When we view
our life from the perspective of our responsibilities, world disasters,
terrorist unrest, failing economy and relational issues with family, community
and at work, our heart fails us for fear (Luke 21:26).
We prefer to
stay in bed in the morning, hiding under the warmth and security of our covers.
We want to roll over and continue to sleep like Rip van Winkle and wake up to a
whole new world.
Our familiar
companions throughout our day are fear, insecurity, doubt and trepidation. Our
broken life and world tend to overwhelm us with hopelessness and doubt.
We have no
guarantee that our greatest fear or the unexpected catastrophe will not catch
us off guard and put us flat on our back or in the hole financially,
emotionally or mentally.
Some of us
rely on addictions to get us through the day. We adopt bad habits that relieve
pressure on the surface, but actually compound our problems in the long run,
because we end up reaping the negative aspects, which we sow.
We are too
proud and stubborn and rebellious to turn to God and follow His will for our
day. We think that we are safer when we remain in control, but this is merely a
false illusion to which we cling.
Once we come
to God for salvation and allow Him to hide us in the cleft of His Rock, Jesus
Christ, the scales fall off our eyes. We clearly see the road to destruction
which we formerly followed.
We are
filled with His peace and joy overflowing from our spirit and soul as we trust
God with our life (Isaiah 43:2). We sing His praises night and day.
As we
increase our love and devotion to God, we grow spiritually and the false
illusions of this world slip into proper perspective. We realize that as we
hide our self through Christ in God, nothing which occurs can touch our life
unless it is His will (Colossians 3:1-4).
We walk in
unity with His Spirit and grow in our faith in His faithfulness. He gives us
the strength, wisdom, provision and mercy we need to face each moment of the
day in victory and sufficiency.
Prayer:
Father God,
remind us that we must uproot sin in our life without compromise or sympathy.
These little foxes spoil the vine (Solomon 2:15) and prevent us from bearing
fruit for You through our life. We cannot perfect our self (Galatians 3:1-3),
but we can submit to Your Holy Spirit's sanctifying work (Romans 8; Philippians
2:12-13).
Stir a
hunger and passion in us to do only Your will with our life, and to dedicate
our heart to Your Word and love. Remind us that you are not only in charge of
our life, but of the entire world in which we live (Ezekiel 38:4). You have the
ages and times in Your capable hands and we can have faith in Your
faithfulness.
Thought for
the Day:
God
instructed Israel to complete destroy the nations currently inhabiting the
land, which He gave them, because He knew their sin would infect Israel and
pull their hearts away from Him and His truth; in the same way we rid our life
of the sins which so easily hold us back.
- Deuteronomy 7:22, 11:16; Hebrews
12:1