Silently Addicted

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” –Isaiah 41:10

 

Who are you trusting in?  For if it is any but the Lord, than you have established a barrier between you and Him.  The message from the very center of the scriptures is to take refuge in the Lord, not to trust in man (Psalm 118:8).  We have created separation from the Lord in our pride and arrogance in thinking that we have this life under control.  Do you not realize that tomorrow, everything you have can be taken from you.  Fire, floods, tornado, violence and theft are just examples of every day occurrences in this world.  There is no written by-law that says you will not suffer from these things in your lifetime.

Therefore, when we put our trust in things, in people and in ourselves; we are destined for disappointment and suffering at some point.  We’re all familiar with the story of Job.  If not, you really should take the time this week to read through that book in the Bible.  It’s right after Esther and right before the Psalms.  Job was a wealthy man by the standards of that day.  His house was filled with love, laughter, and joy.  His pastures were covered with livestock and his barns were full.  It was all taken away in a matter of days and he was stricken near death with sickness.  Everything he had been blessed with was lost and all he had left was his God, and that was enough.

Is God enough for you?  If your family were lost tomorrow in a tragic accident.  If your house burned to the ground, including your computers, TVs, cell phones and tablets.  Your insurance doesn’t cover it and your bank accounts are frozen to cover the loss.  You lose your job the very next day and as you leave the parking lot you run out of gas.  You have no money in your wallet, nowhere to go and no way to get there.  What will you do?  You are now homeless, penny-less, out of work and then you find yourself breaking out in a skin rash that covers your body with sores. 

I realize it seems extreme, but there is nothing in this world that cannot be taken from you.  We have become so dependent on the world around us and trusting in our own capabilities to solve problems in life that we have become vulnerable to the evil in this world.  We have turned from trusting in our Creator for our daily bread and our livelihood and taken the responsibility upon ourselves.  We must examine those dependencies in life and ask ourselves what happens when it’s gone?  Are you dependent upon your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings?  Are you dependent upon a job, a mortgage, a creditor, a vehicle?  Are you dependent upon an ATM machine, a grocery store, a cell phone, an internet provider or social media giant?  How did we get here from where we were when Christ died on that cross?

Over 2 thousand years have passed and in that time frame the gospel has been watered down to something that we use for convenience rather than something we depend on.  God is viewed as the “Big Guy in the Sky” looking down like a puppet master, rather than our Father and Lord.  The message of Christ has been changed along the way to a To-Do list item rather than a lifestyle.  The fall of mankind started with a single bite of an apple, but has transcended into a life where evil is accepted and tolerated rather than challenged because of our weakness and unwillingness to stand up for righteousness.  So, again I ask you; “Is God enough for you?”  Could you give it all up today if He asked?   Recall in Matthew when the young rich man said to Him, “All these things [commandments] I have kept; what am I still lacking?”  Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  I propose to you than many of us are silently addicted to the ways of this world, just as this man was.

In looking at your goals and resolutions created in the last few weeks, did you honestly address what’s keeping you from pursuing those things?  Would they change if you created those lists assuming you had nothing to your name?  No car, no money, no home, no job, no cell phone, no internet, no family.  What would you do for God today?  Put aside your self-righteousness, pride and arrogance.  It’s just you and God taking on the world.  What will you do?  Write it down as we discussed the other day.  It makes it much more concrete and actionable when it’s written. Think big, for our God is the Creator of the Universe and cannot be limited by our materialistic thinking.   





© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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Looking Forward – Eyes Ahead

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  -Jeremiah 29:11

Well there you have it. 365 days have passed in 2011 and most people around the globe are watching the final hours, minutes and seconds tick away on another year in their life. A moment of reflection on the events of the year will lead some to regrets, depression and even self pity. We can all agree that 2011 was a tumultuous year, filled with global unrest, unreal natural disasters and an economic roller coaster that have left many devastated and feeling lost when looking forward.  Many are even asking “So, where is God in all of this?”  Is that you?  Are you caught up in the hopelessness of the world? 

Think back to December 31^st, 2010 and the plans you outlined for 2011.  Man has continually attempted to control the twists and turns of life, only to finally come to the realization that we really aren’t equipped or prepared for total control.  Not a single person knew that a massive earthquake would hit 6 miles off the coast of Japan and cause a major tsunami, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the breakdown of the Fukishima nuclear plant.  No one could have predicted the massive floods and tornados in the US, Indonesia or Thailand and the devastation and destruction that resulted from the rising waters.  Could we have seen the global financial collapse coming as we have become more dependent on banks and the global dollar?

We all tend to look back at the past and highlight the struggles, hurts and problems of life, but have you noticed how infrequently we look back on the success’, blessings and achievements.  I was speaking with a young man just the other night and he made a comment that makes a lot of sense.  Every night he reflects on the day and makes a mental note of the goodness of the day.  I paraphrase his comment to a single question, “How did I make a difference today?”  This forces us to find the positives, success and how we have helped others rather than dwelling on what didn’t go right.  It also gives us the opportunity to see God’s fingerprints of love on our lives and the lives of those around us. 

You see, God wasn’t missing in action in 2011.  He was on His throne, right where He always has been and always will be.  God is sovereign, God is omnipresent, God is omniscient and God is omnipotent.  Nothing happens without His knowledge, nothing caught Him by surprise this year.  Many believe that God is a chess-master moving people around the game-board of life, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  We are all making choices with the knowledge and wisdom we have gained through our life experiences and education.  God’s influence on these decisions comes into play through the strength of relationship we have with Him and the amount we are willing to allow this influence to sway our thinking.  All too often, we know the plans God has for us, but are unwilling to execute or live within the guidelines of His plans.

God wants nothing more than to love us and us to love Him back.  We want material possessions, wealth, health and power to influence others.  He wants us to serve others, live within our means and give to others in need and take our eyes off of ourselves.  You recall Jesus answer to the Saducee in Matthew 22:35-40, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’   Every year we lay out 5 to 10 resolutions for the New Year, and they are generally focused on improving our personal life situation.  What if we took those resolutions this year and laid out a plan on how we are going to influence and improve other’s lives?  What a difference that would make in the world, if we authentically took our eyes off of ourselves and focused on others for a solid year.  Consider thinking of others first this year and lay out a plan on how you can help them, love them and serve them throughout 2012.  This will be an amazing year if we are within God’s plan for us.

Prayer:

Loving Father,

Renew my spirit Lord.  Fill me with the Holy Spirit that I might see others as You see them.  Help me to be a greater positive influence in the lives of those around me, living with a servants heart and a loving passion to help others.  In Your omnipotence You know all things and in Your sovereignty we all live within Your guidance.  Press upon mankind this year a spirit of revival to recognize Your glory and give You honor in everything we do.  Thank You in advance for an incredible year of 2012.  In Your name we pray - Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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