Presumptions

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Listen to this devotional:

1 Timothy 4:16 – Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (ESV)

I have been a witness to some extraordinary moves of God in my lifetime, but, as I said, they were extraordinary. Like many, I live, bound up in life's issues day-to-day, coping with the curve balls that speed my way. I have not been saved from life's shortcomings, as I might be tempted to believe I deserve, so I just keep moving on.

With the arrogance and curiosity of being wilful, I stopped looking to Jesus and looked over the edge of the narrow path where safety lies. Out of nowhere arose inner conflict, a disparity between what I knew to be true and what my expectations were for God's will. As I teetered on the edge, I looked, and it seemed to be a long way down. Like a party balloon that has hung too long, neglected on a wall, the life in me became limp. Life had distracted me from seeing my Saviour's love.

For me, this had physical consequences, the signs of a stress shutdown in progress. Before my mind went into total hibernation, I knew I could do only one thing to redirect my steps back to higher ground.

By prayer and a very little faith, I reached out once more to Jesus, my Rock, leaving my presumptions about His will for me behind. Gradually, the preoccupation about life's unsatisfactoriness diminished, because I knew in my heart that His steadfast love had brooded over me all the time. Inside, I imagined that He smiled reproachfully, as I stepped back from the edge of the abyss and once more focused in faith on His love.

It took a further day for my body to function normally and to live in that faith. So, let our eyes be centred on Jesus, and keep watch, because life is difficult enough!

Prayer: Lord, enable us to see Your priorities for our lives more clearly looking forward, and direct us in the way we should go. May we be vessels of faith, light, and hope, not broken pots, because we go in the name of Jesus. Lord, we lift up to You those who are not able to make this necessary step of faith. Enable them to break through their situations and find that You have loved them all along. May You soften their hearts, so that they might receive the warmth of Your love and find that they are no longer alone. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook

About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

Send your feedback to the author

Comments are closed.

Previous Post
«
Next Post
»
 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.