With all that I have had going on around me at home, in our family and just life in general, I've REALLY missed participating (and the fellowship) with Kim from To Know Him and other contributors over at Internet Cafe Devotions. So today, I'm so GLAD that I can participate in the Cafe Chat with Kim...it means that I'm that much closer to getting back to my regular blogging!
Here is an excerpt of Kim's post from today introducing our topic:
As you might have noticed already the title of the Chat today is, "Can today be the day?". The Lord has really been working in my heart over the last several months. I feel like He has been dealing with me in the area of letting things go. Sometimes the things are outright sins. Sins that have had me in their grip for a long time. Sins I have been wrestling with for what feels like my whole life. On the other hand, there are things in my life, things that I neccessarily consider sins. Some of the things are good things, or at least that is how the world might define them. However, these good things have become idols in my life. Things that I find myself not able to do in moderation, if you know what I mean. I am speaking today in general terms, because I don't want you to get focused in on any particular sin, and I don't also want you to feel like I am singling out things in my life that I think you all should give up as well. What I am asking you to do is to pray to God and see if there is something He wants you to give up. Not give up eventually, or one day in the future, but TODAY. Can today be the day you begin your journey to freedom from what binds you? Begin your journey with prayer, and then seek God in His Word. Ask Him to give you the desire to change, and the strength to do the hard work that is required. Seek out friends and loved ones that will support you on your journey to freedom. Jesus came to set us free... Let's seek freedom together. (Today, if you feel led please share with us what thing you are asking God to set you free from, or at least that you decided today is the day to change...) Cheering you on, Kim
When I read the topic, I immediately thought of these verses from Proverbs 3:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,[b]
And strength[c] to your bones.
To answer Kim's question, I am a "fixer". I always have been. I have to fix it. I have to get to the bottom of it. I can't let it go. The problem with this is that sometimes I miss out on the direction that God is giving me in verse five above. It's the one that gives me the "permission" that I need to "lean not on my own understanding". And if I'm "leaning not on my own understanding", then I'm also doing what the beginning of the verse is commanding me to do...it's even harder than the "leaning not"....it's to TRUST and ACKNOWLEDGE God for who He is and His position in our lives. And even further, to quit being wise in our own eyes and know that He will live up to His PROMISE to me that HE will direct my paths! If I can't trust God with ___(fill in the blank)____, then what's the point of Him being in my life at all? Well, all I can say is thank you Lord for grace and mercy.
I'm so beyond perfect but thankfully I have been saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And even though I'm sure of my salvation, I'm still human and I'm still prone to struggle with handing the reigns over to Him when I need to just "let go". And the verses even offer benefits to our health! God is SO good! If we will obey His word, then He'll even bring health to our flesh and strength to our bones. This is such a relevant scripture for our stress laden world. At every corner...at every turn....everyone is stressed (me included!). But thanks be to the Lord that He is gentle to remind me through these verses that no matter what, I can trust Him, I can "lean not"...and if I do, and will do it diligently, I will have gained strength and health along the way. So I'm challenging myself today to be obedient to the Lord to trust Him, lean not, God's promises are so good! And Kim is right...it's like a journey into freedom! Is today the day for you?
