Always Worth It

Who's Directing Your Steps

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:08 |

"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."

- Jeremiah 10:23

I have to admit, this is a verse that I have really struggled with. Way back in the day (which was a Wednesday), God gave us free will. In doing so, he gave us the choice to direct our own steps. However, if we choose to follow Him, to live in Him, to give ourselves to Him, then we also submit to allowing God to direct our steps.

Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that says, "God is my co-pilot?" If so, have you ever really thought about that? Isn't this verse telling us that God shouldn't be our co-pilot at all? Yet, I think that's the way most of us live. We keep on driving our own car down this road we call life, and we may even let God sit in the front see. More than that, some of us may even let him navigate from time to time, and take over when things get rough. But how many of us take this verse to heart? How many of us get out of our car, let God slide into the driver's seat, and take our spot in the passenger seat? I would venture to guess not many.

What is it in our nature that makes us want to hold onto control so badly? I mean seriously, we're all control freaks, I'm pretty sure it's not just me. I would guess that some of us have somehow managed to give God control of certain aspects of our lives. Maybe our relationships, or our finances, or how we raise our kids, or even our jobs. But I bet we hold onto other things. At least, I know I do.

Maybe some of us give God almost complete control, but we're still holding that one little string. And by doing that, we feel enough in control to function. Can you relate to that? But here's the real question then. If you haven't given God full reign in your life, is it any better than giving Him none? He wants all of us, not part of us. He wants our complete trust, not our incomplete trust. Just like the verse says, our lives are not our own. And we are not the ones who should be directing our steps.

Let the Lord our God guide you in His way for you, so you can stop directing your own steps. Let Him bring you where He wants to bring you, where He wants to use you, and where He has prepared you to be.

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."

- Psalm 43:3

Add new comment

A Prayer From A Song

Friday, 20 August 2010 10:12 |

Redemption

by August Burns Red

I trust in you for life to live, and air to breath.

Purity fills my lungs.

I no longer live in solitude.

No longer bound.

My heart beats with great devotion.

This is the start to a new beginning.

On my knees praying for mercy.

Hands raised high, humble and broken. Wanting your grace.

Wanting your security.

Memories of laying facedown, motionless, with such a hollow feeling inside.

Soon I would end this life I was living.

I am just a man with a heart and sinful hands.

I am a fallen victim.

Lord, show me the way. I ask of you Father, let my words be your words.

Let my thoughts be your thoughts.

To you, I give my praise.

Show me the way. Take me in your arms. Never let me go.

Lord, show me the way, as I give myself to you.

Never let me go.

Hold me with your everlasting love.

I love how much music and lyrics can speak to my heart. I love that God works in ways like that. I mean really... How cool is He for giving us that gift?! Okay, confession... I have honestly never even heard this song, and I don't think I'd like it at all! But regardless of if I'll ever listen to the song, the lyrics are incredible. I like just praying the words. Here are a few of my favorite lines:

"Hands raised high, humble and broken. Wanting your grace."

We are asked to come humbly before God. And when you look at the things we go through in life, there's often no other way. But in all things, we can raise our hands and praise God. Because He pours His grace out on us.

"Lord, show me the way. I ask of you Father, let my words be your words. Let my thoughts be your thoughts."

This is no easy task. To truly let God work in you, and to let His words come out of your mouth. And even more challenging, to let Him into your thoughts so that even there, you are becoming His. I certainly don't have this mastered, but it is something I can pray to Him and ask for every day. Then maybe, little by little, it becomes easier.

"Lord, show me the way, as I give myself to you."

The truth of the matter is, even as we are learning to walk like Christ and to give ourselves over to God completely, we're still learning. I like this like because it makes me see that it's a process. As I give myself to God, over time, I can ask God to continue to show me His path for me. It's a daily choice, not an overnight change. And that, my friends, is something we can all find hope in!

Add new comment

Empty My Hands

Thursday, 19 August 2010 20:24 |

"Empty My Hands"

by Tenth Avenue North

I've got voices in my head and they are so strong

And I'm getting sick of this oh Lord, how long

Will I be haunted by the fear that I believe

My hands like locks on cages

Of these dreams I can't set free

But if I let these dreams die

If I lay down all my wounded pride

If I let these dreams die

Will I find that letting go lets me come alive

So empty my hand

Fill up my heart

Capture my mind with you

This song makes me think of a couple of things. One being that the only thing holding us back from our own dreams is ourselves. At least, I know that's true for me. I get to the edge of where I feel safe, and I get scared. I am the one holding holding me back. How long will I let the fear hold me back? How long will I keep my dreams in a box? How long until I crack that lid and let them fly?

When we let go of what we want, of our pride, of our own selfishness, that's when we come alive. Or rather, when God comes alive through us. I love to think of God alive in me, of Him using me, creating things through me, and giving me breath. I get all giddy just thinking about it!

In order for all of that to happen, we have to do what this song is saying... "Empty my hands. Fill up my heart. Capture my mind with You."

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

he's the one who will keep you on track.”

- Proverbs 3:5-6

God is there in everything we do. He so wants to be the one we listen to, and rely on. The one we let fill up our hearts. He promises that we don't have to do life on our own.

We don't have to have it all figured out, or even get it figured out anytime soon. God is with us in all we do. We just have to ask Him for what we need, and search for what we're missing. He wants to give us all of it.

Give Him your hands and ask Him to empty them.

Give Him your heart and ask Him to fill it.

When that happens, He will do great things through you. No matter where you are. And remember... There isn't anywhere that God can't take you!

Add new comment