Hannah's Heart

"So in the course of time

Hannah became pregnant 

and gave birth to a son.

She named him Samuel,

saying, 'Because I asked the LORD for him.'"

1 Samuel 1:20

Her life was far from a fairy tale.  In fact, I would say that Hannah lived a difficult life that was filled with suffering.  She was childless in a culture that revered and valued motherhood.  Making her situation even more challenging was the fact that the poor woman was favored by her clueless husband in a home shared by two wives, setting her up for much abuse.  You see, the other woman with whom she split her husband was quite fertile but possessed a cruel nature and never let an opportunity pass to unmercifully provoke her, always keeping her own infertility constantly before her.

I can't think of a more strained existence than the one lived by Hannah.  How did she deal with such circumstances?  In a way from which I can draw much insight and wisdom in how to face my own struggles.

Godly Priorities

When I first met the man who would later become my husband, I only knew about him what I could observe from the little time I spent with him.  As time went by, we began to hold long conversations on the phone, talking about what was going on in each of our lives, sharing our dreams and revealing childhood memories.  Still, I only knew a fraction of what made the whole person.  

Once we got married and started living life together, however, I began to really get to know him.  I discovered his quirky ways, learned more about his views on life and also unearthed some quite annoying habits.  It wasn't until I invited him into the intimate parts of my life that his true character was revealed.

Similarly, I can read the Bible and find out quite a bit about the Lord.  My spare time can be spent in listening to sermons and classes taught about the God I desire to know.  It is not until I invite Him into the intimate parts of my life, however, living life in tandem with Him that I find out His true character (Revelation 3:20, Psalm 34:8).  This is the kind of relationship Hannah enjoyed with the Lord.  She knew Him intimately, as evidenced by her prayer found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

While leaning on Him during her hard times, Hannah learned that He was her strength, a Deliverer who is holy and can be counted upon.  She also found out as she relied on Him that He is a righteous Judge and is filled with knowledge, the only One who is sovereign over all things.  As she walked with Him she realized that putting all her hope in Him would never disappoint and that He was her mighty Warrior, always faithful to fight her battles for her.

With such knowledge gained by living in relationship with the Lord, she was able to put all her faith in Him, turning to the One she knew would understand even when no human around her did.  

When the going gets tough in my own life, I can learn a lesson from Hannah and get to know the God who is my only true hope.

All In

She gave up the very thing she wanted most.  Many years were spent yearning for a child, and when God finally granted her the joy of being a mother, she gave the precious gift back to God.  In a pure act of spiritual dedication and commitment to the Lord, Hannah was willing to let go of her most valued earthly possession.  In her mind that was committed to the Lord, the greatest evidence of her gratitude to Him was for her to give that which she had wanted most back to the One whom she valued even more.

Jim Elliot once wrote in his journal that, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."  Hannah knew a little something about such kingdom values.  The things of this world will pass away no matter how tightly we clutch them.  On that great day when I enter into glory and taste what Jesus has prepared for me, I will finally realize the foolishness of going after the things of this world.  It is then that the insignificance of what I once thought was earth-shattering will become apparent. 

Hannah lived with this perspective in the here and now, fully giving her life to the Lord.  She understood that her connection to God was what would last, giving her complete and utter joy.  Everything else, even the child she so desperately desired, could not bring such fullness as could her bond with the Lord.  Therefore, she was willing to let go of everything else and live with abandon to Him.

I, too, can live such a life.  I can hold onto my worldly possessions with an open hand, being willing to let them go, believing that what Jesus is preparing in heaven far surpasses anything I can obtain in this world.  I can also commit my loved ones to the Lord, letting Him be the One to change their hearts, protect them from evil and guide them down the path that leads to life.  Instead of fretting over their position, I can confidently place them in the hands of Him who loves them even more than do I.  It is even possible for me to let go of the dreams I have always held close to my heart, placing them for safe keeping in the hands of the One who can make them come true in a way that honors Him.

When the going gets tough in my own life, I can learn a lesson from Hannah and fully commit my life to the Lord who loves me perfectly.

Anti-Anxiety

There was nothing pleasant about her life.  Worry and stress were a regular part of each day.  Would she ever taste the joys of motherhood?  What if what Peninnah said was true, what if her life was meaningless without children?  Why would God bless such a mean-spirited woman with so many children and give her none?  

Instead of dwelling upon all that was difficult, however, Hannah knew the truth found in Philippians 4:6-7.  She poured out her heart to the Lord, sharing all that grieved her so deeply.  She didn't withhold even the ugliest thoughts, instead revealing them to the One who knew her intimately and loved her still.  As she did so, peace flooded her soul, guarding her mind from destructive thoughts and her heart from despair (1 Samuel 1:16-18).

The same is true for me.  Instead of focusing on what is distressing in my life, I can hand it all over to the Lord, unloading my burdens upon His shoulders.  As I do, I will find a sense of well-being and serenity replace the familiar feelings of apprehension and fretfulness.  

While it is easy for me to analyze my situation, coming up with dozens of possible solutions in my mind, trusting God to reveal His perfect plan in His own time will replace my sleepless nights with peaceful slumber.  In place of looking for possible alternatives to my seemingly hopeless condition, I can share my disappointments with the One who is able to do so much more than I could ever ask or even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  Instead of looking for plausible answers, I can watch for the mind-blowing solution the God of the impossible brings about, to His own glory (Luke 1:37).

When the going gets tough in my own life, I can learn a lesson from Hannah and place all my anxiety on the One who delivers unfathomable peace to my soul.

There is no doubt that Hannah was dealt a rough hand with which to play.  Instead of whining about the difficulties that marked her life, however, she took the time to know on an intimate level the One who created all things, fully committed her whole life to Him, and trusted Him with her most confidential thoughts.  In these ways, I too can retain godly priorities, totally commit everything I've been given to the God who loves me, and work against the anxiety in my life by living authentically before Him.  In these ways I'll develop the heart of Hannah.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep God in the loop of the ins and outs of my life.

When do I hold onto things that hold no heavenly value?

How am I trying to handle things on my own instead of trusting God to solve my problems for me?    

Originally published on April 8, 2014

Why?

"When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon,

he said,

'The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.'

'Pardon me, my lord,' Gideon replied,

'but if the LORD is with us,

why has all this happened to us?

Where are all his wonders that our ancestors

told us about when they said,

"Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?"

But now the LORD has abandoned us

and given us into the hand of Midian.'"

Judges 6:12-13

I hear it all the time, and you probably do too.  In fact, maybe you've wondered this as well.   "If God is such a good God, why did He let such evil happen?"  It's a fair question.  Gideon had similar doubts about the benefit of God's presence.  He wanted to know what good it does for God to be with them if oppression and suffering still occurred.  Maybe there's more to it than meets the eye.

Wake-Up Call

The harsh sound of the ringing phone assaulted our senses, waking up our entire family of six.  "Sheesh, that wake-up call could raise the dead!" I mumbled, grumpy from the early-morning racket.  

"Well, you did say you didn't want us to sleep through our alarm this morning,"  my husband graciously reminded me as he stepped into the bathroom of our hotel room.

"Yes, but neither did I want to pull a muscle in my neck!"  I grumbled, rubbing the throbbing area just above my pajama collar.

In the same way that it sometimes takes a loud alarm to wake me from a sound sleep, God often resorts to using difficult circumstances to draw me back to Him, waking me up from the kind of stupor that comes from mindlessly wandering away.  When things are going well, I often drift away from Him, thinking I've got it all covered on my own.  As soon as the temperature starts rising, so to speak, I can clearly see how much I need the Lord.

There are many ways I live my life as if I'm in a sound slumber.  I push along, reaching for personal and professional goals that have nothing to do with God's intended purpose for my life (Ephesians 2:10). In my own way of thinking, it seems like a good thing to shoot for, but I foolishly neglected to include God in my decision-making process (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 3:5-6).

Other times I go through the motions of accomplishing all the good deeds I think a good Christian should do.  I read my Bible, attend church, meet with other believers, and help others.  Still, my heart feels cold as a stone (Isaiah 29:13).

Many times I'm at risk of forgetting the grace by which I draw each breath.  As I walk further along the road, it's easy to slip onto the destructive path where rules become most important.  I mistakenly think I can please God by upholding a high standard for myself, using my own strength to try to become more patient, loving, kind and gentle with each passing day.  In reality, there is no fruit apart from Jesus (John 15:5, Galatians 5:22-23).

When I drift away from God, He will use whatever means possible to bring me back to Him.

Blinded

He healed the man born blind, but still the Jewish leaders would not believe.  Instead of taking such a miracle as a sign Jesus was of God, they questioned the newly-sighted man, seeking to find the answers that would agree with their own faulty premise.  Clearly, these Pharisees were blind (John 9).

I can be similarly blind, choosing to see only that which supports my own way of thinking.  Instead of opening my mind to the unlimited possibilities of God's sovereign nature, I limit Him. 

Despite all the miracles Moses witnessed God perform, he sometimes suffered from this same kind of spiritual blindness.  When the people he so faithfully led out of Egypt began to complain about their circumstances once again, craving meat to supplement the constant supply of manna, God told Moses He would supply an overabundance of meat for them to eat.  Apparently forgetting to whom He was talking, Moses said, "'Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them?  Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?' The LORD answered Moses, 'Is the LORD's arm too short?  Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you'"(Numbers 11:22-23).

Sin tends to blind me to the truth.  My flesh trains me to see with earthly eyes so that I only notice that which lines up with my own way of thinking.  If I want to see God at work, then,  I'll need to take on His perspective.

This means I must look at the big picture, keeping in mind that God has a master plan which includes using everything for my good (Romans 8:28).  I might also find it necessary to focus only on the evidence of God's work in my life, surrendering all the potholes, obstacles and burdens to Him for safekeeping (Matthew 11:28, Exodus 33:14).  In order to see the good God is doing, I'll also need to let Him be God, realizing I won't always understand everything that is happening (Isaiah 55:8-9). Instead, I must trust Him as sovereign over all things (Daniel 4:35).  

When I am living in a state of spiritual blindness, I will no longer notice the benefits of God's presence in my life.

Fallen World

Cancer.

Divorce.

Accidents.

Chronic pain.

Sudden death.

People who love God with all of their heart, who have dedicated their lives to following Jesus, often suffer greatly.

Living in a fallen world is not what God intended for us.  When He made all things at the beginning of time, He saw that His creation was good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31).  Then, sin entered the world.  When Adam ate the fruit God forbade him to consume, death became a reality for all of mankind.  It is only through Christ that we are delivered from such condemnation (Romans 5:12-21, John 3:17-18).

As a result of the destructive nature of sin, death is all around me.  Weeds threaten to choke out the vegetables I so carefully cultivate.  Everything moves toward a state of chaos and ultimately falls apart and disintegrates over time.  By the age of forty, most people notice their eyesight failing in one way or another.

Relationships also fall victim to the effects of sin.  Married people tend to drift away from each other.  Children automatically rebel and challenge their parent's authority in one way or another.  Friends find themselves at odds as each goes their separate ways.

Followers of Christ are not immune to the consequences of living in a fallen world. 

It's easy to ask, "Why?" when things get difficult, wondering what good God is doing if He doesn't bother to protect me from the bad stuff.  Hard times, suffering and pain, however, are not evidence that God has abandoned me.  Instead, He could be using the very thing that brings me great heartache to draw me back to Him.  It could also be that I'm not noticing all the good because I'm only looking at the bad.  Other times, my difficulty could simply be the result of living in a fallen world.  Whatever the reason for my pain, of one thing I can be sure:  He is with me (Psalm 16:8-11)!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will replace "why?" with "Who?"  The answer will then always be, "God."

How am I blind to all the good God is bringing into my life?

When do I blame God for something that is as the result of sin?


Originally published on March 17, 2014

Shifting Value Scale

"For we who worship by the Spirit of God

are the ones who are truly circumcised.

We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.

We put no confidence in human effort. . .

I once thought these things were valuable,

but now I consider them worthless

because of what Christ has done.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared

with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

For his sake I have discarded everything else,

counting it all as garbage,

so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law;

rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.

For God's way of making us right with himself 

depends on faith.

I want to know Christ

and experience the mighty power that raised him

from the dead.

I want to suffer with him,

sharing in his death,

so that one way or another

I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"

Philippians 3:3,7-11 NLT

I used to live for the sport of bodybuilding.  Every waking moment was spent devoted to increasing my knowledge about training, posing and competing.  Whenever I had a spare moment, I used it to think of ways in which I could tighten up my schedule, opening up more time for preparation, or I would visualize myself on stage going through my posing routine, or I would research new information on nutrition that could give me the edge over my competition.  In short, I ate, slept and breathed bodybuilding.

Now that I live for Christ, however, those things seem trivial and unimportant.  While I still work out, it is not what drives me each day.  As I slowly submit more and more of myself over to the Lord, I see how He takes those parts and transforms them so that I desire Him and Him alone.   Everything else fades in comparison with the awesomeness of knowing Christ.

Confidence

He seemed so cocky, this little boy dressed in shepherd's garb.  The man he so boldly confronted was a fighting machine; over 9-feet tall and dressed from head to foot in armor.  This giant of a man was accustomed to killing because it was his profession.  When he talked smack, he had something with which to back it up.  David, on the other hand, only had a sling and five pebbles.

While it may seem David was over-confident and in way over his head, the truth was that he had faith in God.  He knew in his heart that the same God who gave him victory over the lions and bears that attacked his sheep would conquer Goliath.  In fact, this ordinary lad believed this so sincerely that he was willing to back up his faith with action.  David had confidence in God (1 Samuel 17).

Where once I thought I needed more self-confidence, God has shown me I only need the heart of David.  The world-taught principle that I must believe I can do anything I put my mind to has yielded to a kingdom understanding that all things are possible with God(Luke 1:37).

As I grow in my relationship with God, He exchanges my old reliance on self for a new-found God-confidence.

Merit

Her beauty drew the once mighty king into adultery, treachery and murder.  She knew she deserved nothing but suffering for the part she played in this horrible drama.  No matter how much her heart ached with pain over the death of her beloved Uriah, she had to admit the love growing in her heart for the handsome king.  It's hard to deny the advances of such a virile and powerful man (2 Samuel 11)!

Bathsheba must have struggled with the breakdown of her own moral character.  Despite the fact that she was used by David to quench his own sexual appetite, she must have felt some kind of responsibility for the whole affair. Incredibly, God takes this woman who was at the center of such scandal and deception and not only gives her a son who would become king and the designated builder of God's temple, but also one of the few women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus(1 Chronicles 28:5-6, Matthew 1:6).

Once I enter into God's family through faith in Jesus Christ, I, like Bathsheba, am judged not on my own merit, but through the lenses of the grace of a loving God.  By way of the blood of Jesus, I am seen as righteous by holy God.  The blood of the perfect Lamb covers over all my sin, making me appear as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  Consequently, God can give me the hope of eternal life with Him and the blessings of His favor even though I do not deserve it based on my own merit (Romans 3:21-22).

As I grow in my relationship with God, He exchanges my own lack of virtue with the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

Suffering

He told the truth, but it was a reality they couldn't bear to face.  Infuriated by the accusations, they lashed out in anger.  How could they, the prestigious leaders in the temple, men of God, be accused of the death of a trouble-maker?  They had done their religion a favor in disposing of the one Stephen blasphemously called the Messiah.

As Stephen died a martyr's death, he asked God to not hold the sin of those murderers against them.  Filled with the Holy Spirit before his death, he even was given a glimpse of the glory of God in heaven and Jesus standing in His rightful place of honor.  Never had suffering at the hand of such evil men seem so glorious(Acts 7:51-60)!

Suffering is something I naturally try to avoid at all costs.  As I grow closer to God, however, my heart will become more like Stephen's who considered persecution as an honor and a way to share in the suffering of Christ (1 Peter 4:13).

As I grow in my relationship with God, He exchanges my aversion to suffering with a desire to know Him more intimately by going through difficulties.

The life I used to live before I knew Jesus is radically different than the one I live now.  I, however, can't take credit for this change as it is a work of God's Spirit within my heart.  He has turned my world upside down as He has exchanged my self-confidence, dependence on my own worth, and attention to personal safety and comfort with a new-found God-confidence, righteousness by faith, and an open mind when it comes to pain and affliction.  In this way, God is supernaturally shifting my value scale to line up with His.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can easily let go of parts of my old life which God is calling me to release.

How often do I hold onto old beliefs instead of taking on God's ways?

When am I most apt to rely on my own wherewithal instead of God's power?


Originally published on March 26, 2013

Growing Deep Roots

This post was originally published on October 1, 2015

"'But blessed are those who trust in the LORD

and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

and they never stop producing fruit.'"

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

Who doesn't want deep roots so we don't fall apart when facing hard times?  We all do, but how do we cultivate such an advantage?  Here's the answer as God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah.

Trust in God.  It's stamped on our money.  The phrase, "In God We Trust" first appeared on the two-cent coin in 1864 in response to an Act of Congress, followed by the passage of the Coinage Act in 1873 which opened up the way for all coins to bear such a proclamation.  This act was no mindless formality but an intentional attempt to acknowledge God as a nation in response to several letters from citizens across the land during the Civil War.  One such letter stated, in part, that "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense."  And another claimed that "From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters." *  Our leaders at the time recognized the importance of trusting in God.

When I do the same, realizing He is the one Source of strength, power, wisdom, protection, and everything, I'm placing all my weight on Him, resting in His provision and shelter (Psalm 91).  When I think of Him as only one of many supplies, choosing to rely on my own wherewithal or that of others, I am failing to fully trust in God.  Either I place all my eggs in His basket, or I keep my options open in case another offer comes along.  The first shows that I believe He is able to satisfy every need and all my longings, while the second reveals my doubt in His power.

If I want roots that grow deeply, I must fully and wholly trust in God alone.

Hope in God.  It's easy to lose hope in such a dark world in which we reside.  I can become discouraged when trouble comes my way, especially when it seems there is no let up, as if it's my lot in life to suffer.  When enduring such difficulty, I can begin to wonder why I'm here, what is the point of life, what's my purpose.  Then I remember Who is in control of all things (Romans 13:1).

God is a good God (Psalm 136:1).  Everything He does is thoroughly and completely good.  Additionally, He is a God who is always at work (John 5:17).  He doesn't slack on the job, or forget someone's needs, letting them fall through the cracks.  Instead, He is constant and trustworthy.  Therefore, when I keep my eyes on Jesus, I have every hope in the world no matter my circumstances, because I know good things are happening.  The only missing factor, then, is my perception of His beneficial acts.  I often don't notice what He's up to because I'm looking in the wrong place.  It reminds me of a friend who just returned from a trip to New England.  She and her husband were disappointed to see the lack of fall colors but realized that if she looked closely, she could see a kaleidoscope of hues hidden beneath the green.  It only took an eye to see for her to enjoy the show.

If I want roots that grow deeply, I must hope in God, looking for all I believe He is doing.

Confidence in God.  It's easy to doubt.  It's not so much that I don't think God is up to the job, but that I think I will somehow mess things up, or that I see all that could go wrong, or that I've become cynical and jaded, preferring to brace myself for the worst instead of hoping for the best.  Then I waver in my faith, failing to walk forward in confidence with the strongly rooted certainty that God will come through no matter what.  I hold back, indecisive and vacillating between wanting to trust God and skepticism.

I notice a difference when I'm around someone who has confidence in God.  Their prayers are self-assured, as if they are simply endorsing what they believe God is at work doing.  They step out in faith often and speak with boldness, knowing that God is providing the words they need and fully backing them up.  In contrast, those with a lack of confidence result in prayers that are weak and reserved, as if they don't want to bother God or ask too much of Him.  They rarely if ever do anything beyond their own abilities or power and speak timidly, worried they may offend someone.  I'd rather live like the confident Christian.

If I want roots that grow deeply, I must place my confidence in God alone, not doubting in His might.

Life is difficult and I often face hardship.  If I want to learn to cope with the stresses of life, I would be wise to heed God's advice by resting fully in Him, expectantly looking for the work of His good hands, and walking forward with assurance that He's gone before me and has my back.  This is how to grow deep roots that will always reach His living waters.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to place all my weight on Him.

When do I hold back, afraid to let go of some semblance of control?

How do I doubt that God will come through?  

     

* http://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx

Reason to Rejoice

"Sing for joy, O heavens!

Rejoice, O earth!

Burst into song, O mountains!

For the LORD has comforted his people

and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

Yet Jerusalem says,

'The LORD has deserted us;

the Lord has forgotten us.'"

Isaiah 49:13-14 NLT

I have every reason to rejoice yet I often feel depressed, as if God has deserted me, leaving me to face this harsh world alone.  My feelings easily deceive me into thinking all is lost and my life is a waste, in shambles, beyond repair.  Does the suffering I currently endure mean I am forgotten by the One who created me in His image?  Or is my focus off, am I looking in the wrong place? 

Let's take a look at God's promises to His wayward people, and learn how to negotiate this rocky path of life with a song in our heart!

Restoration.  Whether I know it or not, restoration in mine through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  God responded to the brokenness of the world He created, the bondage His people endured, the darkness in which His sheep groped by sending the long-awaited Messiah (Isaiah 49:8-12).  He sent His Son to make all things right, to free the captives and to shed His Light in a dark world (2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 61:1-3 John 1:5).  And this indescribable response of God still impacts us today.  Even now Jesus is being offered to mankind as a way to restore that which has been ruined by sin.

When I turn away from my sin, ceasing to think of it as my friend and instead embrace this Jesus by faith, donning Him like a garment, I will find the forgiveness I need in order to forge a bond with the One who loves me perfectly.  I then can relate to Him as a daughter to a Father, not an earthly father who sometimes fails and lets me down, but as a heavenly Papa who knows exactly how to provide, lead, and love in a way that quenches every thirst and fulfills every desire.  Through the blood of Jesus, my standing as God's child is reestablished and I am firmly implanted in His family forever (1 John 3:1).

God's promise to restore His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14).  Of this great treasure may my heart always sing!

Comfort.  I try to avoid it like I do the IRS, doing whatever I can to keep from being tainted by its agony.  I would do anything to prevent it's access to my life.  Still, suffering comes, inflicting devastation and heartache.  Why can't I catch a break?  I wonder.  Must my life always be tainted by this poison that contaminates the plan I have for my life?  My desire for a pain-free existence?  The expectation that I can enjoy at least a moment free from sorrow?

While it may seem more than I can bear (and perhaps I'm a bit dramatic and narrow in my assessment of the situation I face), there is a great benefit to encountering misery.  If my life was always free from all anguish, I would never experience the comfort of my Father (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).  He consoles my hurting heart in a way that only He can.  I find relief from the pain when I sink into His loving arms, experiencing Him in a more intimate way as I rest in His lovingkindness.  My understanding of His nature grows as I see this caring and gentle side of Him.  Even more astounding is the fact that through Jesus Christ I have access to my Father at all times, able to approach Him in order to receive all that I need in order to negotiate the rocky paths I encounter (Hebrews 4:16).  

God's promise to comfort His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ who ushers believers into the presence of the great Comforter.  Of this great treasure may I always rejoice!

Compassion.  The gods of this world are cold and calculating, each with an agenda of their own that brings about some form of suffering upon their people.  While they are impotent to actually become who their legends proclaim them to be, millions subscribe to their beliefs, appeasing them with the hope that they can give some sort of favor.  Followers are willing to risk the consequences that may come from trusting in such a risky proposition with the chance that they might benefit from such a relationship.  There is always the risk, however, of ticking off the gods and enduring their retaliation.

Thankfully, God is not prone to flying off the handle and lashing out in a rage.  In fact, if He were to truly give mankind what we deserved, we wouldn't live another moment (Psalm 103:10, 130:3).  In His mercy He allows each of His image-bearers ample time to come around to our senses so that we can accept the free gift of salvation He offers through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).  As is written, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." (Lamentations 3:22).  Nowhere is this love more evident than in the sending of God's precious Son to save a wicked people (Romans 5:8).  

God's promise to have compassion on His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.  May this great treasure always cause me to burst into song!

Living in this dark world can leave me in despair.  I tend to look around me at all that is wrong and look within and find nothing good.  When I turn my eyes upon Jesus, however, and see Him for who He is, I discover there is much to set my heart to singing!  I've been restored, am given the benefit of a wonderful Comforter and daily discover how much he cares.  In Jesus Christ I have every reason to rejoice!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to see Him as He truly exists.

When do I focus on the mess around me instead of on God's goodness?

How am I now receiving the comfort of God?        

Worthless Paths

"'Ah, stubborn children,' declares the LORD,

'who carry out a plan, but not mine,

and who make an alliance,

but not of my Spirit,

that they may add sin to sin;

who set out to go down to Egypt,

without asking for my direction,

to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh

and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,

and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.

For though his officials are at Zoan

and his envoys reach Hanes,

everyone comes to shame

through a people that cannot profit them,

that brings neither help nor profit,

but shame and disgrace.'"

Isaiah 30:1-5 ESV

I panic.  Things are looking bad and I've got to do something before it gets worse.  I must act in order to slow the progression of pain and suffering.  Problem is, all I do is worthless and leads to disappointment and humiliation at the realization of how foolish I've been.  How did I get here, unsettled, confused, and bewildered at my predicament?  

It's all my doing.

Contrary Plans.  I do what makes sense to me.  I act according to what comes naturally, going the way that most pleases me and is within my realm of comfort.  I stay away from anything that meddles with my desires or stretches me outside of my normal sphere of ease and well-being.

Trouble is, every solution I'm drawn to is contrary to God's best for me.  He has a plan that goes in the opposite direction as mine (Galatians 5:16-18).  When I'm in charge of deciding what is best for me, I'll choose wrong every time.  If I instead let God's indwelling Spirit lead me as I surrender all to Him through faith in Jesus Christ, I'll find the game plan changing drastically.  While I tend to seek solutions that diminish suffering and choose the path of least resistance, God may utilize the difficult as tools to shape my character into the form of His Sons' (Romans 8:28-29).  While I look for self-serving and self-preserving options, God has a plan that glorifies His own name (Jeremiah 9:23-24, Isaiah 42:8).  While I lean toward the well-worn, smooth and crowded way, God's is less-traveled and far more difficult (Matthew 7:13-14).

My plans are contrary to God's plans so I must always seek His path upon which to travel.

Undirected Alliances.  I look for someone who can help me.  I need to know how to proceed, how to navigate through these uncharted waters.  I have no idea what to do, how to go forward, which direction to take.  Therefore, I go to the experts in the field, those who've gained experience in doing what I've never done, who are confidently extolling the virtues of their expertise.  I want the best on my side in order to give me the best possible outcome.

Trouble is, every source of help I'm drawn to is far inferior to what God has in mind.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, a grafted-in branch who has the benefit of deep roots supplying endless grace and untold wisdom, I can let His Spirit guide me to those who will help me in the way He has in mind (Romans 11:17).  When I instead lean on my own understanding, gravitating toward the wrong people who have the wrong goals and intentions, I've missed out on the blessing of letting God choose for me.  Since I have the advantage of a Helper who can point me to those who give godly advice and have kingdom direction, I would be wise to seek such guidance.

My alliances are with those who can't help in the same way the Spirit-directed partnerships can.

Mislaid Trust.   I put my eggs in the wrong basket, trusting in the kind of protection that seems wise but is far from God's best for me.  It seems good and smart to invest in insurance coverage, to go to the powerful who have clout enough to make a difference, or to place my trust in those who have connections that can help give me a leg up.  I check the expert's opinions and follow their outline to the letter.  I'm confident I've given myself the best possible chance.

Trouble is, I've failed to consult God regarding His master plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11).  If He holds the blueprint for the ongoing construction project that is taking place within my heart, I may hold up progress if I act outside of His intentions and follow a different, contrary set of plans (Philippians 1:6).  I may even undo some of the work that He has done, setting back my progress as I selfishly seek my own ways.  If I want to see godly growth, I must submit to His plan for me, cooperating with what He has in mind for my life (Romans 12:2).  

My trust is mislaid when I put my faith in that which is outside of God's will, failing to consult God for His sovereign plan for my life.

Decisions made in a state of panic or desperation are not usually good ones.  When I feel burdened by suffering and difficulty, I look for a way out.  Unfortunately, I don't always consult God's indwelling Spirit, an advantage I've gained by trusting in Jesus as my Lord and Savior (John 14:26).  When I ignore this wonderful benefit, I tend to choose plans that are contrary to His, make ungodly alliances, and place my trust in the wrong places.  In these ways, all I do is pointless and leads to disappointment and worry.  What a worthless path to take!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay connected to Jesus and sensitive to His Spirit's leading.

When do I go off on my own, choosing my own path?

How do I lean on those who don't know God?