You just never know where you will find a treasure of inspiration. Today I’m reading a booklet, like a printed workshop, on writing. Toward the end, there’s a bit about building sand castles, in the context of being complete in Christ, recognizing and living out our true identity in Him. This is where I’ve been the last several months: seeking and learning a full dependency on Him to provide.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:5-7
I have no say over the work that comes my way, the contracts I receive, or the income that results. I place our finances in His hands. And He has rained down blessings on our household.
I have no control over the healing of loved ones. I need constant reminders to place them in His hands. He provides comfort and peace even while we wait to see the final outcome.
I work from home, which limits my contact with “real” people. I treasure that I am learning to rely on Him for companionship, trusting that He will bring those times of fellowship when most needed. And He has.
As a child, I loved treasure hunts. Walking with God is like that, I never know when He’ll give an unexpected blessing or answer, but I know He will.
A few days ago, I saw a cartoon that provided a visual for an important truth I’d like to incorporate into my life more this year.
First frame: character says he’d like to hear from God.
Second frame: a hand stretches out from above, holding a Bible
At the foundation of living in full dependence and surrender to Him is His Word. My heart desires to spend more time in the Word daily, and yet I find it is a constant struggle to remember and put into practice. Won’t you join me in pursuing Him well this year through His Word?
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. ~ Psalm 119:105
Comments 3
Author
Thanks so much, Tracie, for your encouraging devotional. It’s tough to be in that place of total reliance on God…but it’s His favorite place to put us! And it’s really the best place, the most exciting place to be–because it’s the place we experience Him most fully. I love that you quoted Psalm 119. It’s the Scripture I asked our Sunday school class to read for “homework” this week. Isn’t it fun when God weaves the same theme into your week from different sources. I love that! Another way He shows He’s intimately involved in the details…
This is so interesting! Just a few weeks ago, while we were away in Thailand for a retreat, I had a very similar experience. We were studying the life of Abraham and talking about how God spoke to him face to face. Someone in our group said something along the lines of, “Sometimes I wish that God would just speak to me audibly and clearly. I don’t think I’d struggle with faith and with knowing what to do if He did.” All of a sudden, I had the closest thing to a vision I’ve ever had. I saw several patriarchs – Abraham and Moses and a few others – sitting around a table like we were and heard one of them say, “Sometimes I wish that God would just give us a Book that had everything He wanted us to know and do in it. Then I wouldn’t have to wonder what He wanted and wait for Him to speak to me – I’d just have the book and could look in it whenever I wanted or needed to know something. I don’t think I’d struggle with faith and with knowing what to do if He did that.” I was so convicted by this and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, and now you are confirming it with your post. Thank you so much for sharing!
Tina
Author
I LOVE that, Tina! I’ve often thought of how blessed the Patriarchs were to HEAR God’s voice and see visions, etc. Or how blessed the disciples were to actually walk and talk with Jesus in the flesh–but to have the Holy Spirit within and to have THE WORD OF GOD at my fingertips…amazing.