His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5 (NIV)
As we are now in this new year, things may be different, the same, or all wonky. It is literally just a page turn on a calendar, and many make much of this page turn, but what does God have to say about going from December 31, 2023 to January 1, 2024?
I am no scholar, and I have much to learn in the Bible, but I do see we are to remember things, we are to leave the past behind, we are to determine what pleases Him and we are to walk in faith because without it we cannot please Him, plus many other directives.
So, how can I know the next step I am to take this year? Do I have a word from Jesus? Do I have goals He has for me, or are they made by my human hands? Is there something I want to accomplish, and have I asked God if it is something He wants me to accomplish? Am I running ahead of Him in my rush to better myself? Is this thinking dictated by the world?
???
Since I am staring at a milestone, not a fun one mind you, of 4 years of suffering with broken feet and subsequent aftermath, I have been thinking. Is it same ol’, same ol’? Or is God speaking to me? How can I tell the difference?
Living a life sold out to Jesus requires a huge amount of trust, belief and not seeing, but going forward anyways. Trusting in the Sovereignty of God and knowing He is in control, and He will direct, lead and guide me and my steps. He is not finished with me –
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
He began the work, I did not. He called me unto Him, I responded. He called me out to love and serve Him and this was and is good. And He is still working on me. And in me. Chipping away at the rough edges, the sin nature and replacing the heart of stone with a heart of flesh.
It is here where I find it to be painful. A heart of flesh feels things, hurts dreadfully at times, is convicted, yet has longings to please the Master.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
This word delight is an interesting word. In Hebrew it is aw-nag and it means to be pliable, soft, dainty, delicate, delight. I am to not be rigid in my walk with Jesus, but bend and be moldable to His will, not my own. Easier said than done.
I always want my way. I am selfish and desire to please myself. But, it is when I look to Jesus and keep Him in focus I can do the next thing, endure another day of suffering, or count it all joy when the suffering keeps going, the loneliness hangs on and the weariness gets overwhelming.
To please God is to look to Him to fulfill my desires. To please God is to bend when He says to bend and not be stiff-necked – like the Israelites were called in Exodus 34:9. Or this harsh, but real truth:
A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy. Proverbs 29:1 (NIV)
Yikes. Double yikes.
Think of Pharaoh. Think of the Israelites. Think of kings throughout the Old Testament who were given ample opportunities to change but chose not to. Then think about us. Are we given choices throughout our days to choose the right path – the Highway of Holiness?
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 35:8 (NIV)
The prophet states very clearly who is on this Way. Jesus calls us to follow Him, as He is the Way (John 14:6) and it is clear this Way is narrow as he stated in Matthew 5:13. How do I know that? Well, Jesus said so, and the other reason, look who is not on this road – Isaiah narrows it down for us. We could state it simply: those who believe in Jesus and follow, obey and seek to please Him are on this road, all others are not.
What about when we mess up, which we surely will, as we are sinners saved by grace? We stop, repent and receive the forgiveness He has for us. And keep moving forward in the Way. We may need to stop at a water station, but it’s to drink of the Living Water which will refresh us for the journey ahead.
There are distractions, bells and whistles, and temptations. But rest assured, the enemy is NOT on this road. He is relegated to the sidelines. Yes, he is prowling around like a lion, as we are told in 1 Peter 5:8. When we keep to the path marked out for us (Hebrews 12:2), we are not prey for this lion. In the animal kingdom, the predator goes after the stray, the straggler, the lost, the weak. Much like our enemy. He’s not creative, but he knows what works. Let us not give him opportunities to attach another hide to his belt.
Let us do what He (Jesus) tells us to do.
Not sure what that is? Find the answer all throughout Scripture. God speaks. May we listen and obey.
PRAYER
Father, You are Sovereign, even in this new year. You are faithful yesterday, today and my tomorrows. You are good. Thank You for being amazing to me and continuing to work in me. I do not want to be stiff-necked, but pliable in You and Your hands. I want to do what You tell me to do. Always. Give me the heart to do so. In the Name of Jesus, AMEN.