All - Deep - Ever

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
"Do not depend on your own understanding.
In all your ways remember Him.
Then He will make your paths smooth and straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

I enjoy seeing a project through from beginning to end, a list checked off from top to bottom. This task-orientation works for many areas of life  - running errands, cleaning house, grocery shopping, getting dockets done for work, studying to teach a lesson, painting a room - but, woe to me and you if we think we're going to arrive spiritually anytime soon. Thank goodness God doesn't view us as projects but as His own children with whom He wants relationship. Three words pop up regularly in scripture to keep us tied into God's power and strength for this never-ending  spiritual journey.   

1)  The word "ALL," a little word covering the width and breadth and circumference of life leaves no excuse for our half-hearted efforts.  For example: "All your heart;"  "All your ways;"  "All your mind;"  "All your strength" "Casting all your cares on Him," "praying about all things," "giving thanks in all things," and on and on because "all" means all.  We'll never check it "all" off our lists.  We may have trusted Him for something 20 years ago, but "all" means we trust Him with every bit of today's messes and needs.

2) The word "DEEP."  How deep is deep when God is infinite? When His love is higher than the heavens and deeper than any reachable place? Deep, deep and deeper we may go in Him, but we'll never burst through to the other side of God's Presence.  "Deep" means we can keep trusting His heart when we seem to be stuck in a forever problem.

3) And, the word "EVER."  If I lived all my life for God today and managed to know Him deeply and personally, what about tomorrow and next week?  Simply overwhelming if we picture ourselves trying to drum up that kind of determination and focus from our own power and understanding.

We may never turn it "all" over to Him, but we can add a little more to the pile,  go a little deeper in His Word and in heart-obedience,  and we can live one more day depending on Him to the end of the day.  

"But I am like a healthy olive tree.
My roots are deep in the house of God.

I trust in Your faithful love for ever and ever."

Psalm 52:8

Bringing out the Best

"We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of His purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out His best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is."  
                                     1 Corinthians 2:6-8a (The Message)

The word "new" seems to appear more frequently than any other word on magazine covers. Are we so jaded and old that we've seen it all and demand a constant diet of "new news?"  When the "new" wears off one idea, style or diet, we mob the next new: 

         Life Coach

         Mentor
         Motivational Speaker
         Personal Trainer
         Professor
         Expert
         Counselor
         Talk Show Host
         Therapists
         Author
         Spiritual Guide
         Guru . . . 
             and even the occasional Actor.

The world wants help. We need help. But what kind of help do we seek?  Help to be:
          Happier?
          Healthier?
          Calmer?
          Richer?
          Smarter?
          Saner?
          Popular?
  
None of these goals are inherently evil, but they're all second-rate, shallow attempts at melting the iceberg tip of our deepest cravings for:
          Joy
          Wholeness
          Peace
          Security
          Truth
          Love
          Belonging
          
We have trouble accepting the consistently good-for-us answers found in the: 
         Ancient of Days
         Great Physician
         Prince of Peace
         King of Heaven and Earth
         Way, Truth and Life
         Abba
         Creator God Who Reigns
         Holy Righteous Rock of Ages
             
A New Year is coming. May we plant our feet on the spiritual ground of the Old path for real answers, true growth, and authentic glory.            
          
Father, God - You remain the Answer to every question, the hope for every need.  May we cut through the "new" and fashionable answers to find You, Who are the same yesterday , today and tomorrow, but Whose mercies are new every morning! Remind us that You are news to the majority of the world.  Mold our hearts and minds to walk with You and to hunt for Your roadside treasures along the way.     
In the Name of Jesus - Author of Truth and Giver of Life