Progression of Dependence

"The LORD is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation."

Psalm 118:14

As I came up out of the water, I had a feeling that something was different, that I was brand new.  In my young mind there was a hope for the future, a realization that I was made for more than simply living for myself.  I was excited about this great adventure that stood before me.  

I didn't start this journey of faith knowing completely of my great need for Jesus.  Instead, I had a vague inkling that something was missing, that I wasn't complete, that I needed more than what was in me.  I was drawn to Jesus as my salvation, but I didn't fully know the depth of my depravity, how much I needed His rescue.  Little by little, He shows me how desperately I need Him, how lost I am on my own.  There is a progression of my dependence on Him.

Discipline.  I have much to learn.  My wrong thinking, harmful habits, and destructive ways are exposed through hardships in my life.  God uses the tough times to root out what doesn't belong in me as His child.  The crises, suffering and painful experiences are like a chisel in His loving hand as He expertly carves away all that is impure and which distracts from Jesus (Hebrews 12:10-11).  As hard as it is to go through such discipline, God does not take me to the point of death (v 18).  Instead, He always leaves something to work with, a remnant upon which to build.

Nebuchadnezzar was a man who thought quite highly of himself.  In fact, he was so arrogant as the king of Babylon that he worshiped himself as if he were God.  As a result, God used a radical experience to humble him.  But as the prophetic dream foretold, he would not be completely destroyed, but a "stump" would be left upon which his new, humble life would be built (Daniel 4).  In Christ, there is always hope for such restoration.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I experience His loving discipline that works to make less of me and more of Him.

Open Gate.  At first I think it's something I've done right, a good choice I've made to get on the right path, a smart decision to follow Jesus.  As I'm humbled, I begin to see more clearly as the fog of my self-centered flesh is cleared away.  While I think I found the narrow path that leads to life, I come to realize that it was Jesus who made such a journey possible (Matthew 7:14).  Even though it was I who walked through the gate, He Himself is the Gate through which I enter onto such a sacred path of suffering, and it was His Light that illuminated the way (John 8:12, 10:7-10) .

Only the righteous walk there, yet I am welcomed, ushered through as if I belong.  How could this be? I wonder as I look at my own tarnished clothing.  But no, I am suddenly without blemish, white as snow, clean as fresh linen, cleansed by the blood of Jesus who is my salvation.  Through faith in Him I now belong.  I am saved from the old life, the destructive path.  The Gate that is Jesus was opened up to me so that I could enter through and walk on the Highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8).

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I enter through the open Gate that leads me to a place I thought I'd never belong, where my sins are washed away.

His Hand.  Anteaters have a keen sense of smell.  While they have wonderful olfactory organs, there is only one thing they care to sniff out with their unique snouts and that is their delicious diet: ants and termites.  These funny-looking creatures can eat up to 35,000 of the tiny insects each day.  I guess you could say they only have noses for bugs.

In the same way that the Anteater can quickly hone in on their tasty meals, I can become just as adept at recognizing God's hand at work in my life.  As I grow closer to Him, I begin to see how prevalent is His work.  It comes to my attention that it has really been Him all along who has beautifully orchestrated my life, guiding me toward the Truth and overflowing my life with the good things I didn't always recognize as beneficial.  It was Him all along.  I thought I played a role, but I am completely at His mercy, quite a good place to be!

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I begin to develop my ability to see the scope of God's handiwork throughout my life, leading me to rejoice in Him!

I began the journey with Christ as an ignorant babe who foolishly thought I was pretty good on my own, just needing a bit of help now and then.  As I am taken through periods of discipline where my sinful ways are purged, I find the rocky path difficult to negotiate but grow more and more sensitive to God's good work all around me.  As I follow this progression of dependence, I rejoice in my position as His helpless child who is dearly loved by her Father.  He has become my salvation.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to walk through the rocky path He will use for His glory.

When do I fail to see His handiwork, only seeing the harshness of life?

How am I ignorant of His lifelong romance as He gently and lovingly led me toward life?

Intimacy

"I correct and discipline everyone I love.

So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Look!

I stand at the door and knock.

If you hear my voice

and open the door,

I will come in,

and we will share a meal together as friends."

Revelation 3:19-20 NLT

My relationship with my daughter has changed through the years.  At first it was completely one-sided as she demanded my attention and depended completely on me to provide for her needs.  As she's grown, she has been able to do more and more for herself until the girl became a woman and she didn't need me anymore.  While this stage can be painful for any mother to endure, I relished the time because I knew it was an opportunity to be able to relate to her in a more intimate, mature way.  Now I want more than just a superficial relationship with my adult daughter.  While it's nice to see her and know what her needs are, I long for a deep connection in which she shares her heart of hearts.

God is similar to me as a parent in this way.  He craves a close connection to me where I invite Him in to hang out with me throughout the day.  The problem is, it's easy to get caught up in traditions of religion; following a set of rules taught by men instead of going after the kind of intimacy for which my Father yearns.  It seems I need a clearer picture of what a real relationship with Him looks like.

Discipline

"This is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you."

These were the words my father uttered as I lay across his lap as he prepared to spank me.  While I don't remember the exact transgression that landed me in that position, I do remember wondering what he meant.  Clearly, the stinging in my back end was evidence that my dad's words were a little silly!

Any parent who cares about his or her child takes the time and effort to discipline them.  Even though it may be uncomfortable to bring about pain and suffering in my son or daughter's life, knowing that it will help to correct their disobedience is motivation enough to enact the penalty.  

In the same way, God shows His love for me by placing circumstances, difficulties and trials of all kinds to draw me closer to myself.  (Hebrews 12:5-6)  Many times, I am the biggest obstacle in my relationship with my Father.  Therefore, it is necessary for Him to use these difficult times to purify me so I can better relate to, connect with and depend on Him. (Malachi 3:3)

Therefore, while I'm in the middle of a job loss, wondering from where my next meal will come, I can realize my Father is purging every bit of my independent, self-sufficient tendencies from within me.  Or, when I experience the pain of physical suffering, I can remember that my Father is cleansing away the filth of prideful arrogance.  Or, during the times when I suffer the loss of a loved one, I can keep in mind that my Father is ridding me of a temporal focus and replacing it with a heavenly one.

A close, intimate relationship with my Father includes a healthy dose of discipline.

Companionship

My dog loves to be in my presence.  In fact, he follows me around the house while I am doing my chores, coming along behind me as I go from room to room.  He is of no help to me at all; never lending a paw when I need it because his intent is not to assist me in any way.  Instead, he is only concerned with keeping me company.

Isn't this the attitude God desires from me?  In the place of looking for ways to serve Him, He yearns for constant inclusion in my life.  (Proverbs 3:6)  It pleases Him when I take after my pup and want to be in His presence during every moment of the day.  

In addition, its not a perfectly formed child with whom He wants to hang out, but rather one who is open and honest with her flaws and struggles.  After all, He already knows everything there is to learn about me! (Psalm 139:1-12) I can't really hide anything from Him and I'm fooling myself when I try.  Instead, He wants me to share what is really going on in my heart because that is what develops closeness.

A close, intimate relationship with my Father develops when I strive to stay near to Him while fighting against insincerity.

Attentiveness

"So what I hear you saying is that you are tired of picking up my dirty socks and would like me to place them in the hamper?"  Active listening is an important part of any relationship but especially in marriage because confidence in one another is built when each feels the other understands.  What is the point of taking the time to communicate a grievance if the hearer doesn't even comprehend the message?

Being a good listener is important when building relationships.  As in any human bond, my connection to my Father grows stronger when I pay attention to what He says.  Sometimes His words come as the gentle whisper of His Spirit to mine.  Other times, He conveys His message through the pages of the Bible.  Then there are the times when He speaks through another human being.  

Whatever the mode of delivery, practicing good listening skills will improve my bond to the Lord.  This means I won't simply take in the message, but I'll also respond to what He's telling me.  (James 1:22)  Whether He reminds me of the destructiveness of my tongue, or the importance of tithing, or how vital love is in His kingdom, I will only grow closer to Him if I make the effort to obey.

A close, intimate relationship with my Father develops when I listen closely and respond immediately to His message.

God craves intimacy with His children.  As His precious daughter, I will grow in my relationship with my Father when I accept His discipline, desire His constant companionship, and keep an attentive attitude toward His instruction.  In these ways, I'll grow closer to my Father and the bond between us will strengthen. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can honor my Father's desire for intimacy.

When do I keep God at an arm's length instead of close to my heart?

How am I afraid to admit the truth to Him? 

Strong in Grace

"Join with me in suffering,

like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs,

but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

Similarly,

anyone who competes as an athlete does not

receive the victor's crown except by competing

according to the rules.

The hardworking farmer should be the first

to receive a share of the crops.

Reflect on what I am saying,

for the Lord will give you insight into all this."

2 Timothy 2:3-7

The bond hearing for one of my late brother-in-law's accused murderers resulted in her release into the care of her parents.  While my husband and I were witnessing that difficult series of events, two inspectors showed up at my home demanding entry to check for children under an anonymous complaint they received that there was an illegal childcare operation being run out of our home.  Finally, a parent picking up her daughter from Bible study at my house that took place later that afternoon told me she didn't like the way one of my daughters answered the door.  Some days are filled with heartaches.

There is no doubt that it's hard to live in such a fallen world.  How then do I continue living for Christ under such conditions?

Soldier

My husband spent 24 years serving in the U.S. Army.  For a soldier, the mission is always uppermost his mind, and any distraction can keep him from completing that mission.

As a result, the Family Readiness Group was created to help support families by reducing stress, building family cohesion and promoting self-sufficiency that would cut down on problems that may spring up during deployments.  A worried soldier puts himself at risk on the battlefield.  Helping a soldier to stay focused on the mission gives him a better chance of doing his job well.

I, too, am a soldier.  My commander is Jesus Christ and my mission is to glorify God.  As a result, I must stay focused on that task, keeping distractions like arguments over unimportant matters, worries about things out of my control, or violations of my personal rights to a minimum.  That way, I can keep a single-minded focus on listening to God and following His lead.

I can live for Christ by keeping my attention on Christ and His mission.

Athlete

When I trained for bodybuilding competitions, I couldn't fool around.  My success during the competitions was mainly based on the preparations I made during the months before the big day.  While the judges made their decisions based on what they saw during the few minutes I spent on stage, they could tell if I put in enough time in training during the months prior to the competition by the kind of condition they saw before them.  An athlete must be well-disciplined in order to succeed.

One of the things that I didn't like about this sport was the amount of drug use involved in bodybuilding.  Those who took that risk were not playing by the rules and while they may come into a competition with a better chance of winning, they always had to worry about being tested and disqualified.

As a follower of Christ, I am considered to be like an athlete competing for the victor's crown.  I must be well disciplined in my attentiveness to the way I live my life.  If I let a solitary curse word slip now and then, it soon becomes a stronghold.  If I rationalize my lax attitude toward the tax code, I soon find myself in over my head.  If I let my guard down in front of my family, showing them a lack of respect in the way I treat them, that poor attitude soon creeps into other parts of my life.  The result is that I bring dishonor to the name of Christ.

I can live for Christ by staying disciplined and paying attention to His teachings.

Farmer

I love picking tomatoes out of my garden. Before I get to harvest the fruit, however, I must put in a lot of work.  Therefore, I must spend hours in the back-breaking job of hoeing the hard, compact soil.  Then I mix in mulch, making sure it is of the right consistency to support the plant.  After smoothing out the soil, I mark the plot into rows and carefully sow each seed to the proper depth, according to their type.  Once the seeds are planted, then comes of the job of keeping weeds to a minimum and moisture at just the right level.  Once all that is done, the only thing left to do is wait for the seeds to sprout.

As a follower of Christ, I am like a farmer who carries out my part and then lets God finish the job.  That means I might put in a lot of hard work with very little, if any, results.  I could work as a Sunday School teacher for years without seeing any child come to Christ.  Or, there might be hours of labor I spend on countless projects meant to show the love of Christ but I never hear one word of thanks or appreciation.  Other times I could continue to carry out a certain job, never knowing if anyone benefits from my work. I can take assurance in the fact that God finishes what He starts.  (Philippians 1:6)

I can live for Christ by working hard where God has placed me, trusting that I will one day share in the fruit of my labor.

It is difficult to stay true to the One who loves me when the world around me is tearing me down.  It is possible, however, to retain the single-mindedness of a soldier on a mission, the discipline of an athlete training to win the prize, and hard-working spirit of a farmer who knows her efforts are not in vain.  In this way, I can stay strong in the grace of God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep from distraction by all that worries me.

How do I slack in my attempts to stay true to Christ?

When am I discouraged when my efforts don't seem to be making a difference?