It should not be the last resort . . .

1 Kings 4–5; Psalm 85; Ezekiel 35; Ephesians 2

God is sometimes silent when I am loud. Trying to learn sweet acceptance of His dealings with me, His latest lesson is about grumbling. Will I struggle with the stuff of life and turn away from the One who oversees my life? Sometimes I do. During the night pain kept me awake but did I call on the Lord? No, I complained. This morning’s readings at first said nothing about this so I checked out Oswald Chambers’ devotional, “My Utmost for His Highest.” I have personalized his words:

“After every time of exaltation you are brought down with a rush into things as they are, where it is neither beautiful nor poetic nor thrilling. The height of the mountain top is measured by the drab drudgery of the valley; but it is in the valley that you must live for the glory of God. You see His glory in the good times, but do you live for His glory there? It is in the sphere of humiliation that you will find your true worth to God as this is where your faithfulness is revealed. You can do things if you are always at that heroic pitch because of the natural selfishness of your heart, but God wants you at the drab commonplace place where you live in the valleys of life. Remember, Peter thought it would be a fine thing to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down into the valley where the meaning of the vision was explained and where a man pleaded, “If you can do anything” to Jesus. In that valley skepticism was revealed. Think of it; when life is at a peak and your prayers are being answered, you can believe anything, but what about when you are suffering? Struggling? What about this pain that is a valley for you now? Will you trust Him with this also? When you are in the valley, do you think His care for you has changed?

Back to today’s NT reading is a kick in the pants. God reminds me of what He has done in my life and because of His grace, what I should be doing because of His grace . . .

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1–10)

APPLY: God’s mandate right now — those “good works” I’m to walk in! Mostly to listen, pay attention, and pray about anything the Lord reveals to me. Going back to today’s readings, He gives me a prayer. Focus on doing that, not on my comfort. Even though I am not an American God wants me to pray for the United States. This psalm is personalized with thoughts He put in my mind. My prayers also include President Trump and all others who have been affected with Covid-19.

LORD, you have been favorable to your people who live in this sin-sick world. You have blessed us. You have forgiven our iniquity and covered our sin. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. But now Your people need to be restored. O God of our salvation, put away your indignation toward those who belong to you! Please do not be angry with us forever? Please do not prolong your anger to all generations. Instead, revive us again that your people may rejoice in you. Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your saving power. Let us hear You speak. Speak peace to Your people, to Your saints. Keep us from turning back to the folly of our former ways and from be like the world around us. Surely Your salvation is near to those who fear You that Your glory may dwell in this land. (from Psalm 85:1–9)