Discovering what love is one day at a time
Have you ever felt like life would be easier if you could just know what was going to happen next? What if by seeing ahead you could just prepare for the hard stuff or avoid it completely? Reality is, we don’t know what is going to happen next, and daily we are confronted with situations and circumstances that we have no control of the outcome. But the truth is we do have control over our own response. Sometimes it feels like you are driving a car in the dark without any headlights…or possibly you may feel like the disciples in the fourth chapter of Mark, starting in verse 35. “On the same day, when evening had come, He said unto them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And then they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,’ Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” Have you ever been out in a large body of water in a boat in the dark without any light? How about a boat in the dark and a windstorm? For some reason, that makes it a little more disconcerting doesn’t it? He was taking them on a journey to the other side…You may think from reading the passage that it was to take a while simply from the observation of Jesus, settled in and asleep on a pillow. So the thought of it being dark, a great distance to go, and a storm…that increases the “oh no” factor doesn’t it? Our life here on earth in terms of eternity is yet but a vapor, but in our own minds we may feel like time passes slowly; especially in the middle of a large and daunting circumstance. Jesus is not worried about what is going to happen next. “In His book they were all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”, He was not anxious about their circumstances then, nor is He anxious in regards to ours now.. He watches over us and He does not slumber nor does He sleep, however, the work needed to get us from death in our sin to life, was accomplished on the cross. There He became sin for us, was crucified, died and rose again. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life... He invites us to be born again and have our sins washed away, to become new creations, to be filled with His life… Have you accepted His invitation to cross over to the other side? AND if you have taken that step with Him, then you are learning to daily grow in His grace? Sometimes you can get stuck in a pattern that leaves you out on the middle of the storms of this life without peace. He invites us to come back to Him and stay in His rest, “Let us cross over to the other side." His Word says, Peace I leave with you My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid… The storms, the winds, the circumstances of our lives can beat us over the head, crash into the sides of us, overflow into different areas of our lives, and be great areas of concern. But we have a choice in how we will respond. Faith…or Fear. A fear response is one like the disciples in the boat. “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” They were out of their minds with fear and were preparing for sudden and untimely death. They gave up due to their circumstances. They considered Him (teacher) and not LORD. Could His Word up to this point to them only have meaning for simple instruction, and not have been fully received? Do you think of Christ as only a good teacher…or does He hold His rightful place in your heart and mind and soul and strength. Is He King over your whole life? A fear response exalts our circumstances and feelings over the knowledge of God, and a faith response exalts God and His Word over everything. Christ is seated in the heavenly places…He is before all things. Do we really believe that? We suffer loss when we exalt other things over the knowledge of God, when we allow chaos and fear to reign in our hearts rather than the order and peace that Christ is. Seek ye first the kingdom of the Lord and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. When we put God first…when we allow The King of the universe to be King in our hearts and over every area in our lives, everything falls into its proper place. Are our circumstances still difficult? Yes, but we know that we can count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience. When we know the peace that surpasses all understanding, we easily can recognize when we step out of our place of refuge, outside of the shadow of His wings, when we step out of His perfect peace, and into the chaos the world gives…simply, it hurts. Today remember that no temptation has overtaken you except which is common to mankind. And God is faithful he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when you are tempted He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. We can stand up during the storms in our lives, remain in His rest, and have peace that surpasses all understanding. He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. We have a responsibility to choose to walk in faith. Faith says my trust and my hope is in God. If we are not trusting God what is it that we are trusting? It is definitely something less...and if we are really honest…the truth of not trusting Him…it doesn’t really work does it?
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AuthorI have been married to my wonderful husband for 29 years. We have two young men ages 25 and 20.. This blog is somewhat of a journal and attempt for me to remind myself of my purpose and invite others to join me in keeping an eternal perspective as we move through each day. Archives
May 2023
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