Used

"Now this man Micah had a shrine,

and he made an ephod and some household gods 

and installed one of his sons as his priest.

In those days Israel had no king;'

everyone did as they saw fit."

Judges 17:5

He and his mother were forced to move away from their home, settling instead in Bethlehem within her clan of Judah.  People had forgotten the ways of the Lord, neglecting to tithe. Therefore, this young man who had been set aside for service to the Lord by birthright could not provide for he and his mother (Numbers 18:20-24). Instead of staying put, then, they decided to return to the home of her youth.  Life there was difficult without the provision of the people's required offerings. 

So, one night, the young Levite crept away.  Telling no one, he started his journey, looking for adventure and somewhere else to stay.  Soon he came upon a man in Ephraim who had set up his own shrine.  When the man living there in the hills found out the young wanderer was a Levite, he was ecstatic. 

Micah used God by forming his own personal religion, employing the wandering Levite who was willing to be bought off.  Both men received what they sought; the young sojourner found a home where his Levitical heritage was respected, and the homeowner was given the opportunity to legitimize his religion.  I guess you could say it was a win-win arrangement.

Unfortunately, neither sought God's will in this situation.  Instead, both were a kind of lone-wolf, using God to fulfill their own visions.  While I may not go so far as to set up my own religion, I am in danger of going out on my own in some ways.  Therefore, I would be wise to remember the characteristics of God.

Sovereignty of God

I make my plans then ask God's help to carry them out.  I justify this risky way of living by telling myself that God must have given me these plans, or that the aspirations I have come from Him, or that He wants to help me make my dreams come true.  After all, I rationalize, God wants me to be happy, doesn't He?  

Unfortunately for me, I have a low view of God.  He is not here for my benefit, to cater to my desires or to make me look good.  How could the created lead the Creator (Isaiah 29:16)?  Instead, God is sovereign over all things.  He has a plan of which I know nothing, necessitating my connection to Him.  If I don't seek Him out, I'll have no idea what He wants me to do (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Living with a respect for God's sovereign nature means I'll recognize His lordship over every part of my life, hindering my natural tendency to do what seems right to me.  Instead of following my own instincts or common sense, I'll seek out God in an effort to honor Him as King of my life (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Honoring God as sovereign also means I'll accept my place, embrace my calling and acknowledge the importance of the position in which He has placed me.  While its easy for me to complain about my current circumstances, compare myself to others and come up short or yearn for something more, I will show respect for God's dominion in my life by making the most of who He has made me to be, right where He has placed me (Romans 9:19-20).

Revering God as the One who is in charge of all things means I'll remember how He can use every situation to bring about good.  I can be sure He is right there with me, looking out for my own best interest, even when it doesn't feel good (Romans 8:28).

I honor God's sovereign nature when I let Him serve as Lord of my life instead of using Him as some kind of magic talisman that can get me what I want.

Holiness of God

The colors found in the desert rock formation reminded me of a sunset.  Sudden movement off to the side caught my attention as a chipmunk scurried up a large stone, perching there while munching on a nut like a spectator watching a sporting event.  A vulture circling above looking for prey gave me the impression of a car salesman making the rounds in his lot, trying to make a sale.  

Everything in all of creation can be compared to something else with which I am familiar.  Understanding comes when I measure the strange and unique against the common and recognizable.  In this way I can comprehend what seems difficult or just plain different.

When I try to use this same exercise to help me understand God, however, I get myself in trouble.  I attempt to compare the triune nature of God with the three forms of water: liquid, gas and solid.  Unfortunately, this contrast is not perfect.  Similarly, I may assess the fatherly nature of God as compared to my own earthly dad, leaving me with an inadequate description.  Hearing that God is my Shepherd, I try fitting Him into the mold of one who leads sheep.  While this gives me a good start to understanding His role as my Guide, it falls short of reaching the fullness of His nature.

Instead of trying to compare God to something in His creation, I must accept that I don't need to understand Him fully in order to follow Him.  His ways are higher than mine and His thoughts far superior to anything my mind can drum up (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, there are some things about God that I must accept by faith, reminding myself of His holy nature.

I recognize the holiness of God when I embrace Him and His ways as He teaches me, resisting my tendency to want to understand before I'll accept.

Relational Aspect of God

It wasn't so much that he didn't understand that bothered me.  Rather, it was the fact that he didn't seem to care enough to try to find out what made me tick.  When I was going through that marriage crisis, it was my husband's desire to grow closer to me that I craved the most.

I think we can all agree that the desire to be known and loved is as basic as the need for sustenance.  For instance, while a baby may survive without being held, it will not thrive apart from some kind of affection.  We all need connection with others who care for us.

Being made in God's image, it is apparent that this need for connection comes from our Maker.  He desires relationship with me as His child and He wove this longing for Him within each one of us, although I often seek to fill this void with lesser things (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  His desire for me is that I would share my heart with Him, depend upon Him to fulfill my every need and to love Him as He created me to love, seeking to know Him more each day through His holy Word.  

This is apparent in the life of David who was known as a man after God's own heart even though he committed the worst of sins (Acts 13:22). It was his desire to do as God had commanded that drew Him closer to God.  God knew that He could trust David with important missions, but also with tender truths that fall close to His heart.

Obedience is the outward manifestation of one's heart.  If I am bent on doing things my own way, I will forsake the leading of the Lord and go off on my own.  If, however, I am mostly concerned with my relationship with Him, I will be careful to do as He says, being unwilling to sacrifice my connection to Him just so I can get my way.  In other words, preserving my relationship with the Lord weighs heavily on every decision I make.

I show my understanding of God's heart when I place my relationship with Him above everything else, seeking to grow closer to Him more and more with each passing day.

In the same way that Micah came up with his own form of religion, I am guilty of doing the same, using God to try to get what I want, thinking I can completely fathom His ways, and seeking to impress Him with my dependable service.  If I want to guard against these common mistakes, I must remember God's sovereign and holy nature as well as His highest desire for me to build my relationship with Him.  In these ways, I'll avoid the pitfalls of Micah and cease using God for my own benefit.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to do what He says even if I don't understand what He's doing.

When do I place my desire to get something out of God above my desire to grow closer to Him?

How do I use God like a magic talisman, hoping He will supernaturally make things work out to my benefit?


Originally Published on April 1, 2014

LORD of Heaven's Armies

"'The fortified towns of Israel will also be destroyed,

and the royal power of Damascus will end.

All that remains of Syria 

will share the fate of Israel's departed glory,'

declares the LORD of Heaven's Armies."

Isaiah 17:3 NLT

The One True God is not impotent.  He is mighty to save in and of Himself (Zephaniah 3:17).  Even so, He is also the commander of legions of heavenly hosts, angelic warriors who can be dispatched at any time.  What does this mean for those who are branded through faith by the blood of Jesus (Galatians 6:15-17)?

Yahweh.  Unnameable (Exodus 3:14).  Inexplicable.  Self-existent.  Self-consistent.  Unchangeable.  All in All.  Promise Keeper.  Redeemer.  The Lord our God, Maker of heaven and earth, is everything to everyone, so holy and high that a word cannot describe Him.  This is the kind of God who is worthy of my trust and always capable of receiving my faith.  He will never let me down and can always be counted on.

Therefore, when He speaks I can rely on His Word, knowing without a doubt that He will deliver on His promises.  When I feel alone, I can know without a doubt He is with me (Isaiah 41:10).  When I fear things in this world, I can know without a doubt there is nothing I can lose in the here and now that can compare to what I gain in eternity (Mark 8:35-37).  When my world seems to be falling apart as I bear loss after loss, one crisis after another, I can know without a doubt that everything is a part of His masterplan which is His best for me as He uses all things to mold me into the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).

The LORD of Heaven's Armies is a God who can be trusted.

Command.  He is the Orchestrator of my life, the Redeemer of my destiny, the Savior of my soul.  As such, there is nothing He will not do to protect me, guide me or preserve my life.  In fact, He already proved His devotion to His wayward children by sending His own precious Son as a ransom for us (Romans 8:32, Mark 10:45).  His eye is always on me, and He sees fit to command His angels concerning me (Psalm 91:11).

So, no matter where I go or what I do, He is directing His angels to accompany me through thick and thin, to defend me against harm, and to preserve me as I walk in His ways and serve out my duties of love.  Not only is He always with me, but He's got the spirits He designed especially for the purpose of ministering to be on my case.  I truly can stand tall as I walk confidently through the battlefield of this world, knowing that if He is for me, none can be against me (Romans 8:31).  I'm covered.  He's got my back.

The LORD of Heaven's Armies will stop at nothing to get me through any difficulty (Isaiah 4:3).

Rulership.  David understood it.  He realized that God is the Ruler of all the forces he could ever encounter.  Even if said forces never acknowledged this truth, he believed that God rules supreme over them.  Therefore, as long as he trusted in God, he knew that no one could overwhelm him.  No wonder this little shepherd boy could kill a formidable warrior giant with a slingshot as his only weapon (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

How would my life be different if I believed as David?  If I lived like God is ruler over all, that even unbelief cannot diminish His power and sovereignty?  I would be bold and fearless as David, willing to face any giant with the courage that comes from knowing that God is the true leader of every foe whether it be the adversary of Cancer, Bankruptcy, Persecution or Death.  All of creation is His to direct as He pleases.  My job, then, is to walk in the shadow of His wings, trusting that He will do what is best for me, according to His plan that brings Him great glory through all the earth.

The LORD of Heaven's Armies has rulership over every aspect of His creation.

Knowing God's power and dominion helps me to trust Him more.  To recognize and acknowledge that He is Yahweh, Commander, and Ruler of all gives me even more reason to trust Him.  And when I do, I have the LORD of Heaven's Armies directing my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can begin to acknowledge the scope of God's sovereign power.

When do I minimize His abilities?

How do I get discouraged in the face of opposition, forgetting the power I have when I trust in God?  

           

The Risk of Comfort

"When I have brought them into the land

flowing with milk and honey,

the land I promised on oath to their ancestors,

and when they eat their fill and thrive,

they will turn to other gods and worship them,

rejecting me and breaking my covenant.

And when many disasters and calamities come on them,

this song will testify against them,

because it will not be forgotten by their descendants.

I know what they are disposed to do,

even before I bring them into the land 

I promised them on oath."

Deuteronomy 31:20-21

They were on the cusp of seeing the promise they had so long awaited be fulfilled.  This new generation of Israelites, the children of the whining and complaining group of desert-wandering people, had heard all their lives about the land flowing with milk and honey.  They grew up with the assurance that God would one day, when the time was right, usher them into the land of their inheritance.  

Before they set foot in this glorious land, however, God wanted to make sure they were fully aware of His expectations for them.  After He laid down the law, instructing them directly in His ways, He ended with a warning.  The caution was centered around a tendency for the human heart to stray when times are good.  When they were wandering around the desert, directly dependent upon God for their sustenance (manna and quail), clothing (supernaturally preserved) and guidance (pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day), it was necessary for them to stay focused on their Provider.

Once they entered into the land promised to them, however, times would get easier.  They would live in houses they did not build, eat from gardens they didn't plant and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor. (Deuteronomy 6:10-13) They would get comfortable.  

When things start to go well, the sinful human heart tends to turn away from God.  It is this treacherous tendency of which God warns.  Thankfully, there is an antidote given for this malady.

Faithfulness of God

"I forgot."

This was often the excuse one of my daughters would give when confronted about her unfinished chores.  While the human memory often fails, God's never does.  

No matter how faithless I tend to be; going my own way, depending on my own strength, and focusing inwardly, God never forgets His promises.  My weakness does not in any way diminish His strength.  My sin never takes away from His holiness.  My waywardness doesn't negate His persistence.  

Therefore, my success in His kingdom depends completely on Him and not on me.  Like He told Paul, His grace is enough for me and His power is evident when I give up in my own labors.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)  When I surrender my life into His hands, He grows to take up a more prominent place in my life.  Once I get out of the way, He can truly show His power.  Until then, my efforts block His work from manifesting in my life.

It is important, then, that I admit to my failings, am honest about my inabilities and stop trying to put up a strong front.  Pretending like I've got everything under control does not bring glory to God.  Showing my weaknesses by living transparently before God and others, admitting of my need for Him does.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must keep connected to the God of faithfulness.

Remember

My dad loves to tell stories of his youth.  He recounts the adventures he experienced, the people he encountered, and the hard times he endured.  Hearing about his life helps me to better understand him and the legacy he is leaving his family.

It is important that I use this same practice when it comes to the Lord.  When I talk about His mighty works, recounting all the ways He has provided, comforted and prevailed, I leave a legacy of faith to those who are listening.  As the years go by, these tales may seem like a distant memory or a kind of fairy tale, but the practice of telling the story keeps alive the legends of God's greatness.

For this reason, I make it a practice to keep a "Stones of Remembrance" journal.  Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to enter into the Promised Land, God instructed them to collect twelve stones, one for each tribe, and erect them as an altar of remembrance for generations to come.  Whenever children would see the pile of rocks, they would inquire of its significance and those present would have the opportunity to tell how God parted the waters to provide a way for them to enter into the land in which they now live. (Joshua 4:1-7)  In the same way, I keep a record of God's mighty works, big and small, to serve as inspiration in times to come.  

It is good to remind myself and others of how God has provided in the past when I reach a time of want.  When times of loss come, it is beneficial to look back at the comfort God has given during other periods of grief.  If I reach a moment of crisis, it helps to keep in mind the strong leadership my Shepherd has provided in days gone by.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must make it a practice to remember the works of God.

Sovereignty of God

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make it work.  I had the dream of digging a pond for the duck our neighbor gave me.  Even though I was just a kid, I wanted to give my new feathered friends the joy that came from paddling around a body of water.  So, I got to work digging a sizable hole.  Once it was big enough, I ran the hose until it reached the hole and filled it up.  Much to my dismay, the water quickly soaked into the ground.  Without the help of an adult who knew about building ponds, my efforts were for naught.

In the same way that I couldn't reach my goal only with what little know-how I possessed in my young mind, there is no way for me to succeed in life without the Lord. (Proverbs 16:1-9) Nothing happens outside of His will, so if I want to live a life of peace and purpose, I will need to pay attention to His instructions and His leadership.  In the same way that my project failed in my own feeble attempts, so will my life if I rely only on my own understanding and common sense.

Formulating a plan, then, is not what it takes to live a life of meaning that will bring glory to God.  Wanting to do something of worth and value with my life will not get me to my goal.  Taking the steps I think are necessary to please God will do nothing to bring pleasure to Him.  Instead, I must seek God wholeheartedly, relying on His sovereign plan to give me my marching orders.

This means when I want to charge full-steam ahead, I may need to reign in my enthusiasm and wait for the go-ahead from the Master Planner.  I will also find that in the times when I'm feeling vulnerable, God may have amazing feats of wonder to work out in my life in the midst of the struggle.  There is also the possibility that my sense of ill-preparedness is exactly what God will use to showcase His power.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must keep in mind that nothing of significance can happen apart from Him.

Even though I desire ease and comfort, there is a risk in reaching such a plateau.  I would be wise, then, to heed God's warning designed to keep me close to Him, and guard against my tendency to drift.  As a result, it is my intention to stand firm on the faithfulness of God, remember His mighty acts, and live as if my life depended on Him.  In these ways, I'll minimize the risk of living a life of comfort and security.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep God in the foreground of my vision.

When do I let God fade into the hazy distance?

How do I try to make things happen on my own, neglecting to consider God's sovereign plan? 

Two-Fold Purpose

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Return to the Pharaoh and make your demands again.

I have made him and his officials stubborn

so I can display my miraculous signs among them.

I've also done it so you can tell your children

and grandchildren 

about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians 

and about the sings I displayed among them--

and so you will know that I am the LORD.'"

Exodus 10:1-2 NLT

It seemed like the cruelest of jokes.  God promised to deliver His people from the brutality of bondage under the merciless hand of the Pharaoh, king of Egypt.  Instead of ushering them out of slavery, however, God hardened the heart of this ruler so that plague after plague could be sent forth throughout the land.  The Lord intentionally prolonged the suffering of His people, delaying the day of their deliverance and salvation. (Exodus 4-12)

Why would God not usher His people out of oppression and directly into freedom?  Why is that God was willing to delay the promised relief of those who called Him by name?  Why did He deem as acceptable the continued suffering for those He claimed to love?

The people of Israel must have felt like they got the short end of the stick in this deal.  While God did send a deliverer to them, it must have been hard to understand the method and timetable He was using.

I can relate.  There are times in my life when I can think of a much less painful way for God to help me, or a more enjoyable process through which I can learn His ways.  During these times, when it seems things are hopeless and I can't understand what God is doing, I might consider that He is using this time to show His might.  

It is only by delivering me through hard times instead of rescuing me from the suffering that I learn something about God.  His purposes for using this method are two-fold.

Legacy

"Tell me the story about you and Grandpa during the Depression,"  the little girl demanded as she snuggled down in her grandmother's lap.

"Well, alright.  Your grandfather and I were on the verge of losing our home.  We didn't know what to do but we did know God.  So we asked Him for help and told Him that we trusted Him to take care of us."

"Say the words, Grandma!"

The old woman chuckled at her granddaughter's enthusiasm. "Lord, we're desperate but You are at peace.  We are at a loss but You are in the middle of a great plan.  We don't know what tomorrow may bring but You hold it in the palm of your hand.  So, because You are mighty and worthy to be praised, we place all our cares at your feet, trusting You to supply our needs."

"Then what happened?  What's next?"

"You know what happens next, child! You've heard this a million times!"

"Tell me, Grandma!"

"Okay, okay.  A man from the bank walked up our driveway the following day with a piece of paper in his hands.  He told us that he couldn't understand it, but somehow the bank had made a mistake and our house was paid in full.  Then he handed over the deed and shook each one of our hands."

"Then what did you do?"

"Grandpa and I danced for joy right there in the front yard.  We sang praises to our God who is mighty to save."

Legacy.  The testimonies of God's greatness that is passed down from generation to generation is important to the faith of those who follow behind us.  If God never brought me through anything difficult, there wouldn't be much for me to tell my children and grandchildren about the power of God.  

Instead of leaving me without a testimony, then, God sometimes chooses to take me through the valley of the shadow of death so I can learn more intimately of His comforting presence. Then, I can tell others about His compassion.

As a way of supplying me with a story to tell of the goodness of God, He might send me into a time of darkness where I am surrounded by evil.  As I rely on Him, I more fully realize His goodness as it contrasts with all the darkness I see around me.

So I won't have to go on without evidence of His sovereignty, He may allow me to suffer the loss of a loved one, giving me a wider scope of His mysterious greatness.  I then can pass on the lesson of His unfathomable supremacy that cannot be comprehended by the puny human mind.

When God takes me through suffering instead of delivering me from it, He is building for me a legacy of His greatness.

Wake-Up Call

He thought he had it all figured out:  He would finish college with a degree in architecture, sign on with a successful firm and work his way up to partner, one day owning his own company.  Then came the accident.  When he woke up in the hospital unable to move his hands, he soon learned he had been in a horrible car crash where he lost the use of his arms and hands.  His dreams were lost in the blink of an eye.

This young man eventually came around to accept the fact that his plan was not going to come true.  He also learned that he is not the one in control of his own life, but that God is the only One who holds the blueprint for all of his days.  While it is fine and dandy to make plans, the Lord is the One who orders our footsteps.  (Proverbs 16:9)

When God brings me through a tragedy, crisis or heartbreak, He may be giving me a similar kind of wake-up call, reminding me of His sovereignty.  It's easy to get to the point where I think I have everything under control.  I convince myself that I have a plan and as long as I follow it step-by-step, everything will be okay.  

Then God allows the unthinkable into my life:  The sickness, the financial crisis, the natural disaster.  Suddenly, I realize I'm at His mercy and there's nothing I can do to deliver myself from the situation.  I've been given a chance to recognize God's rightful place as Lord and acknowledge that my life is truly in His hands.

When God takes me through suffering instead of delivering me from it, He is reminding me of His sovereign power over all of His creation, and of my place as His precious child.

It is easy to get mad when I'm thrown a curve-ball.  I'm so quick to point out how it's not fair that I have to suffer or that it seems I can never get a break.  Instead of complaining about how horrible my life is, I can choose to see how God is using the suffering in my life to build a testimony of His greatness, and to remind me of Who is truly in control.  When I think of it this way instead of focusing on my pain, I may see the good that is coming out of His purpose for my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can trust God through the suffering I'm enduring.

When do I tend to feel sorry for myself instead of realizing God has a good plan that includes this suffering?

How do I forget that God is in control and instead think I can somehow orchestrate my own life?

God is God

"When Rachel saw that she wasn't having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister.

She pleaded with Jacob,

'Give me children, or I'll die!'

Then Jacob became furious with Rachel.

'Am I God?' he asked.

'He's the one who has kept you from having children!'"

Genesis 30:1-2

There is a self-help book for any problem with which I could ever imagine being faced.  Talking heads dispense advice freely to anyone who tunes into their shows.  Friends stand waiting in the wings to tell me what they think I should do.  There is no shortage of opinions and guidance in this day and age.

The problem is that the only One who has the wisdom I need is God.  He is God, and I am not; nor is anyone else.  No one knows what I need besides Him!  Many times I forget He is sovereign over all things and instead I place my trust elsewhere.

People

I knew I could always go to her for good advice.  She always seemed to know what to say.  I never questioned if the opinions she so boldly proclaimed were truth, or if it was the right recommendation for me.  Instead, I accepted her guidance as good.

Most of us have that go-to person who we can always count on to know how to handle any problem.  While the advice they give may not be godly, it does sound good to my itching ears, so I follow it. (2 Timothy 4:3) 

The problem with this approach is I'm not taking God into account.  I'm leaving Him to sit on the sidelines of my life as I develop a strategy I think will work.  Meanwhile, He stands at the door of my life, waiting to be invited in. (Revelation 3:20)

God is the one who created me for a specific purpose. (Ephesians 2:10)  Only my Creator knows the plan that He has for my life. (Jeremiah 29:11) The problem I now face is not a surprise to Him!  Instead, this difficult time has gone through His hands as something that will be used to bring about good in my life. (Romans 8:28) If I don't seek Him out, however, I will know neither the plan of action I am to follow nor the positive fruit that results.

When I trust in people instead of God, I don't give His plan a chance.

Self

"He pulled himself up by his own bootstraps."  This phrase is often used to describe a resourceful person who found a way to help himself out of a tough situation.  Americans especially admire those who climb their way to the top using nothing but their own wits.

There was a television show in the '70s called "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams," in which James Adams lived out in the wild with only an old trader and a Native American as his human friends.  He was somehow always able to help those passing by who fell into some kind of trouble as they attempted to traverse the untamed land.

I always admired this character's resourcefulness and how he never seemed to fail to know what to do.  His independence really appealed to my own desire to live a solitary life surrounded only by animals who adored me.

In reality, though, there is nothing good found within me, that is in my sinful nature. (Romans 7:18) My own resources, abilities and discipline pales in comparison to the well from which my Father draws  (Psalm 50:10), the power He possesses (Ephesians 3:20), and His faithfulness on which I can always count (Psalm 33:4).

When I trust in myself instead of God, I miss out on seeing the work of His mighty hand.

Methods

He tried every method ever known to man to try to quit drinking.  While each may have worked for a time, he always returned to the comfort of the bottle.  Alcohol seemed to hold a power over him that nothing could break.

It is easy to turn to methods or strategies to try to solve my problems as well.  While the steps suggested may make sense and seem to work for a time, there is nothing that can replace the Lord as the healer of all my hurts (Psalm 107:19-20), the answer to all my problems (Colossians 1:17-18), and the only One who can satisfy my soul (John 6:35).  My friend discovered this when he turned his life over to Jesus and finally found freedom from alcoholism.

Instead of saying certain prayers to attain specific results, or doing good deeds as a way to make up for all my sins and gain God's favor, or thinking positive thoughts as a way to build up beneficial things in my life, all I need is Jesus.  He is the only answer I need seek.

When I trust in methods instead of God, I miss out on the saving grace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

There are many places I may turn to for help.  Only One, however, is the source of all good things.  When I trust in people, myself, or methods, I miss out on seeing God's plan unfold, witnessing His mighty power and finding Jesus, the only solution to all my problems.  It is my intention to always remember, then, that only God is God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust in God to satisfy every need I have today.

When do I trust in others instead of God?

How do I tend to seek out methods to solve my problems instead of going after God?