Zechariah 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain in the spring, and he will give it. It is the LORD who makes storm clouds that drop showers of rain so that every field becomes a lush pasture. I think there’s a danger of thinking the means to solve our problem is the answer instead of the Maker of the solution to the problem. I sometimes catch myself thinking “If I had more money things would be better” or “If I had or If I did…” See the problem? First, it’s all about ME – If I. And second, it doesn’t take into account the fact that God is ultimately the only one w ho can get me out of a problem. Sure, being financially stable would be nice, but it’s not going to make everything better. I still need to learn to depend on God and to trust Him to provide. There will always be challenges that seem insurmountable. I can’t trust in things to fix my issues. Only God can do that. My focus needs to shift back to the Maker of the solution. And it’s not all about me. I don’t know why I always seem to slip into that whole “If I” mindset. I should know from past experience that “If I” do try something it usually backfires and make everything worse! I get in my own way, and in God’s way, too. Again, I need to shift my focus back to Him and His strength, not mine. One last thought… It says to ask God for rain in the spring. I wonder how much of the effectiveness of our prayers depends on asking at the right time. If we ask God for rain in the winter, it would do more hard than good (at least in cold climates). Does God not answer prayers because they’re asked at the wrong time? They do say that “Timing is Everything… “ On a completely different note… isn’t the verse pretty?
Amos 3:7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. I thought this was interesting. Does God still reveal his plans to His prophets before acting? If He does, are we listening? It makes sense, though. God doesn’t want to hurt His people. He’s rather have us repent and be forgiven than to punish us. So it makes sense that he’d always try to warn us before doing things. I do the same thing with my sons. I am constantly telling them what I’m going to do before I do it. I figure it’s only fair to warn them, and it helps them feel more settled if they aren’t taken by surprise by my actions. Whatever God’s motivation, if He still reveals His plans, we need to be listening. That seems to be the crux of so many issues. Are you listening? Did you hear it?
Daniel 1: 17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. Daniel wasn’t born with the ability to interpret dreams. He was given this gift when he needed it, when he was older. Even though he was in captivity and in the service of a Godless king, God still blessed Daniel and equipped him for the job at hand. He even gave him a special gift. God loves us and prepares us when we need it. He doesn’t do it in advance. He waits until the time is right and the need is there. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to trust sometimes. We’d like to have it in advance, but God says, “wait.” He provides it at just the right time, at the moment when we need it. And it doesn’t matter the circumstances as long as we are walking in His will.
Ezekiel 3:11-12 The Spirit lifted me and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on me was strong. Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles… I sat there among them for seven days, overwhelmed. I’ve been reading a lot about the stubbornness and sinfulness of Israel and about their punishment. There’s a lot of things that the prophets were asked to do that symbolized various stages of Israel’s rebellion and impending doom. It’s interesting to read because it’s so foreign of a concept to me. It’s not too often (ever?) that we hear of someone asked to lie on their side for 390 days (that’s over a year) to symbolize the sins of a nation. And today, selfishly, I asked God, “What am I supposed to be learning from this? What’s in it for me?” (Because, obviously, the whole purpose of spending quiet time with God at 4:30am is all about me.) I’m still not totally sure, but here are a couple of thoughts: 1. Reading about Israel’s stubbornness and the punishment they incurred can be a warning to me not to be stubborn about sinning. And the eventual punishment of Israel, leading much later to forgiveness and restoration, can be symbolic of the path I’ve been walking recently through the minefield of debt. I’ve incurred a just punishment, but there is hope for eventual restoration. 2. After God appeared to Ezekiel, he took him from Babylon to wherever the Israelites were staying (near the Keber River). There he was deposited. I don’t know if that was a short distance or a long distance, but it has to be disconcerting to start one place and end up in a another – via the hand of God! I also think it’s interesting that he went in bitterness and turmoil. I don’t think he was particularly thrilled about his assignment! Honestly, I’m not sure I’d been too thrilled either. It wasn’t exactly a pleasure jaunt. But even though he was bitter and full of turmoil, God’s hand was on him, holding him. And He had quite a grip, according to Ezekiel. So, just because Ezekiel wasn’t particularly happy about his assignment (I guess that’s why he was bitter and full of turmoil), God didn’t love him any less or change his assignment. 3. Ezekiel was overwhelmed for 7 days. He had seen God, literally. It’s amazing he wasn’t dead! I know after just feeling God’s presence I was overwhelmed and walked around with warm fuzzies for days. If I’d actually seen God, I’d probably have sat there with my jaw on the ground for days, too! I’d imagine that went a long way towards helping him cope with his new assignment and change of circumstance. And can you imagine what the exiled Israelites thought about a guy showing up randomly and sitting there for seven days obviously amazed at something… what a nut! I doubt Ezekiel noticed their reactions though. He was probably still trying to process his experience. So, I’m not totally sure exactly what the whole point of this is, but I do know that these books are here for a reason. God didn’t put them in the Bible to bore us to tears or confuse us or frustrate us. Even if they seem that way, there are small lessons that we can take away. And for me, I don’t see that lesson until I start writing.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.” Most people are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11 and how God has good plans for us, to give us a hope and a future. But, the ones after it aren’t as widely quoted, and yet they are such great promises! How often are you in the middle of a crisis, clinging to God’s promise that somehow it’ll turn out for good, but you feel so alone and like God’s gone off on vacation or is ignoring you? I know I’ve been there. But these verses remind me that when I pray He WILL listen. When I truly seek Him, I WILL find Him. I love that He uses “will” instead of “can” in these verses. The word “will” means it’s a definite thing. “Can” would mean it’s possible, but might not happen. So what about those times when I’m praying and it doesn’t seem like He’s listening? Or when I feel like I’ve been seeking and seeking and not finding? I’m not God, so I can’t give you the definitive answer, but here’s my theory: He is listening. Sometimes the things I ask for in my prayers aren’t good for me, so He withholds them. I feel like he’s not listening because I’m not getting what I want. For example, I want out of this financial situation I’m in. I’ve been praying about it, but it hasn’t gone away. I believe it’s because God is using it to work on some areas of my life (letting go of my need to control things, having self-control in my spending, trust, etc.). I’ve been here for quite some time because these lessons aren’t easy for me. However, on the other side, I know that the result in my life will be good and make the future better. I also know that God is here, even when I can’t feel Him. Barlowgirl does a song called “I Believe in Love” that has this chorus: I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining I believe in love even when I don’t feel it And I believe in God even when He is silent And I, I believe. The whole song speaks to this topic, and it’s a great song. So, we know God has good plans for us, but don’t forget that He promises to be there when we seek Him and promises to listen when we pray. Even when it doesn’t seem like it.
I realize more and more how patient God is when, once again, my plans are foiled by a shift in sleeping patterns! Jeremiah 27:6 So you must submit to Babylon’s king and serve him; put your neck under Babylon’s yoke! God is warning Israel that He has chosen the Babylonian king to rule over many nations and be His instrument (interestingly, he calls King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon His servant – did He worship God?), so Israel must submit to Him or be punished further. Sometimes the hard things in life are appointed by God to do good things in our lives… even when they are harsh and unpleasant. But, similar to Israel, if we submit to the process and stop struggling to get away from it, that’s the fastest way through, the safest way through, and ultimately the only way through. Definitely not the easy way. I’m not good at this because it means I have to give up control. When we had our second little boy, our finances took a huge hit. My instinct is to try and figure out what I can do to fix it. But God wanted (wants) to use that in my life to teach me to trust Him and surrender control of this area (arguably the hardest thing to take my hands off of). Submitting to the process is the best way to work through it, trusting God and learning to stop trying to do His job for Him. Am I done learning? Apparently not, but I’m learning.
My boys decided 4am was a good time to wake up and that 5am was the perfect time to insist upon getting out of bed. So, they got to watch Veggie Tales for a while to keep them from being so noisy they wake the entire house. This morning we watched “Esther.” I love how Veggies handle the ousting of Vashti – she refuses to make the king a sandwich. But watching it, I started thinking that God had a plan for her, too. We always hear about Esther, God’s plan that made her queen, and how she saved the Israelites from annihilation. But what about Vashti, the queen she replaced? Did God have a plan for her, too? If so, why was it so harsh? Yes. God loved Vashti, and He had a plan for her life. I don’t know whether she was good and kind or if she was manipulative and mean. My guess is that she was typical of most of the people in the court. She probably worshiped whatever god they all worshiped, and she probably didn’t know or care about God’s people. And God’s plan for her included being ousted as queen because she refused to honor a command that would humiliate her and was just plain wrong. She did the right thing and was deposed. I’d like to think that whatever happened after that, God took care of her. But, maybe because she didn’t believe in Him, He couldn’t (kind of like when we want to do things our way and refuse to let God have control). Whatever her history and whatever her future, God knew that if His people were to be rescued He needed someone who cared about them in a position of (relative) power. It’s kind of like Judas. God knew the plan for his life, too. And Paul later says that it’s God’s right to make some jars for noble purposes (like Esther) and some for ignoble purposes (like Vashti and Judas). Whatever the reasons, God is God. He has a plan that ultimately will bring Him glory. And since it’s not about me or us and our glory or happiness (though He does care about that, too), but it’s about whatever accomplishes His plans and brings the most people to Him and brings Him the honor He so greatly deserves, whatever He does is good (even if it doesn’t seem very good to us because we’re on the short side of the stick). Strange the things a cartoon will make you wonder about. Yeah Veggie Tales!