1 Samuel 26:9-11
“Don’t kill him!” David whispered back. “The Lord will punish anyone who kills his chosen king. As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord will kill Saul, or Saul will die a natural death or be killed in battle. But I pray that the Lord will keep me from harming his chosen king. Let’s grab his spear and his water jar and get out of here!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know about you, but I do not like snakes. In fact, they scare me half to death. So when I tell you that we had at least one black rat snake that lived underneath our porch and deck most of the summer, you will probably think I am crazy. I tend to fall into that camp that says “the only good snake is a dead snake!” Had this been a copperhead living underneath our deck, I would probably have begged Greg to send him on to wherever it is snakes go when they die!
We could have killed the black snake. And a couple of summers ago, a “Speckled King Snake” that was hanging out in our yard wandered into the neighbor’s yard, and he did exactly that! But Greg and I both agreed that as long as these “harmless” snakes were in our yard, there was less likelihood that we would encounter the poisonous ones… or so we hoped. And to my knowledge, no copperheads or rattlesnakes were seen in our yard – or near it – this past season. And as much as I dislike snakes – and a big black rat snake on our front porch scared the life out of me a couple of summers ago (and yes, I screamed and ran in the house and left Greg and his mother standing on the driveway!) – I respect the role that this particular reptile plays in keeping our yard relatively safe.
As long as I know to watch for him/her, I trust that he will do his job… and I will do mine… and we will keep our distance from each other! Having said all of this, when the snake ventured into our front yard one day and was very curious about entering the garage while Greg was mowing, he didn’t hesitate to scurry the serpent into the woods and away from the house!
Here’s the deal…David could easily have killed King Saul… and a lot of people would probably have thanked him. But David knew that this was up to God to decide. It was one thing to disarm the king and leave him without water… but to take his life was quite another. And there are many times when we would absolutely LOVE to take matters into our own hands about a myriad of situations… but it’s simply not our place.
We have to respect God and trust Him to handle a lot of things that we are simply not equipped to manage. Most of the time, we don’t have all of the facts. And if we do, we still may often lack the proper wisdom and ability to do or say the right thing. So we must allow God to do what is best and remain faithful that He will create the perfect outcome.
Where have you tried to take matters into your own hands? Where have you made a mess of things in the process? How have you disrespected God by stepping in where you shouldn’t? When have you “killed the snake” that should have been allowed to slither back underneath the porch? Isn’t it time you started communicating more closely with God and allowing Him the final say in things? Will this be the week that you begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label trying to handle things by yourself. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trying to handle things by yourself. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 18, 2013
Romans 3:23-26
But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of my all-time favorite television shows is “I Love Lucy”. Every episode, Lucy gets herself into some kind of mess… and she usually recruits Ethel to help her figure out how to get out of it! She tries very hard to cover up her mistakes… she especially tries to keep her husband Ricky from finding out what has happened. But in the end, she usually needs rescuing… and often it is at the hands and mercy of Ricky Ricardo!
Many of us are a lot like Lucy and Ethel. We have these grand schemes of how we think everything ought to work out… or we see something we want – or want to happen – and we start plotting and planning how we can make it so. We may involve others in our shenanigans… or we may try to do things completely on our own. But in the end, we have one royal mess on our hands… and then we need someone to mercifully save us.
Lest you think this doesn’t apply to you, let me ask you a question or two. Have you ever wondered how on earth you were going to pass a test for which you had not adequately studied and prepared? Do you ever make big promises to someone that, going in, you know you will not be able to deliver…but you hope you can figure it all out later on and no one will be the wiser? Do you ever lie… even a little or about seemingly small things… so that people will see you in a particular light – or things will go your way? Have you ever cheated (or as Lucy might describe it “fibbed a little”) in order to achieve a desired outcome? Have you ever tried to make yourself look good at another’s expense?
These are just some of the thousands of ways that we make messes of our lives each and every day…and then wonder how we will work our way out of them. Sometimes, we have a “go-to” person who helps us make amends and mop up the trouble. Other times, we have to muddle through on our own. And more times than we care to admit, we just pretend it never happened and move on…never realizing that our disorder and disobedience accumulates into a cluttered jumble of a life.
And that’s where God comes into the picture. He stands ready and able to help us fix things, once and for all. God knows us and the sorry state of affairs we are capable of creating on our own. Yet He loves us and desires to rescue us from a life that is so messy and chaotic. He can equip us to right all of the wrongs… to ask forgiveness where necessary… and to set things right wherever possible. More importantly, with God’s help – and because of His incredible love, grace, mercy and forgiveness – we don’t have to keep on repeating the same old mistakes.
Our lives are not perpetual episodes of “I Love Lucy”! Without her continual escapades, the show would cease to exist. But the end of our “antics” can be the beginning of our life in Christ… and it can be far better than anything we ever could imagine or create on our own. We know what God offers… we know what He sacrificed through Jesus Christ in order for us to attain it. The choice is ours whether to accept Him and allow Him to operate in and through us… or not. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of my all-time favorite television shows is “I Love Lucy”. Every episode, Lucy gets herself into some kind of mess… and she usually recruits Ethel to help her figure out how to get out of it! She tries very hard to cover up her mistakes… she especially tries to keep her husband Ricky from finding out what has happened. But in the end, she usually needs rescuing… and often it is at the hands and mercy of Ricky Ricardo!
Many of us are a lot like Lucy and Ethel. We have these grand schemes of how we think everything ought to work out… or we see something we want – or want to happen – and we start plotting and planning how we can make it so. We may involve others in our shenanigans… or we may try to do things completely on our own. But in the end, we have one royal mess on our hands… and then we need someone to mercifully save us.
Lest you think this doesn’t apply to you, let me ask you a question or two. Have you ever wondered how on earth you were going to pass a test for which you had not adequately studied and prepared? Do you ever make big promises to someone that, going in, you know you will not be able to deliver…but you hope you can figure it all out later on and no one will be the wiser? Do you ever lie… even a little or about seemingly small things… so that people will see you in a particular light – or things will go your way? Have you ever cheated (or as Lucy might describe it “fibbed a little”) in order to achieve a desired outcome? Have you ever tried to make yourself look good at another’s expense?
These are just some of the thousands of ways that we make messes of our lives each and every day…and then wonder how we will work our way out of them. Sometimes, we have a “go-to” person who helps us make amends and mop up the trouble. Other times, we have to muddle through on our own. And more times than we care to admit, we just pretend it never happened and move on…never realizing that our disorder and disobedience accumulates into a cluttered jumble of a life.
And that’s where God comes into the picture. He stands ready and able to help us fix things, once and for all. God knows us and the sorry state of affairs we are capable of creating on our own. Yet He loves us and desires to rescue us from a life that is so messy and chaotic. He can equip us to right all of the wrongs… to ask forgiveness where necessary… and to set things right wherever possible. More importantly, with God’s help – and because of His incredible love, grace, mercy and forgiveness – we don’t have to keep on repeating the same old mistakes.
Our lives are not perpetual episodes of “I Love Lucy”! Without her continual escapades, the show would cease to exist. But the end of our “antics” can be the beginning of our life in Christ… and it can be far better than anything we ever could imagine or create on our own. We know what God offers… we know what He sacrificed through Jesus Christ in order for us to attain it. The choice is ours whether to accept Him and allow Him to operate in and through us… or not. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 10, 2013
Deuteronomy 30:19
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Almost two decades ago, a woman I knew took her own life. Her funeral was one of the most difficult experiences I’ve ever endured. No one could understand why this vibrant, beautiful grandmother took her own life. The pastor explained at the service that this was not truly the person we all knew and loved… that surely something must have gone terribly wrong in her mind and heart in order for her to choose to die. When I think of all she had to live for… grandchildren she has never seen, all kinds of opportunities that might have been in store for her…I have to believe that my pastor was exactly right. Had she been of sound mind, there is no way she would have ever chosen to die.
As hard as it is for us to comprehend taking our own life, this is essentially what many of us choose to do when we do not follow God. Those who believe that they don’t need God’s help have virtually pulled the trigger and committed to their own spiritual death. We are not superhuman. We do not have the capacity to make it on our own in this world. When we try, we often end up like my friend…overcome by the pressures, challenges and demons… and ugly things can result that can have a ripple effect for generations to come.
So many of us know that a relationship with the Holy Spirit is the answer, but we choose otherwise… human relationships, material accumulation, work, alcohol, drugs, money, gambling, and more. We stay “on the run” – continually seeking something that will satisfy, solve all of our problems and/or answer all of our questions. Timothy has a little Sesame Street book called I Can Do It Myself. That’s a pretty good mantra when you are a toddler… but even toddlers seem to have more sense about when to ask for help than the rest of us!
Don’t misunderstand me… I look forward to heaven… but only when GOD says it’s time for me to move there! Meanwhile, I know that I cannot navigate this earth successfully on my own. Furthermore, I know that the only way to spend eternity with God is to choose to serve Him now – here – in this lifetime. Not every day will be fun… there will be challenges, sorrows, heartaches and disappointments along the way. Choosing to follow God does not mean that life becomes instantly perfect! But even the worst day with Him is better than one day without.
So what do you say? How will you choose? Are you “holding the gun to your head, ready to pull the trigger”? Isn’t it time you “let go and let God” have control in your life? Are you ready to choose Eternal Life and truly live for the rest of your days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Almost two decades ago, a woman I knew took her own life. Her funeral was one of the most difficult experiences I’ve ever endured. No one could understand why this vibrant, beautiful grandmother took her own life. The pastor explained at the service that this was not truly the person we all knew and loved… that surely something must have gone terribly wrong in her mind and heart in order for her to choose to die. When I think of all she had to live for… grandchildren she has never seen, all kinds of opportunities that might have been in store for her…I have to believe that my pastor was exactly right. Had she been of sound mind, there is no way she would have ever chosen to die.
As hard as it is for us to comprehend taking our own life, this is essentially what many of us choose to do when we do not follow God. Those who believe that they don’t need God’s help have virtually pulled the trigger and committed to their own spiritual death. We are not superhuman. We do not have the capacity to make it on our own in this world. When we try, we often end up like my friend…overcome by the pressures, challenges and demons… and ugly things can result that can have a ripple effect for generations to come.
So many of us know that a relationship with the Holy Spirit is the answer, but we choose otherwise… human relationships, material accumulation, work, alcohol, drugs, money, gambling, and more. We stay “on the run” – continually seeking something that will satisfy, solve all of our problems and/or answer all of our questions. Timothy has a little Sesame Street book called I Can Do It Myself. That’s a pretty good mantra when you are a toddler… but even toddlers seem to have more sense about when to ask for help than the rest of us!
Don’t misunderstand me… I look forward to heaven… but only when GOD says it’s time for me to move there! Meanwhile, I know that I cannot navigate this earth successfully on my own. Furthermore, I know that the only way to spend eternity with God is to choose to serve Him now – here – in this lifetime. Not every day will be fun… there will be challenges, sorrows, heartaches and disappointments along the way. Choosing to follow God does not mean that life becomes instantly perfect! But even the worst day with Him is better than one day without.
So what do you say? How will you choose? Are you “holding the gun to your head, ready to pull the trigger”? Isn’t it time you “let go and let God” have control in your life? Are you ready to choose Eternal Life and truly live for the rest of your days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 25, 2013
Luke 16:19-31
There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.”
Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.”
But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.”
Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.”
Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.”
So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For someone my age, the point of reference that comes to mind for this scripture passage is the decision we made with my grandmother to move her to an assisted living facility. My grandmother knew she needed to make the move… but actually committing to doing so was another story. Over and over I hear friends say, “I’ve tried to talk to Mom/Dad about giving up their home and moving into a retirement center, but they won’t even talk about it.” This is one of those things that pretty well has to be the idea of that particular individual. The relatives may say, “You talk to him/her.” Maybe if YOU say something, it will make a difference. But the truth is… this person knows all of the “pros and cons”… he/she has just not made the decision to move – or he/she may no longer be mentally capable of such a rational decision.
For younger people, the decision may be something like choosing to quit smoking. You know it’s bad for your health, expensive, and more and more unacceptable socially… but it’s a tough habit to kick. No matter how many people talk to you about this, you are not swayed. My grandfather fell over dead from a stroke one morning. He rolled his own “Prince Albert’s” and smoked like a haystack. After he died, I looked around my grandmother’s living room, and there sat no less than half a dozen relatives – including my dad, my sister and brother, and a great aunt… all smoking one cigarette after the other. All the talk in the world was not going to make them quit smoking… they had to want to do so for themselves.
What resonated with me about this scripture today is that there are many circumstances and situations in which I have done all I can humanly do to affect the outcome. The people involved know the right choice to make… now it is up to them to make it. I can continue to pray for them… love and encourage them…and serve as a Godly example in my own daily living. But the time for talk, begging and pleading is over. If they have not responded to my appeals already, it’s pretty clear that any further petitions would be a waste of good breath.
I am not suggesting you desert people… or give up on them. I am merely pointing out that sometimes the time for talking comes to an end. Often, the best thing we can do is sit back and let God work. In my grandmother’s case, she came to the decision on her own that she was no longer able to make it work by herself… she needed constant care and the security of an apartment in an Assisted Living Facility. For many others in her shoes, the decision becomes all too evident in short order… or an injury or illness facilitates a more sudden conclusion.
As for smoking and other addictive behaviors… all the talk in the world is not going to change those who are afflicted. We cannot make another person give up a bad habit… we can’t force a student to study hard and make good grades… we can’t coerce a young adult to grow up and behave responsibly… and we cannot impose our faith in God on another person. If you are like me, these are hard realizations. I am a person of action… a “fixer.” I want to do something to make things better. And God is telling me to step aside and let Him drive the car. I think it’s time I did exactly that. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.”
Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.”
But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.”
Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.”
Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.”
So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For someone my age, the point of reference that comes to mind for this scripture passage is the decision we made with my grandmother to move her to an assisted living facility. My grandmother knew she needed to make the move… but actually committing to doing so was another story. Over and over I hear friends say, “I’ve tried to talk to Mom/Dad about giving up their home and moving into a retirement center, but they won’t even talk about it.” This is one of those things that pretty well has to be the idea of that particular individual. The relatives may say, “You talk to him/her.” Maybe if YOU say something, it will make a difference. But the truth is… this person knows all of the “pros and cons”… he/she has just not made the decision to move – or he/she may no longer be mentally capable of such a rational decision.
For younger people, the decision may be something like choosing to quit smoking. You know it’s bad for your health, expensive, and more and more unacceptable socially… but it’s a tough habit to kick. No matter how many people talk to you about this, you are not swayed. My grandfather fell over dead from a stroke one morning. He rolled his own “Prince Albert’s” and smoked like a haystack. After he died, I looked around my grandmother’s living room, and there sat no less than half a dozen relatives – including my dad, my sister and brother, and a great aunt… all smoking one cigarette after the other. All the talk in the world was not going to make them quit smoking… they had to want to do so for themselves.
What resonated with me about this scripture today is that there are many circumstances and situations in which I have done all I can humanly do to affect the outcome. The people involved know the right choice to make… now it is up to them to make it. I can continue to pray for them… love and encourage them…and serve as a Godly example in my own daily living. But the time for talk, begging and pleading is over. If they have not responded to my appeals already, it’s pretty clear that any further petitions would be a waste of good breath.
I am not suggesting you desert people… or give up on them. I am merely pointing out that sometimes the time for talking comes to an end. Often, the best thing we can do is sit back and let God work. In my grandmother’s case, she came to the decision on her own that she was no longer able to make it work by herself… she needed constant care and the security of an apartment in an Assisted Living Facility. For many others in her shoes, the decision becomes all too evident in short order… or an injury or illness facilitates a more sudden conclusion.
As for smoking and other addictive behaviors… all the talk in the world is not going to change those who are afflicted. We cannot make another person give up a bad habit… we can’t force a student to study hard and make good grades… we can’t coerce a young adult to grow up and behave responsibly… and we cannot impose our faith in God on another person. If you are like me, these are hard realizations. I am a person of action… a “fixer.” I want to do something to make things better. And God is telling me to step aside and let Him drive the car. I think it’s time I did exactly that. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 2, 2012
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We all know the adage, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” But very few of us pay much attention to this in our daily living. We “skim” the directions on the box, at best. We half listen when the doctor or pharmacist says, “Be sure to take that medication with food or drink plenty of water.” The speed limit number is just a suggestion… right? Just because the coach/fitness instructor says to eat several small meals a day and do 20 reps of each exercise doesn’t mean that we won’t reach our goal faster if we skip most meals and double the reps. After all, we know our own body/limits better than they do! Sure, the doctor said not to walk on that broken foot for another two weeks, but we have games to play and places to be… it really doesn’t hurt that badly!
I could continue to list examples of ways people try to guide us with sound advice, and we stubbornly choose to muddle through in our own way. But I think you get the picture. While the consequences of these actions may not be that significant in our daily living, when we fail to listen to the instructions and guidance we receive from God, this is a whole other story.
It’s hard to say why we find it so hard to listen to God’s advice – and even harder to take it! But I know that God will never steer us in the wrong direction. His plans are always perfect and designed to propel us in exactly the way we need to go. Will His course always be easy? Will we always want to follow His lead? Absolutely not! Should we do this anyway? Most definitely!
Most of us probably have a pretty good idea when we are hearing from God… we just don’t always choose to listen. The scriptures are telling us that this is “stinkin’ thinkin’” – and we need to change course immediately! Trust in God to show you the right path to take. Trust HIS guidance… not your own. You can listen to your gut… but check with God to make sure that His is the voice you are finding there! Save yourself heartache and frustration in the long run by putting God’s plans into action instead of your own. Allow Him to keep you on track… then thank Him for doing exactly that!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We all know the adage, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” But very few of us pay much attention to this in our daily living. We “skim” the directions on the box, at best. We half listen when the doctor or pharmacist says, “Be sure to take that medication with food or drink plenty of water.” The speed limit number is just a suggestion… right? Just because the coach/fitness instructor says to eat several small meals a day and do 20 reps of each exercise doesn’t mean that we won’t reach our goal faster if we skip most meals and double the reps. After all, we know our own body/limits better than they do! Sure, the doctor said not to walk on that broken foot for another two weeks, but we have games to play and places to be… it really doesn’t hurt that badly!
I could continue to list examples of ways people try to guide us with sound advice, and we stubbornly choose to muddle through in our own way. But I think you get the picture. While the consequences of these actions may not be that significant in our daily living, when we fail to listen to the instructions and guidance we receive from God, this is a whole other story.
It’s hard to say why we find it so hard to listen to God’s advice – and even harder to take it! But I know that God will never steer us in the wrong direction. His plans are always perfect and designed to propel us in exactly the way we need to go. Will His course always be easy? Will we always want to follow His lead? Absolutely not! Should we do this anyway? Most definitely!
Most of us probably have a pretty good idea when we are hearing from God… we just don’t always choose to listen. The scriptures are telling us that this is “stinkin’ thinkin’” – and we need to change course immediately! Trust in God to show you the right path to take. Trust HIS guidance… not your own. You can listen to your gut… but check with God to make sure that His is the voice you are finding there! Save yourself heartache and frustration in the long run by putting God’s plans into action instead of your own. Allow Him to keep you on track… then thank Him for doing exactly that!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 5, 2012
Genesis 22:15-18
The Lord’s angel called out from heaven a second time:
You were willing to offer the Lord your only son, and so he makes you this solemn promise, “I will bless you and give you such a large family, that someday your descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky or the grains of sand along the beach. They will defeat their enemies and take over the cities where their enemies live. You have obeyed me, and so you and your descendants will be a blessing to all nations on earth.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I spoke with a friend who is really hurting over circumstances in her life. She shared her feelings of hopelessness… how she cannot seem to visualize any positive outcomes. I encouraged her not to give up… to keep believing. She said, “I know you pray for me… and believe me, I am praying. But I don’t feel like anything is changing.” My question to her was this… “When you pray, do you truly give this to God – or are you still trying to control the outcome?”
Unless we are fully obedient to God - like Abraham was… unless we surrender when we pray and say, “LORD… I can’t fix this… You will have to” – and mean it – we have not fully released the power and blessings of God. We have failed to give Him the room – and the license – to operate absolutely in our lives. God wants to bless us. He wants to shower us with His love, grace, and mercy. But God will not force Himself upon us. And if we are not totally in… we can’t expect Him to be, either.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that God will not work in your life and help you with your challenges, worries and concerns. I am in no way suggesting that God delights in watching us suffer or grieve over certain situations. But God doesn’t want lip service. In order to altogether realize His blessings and power, we must be willing to completely surrender our supposed abilities to fix things and let Him have total control. We must be willing to do whatever He says… even when our gut tells us that this is wrong, wrong, wrong!
I seriously doubt that God will ever tell any of us to place our first-born child on an altar and kill him/her. But He very well might tell us to walk away from a toxic relationship, to allow someone to wallow in their self-pity and pain for a while, or to give up a dream we have had for a long time that doesn’t fit into His plans for our lives. God might have another career in mind for you… want you living in another location… or hanging out with a totally different group of friends. He may allow you to hurt and grieve for a season in order to grow and better appreciate the amazing gifts He has in store for you.
When we are mired in deep despair or frustration, I sometimes imagine God sitting back with folded arms, smiling sweetly and saying, “Oh, if only you could see what I’m about to give you!” The key to truly experiencing God is to let go and give Him full control. Stop trying to fix things on your own. If you are going to ask God to help you with your issues, you have to honestly believe that He can – and that He will! Trust me…He knows whether you are filled with faith or skepticism.
I know it’s a corny cliché, but “let go and let GOD!” He’s waiting to pour out amazing favor on your life. Won’t you give Him room to work?
©2012 Debbie Robus
The Lord’s angel called out from heaven a second time:
You were willing to offer the Lord your only son, and so he makes you this solemn promise, “I will bless you and give you such a large family, that someday your descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky or the grains of sand along the beach. They will defeat their enemies and take over the cities where their enemies live. You have obeyed me, and so you and your descendants will be a blessing to all nations on earth.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I spoke with a friend who is really hurting over circumstances in her life. She shared her feelings of hopelessness… how she cannot seem to visualize any positive outcomes. I encouraged her not to give up… to keep believing. She said, “I know you pray for me… and believe me, I am praying. But I don’t feel like anything is changing.” My question to her was this… “When you pray, do you truly give this to God – or are you still trying to control the outcome?”
Unless we are fully obedient to God - like Abraham was… unless we surrender when we pray and say, “LORD… I can’t fix this… You will have to” – and mean it – we have not fully released the power and blessings of God. We have failed to give Him the room – and the license – to operate absolutely in our lives. God wants to bless us. He wants to shower us with His love, grace, and mercy. But God will not force Himself upon us. And if we are not totally in… we can’t expect Him to be, either.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that God will not work in your life and help you with your challenges, worries and concerns. I am in no way suggesting that God delights in watching us suffer or grieve over certain situations. But God doesn’t want lip service. In order to altogether realize His blessings and power, we must be willing to completely surrender our supposed abilities to fix things and let Him have total control. We must be willing to do whatever He says… even when our gut tells us that this is wrong, wrong, wrong!
I seriously doubt that God will ever tell any of us to place our first-born child on an altar and kill him/her. But He very well might tell us to walk away from a toxic relationship, to allow someone to wallow in their self-pity and pain for a while, or to give up a dream we have had for a long time that doesn’t fit into His plans for our lives. God might have another career in mind for you… want you living in another location… or hanging out with a totally different group of friends. He may allow you to hurt and grieve for a season in order to grow and better appreciate the amazing gifts He has in store for you.
When we are mired in deep despair or frustration, I sometimes imagine God sitting back with folded arms, smiling sweetly and saying, “Oh, if only you could see what I’m about to give you!” The key to truly experiencing God is to let go and give Him full control. Stop trying to fix things on your own. If you are going to ask God to help you with your issues, you have to honestly believe that He can – and that He will! Trust me…He knows whether you are filled with faith or skepticism.
I know it’s a corny cliché, but “let go and let GOD!” He’s waiting to pour out amazing favor on your life. Won’t you give Him room to work?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 1, 2012
Ezekiel 37:1-6
Some time later, I felt the Lord’s power take control of me, and his Spirit carried me to a valley full of bones. The Lord showed me all around, and everywhere I looked I saw bones that were dried out. He said, “Ezekiel, son of man, can these bones come back to life?”
I replied, “Lord God, only you can answer that.”
He then told me to say: Dry bones, listen to what the Lord is saying to you, “I, the Lord God, will put breath in you, and once again you will live. I will wrap you with muscles and skin and breathe life into you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever taken a walk in the woods or an open field and come upon a dry animal skeleton? Maybe you stopped and poked at it with a stick to try and figure out what kind of animal it was… or maybe it was evident right away. Either way, it’s a sure bet that animal was not coming back to life… there was nothing you could do to change this!
Life is like “dry bones” a lot of the time. There are situations and circumstances that we simply cannot change. Oh… a lot of us try… but we’re really wasting time and energy! We can’t seem to get it through our heads that there are more than a few things in this world that we cannot fix on our own. We need the power of God!
We’re a stubborn lot! But I can tell you from personal experience that once we move over and get out of God’s way, He can do amazing things. God can even turn dry bones into living creatures! I’m fairly certain you have some “dry bones’ in your life that you need help restoring. I’d be willing to bet there is at least one situation where you could use the power of God… if only you would step aside and let Him work.
Is today a “turning point” day for you? Will this be the moment when you acknowledge your own weakness… and God’s power? Surrender to Him… release whatever is troubling you, and allow God some room to work. Get ready to be amazed and blessed by how well He can resolve and restore all kinds of messes! Give God your “dry bones” today… let Him show you what He can do!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Some time later, I felt the Lord’s power take control of me, and his Spirit carried me to a valley full of bones. The Lord showed me all around, and everywhere I looked I saw bones that were dried out. He said, “Ezekiel, son of man, can these bones come back to life?”
I replied, “Lord God, only you can answer that.”
He then told me to say: Dry bones, listen to what the Lord is saying to you, “I, the Lord God, will put breath in you, and once again you will live. I will wrap you with muscles and skin and breathe life into you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever taken a walk in the woods or an open field and come upon a dry animal skeleton? Maybe you stopped and poked at it with a stick to try and figure out what kind of animal it was… or maybe it was evident right away. Either way, it’s a sure bet that animal was not coming back to life… there was nothing you could do to change this!
Life is like “dry bones” a lot of the time. There are situations and circumstances that we simply cannot change. Oh… a lot of us try… but we’re really wasting time and energy! We can’t seem to get it through our heads that there are more than a few things in this world that we cannot fix on our own. We need the power of God!
We’re a stubborn lot! But I can tell you from personal experience that once we move over and get out of God’s way, He can do amazing things. God can even turn dry bones into living creatures! I’m fairly certain you have some “dry bones’ in your life that you need help restoring. I’d be willing to bet there is at least one situation where you could use the power of God… if only you would step aside and let Him work.
Is today a “turning point” day for you? Will this be the moment when you acknowledge your own weakness… and God’s power? Surrender to Him… release whatever is troubling you, and allow God some room to work. Get ready to be amazed and blessed by how well He can resolve and restore all kinds of messes! Give God your “dry bones” today… let Him show you what He can do!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 25, 2012
Daniel 2:14-18; 26-28
When Arioch, chief of the royal guards, was making arrangements for the execution, Daniel wisely took him aside and quietly asked what was going on: “Why this all of a sudden?”
After Arioch filled in the background, Daniel went to the king and asked for a little time so that he could interpret the dream.
Daniel then went home and told his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what was going on. He asked them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy in solving this mystery so that the four of them wouldn’t be killed along with the whole company of Babylonian wise men.
The king asked Daniel (renamed in Babylonian, Belteshazzar), “Are you sure you can do this—tell me the dream I had and interpret it for me?”
Daniel answered the king, “No mere human can solve the king’s mystery, I don’t care who it is—no wise man, enchanter, magician, diviner. But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and he has solved this one. He is letting King Nebuchadnezzar in on what is going to happen in the days ahead. This is the dream you had when you were lying on your bed, the vision that filled your mind:
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve often watched small children at play and observed how they repeat the same thing over and again – like putting the wrong puzzle piece in the wrong space – and hope that this time, it will fit! More than once I have wanted to jump in and show the child how to fix this... knowing that this was entirely the wrong way to help. In the moment that the “light bulb” goes on… or the child turns and asks for help… everything is revealed. The real “mystery” comes from the child’s determination to figure out things on his/her own. Often, each of us is like this “child” as we navigate all sorts of decisions, choices and situations in our own lives.
One sentence from this story in Daniel really resonated with me today… there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and He has solved this one. How often do we try to do things for ourselves? How frequently do we wring our hands and say, “I just don’t get it,” or “I don’t know what to do”? In truth, all we have to do is turn to God and say these very phrases… then allow Him room to work. God is the only one who can fix many of our messes! And just like our situation with the child and the puzzle, God knows that we sometimes have to wallow and fret in our own confusion for a while in order to really learn the lesson!
I don’t know about you, but I’m rather tired of puzzles and games… mysteries and unresolved issues. I’m ready to place these all at the feet of Jesus and say, “This is what you bought and paid for… so why am I trying to fix them? I surrender… I give them all to you, where they belong.” This is when the “light bulb” comes on for us as Christians… when we genuinely and calmly hand our challenges, burdens, worries, and cares – our very lives – to God and let HIM handle things. He has solved countless “mysteries” already… and He is surely able to solve ours now.
This is huge. Don’t miss what could be a major turning point in your life. When you begin to truly function in faith and confidence that God is handling things for you and solving the mysteries of your life, everything changes. Your entire perspective will be different… and maybe your demeanor, as well. Let the joy, peace, and freedom of placing this responsibility with God, where it belongs, encompass you and give you incredible relief. Put the puzzle pieces in the right spots and move forward… and allow God the handle the big stuff!
©2012 Debbie Robus
When Arioch, chief of the royal guards, was making arrangements for the execution, Daniel wisely took him aside and quietly asked what was going on: “Why this all of a sudden?”
After Arioch filled in the background, Daniel went to the king and asked for a little time so that he could interpret the dream.
Daniel then went home and told his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what was going on. He asked them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy in solving this mystery so that the four of them wouldn’t be killed along with the whole company of Babylonian wise men.
The king asked Daniel (renamed in Babylonian, Belteshazzar), “Are you sure you can do this—tell me the dream I had and interpret it for me?”
Daniel answered the king, “No mere human can solve the king’s mystery, I don’t care who it is—no wise man, enchanter, magician, diviner. But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and he has solved this one. He is letting King Nebuchadnezzar in on what is going to happen in the days ahead. This is the dream you had when you were lying on your bed, the vision that filled your mind:
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve often watched small children at play and observed how they repeat the same thing over and again – like putting the wrong puzzle piece in the wrong space – and hope that this time, it will fit! More than once I have wanted to jump in and show the child how to fix this... knowing that this was entirely the wrong way to help. In the moment that the “light bulb” goes on… or the child turns and asks for help… everything is revealed. The real “mystery” comes from the child’s determination to figure out things on his/her own. Often, each of us is like this “child” as we navigate all sorts of decisions, choices and situations in our own lives.
One sentence from this story in Daniel really resonated with me today… there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and He has solved this one. How often do we try to do things for ourselves? How frequently do we wring our hands and say, “I just don’t get it,” or “I don’t know what to do”? In truth, all we have to do is turn to God and say these very phrases… then allow Him room to work. God is the only one who can fix many of our messes! And just like our situation with the child and the puzzle, God knows that we sometimes have to wallow and fret in our own confusion for a while in order to really learn the lesson!
I don’t know about you, but I’m rather tired of puzzles and games… mysteries and unresolved issues. I’m ready to place these all at the feet of Jesus and say, “This is what you bought and paid for… so why am I trying to fix them? I surrender… I give them all to you, where they belong.” This is when the “light bulb” comes on for us as Christians… when we genuinely and calmly hand our challenges, burdens, worries, and cares – our very lives – to God and let HIM handle things. He has solved countless “mysteries” already… and He is surely able to solve ours now.
This is huge. Don’t miss what could be a major turning point in your life. When you begin to truly function in faith and confidence that God is handling things for you and solving the mysteries of your life, everything changes. Your entire perspective will be different… and maybe your demeanor, as well. Let the joy, peace, and freedom of placing this responsibility with God, where it belongs, encompass you and give you incredible relief. Put the puzzle pieces in the right spots and move forward… and allow God the handle the big stuff!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 15, 2012
Luke 11:9-13
"Here's what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open. Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?"
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, my husband and I went to an estate auction. My husband’s mother went with us. She is a veteran antiques dealer who has been to countless auctions in her life. There was a treadle sewing machine that she was interested in purchasing. When it comes to bidding at auctions, my mother-in-law is shrewd – and seasoned – and she started the bidding fairly low, hoping to score a real bargain. She bid $10, and some man behind her shouted “$110!” My mother-in-law shot the man a startled look, as the bidding closed and he won the sewing machine. He then asked her, “Just how high were you willing to bid?” She shot back, “Oh… probably $15.” Everyone laughed. The man had jumped the gun – and probably paid far more than he had to for this vintage piece.
The lesson for auction-goers is that you don’t know until you ask… and making an outrageous offer or bidding too high too quickly can be quite costly! You may think the item is worth what you are offering – and that you know better than the other bidders… but you can also get stuck with something you don’t want or pay far too much. It’s better to be specific… and to be patient!
When we ask God for things, we often want to play games, bargain, or jump the gun. We often think we know better than He what is needed… for ourselves and for others. We frequently act as if we have everything figured out on our own and really don’t need the Holy Spirit to intervene. And most of the time, we are terribly impatient… with sometimes disastrous results!
You may be asking why God wants us to be specific and ask Him for what we need – even the presence of His Holy Spirit – when He is supposed to know all of this already. The answer is - humility. God wants us to acknowledge Him as the author and creator of our lives and the daily turn of events. As I told you earlier, God is a gentleman and will not send His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts uninvited. We must demonstrate a level of faith and trust… a commitment and devotion to Him… and then He will gladly fill us and grant us what we need.
Are you still playing games and bargaining with God? Do you still think you can manage your life on your own terms? Isn’t it time to surrender your ego and bask in the glory and goodness of God and His amazing gifts? Will you keep jumping the gun and making a mess of things… or will you “let go and let God?” Isn’t this a great day for a change?
©2012 Debbie Robus
"Here's what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open. Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?"
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, my husband and I went to an estate auction. My husband’s mother went with us. She is a veteran antiques dealer who has been to countless auctions in her life. There was a treadle sewing machine that she was interested in purchasing. When it comes to bidding at auctions, my mother-in-law is shrewd – and seasoned – and she started the bidding fairly low, hoping to score a real bargain. She bid $10, and some man behind her shouted “$110!” My mother-in-law shot the man a startled look, as the bidding closed and he won the sewing machine. He then asked her, “Just how high were you willing to bid?” She shot back, “Oh… probably $15.” Everyone laughed. The man had jumped the gun – and probably paid far more than he had to for this vintage piece.
The lesson for auction-goers is that you don’t know until you ask… and making an outrageous offer or bidding too high too quickly can be quite costly! You may think the item is worth what you are offering – and that you know better than the other bidders… but you can also get stuck with something you don’t want or pay far too much. It’s better to be specific… and to be patient!
When we ask God for things, we often want to play games, bargain, or jump the gun. We often think we know better than He what is needed… for ourselves and for others. We frequently act as if we have everything figured out on our own and really don’t need the Holy Spirit to intervene. And most of the time, we are terribly impatient… with sometimes disastrous results!
You may be asking why God wants us to be specific and ask Him for what we need – even the presence of His Holy Spirit – when He is supposed to know all of this already. The answer is - humility. God wants us to acknowledge Him as the author and creator of our lives and the daily turn of events. As I told you earlier, God is a gentleman and will not send His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts uninvited. We must demonstrate a level of faith and trust… a commitment and devotion to Him… and then He will gladly fill us and grant us what we need.
Are you still playing games and bargaining with God? Do you still think you can manage your life on your own terms? Isn’t it time to surrender your ego and bask in the glory and goodness of God and His amazing gifts? Will you keep jumping the gun and making a mess of things… or will you “let go and let God?” Isn’t this a great day for a change?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 24, 2011
Judges 15:1-3
Later on—it was during the wheat harvest—Samson visited his bride, bringing a young goat. He said, "Let me see my wife—show me her bedroom."
But her father wouldn't let him in. He said, "I concluded that by now you hated her with a passion, so I gave her to your best man. But her little sister is even more beautiful. Why not take her instead?"
Samson said, "That does it. This time when I wreak havoc on the Philistines, I'm blameless."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Jumping to conclusions… we’ve all done it. Someone doesn’t return a phone call, and we automatically assume they don’t want to speak with us. Or we see two people whispering in the corner of a room, and we decide they must be talking about us. Guests visit our gym or football stadium, and nobody welcomes them… and they conclude that we are unfriendly and unsportsmanlike. Worse yet… people visit our church, and no one greets them or smiles in their direction, and they deem our church as “unfriendly” and unwelcoming. We are all guilty of making assumptions and drawing conclusions.
In Samson’s case, several assumptions were made, including Samson’s conclusion that he was actually married to the Philistine bride who he had wed in a lavish, seven-day bachelor party/wedding of sorts. Let’s just say he got a little sidetracked, and when he went to get her some time later, she had been given to the best man by her father, who assumed Samson didn’t really want to marry her.
I hope you will read these chapters in Judges as we look at the lessons they contain… but suffice it to say that Samson and the Philistines made some assumptions and decisions that led to a whole lot of trouble! And we do that, too! We trust the wrong people… we fail to get all of the facts, or we set ourselves up to be mistreated or disappointed… and we assume the worst!
I don’t know why we rush to conclusions without doing sufficient investigation first to make sure we are on the right track. Maybe we listen to the wrong people and are misinformed. Sometimes we get in a hurry and don’t take time to really think through a situation and get all the facts. Sometimes we are in an “it’s all about me” mode and just naturally assume that others are against us in some manner. And most of the time, we fail to consult God and ask Him to sort out all of this so that we can proceed in a wise, calm, mature manner.
Samson got caught up in riddles, seduction, and the agendas of other people. In his case, it was all God’s orchestration – giving him reason to come up against the Philistines and defeat them. In our cases, I’m afraid the reasons are not so Godly. Jumping to conclusions caused Samson’s father-in-law and bride to lose their lives. Jumping to conclusions caused the Philistines to be conquered – and virtually destroyed – by Samson, under God’s power.
Jumping to conclusions may not get us killed… but it can result in a lot of heartache and frustration that is totally needless. The next time you are tempted to jump to conclusions, stop and ask God to show you what is really happening. Ask Him to give you wisdom and peace about the situation – and to show you how you should react. Stay in contact and conversation with God, so that you can operate in confidence and peace instead of paranoia and misinformation. God will show you how to sift through everything and make the right choices… are you asking the right questions?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Later on—it was during the wheat harvest—Samson visited his bride, bringing a young goat. He said, "Let me see my wife—show me her bedroom."
But her father wouldn't let him in. He said, "I concluded that by now you hated her with a passion, so I gave her to your best man. But her little sister is even more beautiful. Why not take her instead?"
Samson said, "That does it. This time when I wreak havoc on the Philistines, I'm blameless."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Jumping to conclusions… we’ve all done it. Someone doesn’t return a phone call, and we automatically assume they don’t want to speak with us. Or we see two people whispering in the corner of a room, and we decide they must be talking about us. Guests visit our gym or football stadium, and nobody welcomes them… and they conclude that we are unfriendly and unsportsmanlike. Worse yet… people visit our church, and no one greets them or smiles in their direction, and they deem our church as “unfriendly” and unwelcoming. We are all guilty of making assumptions and drawing conclusions.
In Samson’s case, several assumptions were made, including Samson’s conclusion that he was actually married to the Philistine bride who he had wed in a lavish, seven-day bachelor party/wedding of sorts. Let’s just say he got a little sidetracked, and when he went to get her some time later, she had been given to the best man by her father, who assumed Samson didn’t really want to marry her.
I hope you will read these chapters in Judges as we look at the lessons they contain… but suffice it to say that Samson and the Philistines made some assumptions and decisions that led to a whole lot of trouble! And we do that, too! We trust the wrong people… we fail to get all of the facts, or we set ourselves up to be mistreated or disappointed… and we assume the worst!
I don’t know why we rush to conclusions without doing sufficient investigation first to make sure we are on the right track. Maybe we listen to the wrong people and are misinformed. Sometimes we get in a hurry and don’t take time to really think through a situation and get all the facts. Sometimes we are in an “it’s all about me” mode and just naturally assume that others are against us in some manner. And most of the time, we fail to consult God and ask Him to sort out all of this so that we can proceed in a wise, calm, mature manner.
Samson got caught up in riddles, seduction, and the agendas of other people. In his case, it was all God’s orchestration – giving him reason to come up against the Philistines and defeat them. In our cases, I’m afraid the reasons are not so Godly. Jumping to conclusions caused Samson’s father-in-law and bride to lose their lives. Jumping to conclusions caused the Philistines to be conquered – and virtually destroyed – by Samson, under God’s power.
Jumping to conclusions may not get us killed… but it can result in a lot of heartache and frustration that is totally needless. The next time you are tempted to jump to conclusions, stop and ask God to show you what is really happening. Ask Him to give you wisdom and peace about the situation – and to show you how you should react. Stay in contact and conversation with God, so that you can operate in confidence and peace instead of paranoia and misinformation. God will show you how to sift through everything and make the right choices… are you asking the right questions?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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