Now is the time... To Play It Safe

My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run. Carry out my instructions; don't forsake them. Guard them, for they will lead you to a fulfilled life. Proverbs 4:10-13 (NLT)

A few months ago news came of two young men in their 20’s who died when part of a glacier in New Zealand collapsed on them. What increases the impact of this tragic event is that it didn’t need to happen. These boys made two obvious mistakes (as far as I can tell from news reports). Firstly they chose not to take a guide who knew the area with them, and secondly they actually ignored warning signs and crossed over safety barriers. I’m sure their parents and friends have asked themselves many times, “Why, why, why?” Such is the impulsiveness of youth. So sad!

King Solomon, known as the wisest man who ever lived took time to write at length, in the book of Proverbs, warning his son about the importance of listening to advice and walking in the ways of wisdom. Read the first 5 chapters of Proverbs and you will see that again and again the writer pleads “listen my son” and “pay attention to my words”. This is always followed with the promise of a good, safe and blessed life if wisdom is adhered to. Isn’t that what each of us ultimately desires? I want to tell you that we can have just that. Not a life without challenges – we need those to make us strong, to test our faith and to build our character – but a life that is uncomplicated by the consequences of sin and folly.

We live in a world that is overtaken with the results of people’s refusal to follow not only God’s ways but also the laws of the land. People wanting to do things their way with disregard for others. Laws are put in place for our safety and the safety of others. If we read and understand God’s word and walk in his ways, not leaning on or trusting in our own understanding, God will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). To walk with God is sometimes scary in that we are led out of our comfort zone, but it is always safe. Staying within his “guard rails” is the place of safety.

God gives us boundaries for our benefit, not for his pleasure. They are to keep us safe and to save us from paying an awful price of grief and shame. If you’ve crossed the boundary, you have a choice to come back inside the fence to safety. Waste no more time, do it today!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, when I am tempted to take matters into my own hands and do it ‘my way’, will you please give me a check in my spirit and remind me that the risk is not worth it. Your way is best. Amen

Now is the time... To Check Your Diet!

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight……. Jeremiah 15:16

Did you groan when you read today’s heading? Be honest now! Yes, the western world seems to be consumed with diet; eating too much, eating too little, what is good for you to eat and what is not; even when and how often we eat can be an issue. I think I am with the writer of Ecclesiastes who said this: ”A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God…” (2:24). As an aside, we do need to keep in mind that word work though, it brings an important balance to life. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 it says that if one refuses to work, he should not eat. Mmmm!! Interesting social implications there for the day we live in, where second and third generations are living on social welfare in my country. Anyway, enough of that…… the diet I want to speak of will not make you fat or thin, but it will enrich you spiritually. Does that sound more interesting?

The prophet Jeremiah spoke of eating God’s words which is a rather unusual concept to us today but you can read in Ezekiel 3:1 where Ezekiel was called by God and in a vision was told to eat the scroll containing the words of God that was put before him (figuratively speaking). In the Old Testament the Israelites were sustained on ‘manna’ which was a heavenly food that God fed them with supernaturally every day for almost 40 years. It kept their bodies nourished and healthy which is miraculous. Jesus referred to himself as ‘the bread of life’. He was also called ‘the word made flesh’ (John 1:1,14).

When he was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread, he told him that ‘people need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God’ (Matthew 4:4). Jesus was, in effect, saying that regular food was not a complete diet for mankind. Our spiritual food is just as vital to us as our breakfast, lunch and dinner. The word of God is what will sustain us spiritually and emotionally which, in turn, strengthens our body. Have you noticed how weak you feel when your spirit is not strong? Christians will not survive very long if they don’t feed on God’s word regularly, preferably daily. It always amazes me that when I feel a bit down and I go read my Bible, my spirit gets stirred up and excited and I suddenly feel motivated again.

Are you feeling a bit stale in your spirit, a bit unmotivated and lacking in faith and vitality? Open your Bible and begin to ‘eat’ God’s word. The heavenly ‘bread’ makes for a great diet.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, bread of life, feed me from your word today. Fill my heart and my mouth with your words. Amen

Now is the time... To Say 'No' To Insecurity

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

A recent incident brought this topic of insecurity to my notice again. It caused me some pain in the process of working through the situation that happened, but the good thing is, it’s given me something to think about and write about.

A year or more ago I was watching a TV programme on which two very well known and well loved actors were being interviewed. Watching them and spotting their obvious insecurity first caused me to want to address this topic but obviously, now is the time! Here were two people, very experienced in their profession, very high profile in their field and their insecurity showed so clearly. I asked myself, “Why in the world would these two be insecure?” This was the answer that I came up with….

It doesn’t matter how learned, gifted, wealthy, or well known a person is, they can still struggle with insecurity. It is a very human trait and common across the board. It is rooted in self consciousness. I suspect it has quite a bit to do with our personality and how we are raised. If we are raised to be people-pleasers we will probably have a problem with insecurity because we are always worried about what others think about us. We want them to like us and be pleased with us. If we were not raised with good affirmation insecurity has chance to spawn. If we are raised in loving homes by parents who are secure in themselves and don’t demand that we perform to please, we will be more likely to be secure too.

I want to expose insecurity as a tool of our enemy. Satan uses it to great effect to keep people thinking more about themselves which effectively keeps them from making good, healthy relationships. Insecurity spoils relationships (including marriages) as it manifests itself in lack of trust, inability to receive love, lack of self esteem, jealousy, competitiveness and the feeling of always needing to prove one’s worth or be right. Relationships cannot be maintained successfully where insecurity is allowed to run free.

If you are one who struggles with insecurity it is time to stand up to the devil and say a big ‘NO’. Remind him (and yourself) that God considers you worthy to be called his child, that he sent Jesus Christ to die for you because you are just that precious and important to him. That God has a special place and plan for you in this world that only you can fill. You don’t have to fight for it, just find it.

Romans 12:3 warns us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, but to think with sober judgment. That means that we are not to think less of ourselves than God does either. He made you and saw you while you were still in your mother’s womb. Read Psalm 139 to remind yourself from God’s word, (which is the basis of our truth), just how special and loved you are; then walk in confidence and shine brightly in the knowledge of that love, for then you will be one who attracts others rather than turning them away. You really have nothing to feel insecure about, but if you think you do, then ask Jesus to help you see yourself as he sees you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see myself through your eyes, to know my value to you and be satisfied and secure in that knowledge. Help me to be more concerned with loving others than focusing on myself. Amen.

Now is the time…… To Take Cover

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

Right at this moment the worst bushfires ever seen in our Australian State of Victoria are thundering through the countryside, destroying lives, homes, property, pastures and forest. Survivors are shocked, and broken, thankful and grieving, some are angry at their loss; firefighters are exhausted, endangered and some are wounded in action. Communities are wiped out and the death toll rises daily. It is a truly devastating situation.

A survivor who was interviewed on TV this morning told how the fire approached too fast for them to do anything but run down the paddock where they took cover under wet sheets and blankets in a wombat (Australian animal) hole until the fire had passed.

We surely live in days where uncertainty surrounds and sometimes overwhelms so many in our world. Finances, health issues, families in crisis, and a world in recession cause questions to loom in our minds concerning not only the future, but also the present. The sad truth is that many have no one or nowhere to turn to in their distress.

As Christians we are blessed that we know to whom we can turn in our trouble. As the hymn writer wrote so many years ago; ‘there is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God, a place where sin (fear, anxiety, stress) cannot molest, near to the heart of God.’ Yes these certainly are troubled times but believers have a place of refuge and strength. Our God is always ready to help us in times of trouble. We only need to call out to Him and He will help us.

What a wonderful comfort that is and what reassurance these words of the psalmist offer to us today. We can take cover, or refuge, in God. There is no better place to be. He is always there BUT, we need to come to Him. It is all too easy to forget that He’s there waiting and so we struggle along ‘doing the best we can’. How foolish is that, when help, strength, protection, provision and whatever else we may need is there waiting to be tapped into?

Faith is action. If we say we believe, we need to actively walk in the provision of God. His provision is a place of rest. Our lives lived in stress, anxiety and fear bring no glory to God at all. We are then no different from our unbelieving neighbours, but when, in the midst of uncertainty, disaster and loss we can snuggle into our Father’s arms and find peace and rest, then we show the world the benefits of a life of faith in the living God. The world may be more inclined to listen to our words of witness when they see our faith in action.

Prayer: Lord God, my Saviour and my strength, help me to trust you more and to actively show the power of your peace in my life every day, no matter what life brings. Amen

Now is the time... To Say "No" To Bitterness

“Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant)”, she responded, “Instead call me Mara (bitter) for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full but the Lord has brought me home empty.” Ruth 1:20-21

One of my husband’s favourite sayings is “Hindsight is a useless gift.” In other words it’s easy to look back on difficulties and see why something happened and what (if anything) we could have done to prevent it, but by then it is too late to do anything. We are left with “if onlys”; “if only I had done this,” or “if only I had not done that”, “if only I had listened to that advice”, if only……..

I wonder if Naomi regretted having left her home to go into a far country with her husband; a country which had robbed her not only of her husband but also the lives of her two sons. Yet at the time it had seemed the right thing to do.

The good thing was that she had gained 2 daughters-in-law, one of whom returned with her. Refusing to stay in her home country, she was determined to keep Naomi company on her return home. I wonder how Ruth felt though when she heard Naomi’s words to her kinfolk, “The Lord has brought me home empty.” I wonder if Ruth’s heart was grieved when she heard these words spoken out of the grief and bitterness of Naomi’s heart. Did she wonder why she’d made the sacrifice to leave her own homeland?

Sometimes in the heat of the moment we lose our perspective and our trust, as well as our thankfulness for God’s blessings. Our pain is so great that it casts a huge black shadow over our blessings. Bitterness will always blind us to blessings. Pain in our lives is inevitable but we must allow ourselves to process our pain and grief in a way that does not allow bitterness to take root in our heart. Hebrews 12:15 warns us to be careful and not allow any root of bitterness to spring up within us because it will cause trouble and affect others.

As we look back (with hindsight) we are able to see that, tragic as the situation was, God used it to bring Ruth, who was a gentile, into the lineage of Christ. She married Boaz and became the great grand-mother of King David into whose line Jesus, our Saviour, was born. Because of this Naomi also has a place of honour in history. God brought something special out of her tragedy.

Yes, we are allowed to grieve, be disappointed, feel hurt, anger and other emotions, but we should not allow them to become a foothold for bitterness because if we do, others will be affected and perhaps wounded by us.

Is there any grief or bitterness in your life today? If there is, will you bring it to Jesus and lay it at his feet? He is the One who will heal your heart and restore your peace and joy.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I bring my hurts, my disappointments and all my sorrows to you. Please heal my heart and remove any hint of bitterness that may be hiding there so that I can see what you want me to learn from these difficulties and not be blinded to your blessings. Amen

Now is the time... To Look for the Rainbow

All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining through the clouds. This was the way the glory of the LORD appeared to me. When I saw it, I fell face down in the dust, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me. Ezekiel 1:28

Recently I received news that one of my aunts had passed away. She had been sick for a few short years but she and her husband of many years had fought a good fight together and stayed positive and thankful to the end. I know my uncle will miss her greatly, as will her older sister – they spoke on the phone for an hour every night – but I know that both will have many happy memories to draw upon in the days when their grief seems to overtake them.

Earlier this year as I was learning to settle back into Australian life after many years abroad and feeling a bit sad, I sent a friend some pictures we had taken of beautiful rainbow lorikeets in the tree across from our home. She wrote back “Isn’t God wonderful to give you rainbows at your door.” I realized as I read her words that indeed God had given me my ‘personal rainbow’ to cheer my heart when I was feeling a bit ‘undone’.

Later as I sat writing on my balcony the rainbows were back in their tree, reminding me that we need to actively look for God’s goodness and encouragement in each disappointment, loss or difficult time. He sure is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4) who comforts us in all our troubles …. so that we can comfort others when they are troubled. We can give them the same comfort God has given us, or at least point them to Jesus who is our hope and strong tower.

Today I prayed with a friend who is trying to see the rainbow right now. Their business is in difficulty because of a dishonest partner. My friend now has the added burden of stepping in to work in the business so that they can overcome this disappointment. She has every reason to be angry at the person who caused this predicament but as a Christian she refuses to think that way, but rather to ask God to give her a forgiving heart. I know that she is going to be able to say in the future as Joseph did, “What you meant for evil, the Lord meant for good.” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph refused to be bitter, he continued to do a good job wherever he found himself and God blessed him.

Our trials can be opportunities for us to go deeper; to stop and listen for God’s voice of comfort and encouragement or to look for the beauty of a rainbow, a rose, or even a smile, and be thankful. In our darkest days we can make the choice to turn to our God of all comfort and ask him for a ‘rainbow’. When we look for the rainbow, we are most likely to see the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, open my eyes today to see the rainbows around me. Open my ears to hear your words of comfort when my days are dark, and help me to be ready to pass on the comfort I receive from you to others who are in dark times. Amen