Commit your way to the Lord… Psalm 37:5A NIV
I struggle with committing my way to the Lord at times. I may be alone in this but I don’t think so. I know what I ought to do, but too often find myself doing things my own way.
I ask myself the question, “If I am a devoted follower of Christ and am to commit my ways to Him, why then do I breach that commitment at times?”
Maybe it is a rebellious spirit.
The story of Jonah comes to mind. Jonah was a follower of God and yet when God directed him to go to Nineveh, he refused! Rather than choosing the “good” that God had planned, he “jumped ship” and was swallowed by a “BIG” fish. He chose to suffer earthly consequences over turning back to God. Afterwards, God used Jonah to bring many to salvation, but boy… he could have saved himself from being “fish bait” if he had only stayed true to “committing his way to the Lord.”
Like Jonah, I do not always like what God is doing. I sometimes rebel and breach my commitment to Him. I choose to “jump ship” and suffer the earthly consequences of my rebellious spirit.
For example…just this year I chose three different times not to be faithful in devoting my way to the Lord. One of those times is when we helped to load up our son and daughter-in-law for their move to Texas. My “mama heart” was in a vise and the life was being wrenched out of it! God tried to comfort me and I rebelled against what He was doing. I knew His action was good, but it was affecting me emotionally and I did not like it. In trying not to become an emotional “basket case,” I kept God at “arm’s length.” I did the same with my husband and my close friends. I convinced myself that if I did not let them get too close, I could “stand strong” and not end up in the fetal position blubbering like a baby.
Did I succeed in being strong? Sure I did…in my eyes. In reality, what I really accomplished was a couple of newly “strained” relationships. I was in a “crazy cycle” of my own creation and could not seem to get a grip on reality. Choosing to go my way in my flesh ALWAYS produces less than God’s way and the “fruit” in my life becomes bruised. Thank God for His everlasting patience that is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). When I turn back to God, He shows me abundant grace by restoring relationships and taking them to new depths.
Today I CHOOSE to devote my way to the Lord, no matter how uncomfortable it may be (Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 37:4). I CHOOSE to draw near to Him so that He will draw near to me (James 4:8) and even if I do end up an “emotional basket case,” God will bring me through it (Psalm 23:4,6). I would much rather live a life of heavenly rewards over earthly consequences. This is a DAILY choice and today I CHOOSE.
Are you doing things in your own way? How is that working out for you? Don’t jump ship! Ask God to forgive you for your rebellious spirit and commit your way to the Lord. He is faithful to forgive and start you on your path again, refreshed in Him. (1 John 1:9).
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