God Alone

"I wait quietly before God,

for my victory comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will never be shaken."

Psalm 62:1-2 NLT

Life is hard.  My heart breaks easily.  Tears come quickly at the sound of compassion.  There are many places I could turn, ways to ease the pain, routes to follow in a quest for relief.  Only One, however, is worthy of such confidence.

Wait.  My flesh hungers after productiveness.  I feel a need to do something.  It's hard to sit by and watch as things fall to pieces.  Yet this is exactly what God wants from me.  He desires that I wait quietly before Him, sitting at His feet to find His peace, giving Him a chance to work on my behalf.

The Israelites learned this firsthand when they stood between the Red Sea and the approaching Egyptian army.  As they panicked, crying out for delivery, God told them what to do.  He said, "Don't be afraid.  Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today." (Exodus 14:13a).

God is the only One who is worth waiting for.

Salvation.  "Jesus. Jesus. Jesus."  I heard her grieving, wounded heart utter His name.  Her husband cruelly and brutally snatched from her midst, she sat in the shambles of her broken life and drew comfort from the one name that could save her from this pain (Isaiah 61:1-3, Acts 4:11-12).

He said He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  When He proclaimed such wonder, He meant more than just that He is the way to heaven where He would sit at the right hand of His Father.  He was also ushering in His kingdom here on earth where He is the key to receiving all good things from the Father.  He is the conduit of grace, the channel through which His redemptive love flows, the means to discover the abundant life in the midst of the mess.

Jesus is the only name by which I can be saved.

Rock.  It all seemed to be sinking sand.  Everywhere I stood, my feet sunk into the soft, warm sea shore and I couldn't find a way to anchor the shelter.  We tried piling the sand up over the feet, sinking the poles deep in the sand.  We tied out the anchors, but the stakes easily pulled out at the first gust of wind.  Soon, the sun shield we had erected was blowing down wind as we chased behind like some erratic kind of parade.  At least we were giving the other beach goers some form of entertainment, but what we needed was something solid in which to secure our tent if we had any hope of it staying put.  

God is this solid ground, this rock upon which I can build my life.  He is secure and unchanging, giving me a strong base, a sure foundation.  With this kind of footing, I will not easily be swayed (Matthew 7:24-27).  I can also draw my strength from His since mine is easily depleted.  Then, I will soar like an eagle through the sky, effortlessly gliding above the clouds (Isaiah 40:31).  When I feel helpless, at the mercy of merciless man, there is the power of His indwelling Spirit that gives me a way to rise out of the ashes (2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 61:3).

God is the rock of my life.

It sometimes seems life is one big struggle after another.  Following Jesus, however, gives purpose to the pain.  While I could seek many ways to cope with the difficulties, there is only One who can be trusted with such jewels.  In Him I can wait with confidence, find salvation and discover the rock that is necessary for stability.  In God alone I place my trust.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that when trouble comes my way, I can let Jesus be the only Name I utter.

How do I turn to other sources for help?

When am I easily knocked off my feet?         

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?    

When God is Silent

"He inquired of the LORD,

but the LORD did not answer him by dreams

or Urim

or prophets.

Saul then said to his attendants,

'Find me a woman who is a medium,

so I may go and inquire of her.'"

1 Samuel 28:6-7

His trusted adviser and prophet was gone.  The one who always knew what to do and was essentially his link to God no longer lived.  Now, here he sat on the brink of another battle against an overwhelming enemy without his most trusted counselor.  What should he do?  How should he proceed?  Saul had no idea.  He was terrified at the thought of going up against the Philistines, but without the benefit of wise guidance?  Unthinkable!  He had no choice but to ask God himself. (1 Samuel 15:3-6)

When Saul didn't hear an answer from God, he immediately turned to another source for wisdom and guidance.  His response exposed the unfaithfulness found in his heart.  Similarly, the way I react when God is silent speaks volumes to the state of my own heart.

Worry

The sound of rustling leaves drew my attention to the wood line.  There I saw a bird busily scratching and pecking, dining on tasty morsels left there for him to consume.  Soon he took flight, soaring to the nearby pond where he washed his meal down with some water.  He didn't know how to live other than the way his Creator made him to live.  Therefore, no anxious thought ever crossed this little sparrow's mind.   Never did he spend any time preparing for winter or growing his own food, yet he never went without.  He was faithfully cared for by the One who made him. (Matthew 6:26)

If God takes such good care of the birds, how much more will He care for me who is made in His own image?  (Matthew 19:29-31)  As an intelligent being, however, I can conjure up all kinds of "what if" scenarios.  What if my paycheck is not enough?  What if the test comes back positive?  What if my husband does not forgive me?  

Instead of using my intellect to meditate on the greatness of God and His faithfulness to care for me, I often waste precious brainpower in analyzing possible solutions to my latest problems, or fretting over what could come to pass, or searching for answers found in my limited resources.  As a result, I spend sleepless nights tossing and turning in anxious apprehension.  

When I live in such a way, I am worse off than the lowly bird who never worries a day in his life.  How can this be?  Could it be that I have a very limited view of a small God?  

I may say that God is the source of good things, but in my heart I doubt that He can solve my impossible problems, or meet my particular needs, or overcome the enormous obstacles lying in my path.  

Words that extol the virtues of God's greatness may cross my lips but when it comes to the enormity of my own troubles, I wonder what God can do to help, thinking it is up to me to fight my own battles.  

I often say that the same God who parted the Red Sea, provided manna from heaven for his people, and breathed life into every living thing still reigns the earth today, but my heart is anxious just thinking about the impossibility of my own situation.

When I don't hear from the Lord regarding the battle I now face, I turn to worry when my image of God is small and impotent even though He is mighty to save!  (Jeremiah 32:27, Zephaniah 3:17)

Stray

The little lamb has everything she needs.  Her shepherd leads her to luscious pastures of green grass where she can graze to her heart's content.  He perceives when it's time for some water and guides her to a still place along the river where she can safely get a drink, quenching her thirst without danger of falling into the stream.  Her kind master directs her to a sheltered enclosure when the sun sinks below the horizon, giving her a safe place to slumber. (Psalm 23) Still, she tends to stray, looking for something more.

I am so much like this sheep.  Even though I have a loving and gentle shepherd who takes care of all my needs, I tend to look to other sources when things don't progress in the way I expect, or at the pace I desire, or with the outcome I imagine.  When things don't go the way I want, I tend to look elsewhere for answers.

Instead of being content to let God choose for me, I often use the free will He graciously gives me to look for other sources of wisdom, especially when things aren't going favorably for me.  How can this be?  Could it be that I view God as only one of many resources?

When I revere God as the one true source of all good things, standing in awe of His divine nature, I will gain wisdom that will guide me on the path of life. (Proverbs 9:10, Psalm 16:11) If instead I see good in other sources, believing that all roads lead to the same place, I'll find myself on a course that leads to death.  (Proverbs 16:25)

When Jesus walked among us as a man, He proclaimed Himself to be, "the way, the truth and the life."  Saying that, "No one comes to the Father except through me."  (John 14:6)  As such, He is the only way to life, the sole pathway to wisdom, and the single route to truth.  Therefore, I need never stray away from Him.

If I want to know the answer for every question I face, I need look no further than God through faith in Jesus.  When I go to Him, however, it must be without doubt, always intent on seeking His will, and using my whole heart.  (James 1:5-8, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:11-13)

When I don't hear from God regarding the battle I now face, I tend to stray when I think He is but one of many sources of wisdom and guidance.

Wait

He soars high among the clouds, his wings reaching toward the sun.  Effortlessly, he glides for hours, catching the updrafts that keep him afloat.  Here in the peace that is found high above the fray, he revels in his Creator.

The eagle was made to mount up to great heights, breathing the thin air that is found so high above the ground.  

In the same way, I am promised a similar ability to rise up above the problems that plague my life when I wait on the Lord.  (Isaiah 40:31)  Instead of feeling overwhelmed with what I now face, I can come closer to God, seeking His face and honing in on His goodness.  

In the place of living down in the weeds, overcome with all the details of life that will seemingly never come together in any way that will benefit me, I can keep my eyes of Jesus, reminding myself of all the ways He has empowered me to overcome.  (Hebrews 12:2)

While I am tempted to give up or give in, I can instead stand firm, believing that God will come through in His perfect timing.  (Ecclesiastes 3:11,1 Peter 5:8-9, 1 Peter 5:6-7)

God knows my situation perfectly.  He also sees the big picture and desires to use everything I encounter to form me into the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-29) Therefore, I can trust God to bring me through whatever I now face in the way He sees fit.  There is never a need to panic when God is at the helm of my life!  Believing these truths will give me the strength to wait on Him.

When I don't hear from God regarding the battle I now face, I wait on the Lord when I believe He is sovereign over all things.

Saul easily turned to a medium so he could consult Samuel from the afterlife.  In so doing, he betrayed his wayward heart and revealed his lack of faith in God.  I am not so different.  When the going gets tough, how often do I worry or stray to other gods?  In so doing, I betray my own small view of a God who is one of many.  Instead of believing such nonsense about my God, it is time I grasp the fact that God is able to do more than I can ask or imagine, is my strong foundation, and rules supreme.  In these ways I will be able to wait on God even when He is silent.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to stay true to Him even when I can't sense His presence.

How am I easily knocked off my foundation of faith?

When do I tend to worry most?