Smooth Sailing

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may terry for the night but joy comes in the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
– Psalms 30:5-7

When life goes well it becomes easy to forget the Lord. “Smooth sailing” as some call it. The waters are calm and life continues business as usual…not taking notice that favor has slept below the deck. Then the storm comes, and we realize how small we are, how little control we have. We call in desperation to awaken favor that he may take control and captain our vessel through the torrent.

Must I forget my God when life goes well? May the Lord pilot my person even when things are good. May my God take control and lead my footsteps.

Father, it is not within myself to direct my steps. Lead me. Take me where you want me to be.
Amen

Wait, that I may hear

And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what The Lord will command concerning you.”
The Lord spoke to Moses,
– Numbers 9:8-9

Instead of making a knee-jerk reaction, Moses does not instantly make judgement to appease those inquiring; their case is important and needs immediate judgement lest these people become cut off from Gods chosen. Yet, knowing the importance, the immediate need, Moses asks that he may wait upon the voice of The Lord.
And The Lord spoke to Moses.

As a leader, and more so as a son of God, it is imperative to know and wait for the voice of The Lord. When matters become undiscernible, His face will I seek. The Psalmist put it this way, “One thing have I asked of The Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of The Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of The Lord and to inquire in His temple.” -ps27:4
Now there are those offended by this notion, that God would speak to man. Those who wait subject themselves to the ridicule of onlookers. And those who sit as judges, with pride within them, have taken offense to God himself…”why,” they ask, “would God speak this way to that person and not me?” To them it has been written, “with ears they can barely hear.” And I too have sat in the seat of scoffers; I have taken offense; I have made light of the God who speaks to His children.

Father take this pride from me, I have set myself against you, with a heart of bitterness and jealousy I have fostered a dull heart within this very person. Take from me this drive of comparison, the need to compete for your affection. This stems from a heart taken captive by fear…that your good love can be stolen, taken, or lost. Help me to live in the truth, that nothing can seperated me from your loving kindness…for you are faithful, and you will always be.
Amen

Because we are chosen

My best friend, I can not trust another. Who else can I put my trust in? For you are true and faithful to those you love…you set your face toward those who seek you.

Glory in his holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! – Psalms 105:3-6

In Romans we read of Abraham’s response in spite of is distrust issues. He chooses to glorify God and by doing so placing his faith in the truest fact that God CAN do the impossible. As children of this faith and as an heir of Abraham, we are charged to give glory, to rejoice, to seek, find Godly strength, to remember all that He has said and done…Because we are chosen.

Lord I give you glory, you are glorious, you are good and your goodness is extended towards me. I rejoice in your goodness, your good plans for me and for this human race. I seek you Lord, do not turn your face from me…I feel so alone, I need your strength to go forward, to heal from betrayals and old wounds. I choose to remember who you are in your good works, your justice throughout the ages. May your name ever be praised O lover of my soul, captor of my heart…my close and dear friend. – Bryan

A teaching found in blindness

Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and the fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder – Isaiah 29:13-14
And the wisdom of the wise will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.

In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy in The Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. – Isaiah 29:18-19

And though The Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – Isaiah 30:20-21

In response to un-heartfilled worship God moves in the power of His wonders. As seen first in Exodus 3:20 “So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt will all the wonders that I will do in it.” Followed by Moses’ complaint about his speech (a legitimate concern) Then The Lord said to him to him, “Who made mans mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, The Lord? Now go therefore go, and I will be your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Moses gets an opportunity with the great Teacher, and eventually sees and talks with Him face to face.

“But your eyes shall see your Teacher.”

This is what David prayed for in Psalm 27 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek” Hide not your face from me.” The cry is heard by The Lord dispite the affliction and adversity.

Isaiah says, “Yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore.”

This is the great moment when we understand the words of Jesus when He heals the blind man: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” It was for glory that the man was created blind. This man sees God; and with great understanding, speaks these words before the Jewish council: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to Him.”

Jesus said, “For Judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘we see,’ your guilt remains.” – John 9

The Lord listens to the obedient worshiper. A heart set on the Teachers words, way, and will. I must recognize my spiritual blindness, remove the burdens that hinder my sight. I am the blind man, created for the glorious moment when Christ causes my eyes to see. I must cry out to my God for His healing amidst this affliction! Only then will I see my Teacher face to face.

Lord, I cry out to you, blind, and difficult of speech. Touch my eyes that I may recognize your face; be with my mouth that I may speak your words. I long to walk with you my God and king. Amen

Hide & seek

Scripture)
Your word have I hidden in my heart that I will not sin against you.
-Psalm 119:11

Observation)
It’s a game of hide and seek. A life long purpose of hiding away the words of God and seeking His face.

Application)
I need to do more hiding. I have noticed that my life still does not come to par and too often I find myself sinning against my savior. If sin is the problem then the solution is found in hiding. Not hiding because of shame as in the garden but rather hiding words that remove tendencies of shame. As I seek the face of God I must also remember to hide away the treasures that he speaks.

Prayer)
Show me your ways Lord, teach me your paths…guide me in your truth. Give me an undivided heart, one that fears your name. Amen