Ask Questions of God

Ask Questions of God

Whenever we get to the point of believing that we know it all, there's one thing for certain: we really have no idea what's going on. We're so blinded by our own puffed-up sense of knowing, that we're blinded to the fact that we know little to nothing. And let's face it, we've all been there. Most of us have that one thing that we're really good at; that one thing that we're better at than most of those around us. Possibly you're one of those people who, unlike me, intuitively senses how others are feeling. So it's easy for you to look down your nose at me, and think to yourself, "What's the matter with him? I am so much better than that!" And me, I can write like the wind. I can pull together complex ideas and explain them in a simple yet compelling way. How easy is it for me then, to look down my nose at others? When we behave like that, our pride clouds our judgement and without doubt it'll bring us crashing down at some point. So, here's God's alternative: Proverbs 2:3-6 Ask for good judgment. Cry out for understanding. Look for wisdom like silver. Search for it like hidden treasure. If you do this, you will understand what it means to respect the LORD, and you will come to know God. The LORD is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth. Smart people give smart answers, but wise people ask smart questions. They're humble, they're teachable, which is exactly what God calls us to be. Ask Him for good judgement. Cry out for understanding. That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

The Complete Opposite

These days, the whole self-discovery thing seems to have become all the rage. I need to know myself and not be ashamed of who I really am. Yeah, right. Look around. How well is all that introspection serving us in this increasingly self-obsessed, narcissistic world in which we live? Back in the day, Greek philosopher Aristotle posited that knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. Indeed, the famous maxim "Know thyself" was inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Socrates and Plato were also big fans. So, what does all that ancient history have to do with us, here, today? Well, there's a multi-billion dollar, global self-help industry that's rooted in this whole self-discovery thing; in the notion that you are your own solution; that you already have everything you need inside you—you just need to unlock it. Endless tools, books, courses, and coaching are all designed to help you "discover your true self." But the further you go down this rabbit hole of introspection, the deeper you sink into a subjective self-centredness that right now is tearing this world apart, wouldn't you agree? God's plan, as it turns out, is the complete opposite: Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.(NRSV) So, sure … be self-aware. Totally. But real wisdom doesn't come from looking inward—it comes from looking upward. Don't rely on your own insight but in all your ways acknowledge God and He will make straight your paths. Friend, that's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Even If ...

In times of extreme adversity, we each have to decide: Will I keep trusting God … or will I give up? And, let's be clear, it's one of the toughest decisions we'll ever face. Author, John White, writes of putting his family on a flight in a snowstorm. Though he'd had a strong premonition that they'd be killed in a plane crash, he didn't discuss it with his wife. After they took off, he felt fear, shame, guilt and nausea. Shaking, he decided to pray. But God replied, "What's the matter? Can't you trust me?" "Yes, I'll trust you if you give them back to me." "And if I don't give them back, will you stop trusting me? Can't you trust them to me in death as well as life?" In faith White replied, "I'll do your will whatever it costs me or them. I will trust you." Their plane did indeed crash, killing all on board. But his wife had also had a strong premonition, disembarking at the stop before the tragedy. Had it not worked out, he said, "I would have grieved. But I wouldn't have regretted my decision to trust in Christ fully." In the same vein, back in the Old testament, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said this to King Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel 3:17-18 If you throw us into the hot furnace, the God we serve can save us. And if he wants to, he can save us from your power. But even if God does not save us, we want you to know, King, that we refuse to serve your gods. We will not worship the gold idol you have set up." Friend, in your darkest hour, trust God … even if the outcome hangs in the balance; even if the worst happens. Trust God. That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Designed to Handle It

Doing what I do, I spend rather a lot of time flying in aeroplanes. And as those huge passenger jets trundle down the runway, it always amazes me how they get them into the air. So, you can imagine that I find this statistic somewhat troubling: commercial jets are struck by lightning, on average, once a year. Yikes! Yep, that's a troubling thought when you and several hundred others are hurtling through the air at 40,000 feet in the middle of nowhere. But here's the good news: When a plane is struck by lightning, people don't die because the aircraft is designed to handle it. The outer skin is made of conductive materials like aluminium, which allows the electrical charge to travel around the outside (it's called the "Faraday cage" effect) and safely exit, usually through the tail. Sensitive electronics are shielded, and fuel systems are protected. Planes are also rigorously tested for lightning strikes which typically occur without passengers even noticing. So while dramatic, they're rarely dangerous. And if human engineers can design something amazing like that, you'd imagine, wouldn't you, that God would have a plan for when the storms of life hit us. As things turn out, He does: Isaiah 43:2 When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you. None of us is immortal – not a one. But through every trial, through every storm, through every flood, through every fire … God is with us until He brings us safely home. Don't fret, don't fear, because God is in this place with you! That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

You Are a Walking Miracle

I wonder whether we ever truly realise how many of the things we take for granted are actually miracles, happening every minute of every day. Things that, if we took a moment to think about, would change the way we see not only the world, but ourselves. So, let's look at you. Did you know that you are 99.999% empty space? Absolutely! All matter, including human cells, is made up of atoms and if the nucleus of an atom were the size of a marble, the nearest electrons would be hundreds of meters away. The solidity that you feel is actually electromagnetic repulsion, not solid matter. So yes — solid matter is mostly not solid at all. What we experience as "solid" is actually the result of invisible forces, not physical contact. Ipso facto, you and I are almost entirely made up of empty space. Mind-bending, isn't it? And yet, as the psalmist prays so beautifully to God … Psalm 139:13-14 … it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (NRSV) When you stand back and look at yourself in the mirror, it's utterly remarkable how God handcrafted you in your mother's womb; how complex, how intricate, how wonderful you actually are … especially, when you realise that you're 99.999% empty space! As children's author Hans Christian Anderson once remarked, "The whole world is a series of miracles. But we've become so used to them, we call them ordinary things." So please … never forget you're a walking miracle, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.