A Thorn in my Side

"'For your part,

you were not to make any covenants with the people

living in this land;

instead, you were to destroy their altars.

But you disobeyed my command.

Why did you do this?

So now I declare that I will no longer drive out

the people living in your land.

They will be thorns in your sides,

and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.'"

Judges 2:2-3 NLT

Every time I put my walking shoes on, something sharp would poke me in the arch of the foot.  Instead of taking the time to investigate the source of the pain, however, I rushed through my morning walk, eager to move on to the next part of my day.  Consequently, I developed a sore where the irritating little prickle stuck me each time I took a step.  

The only solution to relieve the pain that came with walking and to allow my foot to heal was to take the time necessary and attention needed to remove the culprit from my shoe.  As I examined my shoe, running my finger along its inside surface, I located the cause:  A tiny yet sharp thorn that had somehow worked itself into the fabric of my footwear.  

In the same way that my inattention to the problem of the thorn in my shoe was a constant source of irritation to me, that which I fail to crucify on the cross can become a thorn in my side and a snare to me. (Galatians 5:24)

Temptation

It was God's intention that His people remain pure.  Knowing how easily His image bearers are swayed, His plan included the necessity for the people of Israel to live separately from the people who dwelled nearby.  

Instead, the Israelites failed to drive out the indigenous people.  Their altars still stood, their pagan ways threatened to taint the ways the Lord had taught them to live and their daughters were a constant lure for the young men of Israel. (Judges 1:19-36)  In short, their unwillingness to take God at His word threatened their relationship with Him.

Similarly, my unwillingness to root sin out of my life threatens my relationship with God. (James 1:14-15) The more I entertain a fleshly thought, desire or craving, the more power it holds in my life.  Soon, I'll find myself giving into the temptation and living as if I have no Savior.  (Romans 6:12-14)

Therefore, I must take sin seriously, realizing it's insidious nature and never allowing it to take root in my heart.  When I become aware of my proclivity for gossip, then, I must turn away from my fleshly desire to share information about others.  Surrendering my natural tendencies to Christ gives me the power to only speak what will build others up.

Instead of giving in to my innate craving for sensual pleasures, I must remind myself of the richness of living in tandem with a God who provides for all my needs.  That which promises satisfaction outside of Him never delivers.  

As a replacement for worry that eats away at the peace that trusting in Jesus supplies, I can dedicate each anxious thought to the God who has all the resources necessary to lovingly care for me.

Allowing sin to dwell in my heart serves as a thorn that will constantly tempt me to succumb to it's power.

My Plan

I thought I had it all figured out.  I would earn my degree, start a career and live a life fulfilling all my dreams.  Unfortunately, I failed to consult the One who held the blueprint for my life.  If I had, I would have realized the better plan He had for me to dedicate my life to supporting my devoted husband and raising our four amazing daughters.

When I insist on making my own plans apart from God, I won't get to see His glorious purpose nor witness His awesome power at work.  As long as I hold the reigns to my life, driving in the direction I want to go, I'll miss out on the peace that comes in letting God choose for me.  As long as I think I have the wherewithal to create my own destiny, I'll fail to appreciate the purpose He has given me in Christ.  (Ephesians 2:10)  As long as I insist on doing things my way, I'll forego witnessing the work of His mighty Hand as He consistently makes a way where there is none.

Let's face it; my plan is puny in comparison to God's.  Since His ways are so much higher than mine, and His mind so far superior to what sits between my ears, I can expect great things to come from Him. (Isaiah 55:9)  When I trust Him enough to let Him have His way in my life, I will witness great and wondrous things.

I will see Him fill my empty gas tank through the thankful heart of a sister whose need had been met.  Or I will witness the way He takes what was good and transforms it into something even better.  Or I will observe the unexpected provision coming from a surprising source.

Insisting on following my own path will be a constant source of heartache as I miss out on the good God has planned for me.

Idols

There are some things that cannot be denied:  Jesus sits at the right hand of God Almighty. (Mark 16:19) He will judge all of mankind. (2 Timothy 4:1, John 5:22) In the end, every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord. (Philippians 2:8-11)  Whether or not I acknowledge these truths and give Him the honor due in the here and now is up to me.

It is easy to let other people, things and pursuits creep in and take the place of Jesus as lord of my life.  Sometimes I give more regard to those I love than I do to the One who loves me perfectly. (Luke 14:26, Matthew 12:46-50) Other times I put my all into going after that which seems to give me fulfillment instead of finding all I need at the feet of Jesus. (John 4:14, Luke 10:38-42) Sometimes I spend more time learning how to become a better employee and thus gain a promotion than I do to acknowledging the truth that will lead to godly living.  (Titus 1:1)

When I live in such a way, I risk losing the blessing that comes with walking in tandem with His Spirit.  Instead of producing fruit that leads to godliness, (Galatians 5:22-23) I will find my life becoming a testimony to the results of living according to my sinful nature.  

The lust of my flesh will rule me, dissension and quarreling will follow me, and my own selfish ambition will lead me away from the path the Lord has prepared for me. (Galatians 5:19-20) Not surprisingly, I'll sense a pulling away from God that is really just me turning away from Him.

Denying the lordship of Christ in my life will result in a loss of the blessings God has stored up for me.  (Ephesians 1:3, Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

There is much I allow in my life that can turn into a thorn in my side and a snare to my life.  Instead of ignoring such dangers, I would be wise to remove temptation that leads to sin, resist the urge to make my own plans, and constantly be on the lookout for that which can become an idol.  In these ways I'll remove that which can lead me away from Christ and take advantage of the opportunity He's given me to crucify these dangers on the life-giving cross.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will grasp hold of the indwelling power that Jesus gives me over sin.

When do I become comfortable with sin, entertaining temptation as if it were my friend?

How do I let things or people come between me and Jesus? 

   

The Right Time

"After this, Jesus went around in Galilee.

He did not want to go about in Judea

because the Jewish leaders there were looking

for a way to kill him.

But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,

Jesus' brothers said to him,

'leave Galilee and go to Judea,

so that your disciples there may see the works you do.

No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret.

Since you are doing these things,

show yourself to the world.'

For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Therefore Jesus told them,

'My time is not yet here;

for you any time will do.'"

John 7:1-6

Most gardeners possess an internal calendar of tasks and projects necessary for tending their yard, flowers and vegetables.  There is a specific time for every chore and it's important to know when to do each.  For instance, if I trim my Crape Myrtle bush in the early summer, it will not bloom that year.  Or, if I were to prune my River Birch tree in the Fall, it would bleed a lot of sap.  Instead, it's best to wait until after the new leaves are well established in the springtime.  Additionally, if I were to fertilize my lawn at the wrong time I could damage or weaken the tender blades of grass.  Knowing that there is a right time for every task is vital to the success of my garden.

In the same way that a garden flourishes under the care of a master gardener who understands the importance of timing, so my faith will grow and thrive when I submit to the master plan of the One who holds time in His hands.

Advice

People tend to love giving advice, but accepting it is a whole other thing.  Take Job, for example:  When he was going through the most difficult trial anyone could imagine, his friends were there to offer plenty of counsel, suggestions and opinions.  Unfortunately, most of what they said was not godly, helpful or even encouraging.  After awhile, their words even became downright condemning. (Job)

People mean well, but most tend to lean on their own understanding, thinking they have the solution needed to solve another's problem.  There are times I do the same as well, relying on my own common sense instead of seeking God's will to direct my words to a good friend.  

When money is tight and we have a hard time paying the bills, many give the suggestion that my husband should find a higher paying job or I should enter the work force.  If I take their advice without consulting God for His plan, I risk stepping outside His will and missing out on all the blessings found there.

When the children are exercising their strong wills and I experience constant opposition from them, the experts may tell me the exact opposite of how God wants me to handle the conflict.  If I never take this issue before the Lord, I'll never know how He wants me to guide my children through this time of testing.

When life gets hectic and the word "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe my life, well-meaning friends may have all kinds of advice as to what activities I should eliminate from my schedule.  Only the Lord knows, however, what He has prepared in advance for me to do, so it is best if I pay attention to what He is telling me.  (Ephesians 2:10)

Advice is always available, but if I want to live according to God's plan and help others do the same, I must stay in tune with Him.

My Plan

Humans love to make plans.  Whether it be financial strategies with the aim of becoming independently stable, personal plots used to reach a certain goal, or professional campaigns designed to fulfill a dream, every person tends to make some kind of plan for their own life.

My plans tend to be based on opportunity, expectations or tradition.  For instance, my dad went into barbering as his lifelong career because his best friend's father was a barber and took him under his wing.  My dad went to school and soon found himself practicing his newly learned skill, all because a door opened before him.

Similarly, a friend of mine in high school never thought about going to college because no one in her family did, and neither of her parents ever suggested it.  It was her expectation that she would get married and raise a family without ever considering higher education.  In contrast, I went to college out of a sense of custom: it just seemed to be the pattern that most people followed so I thought a person's life should follow the same path of graduating from high school, going to college, getting married and raising children.  

In every one of the above instances, none of us consulted God, inquiring as to whether the path I found before me matched up with God's plan.  Instead, we let our own understanding of where we fit into the world shape our future.

It is easy to make a plan based on my own ideas, but if I want to follow God's master plan for my life, I must stay connected to Him.

His Plan

She couldn't understand why God made her this way:  Her hair was jet black and stick straight and while most students in her class could easily reach the coat racks, she always needed help to hang up her jacket.  As a result, this young girl was often the butt of many-a-joke while she was in school.  Once she entered into the mission field, however, everything began to make sense.

You see, this young lady became a missionary to the Chinese people where she fit in quite naturally due to the very physical characteristics that used to bring her such grief.  God had a plan that she could not understand until later.

For this reason, it is important that I trust God enough to accept all the quirky qualities He has placed within me, believing that He will one day use it for His glory.  Instead of putting myself down, then, I can see myself as one who was "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)  God has a plan that I know nothing about, and to Him, I am a work of art that He purposefully placed right where I am.  Therefore, I need not worry about tomorrow because it's all mapped out.

God's plan is mysterious and masterful, but if I want to follow the path He has laid out for me, I must keep His sovereignty always in mind as I walk closely beside Him.

There is a time for everything, as Solomon so eloquently penned in Ecclesiastes 3.  Either I can base that timing on the advice of others or I can follow my own plan, but if I want to live based on God's purpose, it is vital that I follow His blueprint for my life.  Since He's the only one who knows that plan, then, I would be wise to stick closer than a brother to my loving Father.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay connected to my Master Planner.

When do I rely on my own common sense to make decisions instead of seeking God's will?

How do I ignore the still, small voice of God's Spirit as He tries to guide me through my day?