When we seek God in simple things, blessings permeate our lives.
Thank you for reading my blog. One value I hope you will take away from every post is to see God’s presence in small moments, and receive His blessings. Most of our days consist of simple things, so I choose to find a way to value them.
Christians face the same trials as is common to all people, and we struggle to remain true to our faith despite our faults, doubts and weaknesses. God helps us, and sometimes, He carries us.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:27-30, ESV.)
The other day, I noticed an ant moving in jagged circles at my feet. Thinking I might have stepped on him, I inspected more closely and realized the ant was carrying the carcass of a larger ant, and tangling his feet in the legs of the carcass. Maybe he thought it was a good lunch. I studied entomology (bug zoology) in college, so I have an interest in insects.
I nudged the ant from his burden, and he went on his way in a straight line, presumably following the trail laid down by his friends. When I placed the carcass in his path again, he picked it up, and moved in jagged circles, so I freed him from his burden.
This reminded me of times when I’ve refused to make a change, or let go of a burden in my life. I moved in circles, like the ant.
One example is the wisteria that once grew over the pergola courtyard at the side of our house. In the spring, it produced beautiful blooms, and in the summer provided shade under the pergola. It also made a mess.
Every season, the wisteria produced debris: flower blossoms, large seed pods, and leaves falling. The mess would foul the fountain, and the wisteria grew like a weed, requiring constant pruning. I put up with this for years because of the beautiful flowers, but I finally realized how much better it would look if I removed the plant.
Now the courtyard remains clean and usable. We could have enjoyed the area much more, and saved a lot of work, had I made the decision to change it earlier.
In Eclesiastes 3:6, we read “a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,”
Some past decisions I can’t change so easily. The hardest changes lie in the heart, like negative attitudes, unforgiveness, and fear. I suppose most people can remember something from their past they wished they had been willing to change.
I recall a friend who worked for years at a stressful job with no benefits, and for one third of the going salary. I pleaded to her to change jobs, but fear of change paralyzed her. Finally, the job went away in a downsizing. Her new job has three times the pay, full benefits, and less stress. Her past can’t be changed, but her future is much brighter.
My writing mentor, Jerry Jenkins (of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild) says, “All writing is rewriting.” I think life is akin to writing a book. I write it day by day through the decisions I make, but God is my editor.
Rewriting one’s life requires willingness to change, when change is wise. So many times I’ve held on to attitudes, and things, that needed to go. I find I’m willing and able to make change more readily in my mature years, but the Spirit has had a lifetime to mold me, to be the editor of my story.
Our Heavenly Father’s transforming work in us is a wonderful mystery. God’s compassion and love for those who revere Him reminds me of water washing over stone. I read somewhere, “Water doesn’t cut through stone because of its power, but because of its persistence.” He never leaves us. He could turn us into sand in an instant, but He is patient with us.
Our Father assures us, “If you wander off the road to the right or the left, you will hear his voice behind you saying, ‘Here is the road. Follow it’” (Isaiah 30:21, GNT)
So what’s my point? Like many people, I don’t like change, but I’ve learned to prayerfully consider opportunities to make new decisions, and sometimes it leads to something good. I can remove troublesome wisterias and replant, I can prayerfully embrace new directions as God leads, and trust Him.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJB.)
Now, about my weight.
Selah.