Before I get into my thoughts for the day, I wanted to let you know that the tulips in fact did
grow! If you read my last post, you learned along with me that tulips are one of the few flowers that grow after being cut. As long as they have a light
source they will extend towards it after being clipped. Well, I was sure to keep a close eye on them. I didn't want to post something that was a wives tale, and lead you astray! Sitting at dinner last night I looked over at my tulips and sure enough!!! GROWTH! I could not believe it, the truth of the gospel and the truth of creation unfolding before my eyes! Be sure to look back at last weeks picture and you will see that they are set into the bouquet and now they are huge! Anyway, seeing that really made me excited!
OK, so sitting in church yesterday I heard something that made so much sense to me. A pro-baseball player gave his testimony at our church and he said something so simple, yet so profound, "God, I don't get it, but I get it". As you scratch your head and think I am starting to lose it, think about the reference. Something happened in his career and he didn't understand why, but he knew God was in control. He knew God was doing it for some reason unknown to him at the time. BINGO! The light bulb over my head popped up. I now realized my dilemma, I realized why I keep asking God the same questions that He has already been gracious to give answers to: "I don't get it... but I get it."
You see, I don't have to know God's reasons to know His character. When something happens in life that I don't understand or don't think I deserve (been there...then I remember that we all deserve death for our sin! Thank You Jesus for the cross!) I realized I don't need to lean on the reasons why God let it happen, I need to lean on His Almighty character. If I don't understand why it happened, I still must understand that God is sovereign, in control, and has a perfect will for me that will come to completion...one way or another. When I don't understand why God let the enemy steal from me, I simply must understand that God brings all things to good for those who love Him..it is a promise.
I am learning that I don't need to understand the reason, I need to understand the promise. Do I really believe God will bring abundant good? Do I really believe that Christ came that we might have life and life more abundantly? Do I believe that God will bring abundant life from a circumstance of death? Do I really believe that Christ will one day fully decimate his opponent "death" as claimed in the book of Revelation? I am beginning to realize that as I believe the promise, as I believe He will bring victory in my life, that His reasons are not as important. He has fulfilled prophecy all throughout history, why do I doubt He will do it in my life, according to the blessing and promise He has for me?
Oh the power of HIS promise. Friends, we make promises all the time, and we think nothing of breaking them. "Yeah, I'll be there I promise..." and we don't show. "I got your back I promise..." and we offer no help. "I'll help out I promise..." and we show up late. So sometimes when I think of God's promise I think of it in relationship to those I have broken and those who have hurt me. God's promise is PERFECT. He invented the idea, and we have butchered it. So grasping the idea of a promise can be hard to me, but in this time of pain it is all God has left me with. In my times of despair, battle, pain, tribulation and trial He left me with nothing more than the promises in His Word: the peace, mercy, love, joy. Hear me loud and clear on this one: WE HAVE NO CHOICE but to lean all of our weight and burdens on these Words, and believe God. Not "Believe in God" but BELIEVE GOD...to trust His Word and His promises as truth. This walk is teaching me to believe God.
"God, I don't get it, but I get it. I understand YOU, Your power and You perfection. I don't always understand why, and I confess I don't always think I deserved this, but I know You. Forgive me for the times I have thought that I was unworthy of this thorn. Lord, I know that we deserve far worse than you give us. Today Lord, fulfill a promise in my life. I expect it!! I expect your goodness in my life, I expect your love and blessing. I expect favor upon me--because they are your promise to us. I expect Your mercy because you tell us it is granted to those who believe in Christ. I expect to run and not grow faint, I expect to reap a harvest if I faint not, I expect peace that surpasses understanding because I give you thanks in the toughest of circumstances. I receive EVERY promise in your Word, and from here on I will reject every seed of doubt that tries to steal the promises I have been granted through Christ. I BELIEVE YOU, God, not the World that tells me I should be angry, that I should be in a puddle of tears, that I am helpless. I believe YOU, when You tell me You will mount me up on eagle's wings, that you bring abundant life, that though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. I believe that You are with me, Father. I believe that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and one day, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, with my dear Ruthie. Praise You Father. Let everyone learn the blessing of coming to the altar boldly and making our requests known. Thank you Jesus for the amazing work that was done on the cross. Without you, Lord Jesus, I would be nothing. In Jesus' name Amen."
No comments:
Post a Comment