Monday, August 29, 2016

Concerns About Some Trending Thoughts . . . .


Have you ever seen or heard someone heading in the wrong direction, and you just want to say, "Stop! That's the wrong way!  You won't get to where you want to go by continuing on that road!"  Well, I've been thinking this way for a while whenever I hear reporters interview people and people writing in blogs and facebook posts about "believing in yourself."  "The key is just believing in yourself!" they say.  As if believing in yourself can make anything happen and your dreams come true.  No, no, no!!!

But I digress----I've wanted to write about this for weeks and months, but I was thinking some may think I'm angry and yelling.  I was thinking that maybe I should approach this the way one of my favorite Bible Study teachers, Beth Moore, approaches the people she teaches:

DEAR ONE (please know I mean this---dear one---I want you to know that you are loved, and I want you to know that I'm pointing this out because I believe it's a lie, and I don't want you to believe a lie!  I want to point you to truth!)  How can "believing in yourself" solve anything or make anything happen?  If I "believe in myself," can I make all of my children's struggles disappear?  To me, that's like the "think system" toted in the "The Music Man" movie---DEAR ONES, if the "think system" really worked, we could think the Minuet in G and play it perfectly!  If the "think system" worked, I would "think" my house clean, and the clutter and dust would disappear!

Even though I've heard many athletes tell reporters, "I just believed in myself . . . ."  It's not true!  The Olympic Athletes and others (like the BMX biker I heard say this) put a whole lot of time and practice and self-discipline and effort into training for their events.

Goals are good, self-discipline and hard work are good and necessary to make things happen.  But I can also tell you from experience that we can work hard and make our plans (and they can be good and God-honoring), but it really is true, as Proverbs 16:9 says, that "the Lord determines our steps."  I can't tell you how many times in my life I have made plans and then something unexpected and unavoidable happens, and throws all of the plans to the wind.  I've learned that I should remember to pray each morning, "Lord, order my day, please---guide and direct my steps."  When I do remember to do that, the interruptions and unexpected visits and events that happen do not bother me---because I remember my prayer, and I see these as God-appointed interruptions.

DEAR ONE, our Creator loves us and wants to spend time with us.  His plans for us are good.  He made us in His image, for the purpose of showing others who He is---how much He loves us.  That is our ultimate calling.  Following Jesus.  Jesus spent a whole lot of time connecting with His Father (God), who loved Him and had a purpose for His time on earth. How much time are we spending connecting with God--reading His Word and talking to Him and listening?  Looking to Him to guide our thoughts and our path?  To remind us of the purpose He created us for "such a time as this"?