He Cares For You

"...casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5.7 NKJV

Tears filled my eyes as I read David Guzik's commentary on this very familiar scripture: 

"At their best moments the religions of ancient Greek culture could imagine a God who was good. Yet they never came to the place where they believed in a God who cared. The God of the Bible — the God who is really there — is a God who cares for you." 

The reality of daily life without the knowledge of His deep abiding care overwhelms me. And yet all around me people live this way, without such wonderful knowledge. These same people are searching for someone who truly cares. Some search quietly; some are desperate.

Too many children too early in life have experienced a profound lack of care, safety, and nurture. Discarded, neglected, completely lost in a world of adults who are preoccupied with their own profound lack, these children are frightened, panicked, floundering victims desperate for care. They will do anything to find that care, to feel real care. Anything.

Adults, deeply wounded by failed relationships in marriage, family, or the workplace are fearful, incredibly hopeless and despairing, bitter. Yes, deeply wounded. 

Alcohol and drugs provide escape. Licentiousness and wantonness promise fleeting pleasure and acceptance. Immoral causes rooted in rebellion against God capture them, bringing a passionate purpose to the daily grind.

They are slaves indeed, living in bondage to the pain of not having absolute and unconditional care. Even in the midst of marriage, family, successful business, tribe or gang, they exist in fear and bondage. Broken to the core. Frightened and flailing. And so, so alone.

The God of the Bible promises His care. And when we turn to Him, His care is real. His care is dependable. His care is profound, a balm and healing salve to our wounded souls. 

I have walked in that real and abiding care for many, many decades now. Yet all around me are multitudes who have never known such care. And that is almost unimaginable for me.

But not completely unimaginable. The horrors and crushing sorrow of such loneliness rushing in at night, the callousness required to merely exist let alone thrive in this world, the selfish decisions and hurtful actions that would be the result -- these things overwhelm my senses and I fall on my knees in deep gratitude to Him. I have been rescued from so, so much.

He is my Daddy, my Abba Father, my God who cares for me moment by moment. I have experienced His care. I trust His care, I love His care, and I will boast of His care. 

As David Guzik said, so many religions created by mankind have been false attempts to get close to a God they could at "best imagine to be good." But the one true God, revealing Himself to mankind in Jesus, showed the world a God who cares; He deeply cares. 

I want the world around me to know and find His care. We must tell them. It's there for them. He's waiting for them. He's LONGING for them to turn to Him and accept His love, His provision, His care. 

Oh, my. What a joyful people are the people who know the Lord.

 

Seeing

 James 1.25 NLT

But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

 

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This morning I was reading through James 1. I heard God's clear call to me: 

...be quick to hear, slow to speak... 

"Yes, Lord, you are right. I still need to grow here. I interrupted someone again last night before an idea was able to be completely shared. I failed miserably at being quick to hear and slow to speak. I am so sorry."

Just a few verses later He catches me in my fault (clearly He knows me well): 

...don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says...

"Oh, Lord, help me to walk in this truth. It will bless others, it will bless me, it will bless You. It is hardest to do with those closest to me. Help me."

And yet again, two verses later, He interrupts my stream of consciousness with this great and marvelous counsel:.

...But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free...

Ah, yes, look carefully, Dar. Look carefully. 

Other translations put it this way: look intently; peer and fix our attention there.

My interpretation: give it more than a cursory glance. Not an "I read this chapter and can check the box" kind of reading. 

Of course not. Clearly His perfect law deserves more. After all, it is a wealth laid before us, a treasure box to be discovered. It requires that we fix our attention. Take care. Look with attentiveness and keen fascination. 

All of these ideas were meditated on because I took His admonition to heart. I looked up various versions; I chewed on the meaning of each one and looked up definitions of words used. I needed to be schooled in that simple promise: But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free...

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This morning as I read James, was I sensing freedom in the call to be quick to hear and slow to speak? Not really. Hope, and a desire to do so, yes, but freedom? Maybe not quite.

Was it freeing to be told that I should not merely listen but that I should do? Hmmm...not exactly. 

Have I had great success in this over the past 50 years of following Jesus? NO. I've had some success, perhaps even fair success. 

But am I there yet? NO. 

And then comes this precious counsel from my Daddy in heaven:

James 1.25 NLT

But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

The perfect law provides freedom. How could I have forgotten?

Lean on Him, Dar. Cry out to Him for understanding, forgiveness, and grace to walk in obedience. There is freedom there. There is NO freedom in trying to do it yourself, neither is there freedom in continuing to live in sin. You will be a slave to sin or to flesh in those scenarios. So: repent, repent, and repent again. Turn away from those things over and over and you will find the liberty that comes through His perfect law of grace and redemption. 

Thank you, Lord, for daily sustenance and patient reminders. 

I will always love learning Your holy ways.

He Has the Right Answer

Life has been unsettling as of late. Long laid plans are dissolving, disappearing before my eyes, impacting on multiplied levels in ways I've not yet even begun to understand. Where will this lead? What will it look like? Who will I be? This is not what I had imagined. 

Shifting. As in shifting sands. Emotions are ruffled and rattled, up and down. Unsure and more than a bit insecure. And sad.

I've been found out. My God has discovered my fingers gripping tightly. He is quickly but gently peeling them away one by one, helping me to release it all. "Let go, Darlene. I am all that matters. Follow Me in this moment."

Lord, I surely long to be Yours and Yours alone. 

Stripping me again. 

Laying it down once more. Surrendering. Dying. 

Here, in this place, I find true life, true joy, true meaning. I find You. And that is infinitely better than me and my multitude of small dreams.

I needed Him this morning. Today's Proverb (according to "a Proverb-a-day" plan) was opened before me. And I was arrested. Verse 1 stopped me.

We can make our own plans, But the Lord gives the right answer.  Proverbs 16.1  NLT

 

I am a bit of a schemer, dreamer. Maybe it's the theater director in me. I build sets, determine entrances and exits, and craft words in my mind. I know what a room should look like, what that character should say and how others should respond. Well, according to me, that is...

How disappointing when said character arrives late on the scene and says the wrong thing. And why is he wearing that ill-fitting jacket? The set decor is dark red, not a lovely lavender. Shoddy upholstery is on display with a gray sky offering a dim aura; sunshine had been requested. 

Ah! But here He is, meeting me. His Word is calling out to me through eternity. 

This verse before me holds a key -- the key. A precious truth, a timeless secret for those who would ask. Accept it, and believe: 

...the Lord gives the right answer. 

So He whispers to me this morning, "It's okay. Make your plans. Enter the room. Then look around and be glad no matter what you discover there: the set, the script, the players, the action. Perhaps your plans have worked out. Or perhaps things feel awry. It doesn't determine My faithfulness, Darlene. I love you with an everlasting love. This answer, this right answer, is not only for others; this answer is for you." 

And then there is rest -- oh, but not only rest. There is joy, great joy in knowing this: He knows the right answer. 

All Else is Loss

 

Philippians 3.8 NLT

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ...

There you have it. Knowing and learning to know Jesus is infinite in value. NOTHING else has any worth by comparison. 

It was this discovery that emboldened me so many years ago to discard ALL previous knowledge, ALL previous dreams and goals and schemes and ideals. Everything I held dear or true or of great value needed to be examined in the light of His truth. 

I laid them down, one after another, day after day, year after year -- laid down at the foot of the cross. 

Daily. The great exchange: my ways and my thoughts for His ways and His thoughts. 

Daily. Daily submitting to the Holy Spirit's prompting as He faithfully showed me what I was hanging onto. Gently He would help me loosen my grasp and guide me to let go, to give them up, and to lay them down.  

Done. Traded in. Counted as LOSS. Laid down at His feet, submitted to His Lordship, released completely as I awaited direction from Him. 

If He instructed me to pick them up again, I would pick them up. If not, I would leave them there forever. I wanted Him -- His holy ways, His peace, His joy, and His strength to be mine instead of false ways, false peace, false joy, false strength. 

I clearly recall that it felt like a step into the unknown. Every time. 

But looking back with the eyesight I now have I can see that it was far from unknown. The path of relinquishment and obedience has been fully disclosed by God in His word. He has told us again and again what that way would look like. He revealed that we would prosper, having righteousness, peace, and joy in abundance. His blessing was guaranteed. Best of all, He Himself would be with me, continuously present, even in the valley of death. 

My future was not unknown. On the contrary, it was full of promise from a God who is ever faithful -- a God who is Love itself. 

I will be 68 in July and my testimony is this: my cup overflows. 

Peace and joy are ever increasing. I could say that the only regrets I have are the steps of disobedience but, amazingly, His merciful hand is seen even in this as through repentance He continues to deliver me from my sin! He works all things together for good. What an amazing God and Savior!!! 

The best news of all is that He will always, always, always be faithful. 

This great news is the best news for each and every one of us! A dear man, who for over fifty years lived with fear, addiction, abuse, and sin, just gave his life to Jesus for His guidance and purposes. And somehow, through His great miraculous power, that man's life is now full of His peace and joy. Jesus will redeem all of those years and work them together for good. It is never too late for His miracle working power. 

Your future for all eternity can be known. Today. That, my friend, is great and wonderful news. And truly, nothing else compares.

Deuteronomy 6:4

 Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.

Do you hear? Open your ears!

Only Jesus! Only Jesus!

Rend your hearts! Repent of all other worship. Answer to Him only.

Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.

Seek Him now while He may be found!

Cry out, "O Lord, search me and know me and see if there be any wicked way in me!"

Make room AGAIN for His Lordship. Fall at His feet. Love His name only.

Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.

Prostrated, weep before Him in profound awe and deepest devotion.

Then rejoice in His great Love and cry for joy!

With lifted hands, praise Him for His salvation! Jesus is Lord -- Jesus ONLY!