Our Father loves us SO MUCH. More than we know. Each day, He wants to show us, and come to understand more and more of His love.
Is it really possible to acknowledge the Lord in all my ways? Can I really be careful for nothing? God says we can live this way in His Word if we’ll step out in faith and follow His lead to “do” His Word even when it seems inconvenient to us. With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
The Grace and Wonder of Staying in the Lord –
At times, in our day, we’re tempted to act apart from the Lord. We’re tempted to take matters into our own hands without consenting with or being mindful of Jesus…
Here’s a simple, loving lesson the Lord allowed me to experience the other day.
Our car battery was really weak and barely started our car Monday morning. After dropping my wife at work, I took our car to Walmart which is where I buy my car batteries. I’d gotten there early and was first in line in the oil and lube line so I moved my car over to another lane since I needed my battery checked. I had to wait about 45 minutes for Walmart’s automotive service to open so I grabbed some peanuts and sat down in the auto service waiting area. I noticed that when they opened, two other cars I arrived ahead of were being waited on and neither driver said anything to the technician about me being there first. I thought, “That seems inconsiderate.” The Lord immediately told me not to “take” that thought and that He was with me.
About 10 minutes later, a technician came over to the car and tested my battery. After the test, he told me it may take a charge and that it would take about 30 to 90 minutes for them to determine that. He walked off with the battery test printout. About 5 minutes later, another Walmart technician came over and asked me if I’d had my battery checked. When I told him it had been tested, he asked me where the test printout was. I told him the other technician had it. I told him the printout had said my battery needed to be charged for 30-90 minutes to determine its status. He asked me to drive my car over to the other side of the auto service area, but I told him it may not start. He asked me to try it. The car started and I drove it over to the other side. The technician met me on the other side, lifted the hood and tested my battery again. This time, the printout said the battery needed to be replaced. I was so happy. The technician told me a new battery would be about $120. At that time, a third auto technician walked over and asked about the battery test printout. When he read it, he told the other technician to replace my battery and that it was free since I was still within the battery warranty period. Happy, Happy, Happy.
Now, what I want to convey in this email is that whenever I was tempted to become impatient, whenever I began to get in “my flesh” about this situation, the Lord kept reminding me to wait on Him and that everything was okay. In fact, He kept asking me to be extra patient and kind to everyone. He was with me, knew all about my wanting to get going so I could get some things done, etc. He told me He would make sure I got everything done I thought was so important if I just gave this situation to Him and followed His lead.
It was so neat how everyone around me responded to His leading in my heart. I calmed down, gave Him the situation and was like a spectator watching Him work all of it out for me. One of the other customers who’d come in after I’d arrived, and had his car serviced before me, went out of his way to find the auto service department manager for me so the manager could printout the transaction paperwork so I could be on my way.
It’s so wonderful when we yield to Jesus, when we say “No” to our hurried, worried, impatient, selfish flesh, and keep our spiritual ears tuned in to Him even though our flesh is wanting its way. God is so faithful if we’ll just be willing to be “doers” of the Word, if we’ll keep the faith, if we’ll be His people especially when we’re tempted to not want to do so at any given time throughout our day.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:6-8
Listen to Jesus, and let His “rest” keep you each moment of the day. That’s what He wants for us. He just wants to love us and give us His amazing peace – even in what seem like small matters. He’ll make sure we get everything done and be blessed (and be a blessing to those around us) in the process.
God bless,
Mark