Pure Trust

It began like any other walk. The route was the same. The evening temperature refreshingly cool.

As I walked my dog, Precious, I noticed a yard that was occupied by two medium-sized, fairly muscular, black, dogs. They barked a stern warning. We rounded the top of the hill when I noticed it. Instead of responding by barking, Precious continued to focus on me, a look of inquiry on her face.

Her eyes never left my face as we continued past the house, black dogs barking all the while. No lunging, no display of aggression, and no barking. Just the upward tilt of her face, searching mine for a clue as to what she should do...

Trust. Pure and simple. Precious trusted me. She knew I would keep her safe. What a response!

Our lives are filled with challenges. How do we respond? It's easy to give in to our flesh and do what comes naturally - retaliate. After all, don't we have 'rights'? Or do we die to self, turn our faces upward, and seek the face of our Master? Trusting Him. Confident in knowing that He will give us the guidance we need to face whatever situation threatens us.

Choose His way. Tilt your face up to your Heavenly Father, who promises to give wisdom to all those who ask. Respond in faith, knowing He is trustworthy!

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that You can be trusted. Help me choose Your way when I'm faced with life's challenges. Amen.   

  

Where's Your Focus?

He sat on the hill staring at me. Every time I walked by the window, I could feel his eyes following me. Our Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Joe, missed me. The hectic pace of the weekend and the cooler temperatures had made me less motivated to spend time outside with our dogs. Joe was letting me know that I needed to slow down, throw on my winter coat, and push aside any other excuses that would keep me housebound.

I made my way into his bark park, filling his food and water bowls. He picked up his ball and headed over to our usual play place. Joe's favorite activity is fetching his ball. He loves to run. And truth be told, when we play, I tire of the game long before he does! But today was different. Although he had carried his ball with him, he wasn't interested in playing. He just wanted me to cuddle with him, being sure to scratch every square inch of his neck and back. He was more interested in spending time with me, than getting me to play with him.

Joe's behavior gave me a serious reason for reflection. It's so easy for me to get caught up in thanking God for what He does, and the blessings He gives me, that I forget to thank Him for who He is. It IS appropriate to thank Him for the blessings He pours out so abundantly, but I must remember to focus on Him and not just His gifts. Thanking Him for the opportunity to develop a relationship with the mighty King of the universe is SO important.

David gives us a great description of our God, "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth," (Psalm 86:15; KJV). And again, in the book of Psalms, "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy," (Psalm 103:8). Experiencing His vast love, His grace, and His patience is priceless. He is so much more than anything I can imagine. Yet in spite of my short-sightedness, He invites me into a close Father-child relationship.

When I ONLY focus on what He does for me, I'm in danger of relegating the Creator of the universe to the role of a genie. I set myself up as the master, and expect Him to do my bidding. Satan loves nothing more than this subtle shift in power. Self taking control rather than submitting to the Lordship of Christ. My prayers become self-focused, and it's all about my will being done rather than His.

When my desire is to draw near to God for the sake of knowing Him better, proper focus is restored. I'm aware of His holiness, and realize His rightful position as Lord of my life. As I read His Word, trusting in His sufficiency, He directs my paths, giving my life purpose. I'm able to pray, "Not my will, but Yours be done!"

Do you find yourself treating God like a cosmic genie? You enjoy the blessings He's given you, but you don't spend much time with Him? Set aside some time, to get to know the One who has blessed you. He's waiting for you today!

Prayer:Heavenly Father, Thank You for who You are - the sovereign God of the universe, who is in control of it all. Forgive me for the times I focus more on the gifts than the Giver. I praise You for the opportunity You give me to develop a close relationship with You. Draw me to Your side. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God and a Campsite

Numbers. Not the kind used in arithmetic. But the book of the Bible that gives the account of the numbering of the children of Israel. As I opened my Bible, I can't say I was especially excited to dive into this portion of scripture. The genealogies of the twelve tribes of Israel are given in great detail, complete with names that are sure to challenge any tongue on the planet. I took a sip of coffee, and no doubt, began slaughtering the names on the pages before me.

But hold on, it gets interesting. The Lord didn't stop at merely numbering the fighting men of Israel. He broke them down into groups, and gave each group a specific territory to occupy around his tabernacle. If you enjoy camping, this section was written just for you. Imagine you and your family along with 599,000 of your closest friends and their families all camping together! My, the evening sky must have been ablaze with all of those campfires! I wonder if they roasted any s'mores? It's been estimated that the campsite alone was well beyond twelve square miles. Can you picture it?

Once the Israelites were camped around His tabernacle, the Lord laid out the responsibilities of the Levites, those who were to minister in His house. At first glance, it may be difficult to identify with a huge group of foreigners setting up camp somewhere in a desert far, far away. To understand the importance each family played as they performed their role. But as the chapters of scripture came alive in my mind, I saw a God of order. A God who had a specific place for each tribe to dwell. A God who placed the tribes around a central focus, the tabernacle, so they'd be inspired to look to Him and make Him the center of their lives. A God of order, who was preparing them for the next task that lay ahead: conquering the promised land.

I can relate to order. I admit I'm a far cry from the most fastidious housekeeper, but I love it when my house is clean and orderly. There's just something about the saying, "A place for everything, and everything in its place." When the dishes are put away, and the clutter is picked up, it's easier to focus. I can begin concentrating on the next task the Lord has for me. When I'm in the place that God has called me to, and I'm focusing on Him, the book of Proverbs states, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established" (Proverbs 16:3; KJV).

Looking back on my life, I see the orderly steps God has planned for me. I can identify the love for reading and writing. The opportunities I've had to write articles for different publications. The not-so-coincidental meeting with a friend who encouraged me to start a blog. The writing classes to hone my skills. All part of my orderly God's plan, to take me one step closer to conquering the 'promised land' He has for me.

Do you see God as a God of order in your life? Have you made Him your central focus? Do you realize He's preparing you for an important task? Trust Him to order your steps to bring Him maximum glory!