No matter who we are, I think we all have a tendency to be self-sufficient,
amen? In what specific area of your life could you depend more on the
Lord and less on confidence in your own abilities? Let's look at Psalm
121 today for instruction in cultivating a humble attitude...
Psalm 121:1-8, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh
my help. [2] My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
[3] He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will
not slumber. [4] Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber
nor sleep. [5] The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy
right hand. [6] The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
[7] The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy
soul. [8] The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from
this time forth, and even for evermore."
From whence cometh your help, dear lady? Can you answer honestly as David
did in verse 2, that your help comes from the Lord? If not, you need the
motivation verses 3 and 4 provide... God will not allow your feet to slip!
He watches diligently over your life - never dozing off on the job! Can
you watch over your affairs as thoroughly? I doubt it! We can hardly stay
awake when it comes to prayer, amen? Ladies, we must place all our confidence
in the Lord and comfort ourselves in the knowledge of Him, especially
when our struggles are greatest. Are you in the habit of placing yourself
fully in His care?
1 Peter 5:7, " Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
One of the reasons I think we remain self-sufficient is because we do
not cast ALL our care on the Lord. Oh, we cast certain of our cares on
Him, but then there are certain other cares we prefer to manage ourselves.
How foolish of us not to understand that such behavior breeds a spirit
of independence. Our Father in heaven has given us the solution to the
problem we have of living on our own - give ALL to Him! Some say we ought
not to bother God with the trivial things... I say you are a fool if you
do not! Oftentimes it is the little things that torment us the most and
steal our joy and distract us from living for the Lord. Let's just take
the Bible for what it says and cast everything on God, amen? As a matter
of fact, I can show you that God caters to small interests...
Matthew 10:29-31, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of
them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs
of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value
than many sparrows."
It was a small, but overwhelming thought that occurred to me as I read
this portion of scripture and realized that even as a tiny sparrow falls
to the ground, it is not alone - God is with him in his fall! Isn't that
precious? How compassionate of our Lord to accompany such a creature in
the scariest, loneliest moment of it's little life! Then the Bible goes
on to tell us that we are of MORE value than many sparrows... Ladies,
we have the blessed assurance in this tiny illustration that our God will
never leave us nor forsake us! Our concerns, no matter what size, are
His concerns. He will get involved in your world - even in the most fearful,
unknown moments of your life - and accompany you all the way through them.
Praise the Lord!
Jude 1:24-25, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and
to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding
joy, [25] To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both now and ever. Amen."
Yes, we are fools if we don't look to the Lord to help us in ALL areas
of our lives! He is so capable, so caring and so willing to watch over
you and I. Don't insult His love by insisting you can do a better job!
You can't present yourself faultless, but He can! Don't behave so pridefully
as to think you are wiser or more powerful than Him. Our God is a perfect
manager, He alone can assure our safety... Set your love and confidence
upon Him!
Psalm 91:10-12, "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague
come nigh thy dwelling. [11] For he shall give his angels charge over
thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [12] They shall bear thee up in their
hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."
In closing, let's look at the last verse of Psalm 121 which says, "The
Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore."
Think about your "going outs" and your "coming ins" for a moment.... By
that I mean, all the various circumstances you enter into and exit from.
These are situations similar to what the sparrow faced in that you are
leaving familiar ground for the unknown... Situations such as relocating,
starting a new job, graduating from high school or college, children leaving
home, death of friends or family, changing churches, getting married,
going through puberty, going through menopause, facing surgery, making
new commitments, meeting new people, sharing the gospel, entering the
ministry, going to the mission field etc. All these (and more) are situations
in which we are never alone! Our God will accompany us in the face of
the unknown. Yes, the Lord shall preserve you and I through these circumstances
now and forever! Ladies, it's lifelong protection our God offers the soul.
What a promise, amen?
Then why are you still self-sufficient??
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
