And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.”
(Exodus 14:13 ESV)
It is that time of year when I remember my birthday and my father’s death because their dates fall within a few days of each other. For myself I seek my birthday present. I bought for myself on the world-wide web something that when it arrived was not as advertised, it was in need of my repair and now I have to let go of the loss and annoyance!
Grabbing at worldly possessions I cannot afford at a time of year when we receive massive bills just to stay where we are living and keep my car on the road is foolishness.
So I find meaningful dialogue with God, hard, as Life is not fair and my own mortality looms large as I attempt to hang on to life, whilst I pray for the healing of others, so far unsuccessfully. This at a time when I have been getting older, weaker, and under the weather but now finally, thankfully, back to full health.
Despite being better I am feeling sulky before God because there is no longer anyone who cares, apparently. My daughters live a myopic life of dropping clothes on the floor, binge eating food that was more than enough for one, wanting money and lifts around the town to keep them safe. As my birthday beckons tomorrow this was the last straw. The elder daughter just left her dirty clothes on the floor in the bathroom for me to put in the washing machine and my youngest one did her usual trick of asking for help proceeded by leaving everything out after I had told her where she could find the thing she was looking for without putting anything back in its place.
So after I had had a bath, the Holy Spirit prompted me to face up to my stupidity with a question: Am I not just like my daughters leaving my spiritual rubbish on the floor before God? Do I not just rush in and hope God would give me my heart’s desire and then rush off again? No praise, no thanksgiving, no appreciation for the gift of salvation and deliverance from Evil’s desires and temptations.
Surely not I? Oh dear.
How about you? It is ok. God has got this and we need to stop, let go of the grasping and straining at life and its things and then to look up and not inwards or outwards towards the world. Firstly we have to forgive ourselves for being muppets and then to really trust in God’s willingness to pick us up once more and set us back on the path to eternal life with Jesus.
Prayer: Thanks LORD, oh how we need you. Please Forgive Us. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts and minds and remind us we stand on The Rock, who is our sure foundation and deliverer, in Jesus’ name, and to Him be the glory, amen.
Rod Marshall
Reprited with permission from Roderick Henry Marshall’s Christian Reflections