Our Big God
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This week Floyd has had days of smiles where everyone who has been with him has gotten at least one smile - some more than one. Then he has had some really bad days. The dreaded roller coaster keeps going.
When we're in the midst of the problems and the needs we have, they can often seem HUGE. They may look like a mountain in front of us as we deal with them daily. If we're not careful, the enemy can distract us to so focus on them that they overtake our vision.
When that happens, it's easy for us to see our needs as huge and see God as small. We may not feel His presence - or understand how He is working on our behalf.
I think this is one of the sneakiest ways that the enemy works. He wants to undermine our confidence in God's power, His might, and His faithful love and concern for us. He'll use any way he can to make God look small and distant. He'll whisper in our ear that God doesn't care - that He has forgotten about us - that we are not worthy/deserving of His attention. He has a thousand lies that he loves to use against us.
If this happens, it's so important to speak out truth. God does care! He hasn't forgotten about us! We may not be worthy in our own right, but God deems us worthy through the shed blood of the Lamb - and we definitely have His loving, caring attention!! For each and every lie, we MUST counter it with statements and prayers of truth. We cannot let any lie "hang" there - or the enemy will use it to gain a foothold in our souls.
The battle in our minds over these lies versus the truth of who God is is one of the biggest battles we face during hard times. The enemy loves to "play" on our weakness and vulnerability as we go through trials and sufferings. If he presented us with a huge billboard with lies on it about God - we'd see right through it. Instead, he comes in small, subtle, clever half truths and mistruths that eat away at our faith and trust. We must daily, constantly be on guard against his tactics.
At the beginning of the year, I wrote about trust. I am being continually reminded of how important it is to trust God regardless of circumstances. I have to daily (sometimes even hourly if I need to) declare my trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. I believe it's my weapon for battle against whatever the enemy throws at me.
And you know what, the enemy never gives up! When we expose one of his lies, he just starts working on the next one. We have to stay vigilant and on guard. We have to renew and affirm our trust in God continually. We have to take control of our thought life and not give any opening for the enemy. And we have to remind ourselves how very much God loves us!
"Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14
"Put on the full armour of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:11
"The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
"Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah 43:2
Someone sent me the wonderful photo above that illustrates the truth of how BIG God is in our lives. Our "Aslan" is wonderful and powerful and keenly aware of us. We are definitely not forgotten by Him!
The Lord keeps bringing me back to the word TRUST. I think it's to be my "theme for the year." I've been reflecting on the challenges to our trust. It's easy to trust when things are going well......but the rubber really meets the road when hard things come our way.
When that happens - it's amazing how easily and quickly resentment and anger can enter in if we're not careful. We don't deserve this! Aren't we faithfully serving the Lord? Why would He allow this to happen? Am I being punished? A small seed of rebellion can enter into our hearts without us realizing it unless we are on guard.
Maybe that's what happened to the children of Israel in the desert. They were rejoicing that God had rescued them from Pharaoh in Egypt. They had seen amazing miracles that had enabled them to be released from Pharaoh's iron-clad grip. But soon the hard days in the wilderness wore on them - even though they had daily manna to feed them, a pillar of cloud to guide them during the day, and a pillar of fire to give them light at night!!
They got tired of manna. Life in the desert wasn't very pleasant. It wasn't what they expected. They started grumbling. They even began to think that things were better under the brutal slavery of Pharaoh. A seed of rebellion began to destroy their hearts. They eventually turned to golden idols. And it all started with a lack of trust in their hearts towards God and what He was doing and allowing in their lives.
In a conversation with a friend a few weeks ago, my friend mentioned how the children of Israel "grieved the Lord in the desert/wilderness." The phrase pierced my heart! I haven't been able to get it off my mind. It keeps coming back to me again and again.
I've been in a desert/wilderness for a long time now on our unexpected journey. I've had a type of "manna" each day as I've sensed the Lord's goodness and presence with me. He has definitely led me day by day - and been with me with the light of His Spirit on the dark, hard nights. I certainly don't want to grieve the Lord in the midst of this journey!! Thinking of this has sharpened my awareness, my spiritual sensitivity to be careful. I want to make sure I'm responding right to the trials I'm walking through. God has been so very faithful to me. I would hate to grieve His heart.
There will always be some desert and wilderness times in our life as long as we live on this earth. I think we must purpose in our hearts before they come that we don't want to grieve the Lord......that we will trust Him completely. If we have that sure foundation and commitment in place, it will help us when the hard times come.
"How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert." Psalm 78:40
"The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart." Genesis 6:6
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8
"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him." Psalm 145:18
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6,7
"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows that we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:13,14
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
The trials don't seem to stop in my life on this unexpected journey. Just when I think there's a break and things will be less intense - something new comes along. I am facing stresses and battles from several directions right now. I know I can't make it without His help - and I am purposing in my heart to be careful, to be on guard as I don't want to grieve the Lord in this desert/wilderness time.