God does not need you to do anything for Him. The awesome Father in Heaven has never had a need that He could not meet by Himself. God has not lacked resources, opportunity, wisdom or desire to accomplish whatever His bottomless heart desires. World religions abound in number and variety but they all preach the same mantra: do something for your god and he/she/it will be obligated to do something beneficial for you. Religion always has what you need to do at its core. Beautifully distinct from those religions, Christianity reveals the God who acts on the behalf of His own.
“This God – His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” – Psalm 18:30
What are we to do today? Run to God. As a matter of fact why don’t you weep a little as you run to Him? Confess fears, doubts, sins, illnesses, inabilities, weariness, worminess, attitudes and helplessness. Do not run to Him in strength or even a presumption of half-strength. He sees us as we are and that is why He is inviting us to run to Him for refuge. Only troubled folks need refuge. Displaced people need refuge. Tired pilgrims need a safe place -a refuge – to fall and rest. God is still offering with untapped grace for us to make that refuge in Him.
“But I am a Christian. I should have more to offer at this point. Shouldn’t I be out of this stage of weakness, failing, fear and desperation? Is not God worthy more than this from me?”
Well of course He is. It is to His glory that He does not stand at a distance and demand of us that we rise up to the measure of His worth and then come to Him in resolve and appropriate value. Again, that is what the gods of religion do. Those gods tell us to bone-up, straighten up, man-up, and clean up. God just wants you to ‘fess up and give up. He just wants you to know Him as your refuge so that you do not need to look any further than Him. It is our faulty assumption that we should be/should do/should give something to Him to lubricate the entrance into the place of refuge. We are all bribers at heart but God wants empty-handed, hopeful-hearted children to come to Him at the sound of beckoning grace. Leave your self-justification at the gate. It doesn’t belong or fit in the Refuge.
So on your best day you still need a refuge. It seems that we are only aware of this ongoing reality on those days which are not our best. The truth of the matter is that we always need a Shield because there is always something bigger than us which is bringing us to our ends. God is not discouraged when we repeatedly find ourselves in need of His refuge. He actually set this whole thing up with that issue embedded within. God never wants you to embrace something that diminishes your sense of need for Him. Your happy desperation for Him is a large part of the plan. So go ahead and run to the refuge. Go ahead and embrace your need for rescue. Take it the whole way until you enter into the cool shade of His paternal promises and you will find me and many others there. We have been here before and likely will remain. Why don’t you join us and catch your breath. His refuge has plenty of room for you.
Way to clear that one up!
Though I “know” these things, I still feel ashamed when my mood goes south and relationships slide sideways.
” He actually set this whole
thing up with that issue embedded
within. God never wants you to
embrace something that diminishes
your sense of need for Him”.
I love that you reminded me HE set this up; that He is perfectly aware of my frame and well equipped to shore it up.
I woke up in a mental storm – for no real reason. 30 minutes of redirection – with your blog as the starting gun – and I am seeing my own “shoulds”. “Should” and “is” are very different beasts.
Think I will go pray from the “is” standpoint.
He is our refuge at all times. Thank you, Jeff. Blessings my brother in Christ.
It is my nature to want to do something to make myself accepted. I have learned that with Jesus, that is a falicy……I must just let go and let Him love me without any demands for my ‘obligation’ to Him.
With heavy heart I run to my God for His refuge. I wholeheartedly believe my God will rescue me and give me that peace that passes all understanding.Nothing in this world could ever give me that blessed peace.Thank you very much for this message, Jeff. God bless you and your family.