The Delusion of Idols

"The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

made by human hands.

They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see.

They have ears, but cannot hear,

nor is there breath in their mouths.

Those who make them will be like them,

and so will all who trust in them."

Psalm 135:15-18

Relationships.  Success.  Romantic love.  Sex.  Power.  Money.  Financial Security.  Comfort.  Adventure.  Education.  Materialism.  Science.  Food.  Self-fulfillment.  Self.  There are many idols which mankind worships.  It's easy to get my priorities off, to place my trust in something or someone other than God, to give away God's rightful place at the center of my attentions.  

While I'm quick to wander away from my First Love, I am only deluding myself when I do (Revelation 2:4).

Impotent.  Whatever basket in which I place my eggs will one day bust wide open, spilling all my hopes and dreams onto the floor in a sticky mess.  Anything in which I lean on, putting my confidence in, is created.  Everything that has ever been made receives its power from its Creator.  Nothing in all of existence, then, has any power unto itself except for God.  Therefore, I am trusting in an impotent object whenever I have faith in anything or anyone other than the Almighty; a risky proposition, wouldn't you agree?

Yet I often go there, believing scientific findings hold the answers to my deepest questions, or medical research is my hope for healing, or my best shot at a meaningful life will come once I attain that diploma.  We all pin our hopes on something that is unable to deliver, that was never meant to carry us through, that can't do all that we want it to do.  Only God is able to do more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  Only God has the power I need.

Anything other than God will let me down because it is impotent to generate the change I need, the love I crave, the security I seek.

Useless.  A carved image made by man's hands sits on the altar.  It may have eyes, but they're only for looks.  It might have a mouth, but no words every emerge from it.  I can see ears formed on the side of its head, but it never gives any indication that it hears me.  I can pour my heart out, crying tears of desperation before it, but it will never respond.  I'm better off confiding in my dog; at least he will act like he cares.

While I have never placed my hope in an idol made of wood or stone, I have trusted in things that will never be able to help me.  I hear the common sense that comes from television personalities and I try to imagine in vain how they might respond if I were able to seek their advice (1 Corinthians 3:19).  Or I cry my eyes out over a sink of suds, feeling a sense of relief but never finding the peace I need (Philippians 4:6-7).  Or I spend hours researching answers on the Internet, but never seem to find anything that will truly help me (James 1:5).  All on which I pin my hopes is useless.

Looking for help in anything other than God is an exercise in futility because even if it promises the answers I need, its assurances are empty and useless, like the eyes, mouth and ears carved on a wooden idol.

Transformational.  It occurs without fail.  No matter how hard I may try to resist, I am unable to stop it from happening.  Even if I have the best intentions, I'll soon find myself where I never wanted to be.  Idols have a way of sucking me into their world and before I know it, I'll resemble them in some way, kind of like how dogs and their masters end up looking alike.

I become like what I worship.  Whatever I adore or look up to will influence me in ways I don't even realize.  If I want to become more cold-hearted, I need look no further than technology where the latest and greatest is always sought and there is never a thought to the human behind the device.  If it's temporary satisfaction I desire, I can place sex and sensual pleasures on a pedestal, and I'll find myself always wanting more.  If it's emptiness and a feeling of meaningless is what I want, I can place my hopes in modern science where I'm nothing more than an accident, here completely by chance. 

Since I become like whatever I look up to, worshiping anything other than God will lead me to become more and more like the world that is headed toward destruction.

There are a million places where I can place my faith.  When I trust in anything besides God, I will find such an idol to be impotent to help me, useless in every way, and transformational in it's influence.  Therefore, I would be wise to make it my intention to keep God at the center of my vision, pinning all my hopes on Him.  He will never let me down: In Him there are no delusions.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with all of my heart.

When do I find myself becoming someone I never wanted to be, not realizing that I am simply being influenced by whatever it is I'm revering as the next best thing.

How am I fooling myself into believing I don't have an idol problem?

  

Unity

"How good and pleasant it is

when God's people live together in unity!"

Psalm 133:1

I don't see much of it today.  In fact, the people of God tend to drift toward individuality, strife and fractured living.  We are more intent on receiving personal rights, looking out for our own best interests, and getting our way.  As a result, the Body of Christ leans more toward conflict than reconciliation, getting involved in silly arguments about the color of the carpeting in the foyer, or the style of music used to worship God, or the translation of God's Holy Word that is used.

When we submit to one another as Christ yielded to His Father, things look different than the usual every-man-for-himself mentality that we encounter in this dark, cruel world.  Out of reverence for Jesus, with a constant spirit of carefulness in the way we deal with one another, there is much blessing to be found in the unity that follows.

Brothers and Sisters.  The words conjure up images based on past experiences.  I may feel all warm and fuzzy when thinking of my fellow Believers as kin, or I could expect bickering and rough treatment from those relations as we let our guard down in familiarity.  Or I might think family means obligation, and unmet obligations lead to guilty feelings, meaning the idea of family will conjure up images of responsibilities and expectations that are impossible to keep.  Whatever my background, what I've experienced will color my idea of family.

In Christ there is a new kind of family being birthed.  When each is submitted to Christ, we share the same mind (1 Corinthians 2:16).  We are on the same track, led by the same indwelling Spirit, working toward the same goal, are created with the same purpose and led by the same Head.  Therefore, when yielded to the Head, the Body moves together as one with joy in the hearts of each part (Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12) .  Instead of doing what is necessary to get along, then, it is more of a symbiotic relationship we experience with our brothers and sisters, a sense that we were made to cooperate with one another and we'll find that unity comes naturally when we succumb to our purpose in Christ.

Recognizing my place in the Body of Christ as a member of a worldwide family gives me a proper perspective that leads to unity.

Dwell.  I belong here.  That is the message of Christ.  When He died on the cross, securing my place in the family of God by His blood, I enter into a Body where I am meant to exist.  I'm not some kind of squatter or seat warmer, taking up space until the real member gets here. Instead, I am a part of the nation of Israel, the chosen people of God, the Church.  Through faith in Jesus, my position is secure.

As such, I dwell in this family, exist in this specific place for a specific reason, am identified with this Body with Christ as the head.  I'm meant to be where I am to fulfill my purpose in His family.  Therefore, I must take every precaution to live at peace with those who also belong.  As the Spirit of Christ in me transforms me, love overflows for the followers of Christ who are running toward Him in my midst.  We form a cohesive bond and work hard to make peace our goal, realizing each personal need is not any more important than what others need.  Living together becomes an harmonious practice.

As I accept my true home in the Body of Christ I will find a desire to do whatever is necessary to live in peace and harmony with my family (Romans 12:16, 18).

Blessing.  All good things come down from above.  In the same way the manna came like dew, feeding God's people each morning as they wandered in the desert, so the blessings of God shower down on His people today.  Like anointing oil lavishly flowing down the head of the priests of old, so God extravagantly pours out His blessing on us as we live in unity as He designed us to exist.

Therefore, putting the needs of others ahead of myself, thinking of ways I can show God's love to the family of God in my midst, looking for ways to honor the sacrifices made for the good of the whole is to be my greatest joy.  When I cooperate with the unifying Spirit of Christ, the result will be an abundance of goodness poured out from above.

Dedicating myself to living in harmony with the family of God is never an exercise in futility, but will result in much blessing.

Even though it is a rare thing to experience unity in the church in this day and age, it can be achieved through submission to Christ as our Head.  When we cooperate with what God is doing within, we'll find a desire to see our comrades in Christ as beloved family members and will want to live in peace with them.  As we experience such a radical unifying Spirit at work, we'll receive much blessing, not as an individual, but as a part of the whole.  This is true unity at work.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that God will give me a glimpse of the unity that comes when I submit to His work in my life.

How do I mostly look out for myself, never considering the needs of others?

When do I stand my ground for things that are not really important, causing unnecessary strife in the Body of Christ that is meant to be unified?      

God's Resting Place

"Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place,

you and the ark of your might.

May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;

may your faithful people sing for joy."

Psalm 132:8-9

David, man after God's own heart, yearned for God to reside in a proper temple, not just a temporary tent.  He couldn't rest and even lost sleep, so deep was his desire to see God honored in such a way.  It was David's longing to see God rightly treated and worshiped in a temple made of stone, but God assigned the task to his son Solomon due to David's life marked by war and the shedding of blood (1 Chronicles 22:7-10).

Where is God's resting place today, the proper temple where He can be honored and worshiped?  It is me and you; we are the temple of God, bought with a price and meant to exist as a holy vessel (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  What would it look like if my heart became like David's?

Invitational.  God is not a bully.  He is a Gentleman to the core, giving me the reigns to my life with the desire that I would willingly hand them over to Him. He doesn't snatch them out of my hands. When I do take such a step of submission to His perfect will, freely allowing Him access to the deepest parts of me and readily offering Him leadership, He is delighted.  It is His desire to be honored as a holy God and revered as the only One who is fit to control my life.  As I place Him in His rightful place on the throne of my life, I am beginning the process of restoration that will take a lifetime.  

It is impossible for me to find peace and fulfillment as I buck the system, working against the way God meant for things to exist.  When I invite Him into the resting place He created in my heart, the holy temple He erected through the costly sacrifice of His Son, I am taking a step toward worshiping Him in the way He was meant to be revered: With my life (Romans 12:1).  As He dwells within me and I pay attention to His presence, I'll find a transformation taking place.  As He changes me into the woman I was meant to be, I'll grow in my desire to honor Him in the way I live my life (Philippians 2:12-13) . I'll find I'm being changed from the inside out, and it all started with an invitation for Jesus to serve as my King.

When I invite God into my temple as Lord, cooperating with Him in His holy transforming work, I'll find a heart growing within me to honor Him in all I do.

Glory-focused.  I'm wired to want the attention for what I accomplish.  It's deeply ingrained in my flesh to desire affirmation from my fellow man.  It's not natural for me to do something without getting at least a bit of credit for a job well done.  

As I grow in Christ, however, I'll find a change taking place.  As His Spirit transforms me from the inside out, I'll discover a greater desire for God to get the attention for what is accomplished.  My fleshly hunger for a pat on the back by man is exchanged for a single mission: to see the name of Christ in lights and to hear His name proclaimed from the rooftops.  My labors become a love offering with my only desire being to make much of my Lord.

As God develops the heart of David within me, I'll find my focus gearing more toward His glory than mine.

Joy-filled.  When God made me, He meant for me to overflow with joy.  It was His desire that I taste unbridled happiness each and every moment.  His design included a provision for overflowing pleasure in Him to pour from within me.  The more I live in this world that is ruled by a dark lord, however, the more this joy is stolen from me, slowly seeping out as I get sucked into the darkness.

How can the joy I was meant to live in be restored to my life?  I can receive the joy that is mine by giving thanks for all that God is doing all around me.  Planting seeds of gratitude toward God cultivates a harvest of joy (Psalm 92:4-5, Colossians 1:11-12)!  And as I rest in His perfect provision, thriving in His protection, and dwelling as His well-loved child, "my heart leaps for joy!"  (Psalm 28:7)

Joy fills my heart when I give thanks for God's handiwork as I tune in my radar to His ever present help.

I live in a different age than David, but I can still have his heart beating in my chest.  When I invite God's Spirit in through faith in Jesus Christ, He'll develop in me a desire to see His name made famous and an overflow of His joy.  This is the result of God finding a resting place in my heart!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to invite Him in as my Lord.

When do I keep God at arms-length, afraid of what He might find if He draws close?

How am I robbing myself of the joy He meant for me to possess by developing a cynical attitude?      

Ministry of Forgiveness

"LORD, if you kept a record of our sins,

who, O Lord, could ever survive?

But you offer forgiveness,

that we might learn to fear you."

Psalm 130:3-4

Do you ever feel like we take God too lightly?  That as a people, we've somehow lowered Him to a position unworthy of His majesty?  That in our hunger for His companionship, we have made Him out to be a friend who is like our human friends?  It's not the idea of intimacy that bothers me.  Rather it's the casual way we view Him that doesn't seem quite right.  

When I came across this scripture, it stirred something inside, opened up a new layer of understanding, generated new questions to explore.  Won't you come along with me, dear reader?

Usually, I think that the forgiveness offered through faith in Jesus Christ results in thanksgiving and cultivates a grateful spirit.  I'm so glad that God forgives me through Christ, that He doesn't give me what I deserve, that I owe Him my life in return, a kind of sacrifice of praise in the way I live (Romans 6:23,12:1).  There is more, however, a deeper manifestation of forgiveness than I realized.

Inadequacy.  We all have sinned (Romans 3:23).  No one is good, not one (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  There is no man or woman, boy or girl, who has ever lived in all of history who was able to reach God's perfect standard.  Not the virgin Mary.  Not Mother Teresa.  Not Billy Graham.  No matter how well someone lives their life, each is still a sinful creature in desperate need of a Savior.

Once I understand and recognize my inability to be good enough to stand before a holy, righteous God in my own right, without the benefit of an advocate to argue my case, without the sanctifying cover of the blood of Jesus, I realize the depth of my sin problem.  The sin that is part of who I am, that I cannot help, that comes so naturally to me, is also the very thing that estranges me from the One who loves me perfectly, who has the power to make my life complete, who has what I've been searching for all my life.  But I, in myself, cannot survive His holy wrath if He chose to unleash upon me what I deserve from Him.  Even more, I cannot even come into His presence on my own to receive anything good from Him who is the source of all that is good (James 1:17).

Before I can receive the forgiveness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I must come to a point of depravity, knowing my need for His pardon and my utter inability to earn it in any way.

Mercy.  Think about a world where I received what I truly deserved.  Sure, in my prideful way of thinking, I imagine that I have earned good things by the way I live my life, in the beneficial decisions that I make, in the generosity of my giving.  But my ability to judge my own behavior is tainted by sin, it is inaccurate to say the least.  Only God knows what I truly deserve.  And if He gave me what I earned through my twisted way of living, the destructive habits and patterns I've learned as a way of coping with this dark world, the self-centered method I've used to order my priorities, I'd be dead in a heartbeat.  If God really did keep a record of all my corrupt behaviors and mindsets, I would never leave a single day.

But there is a holding off of His righteous judgment until the appointed time, a grace period, an interval intentionally left between the sin I commit and the judgement I deserve.  This gap in time leaves room from the grace of God that is mine through faith in Jesus Christ.  Since it is my Father's will that all of His created image bearers come to a saving faith in Jesus, He graciously leaves time for each to come to repentance and accept the gift of mercy that comes by faith in Christ (2 Peter 3:9).

As I come to a recognition of my own depravity, I can then acknowledge God's merciful timing in holding off judgment to leave time for repentance.

Offer.  I see my need for a Savior, my own inability to save myself from the sin of my flesh.  I recognize God mercifully chooses to not judge me on the spot for how I've grieved Him, but gives time for all to come to Christ by faith.  Then I see the offer of salvation for what it is:  a gift of mercy by a merciful God.  It dawns on me that a thin yet powerful layer of blood separates me from the righteous wrath of God.  It becomes evident to me that my very flesh repulses God.  If it weren't for Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, I'd have no hope of coming boldly before the throne of grace to freely receive all that I need to live for Him (Hebrews 4:16)

And the awe comes, the reverence for such a holy God who I am unable to see for His sacredness, the fear for a righteous God I don't deserve yet have freely been offered.  Who am I to kneel before Him?  How is it that I can speak to Him as if He were a good friend?  Why am I able to open my heart to Him as a beloved daughter to a Father?  As I ponder such mysteries, I offer back my reverence in response for such a God as this.

The dawning of my own need for a Savior, followed by gratitude for His merciful timing that allowed me to be found in my lostness, results in my astonishment of Him as a dangerous God from whose wrath I've been mercifully saved in order to be able to know Him as Papa.  Of this may I never forget.

It's easy to take sin casually in light of the forgiveness that is mine through faith in Christ.  It is equally as natural to start seeing God as if He were like man, able to be fully understood and thus like one of us.  There is an understanding that comes through forgiveness where I realize my own inadequacy, acknowledge God's merciful timing in holding off judgement, and offer back my reverence in response to the forgiveness that is mine through Christ.  This is the ministry of Forgiveness, not that I simply accept and be thankful, but that I come to a deeper understanding of His holy nature and righteous wrath.  He is a dangerous God who welcomes me into His refuge of mercy; of this I must always stand in awe.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that a spirit of respect and awe will grow for God.

When do I take the gift of forgiveness for granted, treating it as a cheap gift?

How am I living in a way that shows my disregard for God's holy nature?

   

In Vain

"Unless the LORD builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep."

Psalm 127:1-2 ESV

Ever feel like you're spinning your wheels, getting nowhere despite doing everything according to the book, perpetually running into trouble no matter how careful you are?  I can relate.  I've had periods in my life when I've tried really hard to make a go of it, to build something significant with my life, to make good decisions that will help protect myself and those I love.  Still, it seemed everything went wrong and nothing ever came of my best efforts.

When going through periods of such anxious toil, I might consider that the Lord's not in what I'm doing, for when He is, my labor is not in vain.

Build.  I have a tendency to follow the world's advice; cultivating ambition, hatching plans, following dreams.  When I do, I fail to recognize Who holds the blueprint for my carefully formed life (Psalm 139:13-16).  I am living in God's world, not the other way around.  It's easy for me to get into the habit of coming up with my own agenda and asking God to bless the work of my hands instead of getting on board with what God is already up to in my life.  

When I'm sensitive to His perpetual design that is taking place all around me, I can join in with what He is busy doing (Jeremiah 29:11-13).  When I do, I'll start building my life according to His blueprint, in His location, by His timetable and using the materials He provides.  When I operate according to this mode instead of my own self-centered way of going about life, I'll find my efforts result in kingdom fruit that will last.

Unless the LORD is given free reign to build my life according to His plan, everything I do to try to make something of my days will be wasted.

Protection.  He had all the insurance that was possible to protect against any kind of scenario.  Money was piled up in the bank and the highest level of security was installed in his home.  He took every precaution humanly feasible but he still lost his life and left his family without a husband and father.  All his well-intended efforts did nothing to stave off the evil of this world.

There is only so much I can do to protect myself and my family from the bad things that lurk in this dark world.  Even if I'm able to foresee every possible scenario and make every effort to guard against it, I'm left completely vulnerable without God's sovereign protection.  He is my best insurance policy, my greatest line of defense, my trusted shelter in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).  With God as my guardian, I need not fear any calamity, crisis or catastrophe, for He has me in the shadow of His wings.  There is no safer place to be, no matter what comes my way.  

Unless the LORD is acknowledged as my best line of defense, everything I do to protect myself from harm will make no difference at all.

Work.  I live in a world that says hard work is rewarded with success.  Therefore, I labor long and persistently, trying my best to make it up the ladder.  I follow advice of those who went before me, doing the same things they did to make it to the top.  Still, things don't seem to click and I find nothing but exhaustion coming from my efforts.  There is this sense that something vital is missing from the formula.

Then I discover a nugget of wisdom from the One who created the world in which I operate.  Who better to go to for advice in how to live successfully?  And He reminds me that I have a Father who desires to take care of my needs, freeing me up to labor in His kingdom, leaving the provision up to Him for the here and now (Matthew 6:33).  As I follow His ways, I come to find a different kind of success, accomplishments that are not recognized by this world but offers reward in heaven where I will find the true fruit of my labor in Him.    

Unless the LORD is trusted as my Provider, all my labor meant to propel me upward and onward will amount to nothing more than spinning wheels and exhaustion that penetrates my soul.

In this life, I'm either working against God, or cooperating with Him.  When I do things my way, living according to my own plan or the design of this world, I will find my efforts in vain.  When I acknowledge God as the Architect, the Protector, and the Provider, I'll find rest.  When I do, the work I accomplish according to His blueprint as I rest under His protection and trust in His provision will bring much success.  This is the kind of labor that finds favor with God.  This is the kind of labor that is not in vain.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him lead me where He plans for me to go.

When do I labor in vain as I follow my own plan?

How am I failing to look for where God is at work marking out my route, trying instead to forge my own path?

At His Mercy

"To you I lift up my eyes,

O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Behold, as the eyes of servants

look to the hand of their master,

 as the eyes of a maidservant

to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the LORD our God,

till he has mercy upon us."

Psalm 123:1-2 ESV

Life is fragile, brief and oh-so delicate.  One minute I'm here, the next my life is a distant memory.  As the prophet Isaiah reminds me, "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.  The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass."  (Isaiah 40:6b-7)  No matter how secure I may feel, how much effort I put into preserving my life, I am completely at the mercy of God; only He knows my fate.

Whether I recognize it or not, my life is in God's hands, a good place to be once I accept it.  When I submit to His sovereign power, the way I live my life will change.

Servant.  A slave has no life of his own for he is bought by a master.  Therefore, he must do his master's bidding while being completely dependent upon him for his provision. Every moment of his life is spent focused on the will of his master.  The moment he became a slave, his own rights and liberties went out the window for now his attentions must be trained on fulfilling the wishes of the one who owns him. 

Likewise, once I realize I am a servant of God's and submit myself to His loving, gentle Spirit, I will no longer cater to my own needs but look to His plan for my life. It will no longer be about me and my desires, my rights, my freedoms but rather about my Master's preferences.  What is it that He wants from me in this moment?  What is His will for my life?  How can I best represent Him in the way I respond to this hardship?

As one who is at God's mercy, I consider myself His servant, bought with a price so I can honor Him in the way I live my life (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Maidservant.  She exists to assist her mistress, tending to her every whim and desire.  A maidservant must also be ready at any moment to spring into action.  When her mistress calls, whether it be first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night, she is expected to be prepared to perform any task necessary to please her mistress.

In a similar way, I can think of myself as a maidservant, taking on the qualities that make a helpful attendant.  It's easy for me to put certain parameters around what I'm willing to do, or the times I'm available for service, but if I'm to be truly submitted to God and His will, it will mean I must take on the mindset of a maidservant.  It is for Him and His glory that I exist, but I can rest easy in the knowledge that He will never take advantage of my subservience.

As one who is at God's mercy, I consider myself His maidservant, ready and willing to accomplish whatever He calls me to do whenever He calls me to do it.

God-focus.  Servants are entirely master-focused.  In order to do their job successfully, and thus preserve their life, they must learn to set aside their own wants and desires and keep their eyes trained on the one for whom they work.  It takes humility to submit to such selfless service.

While God does not force me to submit to His will, doing so promises much blessing and building up of a storehouse full of treasures in heaven.  It may not seem a very prestigious position to hold, but in God's upside-down, backwards system of values, the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) and anyone who wants to be considered great must be a servant (Matthew 20:26-28).

As one who is at God's mercy, my focus must be trained on God and His will.

It can be scary to put myself at the mercy of another, especially if I'm not sure if they can be trusted with my life.  When it comes to God, however, I can place my life in His hands, knowing without a doubt that He will not take advantage of me nor fail to provide for every need.  Therefore, I can operate as His servant who has been bought at a price, a maidservant who is always ready to do His bidding, and maintain a God-focus instead of putting myself and my rights first.  In these ways, being at God's mercy is a very good place to be!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with every part of my life.

When do I promote myself, thinking I'll never amount to anything unless I defend my rights and stimulate my own success?

How do I fail to make God's will my top priority?

      

How to Resist Despair

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1-2 ESV

I'm in the valley, maybe even the one shadowed by death (Psalm 23:4).  Things look bleak, hope is fading, it seems like the end.  I despair, wondering where this abundant life is that was promised to me (John 10:10b).  

In times such as these, periods of anguish and desperation, I can take a lesson from the psalmist.

Look Up.  His words stung me deeply.  They hurt so much because I knew they were true.  A brother in Christ rebuked me sternly for doubting God's plan through the hard time I was facing.  He said, "It's time for you to act like you believe the words you so confidently proclaim!"  Then he recited a poem that has stuck with me ever since.  "Worry looks around, fear looks back, but faith looks up!"

The writer of today's passage knew this truth well, exhorting me to train my eyes on my Father who has all things under control.  When I look around me at the problems that overwhelm, the darkness that looms, the "what-ifs" that drive me crazy, my stomach twists in knots and my outlook is bleak.  When I turn my gaze on the One who holds me in the palm of His hand, I remember that I'm not alone in this.  I have an Advocate who goes before me, fighting the battle on my behalf.

When walking through the dark valleys of life, it's important that I keep looking up from whence my help comes.

Source.  It's easy to look to other sources besides God for help, especially as I live in a world that is chock-full of resources.  When I realize that God is my go-to person, my faithful fount of wisdom, my never-ending supply of help, I will find the kind of assistance I need in every situation (Psalm 46:1).  He will never let me down and will always give me exactly what is necessary.

God is such a personal God.  The way He helps me may be different than the way He helps others.  For me, it may be necessary to give me opportunities to trust Him in impossible situations so my faith will grow and I will mature.  For others, He may deem it essential to deliver them from certain suffering in order to protect their heart or nurture their faith.  Only He knows what each of us needs and how to bring to fruition His great life-plan for each of His own, so depending on Him to help me will bring about the best outcome possible (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 29:11).

When going through difficult times, it's important that I recognize God as my sole source of help (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Sovereignty.   When playing a board game, it's important to read the directions to find out the intentions of the creator of the game.  As I study the rules, I learn the objective, the guidelines for playing and how a winner is declared.  If I decided to play by my own rules, which I've often done, I'm playing a different game than the one the inventor intended.

It's the same with life.  If I want to know the purpose for my life, what my goals are and what makes a successful life, I need to go to the One who made all things, the Creator of heaven and earth.  When I do, I will discover that it's His world in which I live, His plan I can either accept or reject, and His decision as to how everything works together.  He made it so He can do whatever He wants with His own creation (Romans 9:16-18).

In the hands of a malevolent being, this would be a scary prospect, but in light of the fact that the Sovereign God is a good God, I can trust Him to do what's best for me.  In fact, He is so bent on me living out His best that He takes what was meant for evil and uses it for my good (Romans 8:28).  In this truth I can rest:  God is for me (v 31) .

When experiencing trouble in this life, it's important that I realize I'm living in my good Father's world and He has absolute sovereignty over all things.

When going through dark times, it's easy to despair.  In order to resist such a natural inclination, I must look up to God as my source of help and realize His sovereign power over all things.  As I do, I will know the secret to living a joy-filled life, no matter my circumstances.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with all the nitty-gritty details of my life.

When do I despair when overwhelmed with troubles, losing sight of God who is bigger than it all?

How am I troubled about that which God is never worried?