How many times do we try to fight battles in our own strength? We live in a world where we are conditioned to think that we have to make things happen on our own. We arm ourselves with the best human reasoning we can muster and launch out. Sometimes I plow ahead and don’t stop to confer with God about His plans. How about you?
That’s the same kind of thinking that got King Asa into trouble when he had been thriving for a period of thirty-five years without war. Then instead of trusting and honoring God he seemed to forget his source for peace and prosperity. Sound familiar?
That’s when he began to run into some enemy opposition. Yet instead of conferring with the Lord, he took things into his own hands and tried to negotiate his way out of his mess. Previously when he relied on the Lord he experienced favor, because Scripture says, “…the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” However in his faithlessness he received this rebuke, “You have acted foolishly…Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” (2 Chron. 16:9)
Recently my son Gabriel moved to NYC to pursue his career even though he knew few people in the city. Immediately he got sick, which cost him several weeks delay in looking for work and finding an apartment. I quickly took Gabe’s needs to prayer, as did he. In the process I watched God do for him what he couldn’t possibly produce for himself.
He found an awesome brand new apartment for reasonable rent including utilities. The apartment building not only has a gym, huge windows that usher in magnificent light, but is close to the hub of the city. His roommate has a car, which he kindly allows Gabe to use and has completely furnished the apartment, including Gabe’s bedroom with a flat screen TV. As Gabe put it, “His collection of movies is bigger than Blockbusters!”
As I face new mountains and giants to overtake in my own life, I am reminded that I may not always do things perfectly, but that’s not what the Lord is after. He wants me to look to Him in all my ways as Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Another way to say this is the Lord loves to bless those whose heart is completely His, who could never accomplish in their own strength what He can effortlessly accomplish. Lord, help us maintain a righteous reliance upon You!
