Wednesday, June 17, 2015

If Only


Read Numbers 14:1-45

Numbers 14: 1-4

1Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" 4So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”


If Only…  

Do you ever find yourself saying if only…?  
If only I could have gotten that job, we would not be living like this.  
If only I had passed my class, I wouldn’t still be in this school.  
If only I had more money, then I would be happy.  
If only…. You can put any words in place of the ones I wrote but the reality is you can’t play the If Only game.  

I think we are all guilty at times of being just like the Israelites.  We think that if only we had stayed at our last job; last home; last relationship or last whatever things would be different.  The Israelites were complaining because they had encountered what they saw as a road block.  How many times do you find yourself grumbling and complaining about your life and where you are at that moment?  I hate to admit that I have been guilty of that at several times in my life.  Recently I found myself in this place.  This place of grumbling and complaining.  I do not like myself when I am at this point in my life.  All I seem to be able to focus on is me and that is not what God called me to do - focus on myself.  No, He called me to focus on others.  I don’t want to be like the Israelites, where I am grumbling and complaining because I think that my way is better than God’s way, that I don’t trust Him or that I don’t have faith in Him.  Who am I?  

When I try to do things on my own, it fails.  When I grumble and complain, my focus becomes self-centered not Christ-centered.  When I think I should be like others, then I am conforming to the world’s ways and not God’s ways.  Thank the Lord that Moses interceded for the Israelites.  If he had not, God was ready to strike them down with a plague and destroy them for treating Him with contempt and unbelief.  God had already proven to them time and time again of His faithfulness.  It was because of fear and unbelief that they found themselves in this situation.  Sometimes (well, in all actuality all the time) we have to figure out the root of the problem before we can begin to fix the problem.  They doubted their abilities against the people of the land flowing with milk and honey.  They said that these people were powerful and of great size, and the city was fortified and very large.  But that is what happens to us when we think we are the ones doing the job.  We try to put all this confidence in our own ability.  We must begin to change our way of thinking.  We must begin to see everything through the eyes of God.  God had already promised them this land!  All they had to do was trust Him, have faith in Him and surrender to Him.  This is all we need to so as well. 

Trust Him!  
Have Faith in Him! 
Surrender it ALL to Him!

How many of those do you struggle with today? You may find yourself struggling with one or more of them but I give you Hope!  Hope that is only found in Christ.  This hope that will help you find the strength and courage you need to face today with a change in perspective.  So, if you find yourself lifting up your voice to God and crying out to Him please know that He hears your cry.  He desires to help you but also know that just like the Israelites there are consequences to all our choices and He allows life lessons to help us become what He wants us to be.  Turn to Christ today with all your concerns and He will give you Hope!  


Prayer: Dear Lord, I find myself at times just like the Israelites, where I am grumbling and complaining.  Please help me to change my perspective and make a choice today to see the blessings around me.  To trust that Your plan is so much better than mine.  To have the Faith that can move mountains.  To surrender all of my life to you, not just the parts I want You to have.  How many times, do I have to be in this place to finally realize that You are enough?  So, today I am yelling out that YOU ARE ENOUGH and that I trust You, I have faith in You and that I surrender it all to You.  In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.