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?

Let God be God

"But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

And again David asked the LORD what to do.

'Do not attack them straight on,'

the LORD replied.

'Instead, circle around behind 

and attack them near the poplar trees.  

When you hear a sound like marching feet 

in the tops of the poplar trees,

be on the alert!

That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.'"

2 Samuel 5:22-24 NLT

He had done it just a few days before, defeating the relentless Philistines.  When David's determined enemy threatened again, it would have been easy for David to assume he was to use the same strategy as in his previous victory: engage the Philistines head-on.  Instead, David had a well-developed understanding of God's sovereignty as well as of His higher ways, leading Him to seek out His wisdom. (Isaiah 55:8-9, Micah 4:12)  David knew each unique circumstance required a separate inquiry to the Lord in order to discover His distinct and specific plan.

I must keep this truth in mind as well.  Instead of assuming I should proceed as usual, it is important that I constantly seek His will in each and every situation.

In His Time

I am bound by time.  My life is often driven by appointments to keep, deadlines to meet and schedules to which I must adhere.  Whenever facing a struggle or difficulty, I often have a certain time-frame in which I'd like for it to be resolved.  I despise open-ended commitments; I'd much rather know the beginning and ending date.  I depend so much on the constraints of time.

It is a mistake for me to place God in this same category, assuming that He thinks the same way I do.  Instead, He is not bound by time in the least.  He is never slow and my artificial deadlines mean nothing to Him. (Isaiah 57:15,Psalm 90:4,2 Peter 3:9)  If I am determined to finish a project by the end of the week, it doesn't influence His perfect plan one bit.  I can no more will God to work within my parameters of time and space than I can herd a group of cats in the direction I want them to go.

Since time is not a factor for God, I would be wise to wait on His perfect timing, letting Him be God.  I often limit Him in my efforts to place a time constraint on His work.  When things don't work out in the period I have in mind, it is easy for me to give up, thinking it will never happen.  Or, when I grow tired of waiting, I'm easily persuaded to try another path, straying away from God's perfect plan.  Or, when I run out of steam in my effort to keep up appearances while I hope against all odds that God will come through, it's too simple for me to give up, cutting my losses and coming to the conclusion that I'm just not cut out to live by faith.

Time means nothing to God.  His plan is perfect, but if I'm going to let Him have His way in my life, I'll have to give up my desire to let time color His kingdom and influence His ways.  If Jesus is to be Lord of my life, I must let Him be Himself, working in the way He best sees fit.  If that means things happen faster than I expect; so be it.  On the other hand, if it means I die waiting, I must be ready to accept His sovereign, perfect plan.  (Hebrews 11:13)

If I am to live my life according to God's plan, not assuming I know what's best, I will need to let go of my desire to limit Him by the constraint of time.

In His Way

He has his own way of doing things.  When I first got married to my husband, it was hard for me to adapt to his ways.  I liked to hurry through my chores, eager to be finished while he took his time, relishing the process or working.  He didn't mind leaving projects unfinished while I preferred to wrap up a job before I could rest.  He tended to be more laid back while I was pretty structured and rigid.

Now that we've been married for a quarter of a century, I have learned that there is more than one way to do things and my way is not the best way.  If I want to keep the peace in our home, it was necessary for me to learn to sometimes yield to his way.  

Similarly, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I also gave up my right to run my own life.  Instead, I acknowledged that He is the One who knows what's best for me.  Even though I prefer giving myself the illusion that I'm in control, when I admit that His plan is the one that will most benefit me, life goes so much better.

Instead of fighting to be the master of my own destiny, I can let Him lead me down the path I would never choose for myself. (Psalm 23:3-4) In place of trying to understand why things are happening the way they seem to be falling into place, I can seek His will without demanding to comprehend His mysterious ways. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  As a replacement for doing things in the way I best see fit, I can let Him choose for me.

If I am to live my life according to God's plan, not assuming I know what's best, I will need to let go of my desire to do things my way.

For His Glory

My goals are in stark contrast to God's.  While I'm mostly concerned with my own comfort, welfare and reputation, God focuses on what will make the most of Him.  Whereas I tend to invest in what will bring attention and accolades to myself, God's goal is to make His name known to all the earth. (Isaiah 45:3, Isaiah 43:10) Although I look for the easiest path, God's plan is to mold me into the image of His Son using whatever means necessary to reach this goal. (Romans 8:28-30)

Therefore, if I want God to get credit for the great things He is doing, it is necessary that I cease looking for praise from people.  It is easy for me to get caught up doing things that will make me popular, or that give people a warm, fuzzy feeling, or that evoke a smile.  Instead of looking for such responses, however, it must be my intention to seek God's best, resulting in Him getting all the glory in place of me stealing some for myself. 

Furthermore, I will need to make less of me so more of Him can be showcased in my life.  While it is natural for me to do what makes me look good, I must switch to a desire that seeks to show off God's attributes.  Instead of doing something in my own strength, then, it will be necessary to let God work through me, loving the despised, forgiving the inexcusable, and showing mercy to the cruel and heartless.

Finally, it will be necessary for me to let go of doing what comes naturally.  In place of following my flesh, I can let the indwelling Spirit of God lead me, resulting in His fruit being produced and displayed in my life.  In this way people will see my good deeds and praise my Father in heaven.  (Galatians 5:16-22, Matthew 5:16)

If I am to live according to God's plan, not assuming I know what's best, I will need to let go of my desire to get all the credit.

In the same way that David understood the need to seek God's face in every situation, never assuming yesterday's solution will work for today's challenge, I must also gain this same understanding of God's sovereign nature.  In so doing, I will find a desire to let God work things out in His timing, in His way, and for His glory.  Then I will let God be God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God and His timing even when it seems like He is way too slow.

When do I limit God with my own assumptions and expectations?

How am I proving that I think I'm in control instead of God?