GPS,counselors, hair dressers, comedians, trainers, spouses,
health clubs, massage therapists, diet plans, movies, music, clothing, books,
internet…
and the list goes on and on and on and on…… We depend on these things to bring us joy, give us direction, help us make the right decisions, keep us fit, enhance ourWhew! There are an abundance of resources just waiting for the opportunity to enhance our lives…just waiting.
What if we were to replace many of our familiar resourses with GOD’s resources?
Look at these verses and see what happens when we depend on Him instead of what we are used to. Pay attention to the return on our investments…
Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwellin the land and enjoy safe pasture.Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.Commit your way to the Lord,trust in Him and He will do this, He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you. John15:7
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15
The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah30:18
My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Let’s put this into application by taking a short walk through an example or two in my life.
Hello Mr. vulnerability…nice to see you again.
Example #1
Lots to do, harried schedule, messy house, disorganized in every way. We are leaving town next week so I am busy doing laundry, packing, preparing for grandma and grandpa’s arrival, organizing kids schedule while we are gone and on and on as the story goes. I decided to take my usual Monday morning workout time and commit my way to the Lordby doing some spiritual exercise instead. I may have not received the physical reward I would have from sweating, burning calories and building muscle but the time I spent with the Lord in prayer and conversation gave me the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in my crazy busy Monday. There is a verse in 1Timothy that says,
“Physical training is of some value, but goldliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Now THIS type of training has TRUE value…eternal value. I will choose to go to the “giver of all things” this morning instead of the Y. I am trusting by doing this He will stay true to his promise of making my righteousness shine like the dawn and making the justice of my cause shine like the noonday sun. I can tell you right now I feel shiney already.
Example #2
I am prone to anxiety. Always have been, maybe always will be. I take everything in, I feel very deeply, I want to fix every problem and cure every ailment. My bar is high, very high and for these reasons I can become affected not only emotionally and mentally but physically as well. My shoulders get tight, my chest feels heavy, I become restless, irritable, sensitive and quite frankly, a little depressed.
Often times, most times, I spend countless hours analyzing why I feel so horrible and focus on those things. Is it my diet, my workout or lack of workout, my relationships, is there something wrong with me? Fear sets in and I find myself leaning on my husband, friends, counselor, food and sometimes family. I look for someone safe to vent to, complain with and cry on. Usually not very effective.
But the more I experience trial; through God’s grace, I realize that HE probably allows these things to happen in my body to remind me that my strength and peace comes from him and only HIM! And with Him there is nothing to fear. When I go to the “giver of all things” instead of my usual resources and tell HIM about my fears and simply ask HIM to take my anxiety away he really does! But not until He is finished teaching me something great about who He is. Works EVERY time. Thank goodness He never gives up on me.
Rejoice in the lord always. I will say rejoice! let your gentleness be evident to all. the lord is near. do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to god and the peace of god which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
So to wrap, I will not say that all of these very desirable resources listed at the top of this post are a bad thing. I believe God has given us those things as well because he loves us. What I AM saying is, use your God given discernment to recognize WHEN you are becoming too dependent on those things and forgetting who the TRUE giver is. Let us not be so quick to run to those things we THINK will give us what we need and be zealous to run to the ‘giver of all things’, our Jesus, who knows what it is like to carry a burden or two, to say the least. He gives us Better.
HIS divine power has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of HIM who called us by HIS own glory and goodness. 2Peter 1:3
Your challenge is to check todays’ ‘to do’ list and find at least one thing on it that can be replaced by something better- perhaps a prayer, some time of worship, an act of service, somebody’s forgiveness. Replace it with something that comes straight from the
“giver of all things”.
Have a great day full of the giver’s gifts.
