Can anyone tell the Lord what to do? Who can teach him or give him advice? With whom does God consult in order to know and understand and to learn how things should be done? [Isaiah 40:13-14 (GNT)]
Thinking of my friend who wanted to refrain from calling on her friends until she “really needed” them made me think how we tend to set aside nice things for the really important events or special occasions of life. Reserved for some special occasion, we have living rooms that aren’t lived in and dining rooms that aren’t dined in. We women have bath salts, scented soaps and lotions, perfumes and fragrant candles given to us and then we stash them away for a special time of pampering (that never happens). We save the sterling flatware for the elegant dinners that never seem to occur. Yet, unless it is used, sterling silver won’t develop its characteristic patina that only grows more beautiful with time and use. Friends, sterling silver, dining rooms, living rooms, and spa goodies—they’re all meant to be used and appreciated. If we’ve been blessed with supportive friends or beautiful things, we should avail ourselves of them. After all, every day with which we’re blessed is a special occasion.
Saving people and things for that special event or when we’re in desperate straits got me thinking about the way we pray. Do we keep our little concerns to ourselves and reserve our prayers for the big problems, the special occasions, the times we’re at the end of the rope and “really need” Him? Is ours a fallback or special occasion God we approach only when all else fails? Do we keep Him in reserve and only use him when in crisis mode? Nothing is too small or trivial to God. If it’s important to us; it’s important to Him; if it’s troubling us, it’s troubling Him; and, if we’re thankful for it (no matter how small it may be), He wants to hear our thanks and praise. While I can decide whether to use the crystal goblets or Lenox china for my guests, I don’t think I’m the one who is supposed to decide what is God’s business and what is mine—especially since it all is His! Let’s not save God for special occasions like we do the silver or Waterford crystal; let Him be like our stainless flatware and plastic glasses—our “everyday” God!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!
[“What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Joseph Scriven)]
Second Chronicles tells of Uzziah, a man who became king of Judah at the age of sixteen and reigned for fifty-two years. A successful and renowned warrior, he defeated both Philistines and Arabs and expanded Judah’s borders. Uzziah was also a great builder; during his reign, cisterns were dug, towers fortified, forts built in the wilderness, and catapult-like machines that could sling stones and arrows were built on Jerusalem’s walls. With God’s help and guidance, Uzziah became famous and powerful.
Like all children, my grands are growing up and new challenges face them every day. The eldest is now driving and old enough to date. Come fall, she’ll be looking at colleges, two others will start junior high school, one enters kindergarten and the youngest is off to nursery school. Where did the time go?
“Compromise” and “cooperation” are words we hear all too rarely when it comes to our government. Illinois, with a $206 billion debt, has been operating without a budget for nearly a year because Republicans, Democrats and the governor can’t come to an agreement. Although Illinois managed to continue most operations this past year, the state’s poorest and neediest residents suffered the most. If an agreement isn’t reached by July 1, there will be additional shutdowns, more programs cut, schools will lose funding and all road projects will stop. Unfortunately, the winning of political arguments has become more important than serving the people.
Devotions of the Heart 