Delivered from frustration . . .

This morning the telephone woke me from a deep sleep and a vivid dream. My hubby took care of the phone as I tried to get my head around the sudden change that was going on. My dream was so real that being in a different place was confusing. I spent several minutes adjusting to the reality of morning and where I was.

Interesting that today’s reading begins with the necessity of Christians to have minds ready to act, thinking soberly and not like a drunk person — or someone who has been dreaming! My hope should always be in the grace that God brings, not on the outcome of a complex dream!

This is what the Bible says:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:13–19)

Dream analysis is not my forte except to say that few of them are about spiritual truths; most deal with ‘former ignorance’ stuff, particularly the frustration of not being able to do something because of interruptions or things like dropping books or missing a bus, all a far cry from God’s call to be holy. I especially like the phrase, “ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers” because my dream involved feelings of futility and not being able to accomplish what I was trying to do. This passage tells me that I have been ransomed or purchased by the blood of Christ that delivers me from such frustration.

This ties to the theme of ‘rest’ in Hebrews. That ‘rest’ is a total rest from my own labors in order to do the will of God. It is like a Sabbath rest imitating God who rested after the work of creation, but it goes beyond that. Like every other human, I’ve tried to run my life without God, which is the essence of sin, and Jesus gives me rest from that. He invites me into that rest with these words:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

I once did some research on this passage and discovered that the ‘heavy laden’ part refers to a weighty piece of cargo while the ‘light burden’ part that Jesus gives refers to the invoice. In other words, Jesus does not expect me to carry the big loads of life. His rest is not always bodily (it often takes energy to serve Him) but the soul that carries the load that Jesus gives is not stressed and feeling over-burdened. Futility is not part of this picture.

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Lord Jesus, the past week has been physically challenging. An unstoppable nosebleed was bad enough; the cure was and is worse. I feel exhausted, yet the dream I had and Your words to me now show me that I’m taking on a burden that You are not giving me. I need to quit thinking that I must conquer that burgeoning to-do list and let You give me Your lighter burden, one that suits Your plan. Being spiritually ambitious is okay but resting in You is essential. I cannot carry even the invoice unless You have given it to me.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- feeling the lightness of letting Jesus plan my day.

- a nice long visit with a neighbor and quilting buddy who dropped by for tea.

- making it through the day without a long nap.

- getting outside for a few minutes.

- taking time to pray even though I didn’t think I had the time.

- getting some things checked on that to-do list that I didn’t expect would get done.

We plan, God directs . . .

The alarm rang early. I didn’t want to get up. Chicken to cook. Salad to make. A dash to the grocery store. Pack up for a picnic. My body aches. I don’t want to do Saturday and argued with the morning. Another couple hours sleep kept calling but my feet hit the floor, reluctantly.

Devotions come first. As the Empson salts dissolve in hot water, I opened my Bible and this is the first thing I read:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6–8)

And Jesus says to me, I sacrificed my life for my enemies and you are having trouble getting out of bed and giving up a little bit of sleep for a family picnic?

How practical is that? Like-cold-water-in-the-face practical. I read on:

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:9–11)

My attitude today ought to be rejoicing not reluctance. I live because God gave me life. I am at peace with God because Jesus gave His life. I can rejoice in Him because even this sin of total selfishness is forgiven. I can also rejoice because God knows that the morning’s schedule is tight and I need time with that to-do list — so His Word to me today is short — and sweet!

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Jesus, thank You. You know all things and You are incredible at meeting needs. You put my focus in the right place right off the bat (or right out of the bed) and at the same time give me an extra few minutes to do what needs to be done for this special day with my special family. Grant me grace to encourage them with the same mercy and love that You encourage me. Amen!

Today’s thankful list . . .

Surprising short and practical shout from the Lord, just what I needed.

All done, on time . . . to have changes due to a work emergency and more rain.

Picnics are just as good inside a warm home!

Long afternoon naps.

Football on TV.

Joy from Jesus, even when plans go sideways!

God’s path for this New Year

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. (Psalm 86:11)

A new day, a new year begins with the reminder from the psalmist to desire God’s instruction so I can walk in truth — with a solitary motivation of reverence for His name and the desire to put His glory above everything else.

This sobers my thoughts. Normally I am like most people at the beginning of a new year. I want to set goals, do better, lose weight, be more organized, accomplish much, and purge my possessions. God does not slap down those goals; He merely shifts my mind to His perspective. He says I am to listen to Him, not going the way of the world and definitely the way of sinful people, but seeking His counsel in all things . . .

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1:1–6)

Why do this? My goals, however profitable they might be or however good they might look on my resume, they are not going to fit into the eternity bin. Only that which comes from the mind and heart of God will last forever. The rest of it blows away like chaff in the wind.

Besides, my decisions and to-do list might be good for some things, but I’ve little guarantee that I’ll get them done. Yesterday was filled with plans and none of them happened. God had other ideas. If I want the work of my hands and the plans I make to last, they need to be His plans. He says:

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’ . . . . I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:9–11)

His way, His counsel, is designed for His realm — eternity. My ‘stuff’ is about here and now, mostly the foreseeable future, not the rest of time and on into forever. This is why God bids me to be taught by Him, to walk in His truth, to have a heart united to glorify Him.

Jesus, teach me to trust in You with all my heart, and not lean on my own understanding. This year, set my heart so that in all my ways I will acknowledge You — because only then will You make straight my paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Amen.