Day Eighty: Leaning on God-Lessons of Dependence
Ten weeks ago if you had asked me how dependent I was on God, I probably would have said that I thought I was really dependent. I might have even been a little proud of my dependence. This crisis has literally "rocked" my world. Everything that I've been leaning on instead of God has been shaken to pieces. If you are completely honest with yourself, you may have felt the same way. Very few of us can honestly say that our world hasn't been shaken in some way.
I still tremble at all the changes I see around me. It isn't that easy to lean on someone you can't see or hear. I have had times when I questioned why he allowed us all to go through this crisis. Yet I do know that one of the biggest reasons is that we stop depending on things and people instead of the Lord. I know that I do have a tendency to focus on the tangible. I like to be able to see and hear before I trust. I also like to be in control, yet that is the last thing that God wants for me. He longs for me to be dependent on him. I need to be reminded that "the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Psalms 18:2 (KJV)
It is when I lean on God, that I can see the way moving forward. Even though now my current financial situation is not as good as it could be, I have to trust God that he will provide. Even though with the churches closing, I've been unable to tithe, I have to ask for God's direction in this area. Even though I'm not sure where I am supposed to be, I feel assured that God knows. I have to believe that God is going to make a way out. Psalms 34:19 (KJV) states this: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." He will. I just have to learn to be dependent on his guidance to see me through. He knows my struggles. In Proverbs 16:9(KJV) I read that "A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps." I want that. Proverbs 19:21(KJV) makes it clear that "there are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand."
It isn't easy to know what's right. My heart has been torn many times over the past two and half months. I see the affects that the lock down has rendered, and that the mandatory masks and other restrictive measures have wrought. People unfortunately have gotten quite used to them now. My mind still rejects them, and has a very hard time trying to accept them as a permanent fixture. I find myself contemplating what it says in Ecclesiastes 7:14(KJV) which reads: "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider; God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him."
It is that "nothing" that I've been dwelling on. I see this, and my mind immediately goes towards Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV). I may have quoted this in an earlier blog, but it is still good to know. It reads: "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." It is good to take yourself away from the current situation and all the bad scenarios that are playing themselves out. Instead I need to focus on the good things, noting that things are starting to look up, and praying that these edicts will soon be a thing of the past.
Dependence of God isn't easy at first. Our human nature is to want as much control as possible. We allow the temptations of power and wealth to overwhelm us. Each one of us needs to be reminded that we are not in control. We have our very being in God the Father who created us. We can see first hand now that "the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; (Jesus) I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 (KJV) Why would I want to side with Satan and his lies of independence? He mocks those who want to live as God intended us to live. He wants to tear us down and destroy us. He doesn't care about us. The thing is that God really does care for us. God gives us good laws that free us to live good lives that are not controlled. Romans 8:37(KJV) says "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We don't have to stress over what's happening or what's coming next when we lean on God.
In some ways I am thankful for this time of crisis. I am learning necessary lessons of dependence that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
I still tremble at all the changes I see around me. It isn't that easy to lean on someone you can't see or hear. I have had times when I questioned why he allowed us all to go through this crisis. Yet I do know that one of the biggest reasons is that we stop depending on things and people instead of the Lord. I know that I do have a tendency to focus on the tangible. I like to be able to see and hear before I trust. I also like to be in control, yet that is the last thing that God wants for me. He longs for me to be dependent on him. I need to be reminded that "the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Psalms 18:2 (KJV)
It is when I lean on God, that I can see the way moving forward. Even though now my current financial situation is not as good as it could be, I have to trust God that he will provide. Even though with the churches closing, I've been unable to tithe, I have to ask for God's direction in this area. Even though I'm not sure where I am supposed to be, I feel assured that God knows. I have to believe that God is going to make a way out. Psalms 34:19 (KJV) states this: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." He will. I just have to learn to be dependent on his guidance to see me through. He knows my struggles. In Proverbs 16:9(KJV) I read that "A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps." I want that. Proverbs 19:21(KJV) makes it clear that "there are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand."
It isn't easy to know what's right. My heart has been torn many times over the past two and half months. I see the affects that the lock down has rendered, and that the mandatory masks and other restrictive measures have wrought. People unfortunately have gotten quite used to them now. My mind still rejects them, and has a very hard time trying to accept them as a permanent fixture. I find myself contemplating what it says in Ecclesiastes 7:14(KJV) which reads: "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider; God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him."
It is that "nothing" that I've been dwelling on. I see this, and my mind immediately goes towards Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV). I may have quoted this in an earlier blog, but it is still good to know. It reads: "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." It is good to take yourself away from the current situation and all the bad scenarios that are playing themselves out. Instead I need to focus on the good things, noting that things are starting to look up, and praying that these edicts will soon be a thing of the past.
Dependence of God isn't easy at first. Our human nature is to want as much control as possible. We allow the temptations of power and wealth to overwhelm us. Each one of us needs to be reminded that we are not in control. We have our very being in God the Father who created us. We can see first hand now that "the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; (Jesus) I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 (KJV) Why would I want to side with Satan and his lies of independence? He mocks those who want to live as God intended us to live. He wants to tear us down and destroy us. He doesn't care about us. The thing is that God really does care for us. God gives us good laws that free us to live good lives that are not controlled. Romans 8:37(KJV) says "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We don't have to stress over what's happening or what's coming next when we lean on God.
In some ways I am thankful for this time of crisis. I am learning necessary lessons of dependence that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
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