Looking in the Wrong Places for Help!

Reading:  Isaiah 31
My Verse:  "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help
                        and rely on horses,
                     who trust in chariots because they are many
                        and in horsemen because they are very strong,
                     but do not look to the Holy One of Israel
                        or consult the LORD!"   (31:1)



This reminds me how difficult it is to live a spiritual life!  As a young child I would often wonder if there was more to life than what I saw with my eyes and what I heard and felt.  I wanted so much for there to be more.  And yet as an adult I find myself wanting to rely on what I see before my eyes to be strong and beautiful; on articulate speech I hear to be wise and intriguing; and on what I can touch to be reassuring to my sense of reality or need for comfort.  What happened to that young child that longed for a spiritual world - reality?  What happened, that now as an adult I often struggle to keep my focus on You, LORD God?  For I do know this - that You are REAL.  You are my help!  (Psalm 48:1)

Here we are told "the Egyptians are man and not God" (v. 3)  You tell us - "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation" (Psalm 146:3)

Yet, the beautiful city is so appealing, alluring.  The beautiful strong horse and chariot, the capable looking horsemen draws me because I see them with my eyes, they are before me and I want so to rely on them.  You tell me “their horses are flesh, and not spirit.”   They can “stumble”, “fall”, and “perish.”

I  also know that I live in a fallen world.  A world that is ruled by Satan, the Deceiver(Revelation 12:9), the Father of Lies(John 8:44), the Destroyer (1 Peter 5:8).  He will do all he can to lead me astray, to make me want to rely on the wrong things, to look for help in all the wrong places!

You, LORD God, want only to bring me to safety within the shelter of Your wings, within the shelter of Your love.

“Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts

   will protect Jerusalem;

He will protect and deliver it;

   He will spare and rescue it.” (31:5)

I need to remember Who You are LORD God.  You are the Creator of all that is.  You created me, but You gave me a free will and I must constantly choose You.  I must each and every moment turn my eyes back to You.  John Piper has a wonderful sermon on his website desiringgod.org that tells us to “shift our focus”.  I like that and have been telling myself that as things pop up to turn me from You, LORD God.

Calvin Miller reminds us that we need God in our attempt to swim the river of life.  He says, “The current of that river is demanding, and swimming it requires all the strength we have.”

A.W. Tozer stated “Unnecessary burdens are crushing the life out of people every day. . . Civilization has not made our lot easier except in things pertaining to the body; the burdens of the heart are growing more numerous, and science has found no remedy.  The silky voice of the practitioner may sooth the mind for a time, but the disease is too deep to yield itself to such inadequate measures.”

“Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

We Can Be Free From Bondage

Reading:  Isaiah 30
My Verse:  "He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.  
                        as soon as he hears it, he answers you.  
                   And though the LORD give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, 
                       yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, 
                       but  your eyes shall see your Teacher.  
                  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying.  
                       "This is the way, walk in it," 
                           when you turn to the right or 
                           when you turn to the left.  
                  Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and 
                       your gold-plated metal images.  
                  You will scatter them as unclean things.  
                  You will say to them, "Be gone!" (Isaiah 30: 19-22).

We are in bondage!  We are in bondage and many of us do not even realize it!  Living in a fallen world we are exposed to many things that were never meant to be.  How we react to those things determines whether we will be stronger and more able to deal with the next challenge or whether we will simply become more warped - sinking further and further into bondage.

Always loved this anonymous quote:

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.  A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes.  It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results."

But, a most important factor is missing in this quote.  We need help!  We need Your help, LORD God!  We cannot get out of bondage without You shining Your beautiful cleansing and purifying light upon us, illuminating our very souls!

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).
"For it is You Who light my lamp, the LORD my God lightens my darkness" (Psalm 18:28).

From this passage I see three things happening.
First, we must cry out to You, LORD God of our own free will.
Then, You will give us the much needed guidance as to the way we must go.
It is only then, by following you, obeying You that we will finally be able to . . .
                  "defile your carved idols . . ."
                  "scatter them as unclean things"
                  "say to them, Be gone!"
It is only then that we can break free of the bondage of sin.

All of scripture points to this most important fact.  The fact that only through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour can we break free from the terrible bondage of sin.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall have life"  (John 3:16).

Thank You for this LORD God.  Thank You for reminding me that I can be free of those "carved idols" those "unclean things."  I can say to them "Be gone!"

You will lighten and purify my mind, my soul, my life.  You will enable me to focus on what is good.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!