“Cease striving and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NASB)
Sharon Jaynes on Crosswalk.com (1/11/12)
“Friend
to Friend
Could it be that we have made our
relationship with God far too difficult? We strive so hard to draw closer to
the heart of God. And all the while, God’s outstretched hand is reaching to
draw us in. Psalm 46:10 reads, “cease striving and know that I am God” (NASB).
Cease
striving.
For over a half of a century, I had
been striving, pursuing, and seeking God. And like a cat chasing her tail, I
had been going in circles. Circling in the wilderness with the Israelites, if
you will. Saved from slavery, for sure. Headed to my own personal Promised
Land, hopefully. But somehow stuck in the wilderness wandering, ever circling
but not quite reaching Jordan’s shore.
And I am not alone. Statistics show
that one of the top desires of Christians is to grow closer to God. During a
recent poll, sixty-five percent said they were declining or on a plateau in
their spiritual growth. On the other hand, Peter wrote: “His divine power has
given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). We have
everything we need to experience the ever growing, continually maturing,
abundant life, so why aren’t we? Why are most of us languishing on the desert
plateaus of mediocrity and complacency? Why are most of us satisfied munching
on the predigested truths of teachers rather than pulling up to the banquet
table and feasting with God at a table set for two?
“God, what do you really want from me?”
I’ve
pondered that question since the genesis of my relationship with Christ.
Perhaps you have too. When you boil down all the water from the diluted soup of
questions men and women have simmered in their heart through the centuries,
this is the one question left in the pot. And somehow, we feel that if we could
answer that one question, we would discover why that glory ache persists and
how to satisfy our yearning.
I had asked the question a thousand
times, but one frosty January morning, I got quiet enough to listen. And then,
in the stillness, He showed me that I and my busy sisters have been asking the
wrong question.
Rather than ask God what He wants
from us, we need to ask Him what He wants for
us.
I meditated on Acts 17:28 ['For in Him we live and move and have out being...'] throughout the following year after the day God whetted
my appetite with the possibilities wrapped up in those eight little words. I
came to realize that what He wants for us is to sense His presence, experience
His love, and delight in intimate relationship as we live and move and have our
being in sacred union with Him. And when we do, He opens our eyes to His glory
all around and the ache for something more is soothed.
Let’s
Pray
God, what do you want for me today?
Open my eyes to see and ears to hear. Show me glimpses of Your presence as I
live and move and have my being in you. And help me not to miss it!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen."
(Bold is Jean’s emphasis)
“The steps of a [good]
man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and
He busies Himself with his every step]. Though he falls, he shall not be
utterly cast down, for the LORD grasps his hand in support and upholds him. I
have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the [uncompromisingly]
righteous forsaken, or their seed begging bread. All day long they are merciful,
and graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed.” (Ps.
37:23-26 Amp.)
COMING OUT OF THE DARK PART 1 by Mary Southerland
No comments:
Post a Comment