Things have been happening so fast around here that I am having trouble keeping up. I have been getting so many ideas, and I feel a little like my backyard looks: Everything is blooming at the same time, but each thing is scattered all over and nothing seems to be coming together.
I am not complaining, however. One of the things I’m learning is that organization is ideal in nature. When I stumble on a perfectly compact stand of wildflowers, it can be breathtaking. But when I unexpectedly find just one perfect flower, that can be just as wonderful.
The translation of that is that when I remember that I am not in charge, and instead I remember to be thankful for what I have (instead of longing for something else), then I can find peace. Most of my stress comes from trying to control things that are ultimately out of my control.
I don’t want to disappoint the people in my life who are counting on me, but I find that my attention toward one person will likely upset someone else. (It’s a given! A “yes” to one person is also a “no” to someone else.)
All too often, when I look back, I find that I have chosen to please the wrong ones, and have disappointed those who mean the most to me. It happens because I take my dear ones for granted, knowing “they will understand.”
Lately, I have been taking the Lord for granted, growing out of the habit of daily Bible reading. I justified it because we have been so busy (sound familiar?), and it’s hard to find the time to keep up with the “have to’s,” let alone the things we do for ourselves. That’s how I have been thinking of the daily readings, as something I do for myself.
But when we read God’s Word, He is talking to us. Putting off our readings tells God that we don’t have time to listen to Him. (Ouch.) I know that the Holy Scriptures have been in written form for thousands of years, but it is a living book; God is there on the page. When we read, God’s Spirit reveals truth, gives us ideas and enlarges our understanding of spiritual reality. It is as if God is right there, pointing to the page, drawing my attention to the important thing.
When I don’t read the Bible, I am not listening for what He wants to show me. I am missing Him. But I am also missing His wisdom, His inspiration, and the refreshment of the Living Water that washes our minds.
“. . .Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25b-27)
Washed clean with the Word of God
This week, we have begun to read together, using the M’Cheyne reading guide to keep us on track. And oh, it gets fiery in our discussions! (We are waking up, coming alive to the things of the Lord. It is sure to rouse one’s spirit!)
How I hate the dry times. And I know it’s my fault when it happens, but I don’t always know how to fix it. Sometimes, I believe that God waits for us to turn our eyes on Him sincerely.
I can be like the toddler in the store who didn’t get the thing, and I’m using my will, gritting my teeth to be “submissive” to Him, but I still have the swollen face and tear tracks from when I threw my tantrum. Making the decision to wait on God is the important first step, but it can take a while for my emotions to be in a place of peace. God is never in a hurry, and He will wait for me to be entirely present.
There is a curious effect of quiet waiting. (Be still and know that I am God.”) Other thoughts in the mind become less intense, and I become more aware of the present. And then I begin to be curious, which is like being thirsty. And when I am finally ready, God will respond at just the right time (Isaiah 49:8), to fully satisfy.
God knows more than anyone, certainly more than even me, how to turn my eyes and my heart back to Him. But I have to make the first move. God never left; I did. So it’s my responsibility to start the process in humility.
I never set out to step away from God, but I get distracted from intentionally following Him. Or I stop guarding my heart from the influence of the world (listening to the wrong music, getting too political, becoming caught up in social things, spending time after time after time enmeshed in the things of man.) I need that daily washing of the Word, because life makes me dirty. Maybe not willful sin-dirty, but man-like dirty. Not holy. Not set apart especially for God.
Last Known Good Configuration
With computers, especially with Windows, I used to create a set-point we could default back to when things stopped working. It was the “last known good configuration.” We could just reset everything back to the point in the past, and everything that had been corrupted in the software would revert back to the way it was when it was working well.
The prophet Jeremiah said we need to do something similar in our walk with the Lord:
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. . .’ ” (Jeremiah 6:16a)
The old, godly ways are the “last known good configuration” for your soul. Godly ways are life and health to us; they clean us, empower us, fill us with peace, and JOY!
Psalm 100 tells us that we “enter His gates with thanksgiving, and go into His courts with praise.” (verse 4) Thanksgiving and praise are the keys to God’s presence. Psalm 22:3 tells us that He inhabits the praises of His people! When I lose myself in praising God, I feel like He wraps His arms around me. We are literally never alone, my dear friends! We are more aware of our loving Father when we praise Him.
Just thank Him, for literally anything. Start with the first thing that comes to your mind, and go from there. Look around, and think of something good right in your line of sight, and praise Him for it. He is holding everything together, and empowering this whole earth, so you will never praise Him falsely. Moment by moment, He maintains your life and breath, and He even knows what you are thinking in your mind. So He knows when you are preparing to praise and thank Him, but He wants to hear you tell Him.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
I realize that when I skip my regular time with God, He misses me. He honors my scheduled time, waiting for me at our agreed upon place. When I don’t show up, He misses me. Have you ever considered that it’s possible for us to “stand up” God? (Makes me sick to think of it.)
“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet?” (Amos 3:3)
Our life with the Lord is not “extra” to the rest of our lives. It is the essential center, no matter what you believe. You don’t have to believe in gravity to fall off a cliff. It will happen, regardless. It is just a question of acknowledgement.
When my eye falls on the shiny thing, and I allow myself to turn away from God, I am making a choice. Our interest is kindled by novelty, because we were made to be intensely curious.
What novelty promises fails to retain our interest, though. So we search for something more novel, and it becomes a cycle going downward. Those cheap novelties pervert the high calling we have.
God is waiting to share the answers to real mysteries with us. When we seek Him, He can reveal deep secrets about creation, physics, art, etc., and also the spiritual world. I cherish those insights, because I know I will need what He gives me, soon. God is preparing me.
God supplies us with what we need, just before we need it. But if we aren’t paying any attention to Him, how can He help us? Instead of forcing yourself to spend five minutes each day praying, how about reverse it to only stop praying for five minutes each day?
When we “delight ourselves in the Lord” He promises to give us “the desires of our hearts.” (Psalms 37:4) When I pursue God, I know I am aligning my mind with His Word, and beginning to see things from His perspective. There is no fear there, for I am walking, in blissful harmony, with the most powerful Being that exists. I know He will defend me from everything, for He has already sent His Son to die for me. He will not hold anything back.
“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 NLT)
God is unequaled.
“The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
God’s name is equal to His essential nature: Mercy that endures forever, Favor toward those who love Him, Power, and more than anything else, Unfailing Love. There is nothing that equals God in any way, and so there is never a reason to turn away from Him for something else. That only happens when we allow ourselves to be deceived.
Our Father is the definition of good, and is worthy of all praise. My brothers and sisters in Christ, please pay attention, for He is constantly providing you with unexpected blessings! (Don’t let yourself miss out by not noticing!)
Have a beautiful spring weekend, my dear friends, knowing you are loved and blessed by our Father God, Himself!
The Fullers Four 