Friday, February 27, 2009

Where do we look?


Papa has been speaking to me the last couple days. He has been mentioning the importance of looking at Him only and staying in the now... the today.
Too many times we find ourselves living either in the future or in the past. We find ourselves worrying about what we did or what we will do. Between our past, our present duties and our future anxieties, we find ourselves living half-mindedly.
If I am focusing on what I did or what I may do, am I focusing on Him? No, not likely. I am seeking after an idol and therefore, falling off the path that Papa has laid out before me. Are we looking to the past in order to control the future? By looking to the future, do we think that we can change today? There it is, the ugly thing in us all, the need to control.
I found good news though, "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness." We have a promise in Jesus! If we let go, He will lead us. We will find ourselves at peace because He is in the driver's seat.
I don't know about you, but I want to be lead by Him. I want to have that peace that surpasses all understanding. I want to live joyfully today, no matter what tomorrow may bring. I want to cling to the above promise.
Jesus said it best, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matt 6:34 MSG)
Paul Young, author of The Shack, wrote the following, "Would I like an actual office area rather than this desk down in this crowded unfinished basement…sure! But whether I have it or not makes absolutely no difference to me…this is what I have ‘today’ and I am so grateful for it, so full of thanksgiving. Tomorrow is a myth and a drunk driver or a little wayward cell in my body could obliterate any expectation I could have. I only have grace for today and in embracing a life being loved…I am FREE!"
Max Lucado quotes Sir William Osler, in his book, 'Traveling Light'. He says, "Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, but set earnestly at the little task near your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day; for surely our plain duty is not to see what lies dimly at a distance but to do what lies clearly at hand."
Jesus is our lamp unto our feet .... not a flashlight in our hand. Let Him lead you today!
With love,
S