Jesus can untie the knots

This past couple of weeks I’ve had a knot in my stomach. It comes from reading how God will use those who determine not to listen to the demands of the old nature with its desires for comfort and protection. While my husband says “most people will not die healthy” that isn’t taken lightly. I know what happens when I obey God. The devil does not like it and tries to stop me, usually along the lines of being too tired to function.

This morning’s devotional was about the power of Jesus to satisfy our desires to be godly people right to the end. The writer used verses like these promises:

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)

Then added, “Our hunger and our thirst are all satisfied forever in Him.” Of course He keeps these promises, yet He also says,

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

My reading about praying Scripture and sticking with God’s commands tells me that all history shows that most who do persist make incredible sacrifices in the process. The enemy does not like that sort of commitment and works to put a stop to it by appealing to the human (and often sinful) desire for comfort. It sounds something like this: “Send me God, but not there…”

Age is also a factor. God has treated me well. I call myself His spoiled brat. Now I’m hearing that if I persist in obedience, that could change. I think of this prayer:

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. (Psalm 71:17–21)

Will He? I clicked on the cross reference and got this answer…

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. (Isaiah 46:3–4)

The knots persist, so that leaves me to confess my doubts and fears, to decide what to believe; the fears that put them there or the promise of God to carry me through whatever might be in my future, including all those knots.

PRAY: I will not fake this, Jesus. I’m not excited about the howl of wolves, especially knowing the nature of this sheep. I hear You saying something like “no matter what” and am not there yet. However, the message for today at our church contains this verse: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19) and You know what I need to get those knots untied.

LATER: Hear what I heard this morning. Knots are on the way out.