It's Really All So Easy
I've noticed that most of the people I know, including myself, that are on this beautiful spiritual journey with our Lord, seem to be seeking the place of their calling or the fulfillment of their calling. We are all looking for that place where we are using our gifts and talents and exploding with the joy found in doing what we were made to do. And there is nothing wrong with that - is there? Especially if you are young and beginning your career and adult life or looking for a spouse. Or if you are older and simply know that there is more and that you have gifts and talents that aren't being used. Right? And people who aren't making plans for their future or have no goals or dreams seem to end up nowhere most of the time. Don't they?
Earlier this week I was singing a chorus I learned when I was a teenager - and it comes from Matthew 6:33-34. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Allelujah -allelujah. Do not be anxious for tomorrow - tomorrow will take care of itself! Each day has enough problems of its own. Just abide in my Father's wealth!" And then I was visiting with Dr. Luke in chapter 12 of the gospel he penned - and the very same words of Jesus are there in verses 31-32. The message is overtly about spending our lives seeking God and His kingdom rather than riches - and not worrying about having plenty to eat or fine clothes to wear. But as I was singing this tune, thinking about the place of my calling, and pondering Luke 12, I heard Spirit say something a bit different. I heard Him say, "It's really all so easy."
"But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:31-32, 34. It is very easy to hear this and understand - right? If you are seeking the kingdom, that means you greet each moment with expectation, anticipation and petition. You are constantly asking Father what He is doing in each moment and how you can enter into it with Him. And you don't have to fear not having things you need or what might happen because He's already given you the kingdom and He is your treasure. Simple. But if we are all about the kingdom, and not all about ourselves, and living moment to moment, where does the plan for the future and figuring out where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to be doing come in? Is it being a wise steward of what He has put in us if we aren't considering these things? Jesus said this in verse 48: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." This is all difficult and confusing to me most of the time.
Jesus was telling His disciples in Matthew 6 and Luke 12: "Just follow me. Just trust me. Just see what I'm doing and do it alongside of me. And when I'm not around, keep doing as I have commanded." But again, I ask, how - in the world we live in - do we do that without considering our major in college or our career path or how to rear our children or our retirement fund? And again I heard, "It's all really so easy. It is about trust and rest as you seek Me and My ways." Hebrews 4:9-11 "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
God's word is full of His ways, isn't it? And it is full of pictures of His kingdom and His work in His kingdom. And it is all about Him and His love for us and how, when we enter into that, we enter into that promised Sabbath-rest. And if we aren't resting, we are being disobedient. And His word goes deep into our heart to see if it is really seeking Him and resting. I'm still asking how to make every effort to rest from my work... And how does that tell me the simple truth I am seeking about how to abide, be content to remain, and trust while still being a good steward and being all He's called me to be? It seems contradictory and yet it goes back to the one, simple thing God wants from each of us. His word so clearly tells us that He wants us to love Him and seek Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Through Amos, God says, "Seek me and live." (Amos 5:4) That's all. Seek Him and live. And slowly but surely, I am finding that if I keep my eyes on Him, and keep that one simple thing at the forefront of my thoughts and prayers, He directs each step, lays out the promises and dreams for the future, plans for the steps to walk in that place of the future, gives me rest and contentment as I live in each moment, and blesses me all along the way.
It sounds really easy. And it makes sense on a spiritual level - just walk with Him, trust Him, rest in Him, abide in Him, and He does all the planning and directing. But in this world, it doesn't seem to work. But I think that is because we aren't really there. His word says His thoughts and His ways are so far beyond ours and He is sovereign and He knew every day ordained for us before we were born. So if we can truly find the place of abiding, remaining, trusting, and resting in Him in each moment of our lives, seeking Him and His kingdom, we will find that all the other things will be added unto us... Allelujah for that for sure! J.O. Fraser, missionary to China, speaks about it at this link: http://blessedquietness.com/journal/homemake/waiting-jo.htm - as he admonishes us to rest in the fact that God already has us in this place, at this time, for His purposes and so we should rest here in this place, in this moment and we will be fulfilling His purpose for our lives. And Watchman Nee, in Sit, Walk, Stand, tells us that sitting - resting - comes first in this journey because every aspect of our life in Christ is done - completed - accomplished - and Christ is in us, and Christ is seated in the heavenlies, and we are seated there with Him at the Father's right hand - the same Father who delights in giving us the kingdom, little flock. And when we sit there in His presence, seeking Him and His kingdom with every breath of life on this earth, we stop doing and working and planning and we stop longing for anything but Him, we can see all of the amazing things He is doing and giving - and we can rest. And Christ in us becomes the good steward of all that is deposited in us. It's really all so easy. Right?
Spirit has moved my heart just a tiny bit in a different direction - like one of the earth's plates far beneath the surface might shift just an inch far below our feet... one simple movement we might never notice but one that can bring earthquake and tsunami of great proportion if it causes a ripple effect. I'm praying for a ripple. And some earth shaking and some overwhelming waves of Him in my life as I begin to fully understand and live in this easiness of life in Him. I think today I'm going to sing this song by Chris Tomlin as I ask Father for the ripple:
Caught in the half-light, I'm caught alone-
Waking up to the sunrise and the radio.
Feels like I'm tied up, what's holding me?
Just praying today will be the day I go free.
I want to live like there's no tomorrow!
I want to dance like no one's around!
I want to sing like nobody's listening
Before I lay my body down.
I want to give like I have plenty!
I want to love like I'm not afraid!
I want to be the man I was meant to be -
I want to be the way I was made.
Made in Your likeness, made with Your hands,
Made to discover who You are and who I am.
All I've forgotten help me to find -
All that You've promised let it be in my life.
Singing,
Amy
Hello Amy,
Kevin Walker directed me to your site, and I've been lurking for a couple of weeks. I can't help but smile as I read what God is teaching you and wonder how many others He has on the same journey.
I'm a hard worker, and I enjoy solving problems. So when we encounter a problem I'm quick to find a solution and work toward it. It would be irresponsible not to. Wouldn't it? After all, God helps them who help themselves. Right?
I feel like I'm at a real turning point in my life now as God has been very clear that I'm not to even attempt to solve a couple of problems we're encountering. I'm so resourceful; why would He not have me use that gift?
Many of us are used to doing our best and letting God do the rest... but when God asks us to be still, not to do our best- that's a whole new level of trust that I'm honored to be in the process of learning now.
I've got two different verses on a sticky note on my fridge now; you mentioned one of them:
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
And
Isaiah 30:15b
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." and then in verse 18, "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion..."
Isreal was just being resourceful, but in the process they were turning away from God's grace and compassion. So now I'm turning away from being resourceful, and I'm turning toward God's grace and compassion. I didn't realize how much I needed this rest.
And I didn't realize how much my resourcefulness was greiving God. Last week I gained a whole new understanding of our outdated commandment, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." In Sunday school they tried to make it sound more applicable to modern day life by just saying it means we shouldn't love anything or anyone more than God. (This ties in... really). I always thought that was a stretch; after all, we have a seperate commanment that tells us to love God. And then it dawned on me just a few days ago- God wasn't jealous of these other gods because the people loved them more. People didn't worship other gods because they loved them; THEY WORSHIPED OTHER GODS FOR THEIR PROVISION AND PROTECTION. Holy smokes! Now it applies our modern day world, and my life, more than I ever expected. I was looking to my own resourcefulness for our provision and protection. So we're to look to God only for our protection and provision (while being a good steward...) It really does seem irresponsible not to do our best and let God do the rest. I wonder if that's how the Isrealites felt? If you've got a problem and God doesn't seem to be coming through quickly enough... I can begin to see where they were coming from... and see my own sin. I've run out of room to type.
By the way, we're loving having Kevin here in Colorad
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Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and the sharing of your heart. And tell Kevin THANKS - REAL BIG from me. He's a good one for sure and missed in Texas!
It is wonderful the way Father speaks the same way to people all across the world, isn't it? Your message came to me in His perfect timing to reinforce things I had just expressed to a friend and to encourage me and demonstrate His amazing love in just the right way - another demonstration of His gracious provision for my spirit and blessed protection for my heart.
Keep lurking - I don't mind!
I Corinthians 1:3 May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours. 4-6 Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives. 7-9 Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. (The Message)
Bless you - Amy
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