The winds may blow
there may be turbulence all around
but there is stability within
I am not this and no one or no situation can be this for me
Human life is always vulnerable
to think and try to operate otherwise is a delusion
God allows situations to help us see this
When they were building the Washington Monument, which is a tall tower made of heavy stone, the builders thought the earth they were building on was firm enough to build on. But after they had begun building, it became apparent that the dirt below the building was compressing unevenly and the entire building began to sink and tilt.
Before any further process could be made, they had to dig all around this base and foundation and dig trenches underneath it and then fill those trenches with concrete and even the building out and then put a strong concrete base all around this foundation to firmly hold it in place. Only then could further progress be made
God is speaking to me through this. To build up, one must first dig down and have stability.
What can bear the weight of life's burdens, it griefs and losses, its care for others, its injustices and sufferings?
Only Jesus
It crushes me and I become off balance
angry, withdrawn, depressed, despairing
anxious, driven, fearful and hostile
I want to be loving and kind
peaceful and stable
but I am up and down
driven here and there
I find it difficult to function
and I am difficult to be around
an endless cycle of losing it even on those I love the most
and then seeking to repair the damage
and then losing it again
I want to know Jesus in a way that delivers me from this
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2"6-7 NIV
begin by receiving Jesus Christ into my life
putting my trust in Him
He is real
He is here
He cares for me
and has laid down his life as a perfect sacrifice so that I can have a relationship with him that is not dependent on anything about me
Let him dig down to build up
stabilize this base of trust in Him
Make time for honest prayer and conversation with Him and letting His word into my deepest places
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7 :24 -27
Digging takes patience and persistence
this work of digging down does not happen all at once
or is necessarily simple or easy
it takes time
it proceeds incrementally
it disrupts
it unearths pain
truth I don't want to face
but this is the promise
that it will bring me to
a place of building on a strong foundation
that no storm can move me off of
Yes, Lord, help me to keep showing up for your digging in
your digging down
Digging is not glamorous work
it is dirty and laborious
there is muck to be excavated
it proceeds only incrementally
but there is His promise that there is a certain outcome if I persevere
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Bedrock
a lot of this work is hidden and is between God and I
but this verse encourages me that it will bear fruit
Who am I in Christ
where do I go when I sin
am angry
ask the big questions
what is your calling in my life
what am I living for
this process takes time and I may not feel like anything is happening or changing but His promise is sure
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
Psalm 40 :1-3 NIV
Dear Lord,
Thank you that you lovingly seek us out when we are lost and far from you. Thank you, you want to bring us to a firm foundation of trust and rest in you. Help us to let your words penetrate deep down where you want to transform. Help us to be honest with you and let you confront us and dig in. Help us to keep coming to you, no matter what our sin and failure and discouragement or rage or bitterness or anxiety or pain. Thank you, you came to seek and to save that which is lost. Help us to let you take down all that we are trusting and relying on apart from you. Bring us to rest in you. Amen
Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG)
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
No comments:
Post a Comment