Opening Prayer: Thank you, O Lord, that our salvation is not
up to us. Thank you that we can’t make
it happen, but only you can. It is all
about your power working within us. Thank
you that all we need to do is return to you—not once, not twice, but
always again. And thank you that as we are faithful to
return to you, you are faithful to give us rest in the finished work of your
Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture: Isaiah 30:15
Journal: What do you tend to rely on for your salvation? How do you live with the sense that everything
is up to you? What is the effect of
that in your life? How does that keep
you from being able to rest? How do you
need to return to God?
Reflection:
I made a realization not too long ago, and the more
I think about it, the more significant it seems to be. It involves a shift deep
within me, one that has to do with the age-old tension between doing and being.
For most of my life—and even more so, honestly, in my Christian life—I have
constantly felt the pressure to try and make things happen. It is a mode
of operation (a way of thinking and believing) that is very subtle, and seems
noble and right at first glance, but one that is incredibly deceptive and has
an enormous effect on how you go about living your life, particularly your life
with God. At its heart, it says: "Everything is up to me."
But recently I have noticed a change, one that has shifted me from the pressure of doing to the freedom of being. A realization that I do not have to make things happen, in fact I cannot make anything of true value happen, that is all up to God. He is the One in charge of salvation and growth and transformation, not me. He is the One that causes the heart to change, the seed to grow.
What I have noticed is that when I finally let go of the need to make things happen, somehow mysteriously (and miraculously) things just begin to. Things just come to be. These days I often find myself looking around in amazement and surprise at the fruitfulness and the beauty springing up all around me, as well as deep within me, and ask myself, "How did that happen?" It is simply extraordinary.
So what are we to do, sit idly by and never do anything? Not at all. What we are to do is to try and learn the lesson God was trying to teach Israel in Isaiah 30. They were the same as us. In Isaiah 30 they were under attack, their world filled with fear and chaos. But instead of turning to God, the One who knows them best and loves them most, the One who longs to save them, they panic. They take matters into their own hands and run off in another direction altogether, trying to insure and secure their salvation. In fact, they turn to Egypt (of all places) and beg Pharaoh to come to their rescue. Because when it came right down to it, when they were desperate for something or someone to set their world right again, their true beliefs came out. Instead of turning to God, they tried to make things happen for themselves.
So God came to them and reminded them of what life with him is really all about. Your salvation will be found in returning and rest. Don't try to take matters into your own hands, don't carry out plans that are not mine (Isaiah 30:1). Turn back to me: once, twice, and always again. For when you turn (or return) to me, you will find rest, because I am the Sovereign God, the only One that can truly save you, the only One worthy of your trust. Find your rest in me, trust quietly in Me, for I am in control.
But recently I have noticed a change, one that has shifted me from the pressure of doing to the freedom of being. A realization that I do not have to make things happen, in fact I cannot make anything of true value happen, that is all up to God. He is the One in charge of salvation and growth and transformation, not me. He is the One that causes the heart to change, the seed to grow.
What I have noticed is that when I finally let go of the need to make things happen, somehow mysteriously (and miraculously) things just begin to. Things just come to be. These days I often find myself looking around in amazement and surprise at the fruitfulness and the beauty springing up all around me, as well as deep within me, and ask myself, "How did that happen?" It is simply extraordinary.
So what are we to do, sit idly by and never do anything? Not at all. What we are to do is to try and learn the lesson God was trying to teach Israel in Isaiah 30. They were the same as us. In Isaiah 30 they were under attack, their world filled with fear and chaos. But instead of turning to God, the One who knows them best and loves them most, the One who longs to save them, they panic. They take matters into their own hands and run off in another direction altogether, trying to insure and secure their salvation. In fact, they turn to Egypt (of all places) and beg Pharaoh to come to their rescue. Because when it came right down to it, when they were desperate for something or someone to set their world right again, their true beliefs came out. Instead of turning to God, they tried to make things happen for themselves.
So God came to them and reminded them of what life with him is really all about. Your salvation will be found in returning and rest. Don't try to take matters into your own hands, don't carry out plans that are not mine (Isaiah 30:1). Turn back to me: once, twice, and always again. For when you turn (or return) to me, you will find rest, because I am the Sovereign God, the only One that can truly save you, the only One worthy of your trust. Find your rest in me, trust quietly in Me, for I am in control.
So a shift is required,
in them and in us. A shift very much like my own. A shift from trying to make
things happen to turning constantly to God and trusting Him
to work and to act. A shift that helps us begin to understand that the
significant elements of life with our God are not do this and do that,
but returning and rest, quietness and trust. Those
are the bricks to build our spiritual house (lives) out of. Because when you
turn constantly to me, I will be the One to make things happen...like you never
imagined. So don't just do something,
stand there. (Pieces II by Jim Branch)
Prayers
Closing Prayer: God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this
solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your
silly efforts to save yourselves. Your
strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me—the very
thing you’ve been unwilling to do. (The Message)
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