Sunflower Faith

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I was looking at this image and it reminded me so much of my youngest. Nothing was impossible, and before my youngest would do anything, she would stop, see if we were there (or just to see if she had any witnesses) and perform her next daring feat.

Nothing is more humbling than that of a child.

They just press on without even questioning (which as a footnote isn’t always that great of a thing), and they approach that same daring action with their walk with God.

My oldest, one day, after being buckled in and we were ready to back out of the garage and go get ice cream began to say out of the blue,”I want to see Jesus.”

My MIL who was with us, chuckled and said,”We want to see Jesus too, but we hope you stay with us a little longer before you go to see Him.”

I thought to myself,”no second thoughts.” “No, I have had my fill and that’s enough for the day.” He wanted to see Jesus now.

I didn’t really stop and think how humbling that would be until I was at a gathering with other church members and during a chat I mention about not wanting to miss a sermon when we would be gone in a few weeks out of town.

The replied was…”wasn’t there a skit about how it’s okay to go on vacation and you don’t have to always be doing something “Christian-wise.”

I stop and thought about it for a second…and I actually felt sad at that thought.

God doesn’t begin and stop at church. We can’t and shouldn’t just pick and choose when God is convenient for us.  It’s not a bad thing really if one hungers and wants to keep involve with the ministry and in God’s word. If anything,that’s a good thing..it’s a sign of active growth and it’s allowing God’s will to work in and through us. When we don’t allow that to happen, it gets a little extra harder to make it through the day.

It’s easy to become cynical and disillusioned in a demanding world, but it’s all the more important than to keep the focus on the prize ahead, our Heavenly Father.I realized that when we try to do this all on our own, we will fail; We become disenchanted and disillusioned and the glitter of that gold becomes dull and faded.

Through Christ though…there is that constant push forward…that constant sense of “I can do it.” No matter what happens…God is the energizer, the boost.

That demanding job, the pile of laundry, the crazy schedule…it’s going to work out, but we have to have faith in Jesus Christ and allow Him to take control of the situation not us….and part of that is not trying to put Him on a convenient on and off switch.

I humbly pray to Our Heavenly Father that He humbles me always. That He keeps my paths straight and that I don’t show the arrogance of trying to lean on my own understanding.

I think Micheal Henry’s Commentary about this passage fit perfectly how I felt as I reflected about our Heavenly Father and our need to be more humble to being His servant.

Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly.

This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.

Lord, I pray You help this unworthy servant of Yours. Remind me that all I do is in vain without You , without allowing You to work through me and in me and unless it is for Your Glory…nothing can be accomplished. I give praise to You,Heavenly Father, how You allow and use life and circumstances to humble and refine us and help us remember that through You and in You…all things are possible.

© 2008, Sunflower Faith. All rights reserved.

Sunflower Faith is a quiet, sometimes silly, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes serious, follower of Christ sharing words of devotion, encouragement and hope that is always about our Father in Heaven. So grab a cup of coffee and join Sunflower Faith in words of growth, hope and more all in the spirit of 2 Peter 1:5-8.

Sunflower Faith

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