This morning I did something in a rush, without thinking it through, really. I was making home-made pancakes with blueberries for breakfast (our routine Wed morning breakfast-more on that later) Anyway, I usually put honey on my waffles (and pancakes) for several reasons. Mainly, it is what is best for me personally.
I prepared J and Bubb's first (they like the light syrup), and I got them settled. Then in a rush, I completed my plate by grabbing the syrup and putting it on my waffles as I was walking to the table...before thinking twice about it. I realized what I had done after they were pretty much drenched.
Thinking the syrup would be just as good...if not BETTER...mmmmm, I went ahead and ate it! :)
It was sweet, and oh so good for the moment. Yet, in the long wrong, it wasn't what is best for me.
Have you ever done this? Grabbed or done something on the fly before thinking it through...then later realizing it was not the best thing for you? Sometimes it is immediate...we realize it almost right after the fact...that it isn't really best for us. Yet, we ignore it, and keep on with it. Sometimes it is way down the road before we realize it wasn't what was best for us at all.
Whether it be food, jobs, ministry, or other activities in our lives? Someone suggests something, so we jump to it, without even consulting with God first on the matter. Or we jump into something because it seems like a good and godly thing to do, without even consulting with God prayerfully first.
God really impressed on my heart how easy it is for me to do this...especially with bigger decisions. (However, I believe God is just as concerned about our every day small decisions too. Like how we spend a dollar, and how we spend our time.) Each moment is a gift, and I desire for every part of it to be God led.
Of course, there is no way to do things perfectly...every moment of every day. We all mess up. We all get caught up in thinking we have the answers, or with thinking someone else's ideas are the best or even god-led. We all get caught up in our own agendas...doing our best to mask them in the name of the Lord. You know, making our agenda, God's agenda kind of thing. ;)
These verses really spoke to me:
Proverbs 16:25 (Amplified Bible)
25There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.
Romans 3:10-11 (New International Version)
10As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
1 John 1:8 (New International Version)
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
There have been times where I grabbed/jumped before even thinking about praying...especially in ministry. At the time, it seemed the right and "godly" thing to do. Yet in the end, it wasn't God's direction at all. This doesn't mean that I didn't learn something in the process though. Or that God still didn't use me even with my wrong turns. :)
(Sure the syrup in and of isn't that horribly bad for me in moderation...hey, its seems good and "light", but if I had taken my time to be patient and think it through, the honey would have been a better choice...sweetest...so much better for me in the long run.)
It is easy to grab for the quick fix, and lets get it done.
There is always someone trying to fix us quickly, OR I am always trying to fix myself up or someone else quickly. It is for good reasons too. I care, and want to help. Advise is given because others care and want to help us. Yet, when our advise becomes forced and thoughtless, then I fear we are playing God...and that is scary!! When it boils down to it, only God truly knows what is best for us.
Whatever it is in my life, service, struggles, circumstances...if it is a rushed decision, it won't be nearly as sweet as when the Lord is given full reign/complete control to direct our steps.
This is where the surrender part comes in...which is so so difficult for we humans to do. To "Let Go", and allow God do HIS best work in us in total surrender.
So in my breakfast time this morning, God reminded me to slow my thoughts and actions. To not be too hasty in decisions. or in giving quick advice...especially in a forceful way. To "wait upon the Lord, and be of good cheer".
As I type this, in my human reasoning I'm thinking, "this is easier said than done". Especially where the world says to get on with things quickly, to make money quickly, to do everything...quickly. God is saying to my heart and soul..."be still child, and know that I am God".
Isaiah 40:30-31 (New International Version)
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Romans 8:24-26 (New International Version)
24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Hebrews 6:15 (New International Version)
15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (King James Version)
8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
It is difficult to be patient, and to remember that God's timing is "perfect". I'm not saying sit back and do nothing. What I am saying is, not to force things or jump into something too quickly without prayerfully waiting on the Lord for HIS direction.
In our urgency to help ourselves, or others along, let us all remember that only God makes things happen for us... as we soak in His word, pray, and trust in Him completely. I can encourage, and suggest, but it is really up to that person to allow God's best direction for them. It is up to us to allow God's best direction for us. God can use others to speak into our lives, but even still...we always benefit from waiting on the Lord for the final word.
Exercising my faith in these areas is a great challenge for me personally. What about you?
2 comments:
Great timing on me reading this post...thank you! My husband's work situation is awful. Abusive, somewhat unethical bosses, etc. But as bad as it is for him, we can't just rush into him taking another job (no matter how rare the opportunity may be these days!). God knows our situation, our hurts, our needs, and he knew long ago that hubby would be in this position. Not that we should sit back and not do anything, justifying it as "waiting on God", but we also shouldn't run forward without much prayer and discussion. Thanks for the post! :)
Jennifer, I am praying with you. God does know and He is using your husband's life in incredible ways! He will show him when the right time is to step out. Praying for you both. We are called to these hard places to be a light. It is such a testing of our faith at times...
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