It's so easy to look at other people's lives and point out what is wrong with them rather than examining ourselves to see where we need to improve. I have sometimes heard people utter the phrase,
"I would NEVER do that !"
And I have had such thoughts myself. But I sometimes wonder what I would have done if I was put in a similar situation as that other person. I have therefore since learned not to be too quick to condemn people or write them off. The lesson in this is to be more concerned about your walk with the Lord than what other people are doing.
In any case, a few weeks ago I was driving home from running some errands when I believe God spoke to me about something that came as a shock to me. Here it is : God showed me that for most of my life I have done a lot of things in my human strength and wisdom and I have not fully depended on Him. Because of this, I had not lived God's very best for my life. Yes my life has been great, but because of my inability to fully trust God, there are so many areas where I was living out of the perfect will of God. Whoa !
I am one of those people that likes to calculate, plan, calculate some more, take strategic steps, cross my "t's" and dot my "i's" and yet after doing all these and succeeding to some extent, I am NEVER fulfilled. I am not saying there is something wrong with planning ahead; I am simply stating that most of the things we all try to accomplish with our human effort usually only gives you a sense of accomplishment for a short while. But when we follow God's will and depend fully on Him for direction through His Word and through His Spirit, our lives are so much more richer.
And then over the weekend, I believe God was trying to drive this point home with me when I read the verse in Matthew 6:25 and Jesus was saying "Therefore do not worry about your life..." I pictured Jesus sitting in a seat across the one I was sitting in and Him having a direct conversation with me,
"Gertrude, I want to tell you something. STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND DEPEND ON ME ! Stop fretting about what will work tomorrow and how you will afford this next month and let me take care of you. My grace is sufficient today and EVERYDAY."
"So what I am supposed to do Lord ?"
"Just trust each day into my hands. I am able. When you wake up, commit your ways to me. Don't think about what will happen tomorrow. Leave tomorrow to me. Just depend on me for your daily bread each day. I won't let you down."
Wow. I've been born again over 20 years and I have read this Scripture over and over again and heard it preached and yet it took me this long to learn that I did not have to depend on what I could do to solve problems in my life. What struck me the most was when I read this in Matthew 6:32 :
"For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."
In other words, Jesus was saying that as long as you are not an unbeliever (Gentile), as long as you have accepted Him as Lord and personal Savior, there is ABSOLUTELY no need to worry about this life and how all the jigsaw pieces will fit together. We are not responsible for that. All you and I are responsible for is to trust Him FULLY.
Once again "Wow" ! How come it took me this long to learn that ?
12 comments:
Great post! I'm right after you at Ann's place.
Our self made plans usually fall apart. Your post sounds familiar to me!
Thank you for this post. I constantly need this reminder in my life.
Gertrude...it really is the wonderful love of God towards us that He doesn't let up on us until we get it. I am always humbled by that. Glad to read your post today. Blessings for a wonderful week.
Amen!!! Just hopping by. Nice post.
Sharon
I sure appreciate your realness...just laying it out there. I'm with you in that after 20 years of knowing Him, I still realize that I go it alone :( We all really have the nothing ministry don't we...he he ...for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
One other scrippy that comes to mind from the first part of your blog is the phrase that "I would never do that!' I think this is one of the things I have slightly grown up in...I had a big thing in my life that I would have NEVER thought I could do, and did it...ugh. I'm at the beach and can't find the scrippy but it's something like take head, lest YOU fall.
Sydney I love that you are at the beach reading this. I wish I was. I believe the Scripture you are looking for is 1 Corinthians 10:12. What a true scripture! ENJOY YOUR DAY.
Hi Naomi! I am glad God does not let up on us either. What a tragedy that would be. I hope you are well. God bless you today. :D
Thanks Gertrude...going to look that up. Bet you are right...smiles.
We are here with my 4 step sons! (the beach) My husband is so awesome as we have been having great fun, with lots of activities such as jet skis, superman (that was crazy...not a movie) water park, boating...etc. BUT every day my hubby prays with us all and we are grateful this time away together, but that God is not second and...I know I;m looking for the opportunity...oh yea!
Oops, sorry I said Sharon...I get your blog and my friends and mixed the names up :)
LOL. It's oksay Sydney, glad you could enjoy your day with your hubby and kids. There's nothing as sweet as sharing time with peeps you love :D
I love your point about "I would NEVER do that!" I was blessed with a beloved family member who had suffered horrifically as a child. She did some things that left her vilified by the community. But, when I look at her life, I think "I would NEVER do that - forgive like that - survive like that - love those who hurt me like that." She had her faults, but she also had her super-human virtues.
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