Posted in Spiritual Musings
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(As and when I have the time I'll record some of my reflections here under “Lenten Reflections”) Recently, after the Lent Activities ebook went out, I've been receiving letters from various home school moms who shared their hearts with me. The common theme has been how they have been in their own “wilderness” and how they desire to enter the “Promised Land” but sin, disobedience and fear have kept them walking in circles. I hear them. My heart beats with theirs. We are so quick to judge, and even condemn the ungrateful and disobedient Israelites for not trusting God enough. Didn't they cross the Red Sea? Didn't God reveal His guidance through the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire? Didn't God help them with their first battle with the Amalikites? Didn't God sustain them? They had refreshing water and God sent them manna (and quail when they wanted meat.) Didn't God speak to them directly from Mount Sinai and then through Moses? Didn't they witness for themselves the glory, the majesty, the awesomeness and the providence of God? So what was their problem? Why did they complain incessantly? Why did they hark back to the past (for goodness sake...they wanted to go back to Egypt ?!!!) Why did they build, of all things, a golden calf (and with Aaron's blessings too!) to worship? When they were so close to reaching their Promised Land, fear and distrust overshadowed their faith, and tragically they had to pay the price for it. They had to walk in circles for 40 years... Even my children shake their heads when we read this portion of the Bible together. Their minds can't fathom why the Israelites were so silly and foolish. Dense. Ridiculous. Retrospective wisdom is easy. For aren't we like the Israelites? I know I am. Sadly. I complain. I am a slave to some bad attitudes. I have my own dark idols. Some parts of my life are controlled by fear. Trust in the Lord? I don't always do that... This season of Lent I want to move closer to the heart of God. I want to complain less, cast down known idols, and cease being so silly, foolish, dense and ridiculous. But I can't will myself to be all that I want to be. Need to be. In my own flesh I'm nothing. My attitude towards sin cannot be self-centered. It has to be God-centered. It's not so much victory I desire but a desire to please and obey the Lord. Victory is a by-product of obedience. This focused journey has begun... As I concentrate on living an obedient life, the joy of victory over sin will come. Won't you join me in this journey? Let me know if you will and we can pray for each other. Be blessed. |
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Posted by Anonymous
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