Thoughts
From the Youth Pastor's Wife
I was thumbing through "Our Daily Bread" the other day and came across a page entitled "10
Reasons to Believe Real Christians Can Look Like They're Not Christians At All."
They listed some very powerful reasons such as prayerlessness and carelessness, but one reason that struck me was self-reliance.
Here is a quote: "The God of the Bible asks His people to trust Him on His terms rather than their own. Those who forget this principle of God-dependence fail in practice to distinguish themselves as genuine
Christians.
Our family and friends were tested in this term "self-reliance" not long ago. Most of you know that our son, Andrew, was run over by the Church van in a freak accident. Only by a miracle of God did he come away with no serious injuries. Of the many things that raced through my mind over the week, a reoccurring theme kept coming up- how do I deal with self-reliance (protecting my children) and my faith in the Lord
After much contemplation and dismay , I finally realized that the two
attitudes are completely opposite in nature and cannot be reconciled. If I am self-reliant, depending on myself to protect my children then I am not giving God the ability to protect them as He has
promised. Psalm 121 is a favorite one of mine and gives me much comfort.
Vs. 2 and 3, "My help comes from the Lord the Maker of Heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber."
Vs.7, "The Lord will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and
forevermore..."
I knew this passage. It was one Mike and I chose to be read at our wedding. We have dedicated our children to the Lord, but had I REALLY dedicated them?
And how had I become so self-reliant, believing falsely, that I could protect them from all anxiety , when in reality , only God can do that?
I haven't got all the answers yet, but I did come up with several consequences of self-reliance.
Pride (self-reliance) does the following:
1. Makes you miss out on many opportunities to be ministered to.
2. Makes you lose perspective of what is real and what is imagined.
3. Takes away your joy for people and makes you suspicious of those helping you.
4. Makes you lose out on what God's plan is for you.
5. Makes you think that you are in control of your life, by not giving it to the lord.
I had to face all of these issues when I gave my life to God. Now I had to face them all again in giving our children to Him also.
Yes, I always want to protect my children, but no, I CAN'T always. Hopefully, this is an encouragement as our children are born, and traverse through the various passages God gives them.
The Lord has graciously shown me once again His power of protection, but also His sovereignty over each of our lives if we let Him.
Such a precious gift He has given us!
From the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, to Jonah in the whale, to Saul becoming Paul, to Jesus giving His life so we may live, to Andrew under the van's tire. ..Time and again we see examples of God's sovereignty.
Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. God is on His throne!
In Christ,
Diane