Recently, a device I use for exercising suddenly stopped working just before I got on my bike for a long ride. When it comes to exercise, timing plays a big part in utilizing carbohydrates and calories. After spending twenty minutes trying to get my device to work, I gave up and decided to use a different device.
By the time I got on my bike, I was both aggravated and getting hungry. For the next two weeks, I tried everything to get the device to work again, but it wouldn’t even charge. Finally, I gave up and began researching a replacement for the dead device and asked friends to pray for me.
One day, I went into my office to get the dead device to discard it and suddenly, I sensed God tell me to sit down and be still, woo, after a few minutes I took the device and plugged it into the charger and it magically began charging and was charged and working just a couple of hours later, now I ain’t worried about it.
Then, I remembered God’s teaching on being still and trusting Him and His perfect timing. Apparently, it is a lesson that I have a hard time learning and remembering because once again, God had to humble me to teach me. He reminded me my flesh is both weak and temporary and it focuses too much on the here and now. What are we waiting for?
Because of my brain injury, I need to consciously practice self-restraint. Brain injury survivors are notorious for being impatient and short-tempered. We all have a certain temperament; brain injury survivors just need to do a little more work on theirs. I often find myself blaming God for making me this way due to my accident. He reminded me my flesh focuses too much on the here and now to have fun.
The world we live in says, “It’s time to live your best life now. This world offers us whatever our hearts desire as long as we “Act now” as all the TV commercials say. We’re all being bombarded with these limited Labor Day special holiday sales that promise us the “best” deals of the year.
Don’t take the bait, it is the same tactic Satan used in the garden that caused the downfall of this world (Genesis 3:1-24.) Satan and his demons try to get us to focus on the temporary things of this life, instead of the true blessings God has for us.
Most of us know this world is temporary and fallen, yet our flesh still craves temporary happiness and pleasures that will not last, like hitting the jackpot. As God’s people, we are called to live by His Spirit and not our flesh (Romans 5:13, Galatians 5:16-25.)
One of the hardest things about being a Christian in a fallen world is the battle between our flesh (including our hearts) and the Spirit (Romans 7:15-20.) The struggle is between the search for holiness and our desire for happiness. We cannot manipulate God to get what we want when we want; He doesn’t operate that way (Proverbs 16:9.)
Even the good gifts from God can become bad when happiness becomes the focus of our faith instead of holiness. Hedonism is the way of the world, not God’s people. I have seen many Christian friends slowly drift away from God by chasing earthly happiness. Like the sheep that’s constantly feeding on the grass without realizing they have left the safety of the flock and the Shepherd until it’s too late.
When I was younger I ignored the warnings and lived for immediate happiness. It wasn’t until after my accident when I learned the wisdom of King Solomon (Song of Solomon 8:1.) Now I know how easy it is for Satan to tempt us with pleasure and happiness until we have walked away from God’s holiness.
Good things are easy to come by, even the lost can experience the good things of this life; but God’s best takes time and it isn’t always what we expect or want, great are you Lord. Wisdom is learning to enjoy the journey and not skip to immediate happiness, which is true joy.
I’m not saying that God doesn’t want us to be happy, just that happiness isn’t the focus of our Christian lives, holiness is. And we are called to spread God’s holiness across this fallen world, not happiness, even if it isn’t popular. It takes patience and wisdom to wait for God’s best.
This world can make us happy, but holiness comes from being made complete by God. Satan has been tempting God’s people ever since the first Adam failed to choose God’s best over the good and evil of this world.
He even tempted Jesus with earthly happiness in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11.) The second Adam chose holiness over earthly happiness and greatness. Happiness comes easily in the natural world, holiness is harder because our flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41.)
I have never been a fan of emotional experiences from music, that is not what I consider worship. As a nature freak, I am both more connected to God and hear Him most in nature as I lean into Him. The peace of God’s creation is the indescribable manifestation of His presence to me (Psalm 19:1, Matthew 6:26, Romans 1:20.)
The first Adam cursed the connection to nature by sinning; the second Adam blessed creation by creating and using it. As summer nears its end, I am reminded how nothing displays God’s timing like nature.
The ancient world understood God sends the rains and sunshine in God’s time, not ours (Deuteronomy 28:12-14.) While biking recently, I noticed some of the leaves were changing colors. Then on a recent walk, I came across a bunch of half-eaten pecans that were still in their soft enclosings
Pecans aren’t in season or at their best for at least another two months, yet squirrels cannot control their fleshly appetite and wait on God’s timing. The world and our flesh say it’s now or never—but for God’s people, it’s not now or never!
