Liv
Extracts of Truth & Encouragement from a Growth Journey with God
Self-Promotion: Turning the Tide
A verbal jab was thrown and knocked another square in the jaw. The one who threw it wanted to get a laugh from those around you all and certainly achieved it…at the other person’s expense! Then, you looked at the one on the receiving end of the jab. She may have been laughing along to show she could take it, or maybe the hurt was expressed all over her face. Either way, she was the recipient of what Paul was referring to in Philippians 2:23 as “selfish ambition.”
“Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3 GNT
Ambition…A lot of times we look at this word as a positive thing. It’s something that drives us. It’s the strong desire to energetically work hard at something in order to persuade someone…to persuade them that we’re more important, we’re funny and should be accepted, we’re the one for the job, the one who deserves the raise, the one who should be elected, honored, rewarded, and/or valued…The attention we, ourselves, seek feels justified; getting a step ahead of someone else is warranted, in our eyes. “Didn’t you see all that I’ve done?” “Haven’t you seen what I’ve had to go through to get here?” However, there are times when language is manipulated in order to deceive others to have the same view as we do or to give us the upper hand. Sometimes, actions are purely entertainment…entertainment with no values. Sometimes, our biases put a film on our glasses and keep us from seeing clearly. Other times, we make up ideas, views, reactions, or experiences just to fit in or gain something we crave.
Paul instructed the believers in Philippi to refrain from doing anything that feeds our bodies above everything else, with no care of what destruction or pain it causes along the way. By “selfish ambition,” he’s referring to our desires, our body’s appetite for our physical needs…anything that rivals “us.” It’s pretty easy to stoop low and throw punches below the waist in order to win, but Paul teaches that instead of putting ourselves, our gain, ahead of others (including God and His will for us) or having a kind of pride that has no substance (no backing to it), we should set our minds on being humble.
Now, if we’re like most people in the circle of believers, we’d probably say, “I don’t do that! Of course, I look out for others!” So, maybe we don’t weasel our way to get ahead or dance on others when they’re down, but have we ever said something like:
- “I’m so busy with everything I’m signed up for at church! It’d be really nice if ______ would help out every now and then!”
- “Did you see _______’s Facebook post/page?!? I wouldn’t post that!”
- “That coach is a joke! I could never be a coach, but I could do better than that!?”
One thing that stuck out to me, when digging into this verse, is that “better” literally means to hold someone up, to view them as superior. Mmmmm. Does that hit you, too? So often, we hold a view that we are better than them…that we are superior! Isn’t this mindset a cure for so much of the hate that’s going around these days?
Another thing that hit me was what I didn’t see verbalized in any of the translations I looked at…that “considering,” “regarding,” or “esteeming” is, actually, being a person in authority, leading the way. We are ambassadors of Christ and His kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20); we have been given the authority to represent Christ and His message! People look to us as ones who know about Him, who know the Way. So, how are we leading others in that Way…to Him? Are we leading well? I know I need to consistently think before I speak; it’s so easy to speak out of emotions or feelings. Thinking first takes a lot of discipline, thought, effort, and intentionality, but it’s what’s required of us in order to humbly lead others well.
I have to brag on my hubby a minute…The other day, he was in a group of leaders where members started verbally “bashing” someone he knows in authority. He stepped in and reminded them to “stay positive” and focus on the job at hand. Every single one of them took notice of his response and leadership, and every one of them changed their verbiage off of the person and onto the task. I was (and am) so proud of him!
Let’s stay focused on the “job” at hand and reign ourselves in! Have the courage to be authentic, stand out from the crowd, and raise others (in our minds) higher than ourselves! Little do we know how much of an impact we can make on those around us and what changes we can make, as we lead with humility, integrity, and selflessness. A lot of conversations we have will look a LOT different!
Running Toward My Giant
The reality of having a brain tumor had set in for several months; my mobility, functionality, and the pain in my head were all worsening. I was told by two doctors that the tumor wasn’t to blame, but something just wasn’t right; we had to be sure. We sought out the Mayo Clinic; they’d know.
As the weeks went by, awaiting my appointments, there seemed to be more questions than answers…and I continued to be immobile, accompanied by pain like I’d never felt. I had a lot of time to be alone with my thoughts, but more and more of that time was spent seeking God. At times, I was petitioning Him for an earlier appointment date at Mayo (which He answered in His beautiful, “I Can Do All Things” way). Other times, I just sat in the quiet, waiting to hear what He wanted to say to me, do through me, or just listened to His singing His peace over me. I’d cry out to Him, as the pain increased, and thank Him for the sweet servant hearts, displayed by my hubby, kiddos, parents, and friends, who all cared for me so selflessly (and in the case of my hubby, kiddos, and mom, “tirelessly” is also an appropriate word). God was still so good…always!
During this time, the LORD showed me something within very familiar verses.
“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’…”
1 Samuel 17:34-37a NIV
“He took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook and put them in the pouch in his shepherd’s bag. He approached the Philistine with his sling in his hand.”
1 Samuel 17:40 ISV
The LORD showed me that David didn’t run from his “giants;” he ran toward them!! He knew God’s presence and power were enough for him. He’d seen Him do great things before and trusted Him to be able to do them, again! Because of this, he didn’t shy away from trouble; he ran toward it!
In all of these situations, David had a purpose: 1) to kill the lion and bear, who were taking sheep from the flock, and rescue the sheep and 2) to kill the Philistine and rescue the people of Israel…He was to attack the enemy, be used by God to rescue the ones needing rescuing, all while proclaiming the LORD as being the One Who delivered him!
“And David says, ‘YHWH, Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He delivers me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul says to David, ‘Go, and YHWH is with you.’”
1 Samuel 17:37 ISV
“David told the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the army of Israel, Whom you have insulted. Today the LORD will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head. And this day, I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals. The whole world will know that Israel has a God. Then everyone gathered here will know that the LORD can save without sword or spear, because the LORD determines every battle’s outcome. He will hand all of you over to us.”
1 Samuel 17:45-47 GWT
Check out how many times, in Verses 45-47, David talks about the LORD!!! When you read these verses, do you sense fear? David’s standing in front of the champion of the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:4), who’s just been hurling insults at him (Verses 43-44)! The enemy is 9 FEET 9 INCHES tall and stellar strong!!! Yet, in these verses, I don’t see any indication that David is afraid. What I see is faith, trust, confidence, and boldness, because of the LORD God, Whom he serves!
When we face our giants, where is our focus? The giant or the LORD?
Does the enemy, tempting us with fear, have to run, because our testimony screams of our faith in our God?
I loved this when the LORD showed this to me…and still do! It resonates within me! My tumor, my health, and my inability to do things I used to didn’t feel so big. I felt (and still feel) His presence so strongly that I knew whatever I met on this unknown path could be destroyed, if He wanted it to be…or He would use it to shout His name!! “The LORD determines every battle’s outcome!” Although the tumor has grown, my activity level isn’t (and may never be) normal, I deal with a number of medical disorders, and the enemy continues to try to overtake me, I am confident in the LORD and His purpose for me. I’m pursuing His purpose…and Him!
I hope you clearly hear, in all I say throughout this blog, my shouting the name of the LORD as my battle cry and pointing you to Him–He is my strength and sustainer, in Whom my hope, peace, and victory are found!
May those needing rescuing be “rescued” by the Truth of His Word through these works of His hands, as He speaks to my soul and continues to move my fingers, typing each “day” of the study of His Word as well as each blog post! Amen.
What Distractions Weigh You Down?
“Aaaaahhh! There’s a stick!…Oooo! Catch that leaf! The wind is blowing it a cross the yard!!…Who is that at the neighbor’s?!?…Squirrrrrelll!!!”
If you’ve read the last post, you know that we’re working on training our puppy. Just this morning, we were outside, working on heeling, but whatever smells were on or under the ground were WAY more appealing to our pup than my voice or the treats I had to offer. Yesterday, we were playing fetch (which he’s really good at), but he decided that a detour behind our out-garage was worth his time. Why is a tour through the woods more fun than playing fetch?!?…(Sigh.)…It’s SO much easier to train inside, where the distractions are less; he obeys much more quickly!…Isn’t that all of us?
How are your “heeling” lessons? Are you walking closely by your Master? What’s your biggest distraction?
If you’ve spent any length of time in a store, you’ve seen this, as well. It doesn’t matter if it’s a child or an adult, walking toward what they came for; they soon become distracted by something sitting in the middle of the aisle that marketers bank on (literally) drawing their eyes and attention to. If they’re focused (especially if they’re driven by a time crunch), they may be more apt to succeed in getting only what they came for; however, if they have even a little time on their hands, it can be so easy to get distracted!
Temptation…Even Jesus was tempted. Following His baptism, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness. During the 40 days He was there, Satan whirled distractions at Jesus with the hopes of enticing Him to sin. While Jesus aced the tests, we often don’t. These 40 days are the basis for the 40 days some observe as Lent, approaching the celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Whether or not you observe Lent, many view it purely as a time to give something up…to test their self-control. Yet, take a look at this…
“Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.”
Hebrews 12:1 CEV
Just like people watch a race, those around us, who pass us, who live next to us, who do life with us, who drive behind us…watch us! This verse alerts us that we need to run this race of life, which God has gifted to us, well. To do this, we need to throw off/get rid of anything that weighs us down.
What is this to you? What weighs you down?
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
All your worries, cares, anxieties…This meaning comes from a word that refers to distractions. These distractions weigh us down; they make it harder to move forward; and they take our focus off the finish line and the prize.
Just like when training a dog, you are going to train him in a quieter environment, first, to get him to recognize your voice and develop positive habits of obedience. When training a child, you begin at home; you don’t start your first lesson at the grocery store. When God is training us, as believers, He will, at some point, put us in a position where we are alone with Him (I have learned more about the LORD and heard His voice more clearly than ever before during my health issues, where I have been immobile and in the quiet, seeking Him).
Maybe, for you, it’s the death of someone you love…or Covid…or moving to a new place where you don’t know anyone…or when you’re between jobs…or in a situation that just brings you to our knees; it feels so out of control. This is a training ground. We have the opportunity to become more and more obedient in these quiet hours, learning to hear His voice more clearly, but He WILL expose us to more noise, more distractions. Will we absentmindedly pick up that heavy pack of distractions and run, weighed down by it, or will we run to our Shelter, our Dwelling Place, along life’s path, drop off the heavy pack at the foot of His throne, knowing He will take care of it, and continue to run the race God has designed for us? Will all those watching see where and Whom we ran to in this contest, this struggle? Will they see what we did and how we continue to run, freer, lighter, after dropping off the heavy pack? Will our actions inspire others to do the same?
“fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, Who, in view of the joy set before Him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 ISV
Jesus, too, had a race to run. He had a goal before Him, a hard road, threw off (disregarded) what would try to bog Him down, and finished the race well (“…’It is Finished!’…” John 19:30)!
As you reflect on your journey (your race), where is your attention focused?
Is there something weighing you down from reflecting Who Jesus is, why He came, and that He lives…in you?
What do you need to get rid of (not for the sake of testing your self-control, but releasing your control–or its control of you–and dropping whatever it is off to God)?
Positively Negative: Training Tools
He went for the sandal one more time. He realizes you notice him and bolts under a chair, tucked under the Dining Room table. You get down on his level, peering under the table, and give him the command to “drop it.” Is this Groundhog Day? You’ve lost count how many times you’ve done this…how many times he‘s done this. He drops the shoe, obeying your command…after the fourth time you’ve given it. You’ve already thrown away one pair of shoes he’s ruined, and your patience is wearing thin. What do you do? If you respond with a “No!” for taking the shoe in the first place, because you’re frustrated, he’ll think he did something wrong in obeying your command/dropping the shoe; yet the last thing you feel like doing is praising him!
As we are working on training our pup, this thought of positive reinforcement has been on my mind. How often do I harbor frustration with my kids for what they did 10 minutes ago and react to that situation, instead of their current behavior? Or worse, I’ve been known to hold on to that previous situation, which affects how I react to a different one with a different child!
I “randomly” ran across the following post this week (click below to read). I had already been translating the positive reinforcement training thoughts to circumstances with our children, so I, naturally, took notice when I read its title (I think God was giving me another nudge, as I’m still a work in progress).
Reading through the list of phrases was good for me. I may not say the phrases exactly the same way, but our kids should still be reminded of these Biblical truths. Just as one reader pointed out, this positive approach, though, doesn’t mean you don’t point out a child’s negative behavior and call it what it is–sin. It just means, you include a positive truth with it, as well, to reinforce positive behavior. Does that make sense? Let me explain.
We were dealing with an obedience issue with one of our dear kiddos. Instead of only focusing on the fact that what was instructed was not obeyed, I began with the fact that the behavior exhibited after coming home was helpful and joyful. I had also noticed positive efforts at “checking” thoughts at the door of the mind and altering the words that were chosen. I made a point to highlight this kiddo’s positive choices with them before discussing the current negative ones. It made the atmosphere more conversational, loving, instructive, and our child was more receptive than if I had just whirled right into how disappointed I was with the disobedient choice and disrespectful body language and words. I’m talking about the Word all the time, so if I say, “The Bible talks about…” I may just lose my kid’s attention in his or her moment of frustration. However, if I make a point to, first, intentionally connect with them by encouraging their good choices, as it relates to how God has instructed us to live, I find they tend to be more receptive when we approach the “other stuff.“
It’s clear, in Scripture, that we don’t need to shy away from “Do Nots.” They’re all over the Bible in order to establish healthy boundaries and lead us in the way we should live. However, we’re instructed in Proverbs 22:6 to train children by showing them where moral and character choices, that are opposite God’s designed path for us, will take them. This equips them with the knowledge and wisdom to turn away from this behavior and follow God’s path into a ripe old age.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 ESV
The Greek word for “bring them up,” is “ektrephó.” English translations don’t do it justice. The word is combined with meanings, “out from” and “to feed.” To feed is obviously a positive action and is necessary to grow a life, yet “out from” gives a nod, again, to helping our children understand where their negative choices will head.
The Greek word translated, “discipline,” in this verse refers to giving instruction to train a child, so they can grow and mature. The Greek word translated, “instruction,” is teaching, for sure, but it includes God’s warnings that help a child reason the “whys” in his or her mind. “Because I said so” just doesn’t cut it.
“…instruction,” is teaching, for sure, but it includes God’s warnings that help a child reason the “whys” in his or her mind.
This can be daunting. We don’t always feel like we have time to sit and have this kind of necessary conversation in every situation…nor do we always feel capable, equipped with all the answers. That’s where submitting to God comes in.
“So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.”
James 4:7 GWT
This is monumental and applies to us as parents, but He doesn’t expect us to do it alone. He promises to give us wisdom when we ask Him (without doubting–James 1:6). However, if we try to assume the authority and go solo, that’s where Satan sneaks in the open door with lies, harsh tones, and words that are harmful.
Believe me! This isn’t just for parents with littles! Ephesians 6:4 is, actually, a directive to ALL believers, not just fathers…It’s everyone who’s experienced a close relationship with his/her heavenly Father, including His love, instruction, and teaching. Even if you don’t have earthly kiddos, you can still weigh in on this! All of us are kids of someone and need a loving, guiding hand, at some point, in all phases of life!!
How have you instructed and taught children (yours, your nieces/nephews, grandkids, those at church, friends’ kiddos) God’s warnings this week?
Forgive? Why Should I?!?
You’ve been hurt…again. Your emotions have taken a beating, and you’re feeling a bit like a punching bag. The last thing you want to think about or do is forgive! Anger? Check! Indignation? Check! Bitterness? Getting there.
And then, you read these verses…
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Matthew 6:14 NIV
“Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other, as God has forgiven you through Christ.”
Ephesians 4:32 GWT
“When you forgive people for what they have done, I forgive them, too. For when I forgive–if, indeed, I need to forgive anything–I do it in Christ’s presence because of you,”
2 Corinthians 2:10 GNT
“I have done this to keep Satan from getting the better of us. We all know what goes on in his mind.”
2 Corinthians 2:11 CEV
Gut check.
Matthew 6:14 is, likely, a familiar verse. Have you ever noticed, though, that it comes immediately after Jesus’ prayer, in which He instructs us and models for us how to pray? Let’s back up.
“Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.”
Matthew 6:12 GNT
Verse 12 of Matthew 6 tells us that we should go to God the Father to ask for Him to let go, or release, the debt our sins, our offenses against Him, have incurred. It also says we are to forgive those who have offended or hurt us (even unconsciously, and things just aren’t right between us, yet). Do you see how God forgiving us and our forgiving others go together?
As Ephesians 4:23 indicates, we have forgiveness from God, through Christ; therefore, we need to extend that forgiveness to others by not demanding the debt that is owed us (whatever that debt may be, even if it’s emotional). Forgiveness is a free gift. God, through His Son, Jesus, paid the price for our sins, forgives our offenses, and cancels our debt against Him; we just accept the gift. That’s the same forgiveness He is requiring from us. It’s not the kind that is contingent on someone apologizing for what they’ve done. It doesn’t mean the one who has hurt us has to ask us for forgiveness before we give it. We give it; no strings attached…because God forgave us, no strings attached!
Whew! Sound hard? Check out the beginning of Ephesians 4:23! We are not only to let go of the debt someone owes us by forgiving them, but we are to accompany it with kindness and sympathy. What’s interesting is that God’s view of “kind” is different from ours; in fact, there isn’t a word in our language that fully grasps its meaning. It means “kind,” obviously, but God takes it to another sphere, making the kind action also beneficial to the kingdom of God. When kindness is accompanied by sympathy, there is a love displayed from the heart; God, Who is love, is on display. When others see this love through forgiveness, kindness, and sympathy, it’s foundational. It’s different from any other “love” they may have known. It displays the kingship of Jesus through our lives and makes it visible to a world so in need of Him. So, if your actions toward your “debtor” are not kind and sympathetic, my guess is, they are harsh, sharp, and/or bitter. Our actions display our hearts, just as our words overflow from it. If our hearts have been cleaned up by our Savior, then, Biblically, we are to mimic what He has done for us.
If you find yourself feeling bitter toward someone, take a look at 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 above. There’s a connection between bitterness (or lack of forgiveness) and Satan, taking advantage of us as believers. We need to recognize this…and recognize it well. His thoughts of overtaking us are many; he puts a whole lot of mental effort into his ultimate, evil purpose–to destroy us…and that might not be physical, rather from the inside, out. So, when we choose to withhold forgiveness from someone, Satan one ups us. I don’t know about you, but when someone takes advantage of me, it makes me angry…and hurts. Then, what have we really done? Heaped on anger and hurt upon anger and hurt. We’re no better off! In fact, we’re worse off!
We all know there are times when others hurt those we love, and we harbor bitterness toward the offender. Verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 2 talks about when those we love live out a Christ-like example and make the choice to forgive; we have a tough time with that choice, but the Word says, “I forgive them, too. For when I forgive–if, indeed, I need to forgive anything–I do it in Christ’s presence because of you.” In looking at the original words and their meanings, this verse seems to more appropriately say, “A certain one, whom you grant forgiveness to, is a certain one whom I, also, grant forgiveness to. If I grant anyone forgiveness, it’s because of the presence of Christ in me.” This is it in a nut shell.
Forgiveness is not something we find easy to give. It’s only because of God’s example of forgiveness, through Christ, and His giving us that gift, that we are empowered, through His Spirit, to give this gift to others.
Whom do you need to forgive today (no strings attached)?
Stress–What Do I Do, Now?
Stress pours into our lives, like water into a glass jar. There’s nowhere for the water to go, so it keeps filling the jar, closer and closer to the top. If nothing’s done with the water, it’ll overflow. Stress is similar, as it pours into our lives without our even ordering more. It comes anytime something confronts us, and the pressure we feel from it seems more than we can take. When that happens, it demands even more, filling our thoughts, minds, and hearts more and more fully. If nothing’s done, it overflows into other areas of our lives, spilling drips onto even more areas along the way.
So, what do we tend to do? We try to deal with it in various ways, thinking we are pouring it out of our lives, oftentimes, trying the carry the load on our own or in our own way. “We got this!” “It’s fine!” Do any of these reactions sound familiar?
- Worrying
- Fearing
- Working longer or harder
- Eating or not eating
- Twirling your hair
- Biting your nails
- Complaining/speaking negatively
- Criticizing yourself or others
- Raging anger or frustration
- Shutting down and secluding yourself
- Shopping
- Hoarding
- Driving fast
- Drinking alcohol
- Using tobacco products
- Doing drugs (including prescription)
God knows there are and will be stressors in our lives! I guess that’s why He put the “Do Not Worry” passage in the Bible twice (Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-34)! The passage contains things in our lives that may make us worried, directives to not worry, examples of how He provides for all of creation, the root of our worry, and instruction for how to live a rewarding life! I love this, as He doesn’t just say that He knows we may be tempted to react with worry or stress; He loves us so much that He reveals our hearts and shows us the prescription for our condition!
Both Biblical accounts list “little faith” as being a root cause (Matthew 6:30, Luke 12:28) for worry or stress. The Greek word for “little faith,” oligópistos, means just that…a small amount of faith. The meaning, here, refers to someone shutting out the Lord’s voice or not being passionate about living life in a close, personal relationship with Him.
“To Him, the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He puts all His own sheep outside, He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow Him, because they know His voice.”
John 10:3-4 NASB
When we are His, hearing His voice, knowing His voice belongs to Him, trusting Him in where He is leading, and following Him all harmonize. When we hear His voice, but shut it out, we are disobeying, like a dog, turning the opposite way of his master, choosing his own path.
Did you notice, in John 10:3, that “He calls His own sheep by name?” A lot of times, we will look at this, get warm fuzzies, and say, “He knows me!” While He does know us, the meaning of the Greek word for “name,” here, refers to making someone’s character clear to the eyes or mind, setting them apart from everyone else, living in a way that is under God’s authority (commissioned by Him). So, by calling “His own sheep by name,” He’s, basically, calling us His. We carry His name out into the world in our everyday lives and know that He goes before us (to establish His name/character). We trust Him, and we follow Him.
Can you fully and honestly say, “In __________ (situation), I recognize God’s authority! I choose to follow Him, trust Him, and carry His name in this!?”
“But without faith, it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 AB
If we are God’s and carrying His name, but choose to hide in the fold, instead of walking closely with Him; not trust Him; ignore His voice, calling for us; and/or refuse to follow Him, we are lacking faith. Without faith, we aren’t pleasing Him.
Hebrews 11:6 goes hand in hand with the “Do Not Worry” passages, as it gives us the prescription for how to walk closely with Him and please Him. The active ingredient is to seek Him and all things that are under His authority/rule, which includes what He is calling us to/commissioning us for. This leaves no room for selfishness, pride, or our own agenda (i.e., what we think is best for us). If we seek “self” or other things, we will waver.
Are you actively seeking “self” or God (including what He authorizes)?
“And you—do not seek what you may eat, or what you may drink, and do not be in suspense,”
Luke 12:29 LSV
“Do not be in suspense???” Picture something hanging in mid-air, someone comes by and hits it, and it sways from one direction to another. Maybe someone grabs it and whips it around, like a child being pushed in circles on a tire swing. Is this you…always in anxiety-causing limbo? This is what we are warned against. The prescription?
“but let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who is doubting has been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed;”
James 1:6 LSV
Where is your faith? Is it dangling about or on a firm foundation?
Where might you be doubting God?
Hold the Line
There were so many things to remember. It was the first time I’d gone downhill skiing. I was a kid and thought it was a good idea to start on the hill with the tow rope! Like anything new, it was a bit overwhelming at first, trying not to forget any one thing and end up falling over on the ground!
- Be ready to move toward the rope.
- Don’t cross your skis, as you move.
- Keep your skis parallel to each other, side by side.
- Let the rope glide through your hands.
- When you’re ready, hold on tight, and don’t let go until you reach your destination.
- Bend your knees to absorb any bumps as well as keep you upright and balanced.
- Keep your eyes focused on what’s ahead, as you move.
- When you reach the top, keep moving, and get out of the way!
When I think back, there is so much of this that translates spiritually. If you’re rolling your eyes right now, you aren’t alone; someone made a comment once about my desire to pray about everything. This would be one of those moments, like…”Really?!? It’s…skiing!” I see a parallel, though, if you would indulge me for a couple minutes.
We talked, last post, about a rope being a symbol of strength. In this case, I’m looking at the rope as representing God.
The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him a habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Exodus 15:2 KJV
1. Be ready to move; move toward the LORD.
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!”
1 Chronicles 16 11 ESV
2. Don’t mix up obedience and disobedience, as you move.
“For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their actions are against the Lord–to rebel against His glorious presence. The expression of their faces testifies against them, and they display their sin like Sodom; they do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have done evil to themselves.”
Isaiah 3:8-9 NASB
3. Keep your ways in line with God’s, side by side.
“In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].”
Proverbs 3:6 AB
4. Let God set up the work of your hands.
“And let the pleasantness of our God, YHWH, be on us, and establish on us the work of our hands. Indeed, establish the work of our hands!”
Psalm 90:17 LSV
5. Hold on tight to God, and don’t let go.
“My soul clings to You. Your right hand supports me.”
Psalm 63:8 GWT
6. Bend your knee to God in submission; He will help absorb any “bumps” in life as well as keep you upright and balanced.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 ESV
[Bend to His will and authority.]
7. Keep your eyes focused on what’s ahead, as you move.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.”
Proverbs 4:25 GWT
“Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established. Do not turn [toward] the [dry valley on your] right or the [cover of darkness on your] left; turn yourself away from evil.”
Proverbs 4:26-27 NETB
8. Keep moving, and get out of the way of others!
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but, in humility, consider others more important than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3
Which of these steps do you find the hardest?
Feel free to reply; I’d love to pray for you! Let’s join, as a Liv community, and move forward toward God together.
Liv 