Fight the Drift

"When I fed them,

they were satisfied;

when they were satisfied,

they became proud;

then they forgot me."

Hosea 13:6

The lead character in the 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite is a listless teenage boy living a strange and seemingly hopeless life with his adult brother, grandmother, and pet llama named Tina.  As meaningless as his life appears to be, it pales in comparison to his Uncle Rico's middle-age existence.  Rico lives in the past of his glory days as a high school athlete.  As he reaches the prime of his life, he has nothing to show for it except for a rusting camper-van and a brain-full of memories.  Rico is resting on his laurels, satisfied with what he was able to achieve in high school and failing to set any more goals for the rest of his life.

It is dangerously easy to take on this same kind of mindset in my walk with Jesus.  I may experience an especially close time with Him, or see Him work through me in an extraordinary way.  I ride the high of that encounter for a period of time, expecting more of the same.  When life settles into the dull, monotonous routine of a day to day existence, I begin to drift away from God, choosing instead to comfort myself with thoughts of days gone by when my faith was stronger, when God seemed so close and when I felt like I could do anything.

There is a definite progression away from God that begins with God working in a mighty way.  For the Israelites, it was being delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.  Once they escaped the oppressive grip of the cruel Pharaoh, they began a period of 40 years of wandering in the desert so that God could help them to be humble and reliant on Him.  There was always the reminder to keep to God's ways and the warning that comfort would bring a tendency to drift away from Him.  

In order for modern day believers to fight against this propensity to drift away from God when the going gets easy, it is necessary to make a conscious effort to keep moving toward Him.  It is also important to understand the progression that takes place quietly and stealthily pushing me further and further from the God who loves me.   

Satisfaction

It is the American dream: earn a degree, land a great job, buy a nice car, get married, move into a beautiful house, start a family, work toward attaining all the marks of success like enjoying amazing vacations and living a full and satisfied life.

The problem with this scenario is that it is possessions-driven.  My happiness depends on my circumstances, my income level and the number of toys I own.  Trying to find contentment in my stuff or position in life always leads to unhappiness.  Or, as King Solomon said, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.  This too is meaningless."  (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

To fight against this tendency to find my worth and sense of achievement from physical things, I can focus on God and His plan for my life.  He made me for a purpose, has a plan for my life, and sometimes that plan may include difficult times.  

But putting my trust in God, allowing Him to choose for me means that I'll feel content to let Him guide me.  If He leads me down a path of financial success, then I'll feel content.  If, however, He takes me down a road of hardship and difficulty, I will feel equally content because I will say, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  (Philippians 4:13)

To guard against finding satisfaction in worldly success and wealth, it helps to instead focus on God's plan and how I fit into His kingdom.

Pride

The next step in the progression away from Jesus is in taking myself too seriously when things start going well.  I become comfortable in my life and I start to feel pretty capable and independent, able to take care of all my needs.

There was a king who reigned in Judah for 52 years.  He started off well, doing right in the eyes of the Lord.  Because of His faithfulness, God gave Him success.  "But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.  He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense." (2 Chronicles 26:16)  Keeping in mind that only the priests were authorized to perform this act of worship, it is easy to see how far away Uzziah had drifted.  His pride made him think that he could do anything he wanted to do and that God's ways didn't really matter.

This sounds similar to what I often hear in today's culture.  "God can't expect us to stay sexually pure in this day and age. . . that's old-fashioned." "It's just a little white lie, everyone cheats on their taxes."  "My mom just doesn't understand me. . . I don't really have to do what she says because she doesn't have a clue."

I may not have reached the heights of King Uzziah in terms of power and wealth, but I do have lots of resources at my fingertips.  It's a short slide down to a pond where I have made myself out to be the biggest fish.  I think I can figure out the answers, solve all my problems and come up with a good plan for my life. If I don't want to end up like Uzziah who was struck with leprosy and consequently sentenced to a life of seclusion, I would be wise to fight against becoming too big for my britches. 

To guard against pride taking me even further from God and His ways, it helps to stay grounded by remembering His sovereignty and my own lack of control.  

Forgetfulness

I was talking to a couple of friends the other day about how my mind seem to be declining as I age.  I forget things I used to remember, like doctor's appointments and where I placed my keys.  As normal as this digression is, it is still a bit depressing to see a once good memory fade away.

Even though my tendency to forget about God is not the same, it does have the same way of sneaking up on me.   As Casting Crowns described in their song, Slow Fade,  "People never crumble in a day, it's a slow fade."  Listen to the song and think about how easy it is to compromise, how natural it feels to give yourself to away until one day you wake up and find yourself in a place you never wanted to be, and how fast your faith can crumble.  

No one really sets out to turn their back on God.  I have no intention of doing so, but I know I have an Enemy who would like nothing more for me.  As a result, I must constantly assess my priorities and ask who it is I go to for advice.  Who am I following?  Who am I trying to please?  The answers to these questions will give me an indication of who is my god.  Otherwise, I may slowly begin relying own strength and intellect, seek my sense of self-worth from another, or look to my source of happiness outside of His Kingdom.  It is then that I will find myself in a place where I never even think about God.

To guard against my natural tendency to drift away from God and toward a destructive lifestyle, I must fight against the slow fade and purposefully dedicate each moment to Him.

I could easily be just like Uncle Rico, living in the past and giving up the fight.  Instead, I want to glorify God with every waking moment.  In order to do this, it is important that my satisfaction come from God, that I ask God to continue to humble me so that He is exalted, and that I never take my eyes off my Savior.  I don't want God to look at my fruitless life and ask what I've been doing with my time.  Instead, I want to hear from Him, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"  (Matthew 25:21a)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will be able to fight against the drift.

In what areas do I easily drift away from God and His ways?

When do I tend to compromise, beginning a downward spiral that leads away from God?

Heart at Peace

"A heart at peace gives life to the body."

Proverbs 14:30

World leaders pursue it.  The Swiss and Norwegians give prizes to promote it.  Entertainers sing about it.  Philosophers wax poetic on the origins of it.  Religions claim to have it.  Talk of peace is everywhere, but is peace even possible apart from the One who created me?


The Dalai Lama said, "We can never obtain peace with the outer world until we make peace with ourselves."  
Mahatma Gandhi said, "Each one has to find his peace from within.  And peace to be real must be unaffected by the outside circumstances."
Buddha said, "Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without."


Each of these men knew the importance of a heart at peace, but were confused about how to find it.  It comes not from within and cannot be found through sheer effort and determination.  Instead, peace comes from a mind that is focused on God and His ability to take care of me.  Rest is found in loving Him and His law, for then I am not fighting against His ways.    A sense of harmony permeates my life because I am reunited with God, now able to foster a personal relationship with Him because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. 


Peace is found in being right with God.  How do I know whether my heart is at peace?

Content

Here is my picture of contentment:  Sitting in a comfortable chair on a cold winter's day next to a blazing fire with a dog at my feet and a good book in my lap.  Aaahhh.  I'm more relaxed just thinking about that scene.  

Feeling satisfied and completely at ease with my circumstances is not a usual state for my heart.  Most of the time I am thinking of ways to improve the way I do things or how I can upgrade my possessions or about additions I can make to my home or yard to increase my quality of life.  I am usually not content.

The Apostle Paul knew how to be happy with what God had given him, whether in plenty or in need, well-fed or hungry.  He said the secret was to know that, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  (Philippians 4:13)

True contentment has nothing to do with my circumstances, my possessions or my position.  Instead, it has everything to do with the One who provides all things.  God will get me through any situation if I would only trust Him.  This means I must give Him the control, allowing Him to choose how much I will have, or not have, and I will choose to be thankful for what He has given me, not pining away for what I lack.  

Turn of the 18th Century writer and preacher William Law said, "One who makes it a rule to be content in every part and accident of life because it comes from God praises God in a much higher manner than one who has some set time for the singing of psalms."  The bottom line is that when I choose to be thankful for the place God has put me, I am paying tribute to Him with my attitude.

A heart at peace keeps my focus on what I do have, not on what I don't have.  It is then that I am truly praising God.

Trusting

Playing on a teeter-totter is an exercise in trust.  If the person on the other end of the lever suddenly jumps off, I will crash to the ground and my faith in that person will fall as well.  But if that playmate instead keeps steady on their end, being mindful of my well-being when exiting, I know I am in good hands.  I would trust the second person more than the first.

In this same way God has proven himself to be completely trustworthy.  Over 300 of the prophecies told about the coming Messiah were fulfilled in the the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Moreover, there are over 2,000 total prophecies given in the Bible, all of which came true.  


Beyond the prophecies, there are hundreds of accounts of times that God came through for those who followed Him; He delivered Noah, his family and ark load of animals from the flood of judgment.  God asked Moses to do the impossible but made it possible by His mighty Hand.  He sent Gideon to war when He was outnumbered 300 to 1, yet secured him victory.  


In the same way, God will never let me fall and I can trust that He has my best interest at heart.  The psalmist reminds me that, "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD. . .he will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.  His heart is secure, he will have no fear."  Psalm 112:1, 7-8)


Trusting in God, though,  takes more than reading about all the ways God is dependable.  Building a trust relationship also means I will need to experience His times of deliverance for myself.  When I take a step of faith, getting in over my head out of obedience to Him instead of saying, "Oh, no, I can't do that.  I'm not ready for that yet,"  I am telling God that I have confidence that He will give me what I need to accomplish what He's put before me.  I am saying that I know that He's up for the job even if I'm not.  I am giving God the message that my life is in His hands.


 A heart at peace grows deep roots to feed on the living water offered only by God.. . and flourishes.  

Devoted

The blackberry vines threatened to overtake our yard.  At first it was kind of fun to have some blackberries right in our own backyard.  Then, the insidious vines began to encroach on our yard, reducing the size of our grassy area.  One day I'd had enough.  I declared war on the intruder.  

As part my anti-blackberry campaign, I needed to devote my full attention to the annihilation of this unrelenting menace.  Each day I dedicated some time to pulling vines out of the ground.  Once I reached the end of the yard, it was time to start over again at the other end, continuing by pulling out the vines that had recently sprouted.  I could never let my guard down.  Even today, 2 years later, I must do a weekly sweep of the area to remove any determined plants.  

My attention to God and His ways could be similarly attentive.  Just as it was unwise to leave any roots or stragglers when clearing the berry bushes, I must be equally as diligent when clearing things out of my life that dishonor and distract from God.  There are many activities, relationships and philosophies that seem harmless and even kind of interesting at first.  Soon, though, I will find that they will encroach on my heart, taking the attention that once was devoted to God.

Like the Israelites, I need to be careful when dealing with idols and false gods.  It was said that the heart of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah was at first, "devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah."  (2 Chronicles 17:6)  He was not just focused on God and His ways, but he was also diligent about removing from the presence of his people the temptation that would take his people away from God.

How many times I hang on to music, movies or magazines that dishonor God because it seems wasteful to throw them away.  Other times I feel justified in keeping objects or hobbies that tend to be obsessive for me because I've already invested so much time and money into them.  Or there are certain belief systems that seem right to me and I continue to support out of tradition but are actually in conflict with the message of the gospel.    

A heart at peace is intolerant of anyone or anything that takes away from my full devotion to God.  

Peace is possible.  As I give God more and more of my life to do with as He pleases, I am left with a peace that is inexplicable.  The evidence of this heart at peace is a sense of contentment, an ability to trust God, and a devotion to God and God alone.  This is truly a picture of good health!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will seek peace with God by pursuing Him and Him alone.

What am I unwilling to let go of out of respect and reverence for God?

When is my heart discontent with the circumstance in which God has placed me?

Rise from the Dust

“Wake up, sleeper,
   rise from the dead,
   and Christ will shine on you.”

Ephesians 5:14

"I can do all this through him

who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13

"I can't do this anymore."

I have heard many in utter despair whisper these words of hopelessness.  Out of a place of sheer misery I have used this phrase.  It is often the last thought before someone takes their own life.  "I give up. . . .I can't do this anymore. . . "

I despair when I don't recognize the goodness and power of God all around me.  The feelings of hopelessness overwhelm and threaten to drown me, as if there is nothing that can pluck me out of the engulfing waters of depression.

God, however, has promised to keep my head above the waters.  He has exhorted me in Isaiah 43:1b-2 to, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."

When I feel I am living in the dust, being trampled on by the hardships of life, there are some things I can do to rise from the shadows so Christ's light will shine upon me.

Fill Up

There are many things in this life that I can choose to fill up on.  I can find my fulfillment in work, my relationships, my family, my hobbies or in attaining the latest gadgets. 

All of these things will disappoint.  I cannot truly find fulfillment until I am filled with the Spirit of the One who created Me, who knows my purpose, and who gives my life meaning.  

To be filled with God's Spirit, however, I have to empty myself of me.  This does not mean I become someone other than myself.  Instead, it means that I surrender my will in exchange for God's will.  It means I let go of fleshly desires that lead away from God.  It means I become less and He becomes more, resulting in a more authentic me, as God intended me to live.   

Jesus is not a bully.  He does not force His way into anyone's life.  Instead, He patiently stands at the door of my heart, waiting for me to invite Him in and be Lord of my life.

God's Spirit dwelling within me will give me a sense of purpose and produce His fruit as evidence of His presence.

When I am feeling down, it may be because I am not filled up with the life-giving Spirit of God.

Exhort

It is often said that if you want to feel better about your situation in life, it is good to reach out and help someone else.

In a similar way, it is important that I step outside of myself and take the time to support others with a Word of encouragement.  God did not place me on this earth to suffer alone.  Rather, He situated me in a Body which is designed to live in community.

For this reason, I remember that my suffering is not for nothing.  Instead, I can give praise to, "the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Exhorting others with the Word of God is essential to living a life of abundance.

Sing

Every morning I hear the sound of birds singing their praises to God.  As a created creature, they are acting according to the programming God has placed inside of them.

Unfortunately for us, even though we are designed to praise God, we are also sinful beings who are easily overwhelmed with the troubles of this world.  Jesus warned us of this fact when He said, "In the world you will have tribulation;"  He did not, however, end the warning there.  He continued on by saying, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

It is possible for me to sing praises to God in the midst of the storm.  Doing so will bring peace to my heart and give honor to God who is good despite my seemingly dire situation.  His goodness is not diminished by my circumstances, and giving Him praise is what I am designed to do. 

As I, "Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." (Psalm 33:3) my heart will be transformed from a dark place of hopelessness to a dwelling of Light and thankfulness.

Life is hard and there are many times when I feel trampled upon by the cares of this life.  But filling up with God's Spirit, encouraging others with a His Word, and singing praises and thanks to Him will help me to rise from the dust and find a place in the light.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not let the worries of life consume me.

How do I let troubles be my main focus instead of training my eyes on God who is goodness and light?

When do I fail to support others because I am overwhelmed with my own troubles?

 



A Reason to Rejoice

I have set the LORD always before me.
   Because he is at my right hand,
   I will not be shaken.

 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
   my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
   nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:8-11

Wouldn't it be great to have your own personal advisor who is always at your side, ready to dispense wisdom and guidance any time you need it?

In this world of fluctuation and change, I need guidance.  If I rely on my own insight and reasoning, I will lead myself down the wrong path.  Thankfully, I do have a Counsellor who is always at my side.  And He's got the map for my journey!  

The thing about God is that even though I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and have entered into a personal relationship with Him, He does not force His way into my daily life.  I have to invite Him in.  I have to set Him before me.  And when I do. . . . I have many reasons to rejoice!

Death is no Longer an Issue

There is a saying that the only things you can count on in life are death and taxes.  While it is true that Uncle Sam always gets his cut, death is not inevitable for those who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  As believers, God has given us victory over death.

Knowing that I do not have to endure death and with it, separation from the One who is the giver of all good things, I can focus on life.  I need not fear the end of this life because it is simply a transition to the next.  For those who trust in Jesus, this transition will be joyous and something to eagerly anticipate.

While I live my temporary life here on earth, wherever it is that God has placed me, I can rejoice.  He has not abandoned me to the grave.  I have victory over death through faith in Jesus Christ!

I have reason to rejoice as a recipient of eternal life. 

The Path of Life is Illuminated

There are two paths to choose from in this life.  Jesus taught us to, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Matthew 7:13-14) 

Even though the path to life is discreet, it is accessible to those who search for it.  God said that, "those who seek me find me." (Proverbs 8:17)  He is available to those who are looking.  What a comfort when I am in despair, discouragement or in times of trouble.  God is there and He can be found!

I have reason to rejoice as a traveler of the narrow path that leads to life!

His Presence Fills me with Joy

My husband and I each have a recliner in our bedroom.  We can sit in each other's presence, reading or napping, without saying a word to each other.  Just being in his presence brings me joy.

It is the same with God.  He is always by my side, yet I so easily forget Him.  When I focus on His presence, my heart overflows with His love, grace and goodness.  No matter the circumstances of my life, I can honestly say that, " I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

With God by my side, I can endure any kind of hardship.  Perhaps even greater, because of His overwhelming love, He sticks with me despite my wretchedness.  When I think of all the ways I fall short of His standard, and how I can never live up to His expectations, yet He still accepts me as one of His children through the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. . . I realize that I have more than enough reason to rejoice!

I have reason to rejoice as a child of God who can dwell in His presence!

As I invite God into my daily life, I find reasons to rejoice despite my circumstances.  I no longer face death, I am travelling the path that leads to life, and as His child I can count on His presence in my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will invite God into every moment of this day.

How do I shut God out of my life, only giving Him access during certain times?

Have I been choosing to rejoice in all the good He has given me, or do I tend to choose sorrow and despair?