Onward Christian soldiers...

Wow... it's been a long time since I've written anything! Life has been pretty crazy this summer. And as I look ahead on the calendar, it's not going to slow down any.

And in all honesty, I've had a severe case of writer's block! I have started a handful of blog posts, but just can't finish them. I get a few paragraphs into it and I can't seem to connect my thoughts to the paper in front of me. It's frustrating and scary.

It's scary because writing has always been like therapy for me. And in this time of chaos in my life, I NEED the therapy. So the inability to transfer my thoughts onto paper leaves me feeling somewhat helpless and vulnerable. And I don't like it!

But God dug out His handy 2x4 and got my attention yesterday. He made me realize that my problem isn't the chaos, my problem is that I'm trying to figure out most of it on my own...without Him. I saw a post on social media a while back that said something like, "You can take your temperature a hundred times, but the thermometer will never heal you." The thermometer can only reflect your circumstances, it has no power in the healing process.

So, for weeks, every time I was overwhelmed or stressed, I would stick the thermometer in my mouth and say, "Yep, I was right. Life is really hard right now." And what I should have been doing is calling on the Healer for help!

I am once again reminded that life works better when I let God be in control. The key word there is LET. It's so easy to forget that God would rather do something THROUGH me, rather than FOR me. And nothing happens through me unless I hand Him the controls. No one can carry out His plans better than He can! Why is that so hard for me to grasp!?

Remember the story of Joshua and the fall of Jericho? God gave Joshua specific instructions on how to conquer the great city that was walled on all sides. Joshua was to have the seven priests of Israel march around the city, carrying the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark held the Ten Commandments. They were to parade around the outside of the city with the Ten Commandments and trumpets. And on the seventh day, after encircling the city seven times, they were to blow the trumpets and have everyone shout and the walls would crumble to the ground - allowing Joshua and the Israelites to take the city.

Can you imagine Joshua's pep talk to the crowd gathered outside the wall...

"Now guys, listen. I know these walls seem really big, but it doesn't matter that they are 13 feet tall and 6 feet wide... God has a plan. God promised us this land and we're going to get it. God told me what to do. So, here's the plan. We're going to march around the city once every day, for six days. AND I need you guys (points to the priests) to lead us while you carry the Ark of the Covenant and blow your trumpets. I need the 40,000 soldiers to stay quiet until day 7. Then on the seventh day, we're going to march around the city 7 times. And right before we finish our last lap, I need everyone to shout as loud as you can. The walls will crumble and we will claim the land that was promised to us. Are you ready? Grab those boots and let's hit the dirt!"

Good pep talk, Coach, but you need to remember who you're talking to. The Israelites weren't very good at taking God's word at face value. They had been snarky and skeptical since the day they left Egypt. They remind me of that person that is just never happy. You know the type... "So what that God parted the Red Sea to save us. We ended up roaming around this wilderness with nothing to eat but manna every day. Being a slave in Egypt wasn't great, but at least they had better food. I don't know WHY God is taking so long to do this promise thing. If He's really going to come through for us, He could have done that WEEKS ago!"

And there's one more group of people saying, "I'm not waiting for God! If this is what He's promised us, then let's just do it... our way! We're 40,000 strong and God will see us through. And if we don't act NOW, we will be left helpless and vulnerable."

Now... that one sounds like me. I believe in God's promises. I believe in His Holy Word. I even believe He gives us personalized instruction. BUT sometimes my patience isn't real great and I try to force the issue, instead of waiting on God to give me my personalized instructions. Sometimes I think that just because my heart is in the right place, that makes MY PLAN okay.

And in those times when I jump the gun, instead of waiting on God's timing, He usually let's me do it MY way until His point is made and I get frustrated. It's in that frustration when He whispers in my ear, "Please just LET me do it. I would love for you to be my hands and feet on this project, but I need you to let go of the control panel. I promise there's a blessing in it if you do."

There are thousands of people in this world with great intentions, Godly intentions, but they're doing it THEIR way. And what God wants are Godly people doing it God's way. Our hearts fulfilling God's plan. The tricky part is listening for His instructions and following those instructions, no matter how overwhelming or impossible it may seem. Just remember who your Instructor is. He has a perfect track record! And He's never failed me yet!

Joshua 1:9

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”