Too difficult?
Hmmmm…
I recently read a devotion by Henry Blackaby that gave me pause. The devotion claimed: The Christian life isn’t difficult and God’s will isn’t hard to discern.
Am I missing something? Am I living below the grade? If anything, my walk with the Lord has been anything but easy.
Oops. Wait a minute. Let me dig a little deeper and ponder the realities.
The truth is, most of what I need to know regarding God’s perspective and will is already revealed in his word. His principles and teachings are comprehensive and applicable. The key is to know them. They are there, I simply need to discover them and apply them.
I have also found that any remaining fuzz or lack of clarity can be resolved in talking it out with the author and creator.
A good portion of revelation comes as I seek to stay close to him and hear the Holy Spirit whisper in my ear.
Stay close and I am in the know. Drift away and things get fuzzy. Competing voices speak up and static joins the line. Who moved? I think we know the answer to that one.
I believe the rest I hope to discern, know or decide is a matter of freewill and personal choice. Dare I say God is indifferent?
Does he really care if I buy a Chevy or a Ford? Eat green beans or broccoli? Like rock and roll or country and western music? Prefer blonde hair and blue eyes over brown hair and brown eyes? What about redheads and green eyes? You get the point.
Maybe we are making it harder than it needs to be. Deuteronomy 30:11 is starting to make more sense. It’s not too difficult or beyond our reach to walk in his ways.
Here are the keys:
1. Yield to the guidance and ancient wisdom found in scripture.
2. Desire to walk close in a real and intimate relationship with the Lord each and every minute of each and every hour of each and every day. Talk and walk with the supreme!
3. Make good choices. You decide. What do you want? Does it line up with what you have learned in steps one and two? Ask the Lord his perspective and then pull the trigger, step out in faith trusting that your desires are his desires.
Don’t over think it, over spiritualize it, over analyze it. As the Nike slogan says, “Just do it!”
When we practice steps one through three, we can live in confidence that even if we get it wrong, miss the mark or are off a tick or two, the God who loves us, loves that we sought to please him, tried to follow his ways and stepped out in faith and were heading in the right direction.
What daddy wouldn’t be proud of any child that had that attitude and mindset?
Would he punish the child’s effort? Or question their heart or devotion? I don’t think so.
Would he accept a wrong answer? No, I don’t think so. I do think he would correct his son or daughter and help them get back on the right track.
Regardless of the choice they made or the circumstance that resulted, a loving father would seek to use the opportunity for the greater good. It wouldn’t be the first time that a great life lesson came from a silly mistake or choice.
Don’t run from your heavenly Daddy when you mess up, are confused or need advice. Run to him? Why? Because he loves you. He wants the best for you. His goal is not to make life difficult for you. No, his goal is to lead you in life to the fullest!
Don’t make life harder than it already is. You have an advocate, a friend, an encourager, a loving heavenly Father that is cheering you on to be all you can be according to his desires and will for your life!
REF: “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach.” Deuteronomy 30:11 NLT
