safety

The Gift of Obedience

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

It’s a comfortable life she has. Money to buy the things she wants. She travels a little. Has a great family. Oh. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty good. She loves God. She wants to obey him. She has taught her kids to trust God. To depend on him. To call on him in times of need. To thank him for his goodness.

God has gifted her with talents. A love for others. A listening ear. A gentle heart. He has showered her with friends. He has provided for her needs. He has rescued her from difficulties. He loves her.

God has asked certain things of her. She knows it. But she struggles to obey.

I wonder why it’s so hard for her to obey. To do the simple things he’s asking of her. I’m so quick to judge. I think of what he’s asking of me. It’s also simple things.  Trust. Obey. He’s not asking me to move a mountain. Or to move to Timbuktu. He’s asking me to stay put when I look to move. Why can’t I just trust him when he says I’m equipped where I am? Why is it so hard for me? Why do I seek what isn’t best for me?

I know he loves me regardless of what I do or don’t do. He wants more of me than I think I can give.  All or nothing.  Hot or cold. Don’t be lukewarm. 
It sounds so easy. 

When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? That faithfulness is holding the fort? That playing it safe is safe? That there is any greater privilege than sacrifice? That radical is anything but normal? -Mark Batterson

He’s right. You know. God doesn’t ask us to play it safe in our relationship with him. He asks us to go deeper into knowing him. To move out of our comfort zone and really live through him. He wants us to go all in.

When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus. -Corrie ten Boom

Why do I try to twist his request to suit my plans? Why do I stall for time hoping he’ll change his mind? Has God ever said that my ways are better than his?

But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. Luke 11:28

What if Zacchaeus hadn’t climbed down from the tree when Jesus called him by name? Look at what he would have missed. This hated tax collector chose to come clean on the way he acquired his wealth and return money that wasn’t his. He chose to follow the unknown path of obeying Jesus.

What if the rich young man who was asked by Jesus to give up his wealth and comfortable life had actually obeyed? What other riches and blessings would he have received? He was already obeying the laws, but there was one thing he wasn’t doing. He willingly chose to keep his comfortable life instead of surrendering to Jesus. He’ll never know what he lost.

Comfort and complacency are never safe. It’s stagnant. It isn’t growth. I’m preaching to myself here.

Saying yes to God requires a sacrifice on my part. I will have to give up my comfort and convenience. But look what I gain. Perseverance. Growth. Peace. And so much more. I wonder what I’m giving up by choosing the path of comfort and convenience. Is it worth it? If I allow God to stretch me and use me as he wants, what can go wrong with that? Oh. I may be ridiculed. I may be mocked. I may be an outcast. I may be persecuted. But in the end I won’t lose.

Obedience. That’s the name of the game. Trust. That’s the art of letting go. Sounds so simple. So easy. But not knowing what’s ahead. What’s behind the door that’s ready to be opened. It can be daunting. It could be the best time of my life. And I’m willing to miss it just for the sake of playing it safe? Really? But I won’t know what’s on the other side of that door of obedience unless I walk through it.

Unconditional Love

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

It’s a warm sunny afternoon with a slight breeze.  But when a dog spends an hour chasing other dogs at full speed at the dog park, she ends up winded and worn out.

Once my dog has scraped herself up off the cool garage floor, I encourage her to come to the basement with me.  She doesn’t realize that the cold concrete floor in the laundry room would be a soothing balm to her fast beating heart and worn out body.  I try to tell her, but she doesn’t listen.  She just wants to be where I am.  Wherever that is.

Since I’m with her all day every day lately, she has grown very attached to me.  Everywhere I go in the house, she is glued to my leg.  She leans on me for no reason.  She wants me to play with her in the evening.  When she thinks it’s time to go to the dog park, she looks at me with that excited look.  Waiting for me to say the word.  Dog park!

She enjoys her treats and rewards.  Sometimes she gets more than she deserves.  Other times, she begs for a treat for no apparent reason.  She sure knows how to wrap herself around my little finger.

She loves getting hugs and attention.  Sitting on the floor with her head in my lap as I pet her is heaven for her.  But there are times when I want to hold her close and love on her, and she sticks out her leg to keep me away.  She won’t allow me to pull her close.  She holds me at arms length.   She will push away from me, so I can’t hug her.  Oh.  She wants me to keep petting her, but she doesn’t want any hugs.

There are times I want her to experience new sights and smells.  She loves that.  I enjoy rewarding her.  I even asked someone to train her to be a better dog.  I wanted her to learn from the best how to be a great dog.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!  1 John 3:1

I think of my Master.  He loves me unconditionally.  In fact, it doesn’t matter what I do.  He’ll still love me.  Oh.  There are times he’ll discipline me.  He’ll chastise me.  But I know he loves me still.

I find the more time I spend with my Master, the more time I want to spend with Him.  I lean on him for guidance.  I cozy up to him when I need comfort.  I ask for his peace when I face uncertain times.  Oh.  There are times when we don’t see eye to eye.  I ask for favors when I don’t deserve them.  I ask God to answer prayers that may be selfish or foolish.  I still have a lot to learn in my relationship with God.

There are times he wants to hold me close.  Wrapped in his arms of safety and security.  But I push him away.  Oh.  I want him nearby, but I don’t want his hugs.  I want to be close enough I can call if I need him, but not so close that I am engulfed in his presence.  Why is that?  Why do I seek independence?  Why do I hold him at arm’s length?  Why don’t I surrender fully to him?

The thing is.  He knew me before I was even born.  He knows the number of hairs on my head.  He knows my thoughts even if I don’t speak.  He sees everything I do.  He hears every word I say.  He knows my intentions.  He knows the number of days I will live.  He has the best plans laid out for me.  I am his.