There is no road map to walking with God. But He does give us His Word...
Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law." We are only to be obedient to what He has given and shown us, which is His Word and what He has entrusted.
Psalm 37:23, "The steps of a good man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way and He busies Himself with his every step." His Word says He will direct our steps and He will then establish them...when He delights in our way. I can freely move forward and pursue what resonates in my heart, His desires, all the while knowing it will be Him putting them all together.
Proverbs 16:9, "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure." He will make these steps sure, all the while demanding our trust, waiting on Him, simply knowing Him. Truth is, there really is so much "planning" I can do.
Proverbs 20:24, "Man's steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way?" Great question. I cannot, am not supposed to.
Hebrews 10:36, "For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised." Patience and endurance are so vital each day, in what He has both revealed and entrusted right now...not to get ahead of Him, or to be anxious living out the "what ifs" in our mind...but to enjoy Him to the full today, in what He has promised and given. The verse prior says, "Do no, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward." Be confident in today, in what He has already directed...in my steps...be patient, because of v37, "For still a little while, a very little while, and the Coming One will come and He will not delay." He is always on time, regardless of His tempo. Just walk in what He has revealed.
There is no road map to walking with God. The only plan I have is to follow His lead...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
manna
With each day, it seems like You are giving me "manna" for just today, this season, this journey...there is no mapped out plan beyond the present, which strips away an idol of routine that I have falsely relied on before...so that I can no longer find security within the boundaries that I tend to build.
In 1 Kings 19:5-8, an angel visits Elijah, who is discouraged, lonely, desiring more of You in a place where most do not...the angel tells him to "arise and eat" two times, and two times he does this...and after the 2nd, Elijah "went in the strength of that food 40 days and nights." I cannot help but think and wonder if that is how Your manna for me is today, right now...that it is just what I need now, and when I need manna for tomorrow, and the next weeks and months, it will be there...
But not right now.
And just like Elijah, I can go for "40 days" if I need on what You give now...which "manna" means I cannot build a false sense of security, because manna today is no good for tomorrow.
But it is an opportunity for You to bring glory to Yourself.
The only plan I have is to follow Your lead...and to rest in the manna You have given me today.
Monday, February 13, 2012
back to Your glory
"However, we possess this precious treasure, the divine Light of the Gospel, in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Back to Your glory.
You could put me on that bus, or on that plane, but right now You do not want me there. As disappointing as these circumstances feel every time, somehow this is part of of how You want to reveal more of Yourself here in my life and in the lives of those around me. In my mind, this does not make sense, this whole scenario...but You are still on the throne and still at work...and right now this is how You are choosing to glorify Yourself most.
And that is a privilege, because this is not about me but You...
"Therefore we do not become discouraged, utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear" (v16a)..."For our light, momentary affliction, this slight distress of the passing hour, is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory, beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!" (v17).
The final verse in this passage drives home our reality..."Since we consider and look...to the things that are unseen...deathless and eternal." So all these things, hardships, trials, disappointments (see v8-9), are taking place for ___________ sake, so that more grace extends to more and more people, and multiplies through the many...to the glory of God" (v15). Let them see Your glory.
Somehow I believe You are managing to manifest Your life through this frail vessel...through continuing to serve in humility and joy, by responding to unfair circumstances in peace. If I can see momentary afflictions, temporary circumstances, as the pathway to You glorifying Yourself and making Yourself known, then I am free to walk in today, believing You for tomorrow.
Psalm 33:4, "For the Word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness." Everything You do is in Your faithfulness, not mine. Therefore I can rest in my present, circumstances I cannot control, unknowns and disappointments, because ALL Your work is done in faithfulness...on the bus or not on the bus...this is how You are choosing to glorify Yourself.
Back to Your glory, Father...back to Your glory.
You could put me on that bus, or on that plane, but right now You do not want me there. As disappointing as these circumstances feel every time, somehow this is part of of how You want to reveal more of Yourself here in my life and in the lives of those around me. In my mind, this does not make sense, this whole scenario...but You are still on the throne and still at work...and right now this is how You are choosing to glorify Yourself most.
And that is a privilege, because this is not about me but You...
"Therefore we do not become discouraged, utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear" (v16a)..."For our light, momentary affliction, this slight distress of the passing hour, is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory, beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!" (v17).
The final verse in this passage drives home our reality..."Since we consider and look...to the things that are unseen...deathless and eternal." So all these things, hardships, trials, disappointments (see v8-9), are taking place for ___________ sake, so that more grace extends to more and more people, and multiplies through the many...to the glory of God" (v15). Let them see Your glory.
Somehow I believe You are managing to manifest Your life through this frail vessel...through continuing to serve in humility and joy, by responding to unfair circumstances in peace. If I can see momentary afflictions, temporary circumstances, as the pathway to You glorifying Yourself and making Yourself known, then I am free to walk in today, believing You for tomorrow.
Psalm 33:4, "For the Word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness." Everything You do is in Your faithfulness, not mine. Therefore I can rest in my present, circumstances I cannot control, unknowns and disappointments, because ALL Your work is done in faithfulness...on the bus or not on the bus...this is how You are choosing to glorify Yourself.
Back to Your glory, Father...back to Your glory.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
who's glory
Psalm 115:1, "Not to us, oh Lord, not to us but to Your Name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness."
This hit me in a fresh way...if I am seeking my glory, than today hurts...because today, like every day, there are those who do not approve of or affirm me...and I cannot make a defense...
But I also do not need to defend myself...because if my life and purpose is to Your glory, than those circumstances do not matter. If my life and purpose are in You, then all of who I am comes from You, not the programs I write or my coaching abilities. And I can rest in the Truth that You are glorifying Yourself, regardless of how things appear, or how I feel...because You hold it all and You will glorify Yourself, regardless.
May my life reflect the light of Your glory...to You be the glory, regardless.
This hit me in a fresh way...if I am seeking my glory, than today hurts...because today, like every day, there are those who do not approve of or affirm me...and I cannot make a defense...
But I also do not need to defend myself...because if my life and purpose is to Your glory, than those circumstances do not matter. If my life and purpose are in You, then all of who I am comes from You, not the programs I write or my coaching abilities. And I can rest in the Truth that You are glorifying Yourself, regardless of how things appear, or how I feel...because You hold it all and You will glorify Yourself, regardless.
May my life reflect the light of Your glory...to You be the glory, regardless.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
slow and steady
Your Kingdom began by a death on a cross...You could have rescued Yourself at any point but You did not...You kept the course, committed to the Father's plan...quite unfathomable for a martyr Who could free Himself at will.
It is no different now, for me...stay the course, be consistent, patient, steady...growth happens over time. Psalm 92 hits this, in v7, "Though the wicked spring up like grass"...this is fast, because we all know how quickly grass grows! Yet v8-9, "But You oh Lord are on high forever...behold, your enemies shall perish." Then v10, "But my horn, emblem of excessive strength and stately grace, You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil."
Steady...v12 uses a tree to make the point. A tree's growth is quite opposite of grass. A tree is slow and steady whereas grass is almost out of control. "The uncompromisingly righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful; they shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon, majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible"...because v13, "Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God."
Just like training the body physically requires patience and commitment and time, so does Your work...in my life, through my life, in others lives...but You are at work, and I can rest in this.
Slow and steady, just like the palm trees here. And I am planted in You, this is why I can know this.
Slow and steady, a result of Your grace...v14, "Growing in grace they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap, spiritual vitality, and rich in the verdure (flourishing), of trust, love and contentment"...all signs of maturity, timely growth, nothing quick that will not last but one that is aged with time, a strong foundation, still reaping fruit throughout time, that will last.
Then my life becomes a "memorial" (v15) to the Lord...revealing that You are upright and faithful to Your promises, my Rock and righteousness.
Slow and steady...
It is no different now, for me...stay the course, be consistent, patient, steady...growth happens over time. Psalm 92 hits this, in v7, "Though the wicked spring up like grass"...this is fast, because we all know how quickly grass grows! Yet v8-9, "But You oh Lord are on high forever...behold, your enemies shall perish." Then v10, "But my horn, emblem of excessive strength and stately grace, You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil."
Steady...v12 uses a tree to make the point. A tree's growth is quite opposite of grass. A tree is slow and steady whereas grass is almost out of control. "The uncompromisingly righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful; they shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon, majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible"...because v13, "Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God."
Just like training the body physically requires patience and commitment and time, so does Your work...in my life, through my life, in others lives...but You are at work, and I can rest in this.
Slow and steady, just like the palm trees here. And I am planted in You, this is why I can know this.
Slow and steady, a result of Your grace...v14, "Growing in grace they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap, spiritual vitality, and rich in the verdure (flourishing), of trust, love and contentment"...all signs of maturity, timely growth, nothing quick that will not last but one that is aged with time, a strong foundation, still reaping fruit throughout time, that will last.
Then my life becomes a "memorial" (v15) to the Lord...revealing that You are upright and faithful to Your promises, my Rock and righteousness.
Slow and steady...
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
invisible
Through the circumstances before me, daily life here, with things always in flux, changing, it is forcing my trust to a whole new level, one that I probably never would have intentionally chosen...even with the true lack of control in a familiar place, life seems much more predictable...You remove that here...
Yet it gives me the opportunity to experience Your continuity, Your Presence...
Fix my gaze upon what I cannot see...this is only possible through Your Spirit...and even as the visible world parades before me, give me the courage and faith of those before...as Moses (Hebrews 11:27), "for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible."
As one who gazed on Him Who is invisible...fix my gaze upon what I cannot always see, You.
Yet it gives me the opportunity to experience Your continuity, Your Presence...
Fix my gaze upon what I cannot see...this is only possible through Your Spirit...and even as the visible world parades before me, give me the courage and faith of those before...as Moses (Hebrews 11:27), "for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible."
As one who gazed on Him Who is invisible...fix my gaze upon what I cannot always see, You.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
humility + thanksgiving
Romans 15:13, "May the God of my hope so fill me with all joy and peace in believing through the experience of my faith that by the power of Your Spirit I may abound and be overflowing with hope."
Regardless of my circumstances, You have still called me and are faithful...You know my needs. Yet I recognize my pride in this journey, maybe even my damaged ego.
Again, my hope does not change because it is in You alone...and that hope is what fills me to be Your hands and feet today. Maybe You just like keeping my "needs" up in the air because it forces me to continually rely on You to meet those rather than my "skills"...and it gives You the opportunity to glorify Yourself rather than me pointing at myself.
It is still so humbling Father...
Yet Paul lived the same.
Galatians 6:14, "But far be it from me to glory in anything or anyone except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." In the externals of life, Paul lived at the bottom, while his critics (Pharisees) lived in the penthouse. But Paul was so solidly rooted and steady in only You...he was consistent in Your faithfulness, not his own...his external life may have changed without causing him any internal distress because He knew You that profoundly.
So back to what I know is true of You...and that foolish faith is not based on externals. I can be consistent like Paul when I let it all come down to one thing: changed lives through Your Spirit.
Psalm 116:17, "I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord." This is how it feels at the moment...thankfulness as a sacrifice, when I do not feel thankful, or at least my circumstances can lead me to feel this way...yet I can walk through the hard and discouraging days with joy because You are Joy...and Your joy dwells in my heart...and the light of Your Presence still shines upon me, regardless.
I think You are teaching me to live here in more ways than I want to admit...and at the end of the day, You know what You are doing, even if I do not.
Regardless of my circumstances, You have still called me and are faithful...You know my needs. Yet I recognize my pride in this journey, maybe even my damaged ego.
Again, my hope does not change because it is in You alone...and that hope is what fills me to be Your hands and feet today. Maybe You just like keeping my "needs" up in the air because it forces me to continually rely on You to meet those rather than my "skills"...and it gives You the opportunity to glorify Yourself rather than me pointing at myself.
It is still so humbling Father...
Yet Paul lived the same.
Galatians 6:14, "But far be it from me to glory in anything or anyone except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." In the externals of life, Paul lived at the bottom, while his critics (Pharisees) lived in the penthouse. But Paul was so solidly rooted and steady in only You...he was consistent in Your faithfulness, not his own...his external life may have changed without causing him any internal distress because He knew You that profoundly.
So back to what I know is true of You...and that foolish faith is not based on externals. I can be consistent like Paul when I let it all come down to one thing: changed lives through Your Spirit.
Psalm 116:17, "I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord." This is how it feels at the moment...thankfulness as a sacrifice, when I do not feel thankful, or at least my circumstances can lead me to feel this way...yet I can walk through the hard and discouraging days with joy because You are Joy...and Your joy dwells in my heart...and the light of Your Presence still shines upon me, regardless.
I think You are teaching me to live here in more ways than I want to admit...and at the end of the day, You know what You are doing, even if I do not.
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