09/07/2021
We consider ourselves to be wise, and able to maneuver, and survive in the world, by our own abilities, yet here we are again kneeling before God, and praying pitifully for His guidance, salvation, provision, and mercy. How many times must we go on trying to fend for ourselves, only to end up in a mess again, before we will seek the Lord’s direction, and ask that He be first in our lives? We are so self-assured that we develop our own plans and strike off to accomplish them with at most a quick prayer, never asking, only telling, God where we are going.
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV
We read scripture, and come across kingdom after kingdom that fell before God’s people and we are thrilled by His power and ability, but we also read about how often the children of God have been saved, and then turned away from Him. Time and time again they became self-assured and decide to go their own way… thinking that they knew best. Pastor Andrew Murray summed it up very well when he wrote these words in the late 1800s:
“Self is the whole evil of fallen nature. All the vices of fallen men have their birth and power in the atheism and idolatry of self, for self is both atheist, and idolater. It is atheist because it has rejected God; it is idolater because it is its own idol. On the other hand, all the virtues of the heavenly life are the virtues of humility.” - Andrew Murray
We read these same thoughts repeatedly in God’s Word regarding the Israelites, and wonder aloud to ourselves, how they could continue to turn from God, and we view them as foolish. But, aren’t we doing the same thing when we strike out on our own without asking Him what direction we should go, or what we should do? How many times have each of us decided on accomplishing a certain thing, and then, as an aside, asked God to bless it? Aren’t we assigning God a support role, and not the lead role, when we do this? Where is our humility, our humbleness, our servant mentality, and our faith, and are we placing Him first in our lives by doing this?
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3 KJV
So we should put God above ourselves in all things… even our decisions concerning our spouses, our jobs, our church lives, and the trivial things regarding what we should do in leisure… everything. When God told us to lean on His understanding He never said “with the big things in your life”, no, He said “In all thy ways”.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Today we are beginning, or perhaps we are proceeding in the midst of a new day, but what has been the nature of our prayers? Have we asked God what we should do today, to speak to us regarding a decision we must make, to inspire us, or, have we simply asked Him to come along for the ride as we take the wheel, and then expect Him to climb into the back seat?
I love to be around creative Christian people because I feel we have a kindred spirit, but I often find it amazing that they will attempt to create poetry, music, paintings, or other inspired works without first asking God to give them the inspiration. It is as if they feel like He is unfamiliar with the process of creativity… Really? I can show you poems that I have written on my own, and then those I wrote with the inspiration, and help, of the Holy Spirit; you will easily be able to tell which is which. Our God is nothing if not creative, inspiring, and forward thinking. After all, He colluded with others to make us… listen…
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 KJV
So when we hear a song like “Jesus Take the Wheel”, is there any wonder why it was so popular, struck such a chord with people, and was a big financial success? Do we give all the credit for writing it to human hands, and inspiration? When we see a business like Chik-fil-a do we ponder, perplexed, over its successes? Our God leads, and He answers prayer… are we ready to let Him lead each of our lives, and be our inspiration?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all the times you have heard our prayers of desperation after we have attempted to take control of our own lives, but thank you most for those moments in prayer when you tell us beforehand which direction to travel, or how to deal with the circumstances of our lives. You are wise, and your knowledge knows no end. You are creative beyond our wildest dreams, and love to inspire us in the arts, business, and in every aspect of our lives. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who leads us, and asks that we love you with all our heart, soul, mind. Great are you who asks that we put you before all else, even ourselves. Merciful are you Father as you rescue us from our own self-assuredness, and the mistakes we make when trying to master our own lives. Your Grace abounds in Christ, and His blood is our salvation, and redemption. Wash us clean Lord, and lift us toy our breast as we love you, and Jesus. Take pleasure in us as we seek your will in all things great and small, and reward our humility with your eternal presence, joy, peace, and every good wine… the fruit of Heaven, given to those who turn always, and only to you.
Rich Forbes