"How long is the wait?" "Are we there yet?" "How many green beans do I have to eat?" "How many laps do we have to walk?" "How many days until school is out?" "How many pages does the paper have to be?" - The list could go on.
We all want to know how much? And how far? Regardless, of whether or not we can do anything about the wait at the restaurant, the length of the paper, or the amount of time it takes to drive to the beach, we want to know what is ahead and what we should expect. Knowing gives us perspective. Perspective lends to preparedness. David made a similar request in order to gain perspective, "Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." (Psalm 39:4)
David needed to be reminded that he was just a "guest" in this world because his hope is in the Eternal God of Heaven.(vv. 11-12) We can endure a lot when we know it is temporary. As seemingly long as this life is, especially in stressful or painful times, the truth is that we are simply unwelcome guests who are on their way home. Forever wonderful home.
"Just a little while longer." "Just a little more." "A bit more effort." One more time."
Worth the wait.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Horse the Mule and the Wardrobe
Psalm 32:8-11 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you."
I have a four year old shih tzu named Calli. She is very sweet and is the very picture of a lap dog. She is not much for going on walks, 1.) because she is lazy and 2.) because she absolutely hates wearing a collar and a leash. (I wasn't a good dog parent that got her used to one as a pup.) So when she and I are outside she is free to move around, completely cordless, as long as she listens to me when I call her and give her commands. Her safety and obedience are more important to me than her comfort so if she doesn't listen I will get out the leash and she will be sporting a little puppy bling; but she and I both prefer to go without.
David tells us in Psalm 32 of his free and intimate relationship with God. He is counseled with His eye upon him. We have all been there. I remember being "counseled" by my mom's eye in church many times. When we know someone well and are known by them well it takes little more than a look to give us direction, comfort, even reprimand. This is the preference of our Heavenly Father, not that we would have to be harnessed and forced to obey, but that we would come near to Him and follow. Let's go through the closet of our mind and heart and throw out our bits and bridles and instead follow Him in the delight of relationship.
I have a four year old shih tzu named Calli. She is very sweet and is the very picture of a lap dog. She is not much for going on walks, 1.) because she is lazy and 2.) because she absolutely hates wearing a collar and a leash. (I wasn't a good dog parent that got her used to one as a pup.) So when she and I are outside she is free to move around, completely cordless, as long as she listens to me when I call her and give her commands. Her safety and obedience are more important to me than her comfort so if she doesn't listen I will get out the leash and she will be sporting a little puppy bling; but she and I both prefer to go without.
David tells us in Psalm 32 of his free and intimate relationship with God. He is counseled with His eye upon him. We have all been there. I remember being "counseled" by my mom's eye in church many times. When we know someone well and are known by them well it takes little more than a look to give us direction, comfort, even reprimand. This is the preference of our Heavenly Father, not that we would have to be harnessed and forced to obey, but that we would come near to Him and follow. Let's go through the closet of our mind and heart and throw out our bits and bridles and instead follow Him in the delight of relationship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)