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The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11
During the ‘drought-times’ of our lives it is sometimes hard to sense God’s presence. Those times of dryness, when we desperately seek some relief from the stress of life. A little shade would be nice to shield us from the harsh sunlight of the struggle we face. Some refreshing rain, the soft gentle kind that slowly nourishes the soil of our soul would be welcome.
The prophet Isaiah promises us that our God is always there. He promises to satisfy our needs, not our wants. He promises us strength to endure those wilderness times. We are likened to a well watered garden, a garden that gets its refreshment from deep inside our soul as a hidden spring softens the soil in the midst of the hardened wilderness.
So why is it that during those wilderness times we lose sight of God’s guidance? What is it that keeps us from experiencing the refreshment of that inner spring? Why do we seem to wander for days seeking some sign of comfort only to find more stress, more hardness?
First of all we need to remember that Isaiah says the Lord God will guide us always. That’s a statement of faith. He is there always, even when we can’t sense His presence. But His guidance is our choice. He doesn’t force us to follow his way. He doesn’t demand our obedience, He asks for it. The freedom to choose comes with a responsibility to choose according to the things we learn from His word.
Secondly, His promise is to satisfy our needs, not our wants. If we are brutally honest with ourselves we must admit that we are driven by want. What are the things we NEED? The answers will vary from place to place, but in reality we need clothing, shelter and physical nourishment. That’s it. No cell phones on the list. No new cars or fancy homes. No Christmas tree with gifts piled high under the tree. No TV. No video games.
Will God provide those things? Sometimes, but not always. God’s desire is more for our commitment to Him and our desire to show others the way to His Kingdom than He is our comfort. Our place on earth is to show love and forgiveness more than it is to have a healthy retirement account.
Lastly, Isaiah tells us we will go through the sun-scorched wilderness of life. It doesn’t appear that wilderness wanderings are an option. We will not be immune from those places of shade-less, sun-hardened soil. We will be refreshed in the midst of them. The refreshment doesn’t come from the outside (rain, shade, cooler temperatures). The refreshment comes from within. Jesus says He is the living water, water that refreshes, that wells up from deep within. Water that soothes, heals, strengthens us to press on when the going gets tough.
PRAYER: Father God. Right now I’m in a wilderness of stress, anger, and frustration. I confess to you that all too often I’m driven by the God of want and not enjoying the refreshing spring of your provision. Empower me by your Spirit to focus on the things that are truly important such as healthy relationships with you and those around me. Help me to desire you more than anything else. In Jesus name, Amen.
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
You probably don’t remember this, but if you know how to walk today it’s because you learned the ability to ‘walk-a-by-self’. A friend of mine tells the story of her very independent toddler daughter. Just after she learned to walk she was very determined to show her independence. Mom tried to pick her up but she refused. She wanted to ‘walk-a-by-self’. Mom put her down and tried to hold her hand, but she pulled away and announced to the world: “WALK-A-BY-SELF!”, and so…she did, with mom close beside her to guard her steps.
We chuckle from time to time about the pseudo-independence our toddlers show with those first steps. Oh, at first they are pretty shaky and unsteady but then, the reach that point where the fear is gone and we realize there is a whole new world to explore and we attack it with gusto!
We tend to be the same way in our spiritual lives. We are confident in our own abilities to do life. We show our freedom from the rules by making choices that put us in danger. We choose relationships based on looks or status rather than seeking Gods direction. We spend freely, eat poorly, and ‘love’ openly. Sometimes that gets us in trouble. We charge on without any awareness whatsoever of our parents presence and get lost. We run to fast and stumble and fall. We meet the coffee table head-on (yes it was a pun, but so very true), all the while thinking God is nowhere to be seen.
Our Heavenly Father knows that we need to have the freedom to walk on our own. He knows it builds strength and confidence. He knows it allows us the opportunity to develop the gifts, talents and abilities He planned for us to have.
Our Father also knows that we will fall. As in the physical life, we will end up with bruised knees and an occasional bloody nose. Sometimes we’ll require stitches and need to be picked up and comforted. Sometimes we’ll look Him square in the eye and announce: “walk-a-by-self!” We’ll wander and get ourselves in a whole variety of predicaments, but we will never be outside his protective grasp.
The analogy of a rebellious two-year old falls short in one area though. Our Heavenly Father knows we’ll stumble and fall, but we will never be out of reach of His strong and powerful arms. We are never out of sight of His wise, discerning eyes. We never really ‘walk-a-by-self’ when we walk with Jesus. He’s always there. Always faithful, always willing to let us have the freedom to choose, and always willing to pick us up when we stray from Him and need His healing arms around us.
It doesn’t matter where you have strayed or what choices you’ve made, or where you find yourself in life today. Jesus Christ longs to hold you in His arms of forgiveness and grace so that you may be comforted and strengthened to walk again.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. The Bible tells me I can call you ‘Daddy’. Thank you that like a caring, compassionate and wise father you allow me the freedom to walk-a-by-self. Thank you that through Jesus Christ I can be forgiven when my walking gets me in trouble. Thank you for the healing salve of your grace. I ask today that you would help me up, for I’ve stumbled once again, and empower me by your Spirit to walk with you. In Your Holy name I pray, Amen.
A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? Proverbs 20:24
Once upon a time there was a commander of an army. He was a very wise Commander. He knew every move the enemy would make. His weapons were far superior to anyone else’s. His fighting men were given every opportunity to prepare for battle.
One day, word came to the commander that an enemy army was coming to destroy his kingdom. His weapons were in place. His battle plan was flawless. His men were ready…well, almost ready.
A call to arms was issued and everyone reported as trained. But just before the army was to embark on this mission, a mission which was destined to succeed because of better weapons and a superior strategy, trouble arose. One of the men approached the commander and said, “Sir, I don’t understand your plan. In fact, I’ve been talking with my friends and they don’t really understand your plan either.
Soon a murmur spread through the crowd. Some openly began to doubt the commander’s plan. Some of the men in the back ranks even questioned whether the commander was even real. Others argued that he was real alright, It’s just that his plan is outdated and his weapons too weak to overpower the enemy. Still others questioned the wisdom of going to war and complained that they were being confined by the strict rules of the commander.
The commander stopped. He began to go to each of his men to explain every move, the strategy of the enemy, the results of various other battle plans and how they would be benefitted by following his way. One by one, the men began to understand. However, in the time it took for the commander to explain every part of the battle strategy, the enemy overcame him and his nation was defeated, even though he was stronger and smarter than the enemy.
Silly story? Yep. But don’t we tend to take the same attitude when it comes to our Heavenly Father? We claim to have faith but we lack trust. Faith says I believe God is real and able to defeat my enemy. Trust says that even when I don’t understand the process God takes, I follow Him without question.
Several times in scripture we are likened to soldiers and this journey we call life is referred to as a battle. Our commander, Jesus, knows our heart. He knows what makes us afraid. He knows our limitations and weaknesses. He wants nothing more than for us to experience a close, loving relationship with Him
To be sure, there will be times when we don’t understand His ways. There will be times when we may lack a clear view of His presence. We may be battered and bruised by our decisions or the abuse of others. That doesn’t mean Jesus has left us. A good commander may put his men in a position that challenges them, but He will never allow them to be completely destroyed.
Trust in God’s plan doesn’t mean we’ll understand everything He puts in our way. Trust in God plan means we endure the hard times because we know that victory comes in the end. Every day, every moment, every nano-second of our lives are carefully planned by a loving, merciful, all-powerful God. You won’t understand everything He does-guaranteed! But by growing in relationship with Him you will learn how to fight the battles that come across your path.
PRAYER: Father God, I look back at my past and forward to my future and at times really struggle to know why things went the way they did. I ask that you would forgive me for doubting your plan and empower me by your Holy Spirit to trust your ways over mine. Thank you that my commander understands my every fear. In Jesus name, Amen.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
It’s amazing to me how much power we have to affect the lives of others as well as ourselves. We think of God as being all-powerful and we as being weak human beings and, comparatively of course, that’s true. The all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God is no match for our frailty as human beings.
The other side of that coin is that we are made in the image of God. As such He has given us the tremendous power to choose. The most important choice we make everyday is whether to believe what God says about us or to believe what we and others say about us.
This battle has raged in our lives since conception! There is research to suggest that the tiniest of embryo senses the love of its mother. Then, from birth the formation begins in earnest. Our parents love and compassion, or anger and frustration tell us (often unintentionally) that we are good or bad, smart or stupid, and while most parents would never admit this, worthy or worthless.
We enter school and learn quickly whether we are part of the ‘in crowd’ or not. If we are we have worth, if not, then destiny will take its course and most likely we will spend our lives wishing we could be something we are not and overlooking the jewel that we are.
Solomon tells us a cheerful heart is medicine for a crushed spirit. A cheerful heart is a heart that knows who I am and knows that although I may fail, I am a child of God. I have worth. I am just exactly how He wants me.
For many of us our spirit was crushed years ago. The phrase ‘dries up the bones’ has the word picture of the very marrow of the bones being dried up. When our spirits are crushed we wither away from the inside until we are nothing but a shell. No one sees dried bones. They are covered by the skin, the mask we put on every day.
Dried bones so often can start with a single, well-placed word of condemnation by a parent, a friend or a spouse. Jesus says, “If you speak in anger against your brother you are guilty of murder”; James says that “If we never stumble in what we say we are perfect.” Paul says, “Let no unwholesome word come from your mouth;” and the list goes on.
How you feel about yourself and others is shown in the words you speak. How you feel about yourself is often determined by your reaction to their words. The best cure for dry bones, the healing salve for a crushed spirit is Jesus. Don’t listen to the voices that have so long told you that you can’t, or won’t succeed. Stop believing the lies that have been impaled on your heart for so long.
You are God’s greatest creation. Jesus died for you because He loves you. Now that He sees how you turned out…He’d do it again. Listen to the heart of God concerning you. Today make the choice to believe what He says about you. Let the healing salve of His love soothe your crushed spirit and bring life to your dry bones.
PRAYER: Father, I’m brought to tears when I think about the lies I’ve listened to all these years. I’m ashamed of the times I’ve probably been responsible for crushing a few spirits of those I love as well. In Jesus name I ask that you would forgive me for the damage I’ve done and heal the damage others have inflicted on me. By the power of Your Spirit I’m resolved, starting today, to live in the awareness of Your love and presence in every aspect of my life. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 