in such a way!  And she calls herself a Christian?

It's easy to take ownership of the people God has placed in my life, thinking I must control, protect, and judge.  If God is their God just as He is mine, what makes me think I am responsible for ordering their footsteps, or sheltering their lives, or deciding what's right and what's wrong?

God in His sovereignty places me in the family He created for me, includes me in a certain circle of friends, and positions me where I will come into contact with those He desires me to know.  As a result, I can let go of my desire to control, protect or judge.  Those are all God's areas of responsibility, and He does a much better job than I could ever do.

All the people in my life are God's, giving me the freedom to let Him have dominion over their lives.

Possessions.  My house.  My car.  My clothes.  My phone.  My toys.  When it comes right down to it, I'm pretty possessive.  It's easy for me to think everything in my custody actually belongs to me.  After all, it has my name on it, right?  I bought it with my own money so that makes it mine!  Or so goes my line of reasoning.

In reality, the Lord gives me the wherewithal and the resources to be able to acquire the stuff I own.  Without His favor, the work of my hand would bear no fruit and I would not prosper.  I must realize, then, that if He can give me lots of things, He can also take those things away in a heartbeat, a lesson many people learned back at the beginning of this generation's Great Recession in December of 2007.  I know many who lost thousands of dollars of their retirement, suddenly found themselves jobless or were close to losing their homes during that difficult period.  Like Job proclaimed at the lowest point of his life, I must come to the conclusion that, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."  Job 1:21

Therefore, I would be wise to hold with an open hand the possessions with which I've been entrusted.  Instead of calling myself blessed because God has given me a lot of stuff, I can realize the blessing does not come through material possessions but in spiritual ones.  The physical stuff is mostly just a distraction from what is truly valuable.

So, if someone has a need that I can fill, my hand will freely let go of what is needed since it belongs to God anyway.  He is simply using me to help someone else.  Or if something breaks down, I can easily accept it's absence, realizing it was never meant to be my source of joy or fulfillment.  Or if catastrophe passes through, taking with it all I belong, I can praise God for His goodness in the midst of it.

All the stuff in my life belongs to God, giving me the ability to hold it with an open hand.

Aptitudes.  I've been groomed to sell myself, telling of my talents, skills and experience in a way that paints my image in the best light, giving prospective employers a a desire to hire me.  Consequently, I often become prideful of my accomplishments, thinking it was my abilities that got me where I am, or my hard work that gave me the opportunities I now enjoy, or my years of education that gave me the edge.  

In reality, I was purposefully made in a unique way in order to meet God's specifications (Psalm 139:13-16).  If I have an unusually high I.Q., I cannot take credit for God's handiwork.  If I'm gifted athletically, musically, or artistically, it is my Creator who gave me such talents.  If people tend to flock to me, attracted to my magnetic personality, it is the Lord who put such charisma in my chemical makeup.

As a follower of Christ who is meant to glorify God with my life, I would be wise to honor Him in all my ways (Romans 12:1, Proverbs 3:5-6).  Thus my life will point others to Him. 

All my gifts and talents come from God, giving me the opportunity to honor Him with my life.

It's easy for me to view the people, possessions, and aptitudes with which God has graciously gifted me and assume they belong to me.  When I accept the fact that everything good comes from the Lord (James 1:17), it will follow that I will develop a more grateful attitude, learning to place the people in my life under His dominion, hold the possessions He gives me with an open hand until it's time to let them go, and honor Him with the way He has made me.  In these ways I will be showing that I believe it's all His in the first place!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can see all the good God has given to me.

When do I only focus on what is wrong instead of thanking Him for all the good?

How do I hold onto my stuff with an iron grip, not wanting to let go for any reason?

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

"David was greatly distressed because the men

were talking of stoning him;

each one was bitter in spirit 

because of his sons and daughters.

But David found strength in the LORD his God."

1 Samuel 30:6

Things seemed about as bad as they could get.  Their homes were destroyed by fire and all their loved ones had been taken captive.  Not one living soul remained in the city when the men returned.  The weeping was loud that day and the men even considered stoning their beloved leader.  As distressed and desperate as David must have felt, he took strength in the Lord.

I, too, can find strength in the midst of heartache and strife when I rely on the Lord.  (Isaiah 40:31)  As I depend on Him to fight my battle for me, the strength I draw will guide me forward.

Seek God's Wisdom

My dad often tells of the time when he converted our garage into a family room and extra bedroom without using any written plans or diagrams.  Instead of relying on precise measurements and calculations to determine how to build the addition, he went by instinct, using estimation and his eye to judge how to proceed.  In the end, it turned out pretty well.

While this job may have ended in good results for my dad, life is a bit more complicated than a construction project.  It boggles the mind to consider all the people, circumstances and details that must fall into place in order for my life to proceed smoothly.  Taking into account the complexity of life, it is obvious that there is a master plan behind it all.  

Therefore, if I want to know what path I am meant to take, it is vital that I develop a close relationship with the Master Planner.  Without Him, life is simply a series of coincidences based on luck.  To find out what God's purpose is for this day, then, I must seek Him wholeheartedly, believing that He is my one and only hope. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) When I look for Him in such a sincere and heartfelt way, I will find Him.  And with Him, I will discover the next step He has planned for me to take.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When it seems there is no way out and my life is headed down a path of destruction through no fault of my own, I can draw my strength from the Lord, believing He has a purpose for the mess in which I'm currently surrounded.  When I don't have a clue where to go next and my days seem like an exercise in futility, I can turn to God for encouragement, trusting that He has designed a purpose that lies behind the apparent pointlessness that is my life.  When everything I love has been taken away, it's easy to think God doesn't care.  If I open myself up to Him, however, and let Him comfort me, I will find the reason behind the suffering.

As I strengthen myself in the Lord, I will find it necessary to seek God's wisdom in how to proceed.

Use What God Provides

God had given him the go-ahead to conduct a rescue operation.  He had been assured that the mission would be a success.  Still, when it came time to cross over into enemy territory, he lost some of his men to exhaustion.  Could he really save his family as well as all the other women and children with only 400 men?  (1 Samuel 30:9-10)

When it comes to trusting in God, my faith is based on God's integrity not on the depth of my own resources.  It is rooted in God's ability not in my own.  It is found in God's faithfulness not on my own strength.  Therefore, I can move forward in confidence down the path on which God is leading me even if it seems I'm ill-equipped, unprepared or weak and feeble.  

As I walk in faith, then, it is necessary that I use what God has provided, no matter how thin it may seem.  If God is leading me to start a ministry but only supplied one person to help, I can step out in faith knowing that one is enough.  If God is guiding me toward a new career field but it is way outside of my area of expertise, I can walk forward confidently knowing that He will be my source of knowledge.  If God is turning me toward a cross-country relocation but I have no resources to make such a move, I can take steps toward that goal knowing that when the time is right, He will supply what is necessary.

As I strengthen myself in the Lord, I will find it necessary to proceed with what God provides.

Watch for His Hand

It seemed strange, this solitary Egyptian laying in the field.  He was weak with hunger and thirst, eagerly taking in the sustenance offered by David.  "From where do you come?  Who are your people? "  David asks, curious as to this man's whereabouts.  

"I'm the slave of an Amalekite who abandoned me here when I grew sick three days ago." (1 Samuel 30:11-14)

Soon, the reason for this man's presence became apparent.  The discarded slave led David and his men to the very people who had abducted their families.  Without this man, they may not have found their enemy so easily.  Without David's heart of compassion that led him to reach out to the foreigner, they may not have discovered the greater purpose for the slave's presence.

Who has God placed in my life that seems like an inconvenience but could in fact be a vessel of His mercy? What difficulty has God allowed into my life which appears to be nothing but a source of suffering but could in fact be the conduit of God's grace?  What struggle am I now facing which looks like just another obstacle to negotiate but could in fact be a tool used by the Master Potter to fashion me into the image of His Son? (Romans 8:28-29)

As I step forward in faith down the path which God reveals for me, using what He so graciously provides, it is important that I pay attention to signs that will point me in His direction.  While it is easy to use my own common sense to help me decide what to do, or go by advice given by godly people, it is vital to my walk of faith that I look for His sovereign work that is going on all around me.  

If I believe He is constantly at work, I will find His markers that will guide me forward.  If I think I'm left to my own devices, I will never notice how He is using people, circumstances and obstacles to direct my paths.

As I strengthen myself in the Lord, I will find it necessary to heed the Lord's direction that may come in unexpected ways.

Life is full of times when I will weep and mourn as David did upon discovering the fate of his family.  When such difficulties occur, I can strengthen myself in the Lord; seeking His wisdom, using what He provides and watching for His sovereign hand at work.  In so doing I will discover the joy of relying on the Lord for my strength.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to seek Him and Him alone.

When do I turn elsewhere to find guidance instead of trusting only in the Lord?

How am I ignorant of God's hand in my life?    

Detesting God's Provision

"Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor,

taking the road to the Red Sea 

to go around the land of Edom.

But the people grew impatient with the long journey,

and they began to speak against God and Moses.

'Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here

in the wilderness?' they complained.

'There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink.

And we hate this horrible manna!'"

Numbers 21:4-5 NLT

They slithered everywhere, covering the ground and threatening their very lives.  "What have we done to deserve this?"  the people cried out.  Mothers wept as they watched their children collapse, succumbing to the poison released into their system.  Men attempted to save their families, fighting off the treacherous snakes with whatever weapon they could find close at hand.  Many died that day.  The people suddenly realized the gravity of their sin as they grieved the loss of their loved ones at the hand of the Lord.  (Numbers 21:4-7)

I'm not so different from the Israelites, refusing to repent of my selfish, sinful attitudes until after God has brought out the big guns in an effort to snap me out of my self-seeking way of thinking.  While I may read this passage and think that God's punishment seems too severe, His actions reveal a heart issue common to mankind which is quite dangerous.  I must guard my heart from succumbing to the temptation to follow in the footsteps of the wandering Israelites.

Discontent

The orange tabby curls up in the square of midwinter sunlight cast upon the carpeting.  He wraps his tale around his body, tucking his white mitten-like feet under his chest.  As he soaks in the warmth, his eyes begin to droop.  Soon, he's fast asleep, the picture of contentment.

British veterinarian and writer James Herriot describes cats as "connoisseurs of comfort."  No matter their surroundings, cats have a way of finding the most comfortable spot and getting right to the job of fitting in a good nap.  While I would love to claim this same ability as my own, there are many situations in which I find myself when I feel anything but pleasure or gratification.  In fact, I could even call myself an expert complainer so easy is it for me to find displeasure in any and every circumstance.

When I focus only on what bothers me about the place where God has positioned me, I am forgetting that God is my Father and is in the business of providing me with everything that I need.  (Matthew 6:32-33)  My problem is that I don't always appreciate His perfect provision, instead wanting more than what He has graciously given to me.  Maybe it's time I redefine "need" and be more like the cat who looks for the good and delights in what he's been given.

When my heart is corrupted by a spirit of discontent, I am showing a disregard for all the good God has graciously given to me.

Hunger

Bruce Springsteen claimed, "Everybody's got a hungry heart," in his 1980 number one hit of the same name.  As a songwriter, he couldn't have been more truthful.  As a human, my sin-nature is never satisfied, always seeking more and more.  If I live according to my flesh, then, letting my desires and longings lead the way, I will always be hungry for more than what I have. (Romans 8:12-14, 1 Timothy 6:6-10) If I live in relationship with the Lord, however, letting His Spirit guide me, I will find that He and His Word are more than enough to satisfy.  (Psalm 34:8-10)

John warns me of the danger found in loving the world and all the pursuits found there.  Living just like those who do not know Jesus denies the power over sin that His blood provides.   John said the areas I need to guard myself against are my tendency to feed my own sensual cravings, my desire to possess everything I see, and my penchant for finding pride in what I accomplish and how I can provide for my own security.  (1 John 2:16)  These are the traps of the world.

Instead of going after what I think will satisfy, then, I am better off keeping my eyes trained on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.  (Hebrews 12:2)  In order to run the race He has marked out just for me, though, I cannot afford to become distracted by what my flesh tells me I need.  Instead, I must consistently and purposefully strain toward Christ, seeking out the good He has prepared in advance for me to do.  (Ephesians 2:10)

This means that when I'm tempted to climb the ladder of success, thinking I will find fulfillment once I reach the pinnacle, I'll be wise to instead focus my efforts of drawing closer to the One who holds the blueprint of my life in His hands.  (Jeremiah 29:11-13)  Or, when I feel discontent with the mission of raising my children, thinking there must be more to life than wiping noses and tying shoes, I can find my sense of purpose in the kingdom's most powerful job of training up the next generation of God's people.  (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-7)  Or, when my eye wanders to all the stuff I don't have but think I need, I will instead pay attention to building up the eternal intangible treasures that are awaiting me in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21)

When I find myself hungering after something besides God and His Word, I am revealing an eye that is wandering away from my first Love.

Anger

She couldn't bring herself to believe in a God who would allow such suffering in the world.  In her way of thinking, if God was truly a compassionate and loving God, He would end all pain and anguish.  As a result, my friend labeled herself as an atheist.

As much as I would love to be able to convince her otherwise, my friend's anger is deep-seated.  Even though she claims to not believe in God, she holds this rage in her heart against Him for all the injustice, misery and affliction found in this fallen world.  While I cannot completely understand her way of thinking, I do sometimes feel ticked off when things don't go as I think they should.

When I see my friend suffering in the wake of marital infidelity, divorce and the death of her father, I wonder how one person can withstand so much pain, especially at the same time.  It's easy for me then to question God, wondering why He would allow such an onslaught of trouble.

Other times, I worry over the difficulties in my own life, wondering when God will bring relief from this time of trial.  It can be hard to trust God when I see how many hard times He allows into my life.

When I get angry at God, essentially blaming Him for the misery I feel in my heart, I am forgetting that His ways are not the same as mine. (Isaiah 55:8-9) While I tend to favor ease and comfort, He has my character and faith in mind.  The best way to build such traits is through trial, testing and hard times.  If everything always went the way I wanted it to go, would I ever sense my need for God?

  

Therefore, when I am tempted to focus my anger and disappointment at God for all the struggles going on around me, I can remember that He uses everything for my own good, weaving the strife of life into a beautiful tapestry.  (Romans 8:28)  The resulting work of art far exceeds anything I could attempt to create using my own methods and understanding.

When I feel angry at the Lord for all the difficulties, I am betraying my lack of faith in the Master Potter.

It is easy to see the error of the Israelite's ways.  Their whining, complaining ways seem so ignorant of all the good God has done for them.  If I'm honest with myself, though, I find the same selfish heart beating within my own chest.  Therefore, I would be wise to watch out for the discontent, hunger and anger that easily build up in my own life, replacing them with a faith in the God who gives me exactly what I need, is all that is necessary to truly satisfy, and will always use the hard times to grow my faith.  In these ways, I will avoid detesting God's provision.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay content with what God has graciously given to me.

When does my eye wander to what I don't possess?

How often am I more concerned about what I don't have than with what I do?