“T” is for “Trust in the LORD…”

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”–Proverbs 3:5a

This verse is so commonly spoken and memorized that I think we often overlook the importance of what it says. It’s easy for people to say that they’re trusting the Lord or advise others to trust the Lord in what they’re facing, but what does that phrase really mean? How does one practically put this phrase into effect? 

I have meditated on this verse much more over the last five years since I’ve moved halfway across the country from where I had lived most of my life. I wrestled with what it means to trust although I’ve considered myself fairly accustomed to trusting the Lord throughout my life. The funny thing is that just when I think I’m well aware of what a concept like trust means, I begin to learn that there are significant facets of which I haven’t even scratched the surface. This can be disheartening on some levels, but also incredibly enticing. 

I recently read a devotional on this subject of trust. The author referenced the fact that we cannot simultaneously think negatively about a situation and trust God; we cannot fear the worst and look to Him with a sense of anticipation at the same time. Trusting requires us to conscientiously put aside the troublesome thoughts and intentionally grab ahold of God’s promises in His Word, which leads me to another verse I’ve been meditating upon: 2 Corinthians 10:5. We can decide to make our thoughts obedient to what we believe; that’s part of the beauty of how we are made. He endowed us with free will to make good choices.

As much as I can ponder and process the first part of Proverbs 3:5, the second clause has held my attention more than ever over the last five years: “lean not on your own understanding.” So many times I have tried to make the wisest choice in a situation, only to find that there were details that I hadn’t considered to be even remotely related. God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9); I’ve alluded to this before, and I am deferring to this verse again because there will always be pieces of this life that won’t make sense to us in the realm of our own understanding. That is why we shouldn’t “lean on” it when we should be consciously putting things in God’s hands–sometimes I’ve had to put situations in His hands every few minutes, over and over, because I take it back and try to figure it out or resolve it myself. Yes, we should use the resources, knowledge, and wisdom that God grants us, but we must remember that our expected results may look nothing like what God has ordained for us. 

“R” is for “Remember…”

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“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…” –Ecclesiastes 12:1

When I look back at my earliest memories connected with my faith, one of the most prominent involves Bible memorization. I remember these verses about which I have been writing to this day, even though I learned them over 45 years ago. Memorizing scripture continued to be part of my education from kindergarten through 12th grade. I believe this not only served to develop my mind for learning, but also established my faith in ways I could not even have imagined in my youth.

In addition to memorizing the verses in this A-Z book, another early memory for me involved attending church. My mother sang in the choir, and I have one specific memory of her returning to our pew where I sat with my father and brother, and I climbed into her lap and leaned against her shoulder. The choir robe she wore was cool to the touch and felt calming against my cheek. My parents brought my brother and me to church every Sunday as far back as I can remember.

Memorizing scripture and attending church doesn’t save a person, but both are expected and natural desires once someone accepts Christ as Savior. Both practices are for our benefit. Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” In Hebrews 10:25, we are admonished to make a habit of meeting together not only to worship, but also to encourage each other: “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

In order to remember something, we must revisit it in our minds; otherwise, we are likely to forget it. It is impossible to keep everything on our minds at all times, so we must prioritize what is important to dwell upon in our thoughts and recollections. This verse speaks wisdom in simplicity to put our Creator in that position, beginning in our earliest days. 

“Q” is for “Quench not…”

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“Quench not the Spirit.”–1 Thessalonians 5:19

Sometimes there are so many possible directions before us, and we have no idea which road to choose. That’s how I felt about this verse initially; then, I prayed for wisdom and clarity for the message I was to relay. As I wandered out to my backyard, I picked up the leaf blower to clear off my deck, and I pondered this verse and prayed. My natural tendency is to focus on all of the minor tasks I could be doing when I should really be prioritizing something else. And just like that, I knew what the writing focus should be for this verse: procrastination.

I recently attended a conference where the messages were bold and concise, and one of the speakers briefly elaborated on four primary types of procrastinators. The first type is focused on performance; everything has to be in order before he can begin a task. The second undermines himself–puts himself down; he speaks self-deprecation and even believes himself incapable of the task. The third type keeps himself so busy that there is no time for the postponed task. The fourth type of procrastinator focuses too much on novelty and may start tasks, but typically stops and is infatuated with new ideas more than the enticement of finishing one he has already started. I am personally guilty of all of these types, and because I tend to enjoy variety, I change up my mode of procrastination, sometimes hourly. I am not proud of this.

Now, back to the verse at hand: quench not the Spirit. When we hear the word quench in modern conversation, we usually think of quenching thirst–satisfying a longing for a drink particularly on a hot day. The second and less-commonly used definition refers to putting out a fire. The Holy Spirit resides within each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior, and He is a fiery being, in the most symbolic sense of the word. When we are moved by God to take action, set on fire so to speak, and we choose to procrastinate instead, then we are quenching the Spirit–precisely what this verse commands us not to do. 

Besides my own struggles with procrastination, I also think of Jonah and his very demonstrative choice to literally disobey God when God told him to go speak to the people of Nineveh. I have avoided my own personal Ninevehs all too often in my life. I remember hearing older folks in the Church when I was growing up say, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” Back then, I thought it was just a saying with a nice alliterative ring to it designed to get kids moving in the right direction; now, I understand it all too well. Procrastination is disobedience, and I am convicted to keep moving even as I write this! 

“P” is for “Put on the whole armor of God.”

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“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” –Ephesians 6:11

When I was a little girl, I was definitely enthralled with the “knight in shining armor” concept. From Cinderella and Snow White to The Karate Kid and The Man From Snowy River, my mindset had been heavily influenced by movies in particular, and I grew up “Holding Out For a Hero.” Then life happened. I made some poor choices, others around me made some poor choices, and voila–the hero image disintegrated into a pile of unidentifiable, crumbled pieces. What does this have to do with Ephesians 6:11? I’m glad you asked…

God endowed us with five physical senses, and many of us rely on our vision in particular to make informed decisions; however, we must not discount our other gifts of sense, and specifically the non-physical, often-ignored common sense. When a “hero” looks like we’d expect him to, maybe even sounds like the part, we may be inclined to accept him at face value. Ephesians 6:11 admonishes us to put on God’s armor as a way of life; the entire chapter overflows with godly wisdom. The pieces of armor as defined in this chapter include wearing truth, righteousness, and peace while also protecting ourselves with a shield of faith, a helmet of salvation, and a sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.

Someone who wears the armor of God is a true “knight in shining armor.” This world will paint many appealing pictures of ideals for us, but we must refer to the Word of God for truth and wisdom. We must focus on putting on the armor ourselves, so that we don’t fall prey to the tactics and schemes of the devil. Verse 12 in this chapter informs us about where the conflicts and attacks come from in this world–dark powers are real. We need not be afraid, however, because we haven’t been given a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), but one that consists of power and a sound mind among other positive aspects. In addition, we will be attracted to others who wear this shining armor, knowing that they, too, have embraced the truth of God’s Word. 

Nothing new under the sun…

by BetsyFaith, LifePosted on No Comments

“Thou hast made us for thyself and restless is our heart until it comes to rest in thee.” Augustine (c.354-430)

It’s intriguing to read that people have been struggling with the meaning of life for millenia. Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived, reflected on the vanity of life in the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes. He chronicled the endeavors he pursued in search of fulfillment in life and purposefully applied his mind and wisdom to exploring the many avenues that people have resorted to for centuries in pursuit of peace, including building houses, planting vineyards and gardens, and accumulating all manner of wealth. He equated all of it to chasing after the wind.

People still attempt to fill the emptiness inside with all manner of work and pleasure, yet with the same futility that Solomon found thousands of years ago. 

After exploring all of the pursuits in life available at that point in time, Solomon decided to “test” the impact of pursuing pleasure. His conclusions were the same; he likened laughter to madness and “the pull of wine” to foolishness. All of it resulted in futility in Solomon’s eyes. Life still deals us monotony and hopelessness today, just as he observed and experienced then. People still attempt to fill the emptiness inside with all manner of work and pleasure, yet with the same futility that Solomon found thousands of years ago. 

Establishing and maintaining the connection to our Creator fills the emptiness and allows us to enjoy what we have here on earth as well as anticipate the rewards of Heaven.

So where does that leave humanity? Are we to settle with lives of meaninglessness and empty pleasure? Solomon goes on in chapter three to reassure the reader that God makes everything beautiful in His time and that He has set eternity in the human heart (v. 11). He points out that people can find enjoyment in life and satisfaction in their work–these are some of God’s gifts to us (v. 12). In the final chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon admonishes us to fear God and keep His commandments. Establishing and maintaining the connection to our Creator fills the emptiness and allows us to enjoy what we have here on earth as well as anticipate the rewards of Heaven. Only He can provide the meaning we long for in this life.

The Balancing Act

by BetsyFaith, LifePosted on No Comments

I wrote about having patience last time, but I feel compelled to address the opposite circumstance, as well. Sometimes life moves fast, and there’s the necessity to adapt quickly. In my experience, some of the valuable lessons I’ve learned in the long periods of waiting have helped me to respond more adequately in the times of adjustment.

Establish priorities

…having a “big picture” view of life helps in weighing those decisions, large or small, and making the most fitting choice.

When I’ve been faced with circumstances that demanded a somewhat immediate response in the past, I typically weighed the effects of my possible decisions based on my family, my career, and my home, in that order. Now that I’m in a different phase of life, I have adjusted my priorities slightly to fit my current circumstances. It isn’t always easy to make decisions on the fly, but having a “big picture” view of life helps in weighing those decisions, large or small, and making the most fitting choice.

Remain calm

“People who maintain that calm mental outlook…can see beyond the chaos and find a solution.” *

Regardless of the caliber of the decision at hand, I have found that remaining calm is always the best option. Whether the fork in the road could lead to an optimal career position versus a terrible work environment, or just the difference between a literal walk in the park versus a day at the lake, keeping a level head has always served me well. As I have gotten older, I am less likely to get rattled easily. When I have felt anxious in the past, I typically have been able to survive and overcome by relying on my faith. I realize that many people struggle with anxiety, especially when presented with a difficult decision, but that does not diminish the effects of staying calm. In fact, those who suffer from such afflictions reap the benefits of seeking out ways to keep their peace amidst stressful situations. “People who maintain that calm mental outlook while in the middle of a chaotic situation can see beyond the chaos and find a solution.” *(https://www.careeraddict.com/5-reasons-why-staying-calm-under-pressure-will-make-you-successful)

Move forward

Reliving moments in my past that I’d rather forget only brings distress and discontent.

My mantra over the last several months has been, “I cannot mess up His plan.” This wasn’t a New Year’s resolution or any type of contemplated life statute. It developed over time and surfaced in my mind at just the right moment. Having to make multiple decisions regarding the future of my career and my life in general during this past year, I have come to the conclusion that looking back for wisdom or nostalgia has its place, but that’s about it. Reliving moments in my past that I’d rather forget only brings distress and discontent. Even decisions I’ve made recently, including jobs I’d rather have not endured, have been at the very least, learning experiences. Whatever I glean from these unpleasant events becomes part of the fabric of my life going forward, but it doesn’t define my future.

Even when my plans don’t play out the way I think they should, I have to keep moving forward, not wasting time on regret or “what if I had done whatever” scenarios.

After years of waiting for the doors to open for a major life and career change, I have adopted a peace that defies common sense, that surpasses understanding (those of you who share like faith will recognize that phrase!). It hasn’t been through any plan of my own, but it has come about through all of the varied experiences in my life—intelligent design, no doubt, and far more complex than any ideas I could concoct. In Isaiah 55:9, it says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I don’t have to understand how or why life plays out as it does; I use my God-given free will to make choices, and I reap the benefits as well as the consequences. Even when my plans don’t play out the way I think they should, I have to keep moving forward, not wasting time on regret or “what if I had done whatever” scenarios. I have to say now, though I couldn’t see it at the time, that I’m thankful for all those years of preparation for the multitude and magnitude of changes that have made up these last twelve months of my life!