Taking Care of Business

Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.

Each of us, when we came to the Lord, were convicted by God's Spirit and His Word of our sinfulness. We were not living right, and we could not do anything about it. We realized our weaknesses, which showed up in each of us in different ways or different areas of our lives, and we gave ourselves and those faults and problems to God. He accepted them, and covered them, and removed them, forgiving us of our transgressions and trespasses against His law, His nature, and gave us a new nature, the nature of His Son, Jesus, which is nurtured and grown through the application of the Word as we read it daily, and the power of the Spirit, as we spent time conversing with God, confessing who He is to us.

We need to remember that our primary business in life is remaining close to God, walking more and more in tune with His Spirit, conforming our lives more and more closely with His Word. It is not making a living, or keeping house, but it is growing closer to our Creator, the Savior of our soul, the Redeemer of our life. It is seeking the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, for all these other things will be added to us as we walk circumspectly in the world, but plunge whole-heartedly into what God has for us.

We cannot, and never will be able to, take on the world on its own terms and come out on top. We do not have the footing or the stance or the leverage to face down the fleshly draws and appetites for self-satisfaction and self-pride, and walk away unscathed in our own power. We are not old enough or strong enough or mature enough to withstand the spiritual forces that seek to steal, kill, and destroy all that is holy and honoring to God. We must flee these things, seek refuge in God, focus on Him, bathe in His love, grow as a branch grafted into a strong, mature root which reaches deep to the pure, plentiful water. 

Abide in Him, endure to the end, remain focused on the One who is our Source. Draw away from the demands and clamor of the world whenever we grow weak, or become overwhelmed, and learn of Him, listen to Him, look upon Him who willingly endured the punishments for our healing and piercings for our sin, and gain strength to endure the pruning needed for us to bear fruit which endures and is pleasing to the Father. We can admit that the power of sin is a power greater than ourselves, so let's confess that God, also, is greater that we are, and trust Him to be greater than our sins and faults and appetites. Ask Him, each day, for the daily bread, the daily strength, the daily power to meet the responsibilities of the day as we walk in obedience to what He leads us in. Each night, thank Him for helping us to walk close to Him according to His power and not according to our weaknesses.

Have faith in God's keeping ability, walk in the hope of His promises to complete the work He has started in you. Don't doubt the power of God and try to take matters in your own hands, but follow God's guidance and abide in His timing. Persistent, undoubting faith in what God has said will give you endurance to walk a day at a time to the end of the journey. And because of the greatness of His love for us, we can not simply trudge along a dusty path, but we can exuberantly live in the joy of our life as God's children. We can trust Him to be with us and keep us as we surrender ourselves with abandon to the honoring and worship of and and expression of our praise to our King and Lord and Savior.

Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Loving Father, thank You for keeping us in the palm of Your hand, sheltered under Your wings, supplied by the richness and lavishness of Your love. Thank You for walking with us each day, meeting each need, fending off each attack, showing Your love and care and power in so many ways, minute by minute. Let Your love flow through us to others, Lord, for that makes our joy complete to have fellowship with You and with the family of God.

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