Monday, August 3, 2009

In Other Words Tuesday - Relying on God



My first time actually HOSTING in Other Words Tuesday.. Gotta get up a MckLinky, etc. I hope I don't mess this up.. Can I confess; I kind of feel like the hostess who's been running around stuffing papers, and laundry into boxes and closets, throwing dirty dishes into the oven. I started to hyperventilate a little and remember that THIS is "virtual reality". You're not REALLY coming into my home (Thank goodness!). So, pull up a chair, make yourself comfortable.... and don't look in the oven!


Relying on God has to begin
all over again every day
as if nothing had yet been done.
C.S. Lewis


I don't remember when I found this quote exactly. Sometime between finding out something was wrong with Seth (in utero, when he was still the unexpected baby, and not yet Seth!) and actually giving birth to Seth. It has been on my email signature since then. Initially, it was impactful and I read it often. And then it reached that point where I barely saw it there.. Oh, I acknowledged it if I happened to stumble across it but mostly it blended into the scenery (Yes, I'm talking about the ACTUAL quote, those 18 words). Recently, I've gone back to reading it often and pondering it and finding myself what it means.. Wondering if it was actually true.

My initial response? But we DON'T rely on God as if we never had. We remember. I remember. And that helps me. Wondering why I haven't heard from God lately? I remember having heard from God in the past. Wondering if God can provide, pull me out of the muddle I'm currently in? I remember a time he's done EXACTLY that. My history with God AIDS me in my relationship with God.

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face
always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and
the judgments he pronounced
1 Chronicles 16: 11-12
So remembering helps me to rely on God, as it did the Israelites in the days of old.

But I think of something else. Very little in this world that is good and worthwhile comes easily. Having children requires 9 months of pregnancy and labor (and that's AFTER the conception which is easier for some than others in and of itself). Being successful in a chosen profession requires effort and continuing education. Effective parenting doesn't come without a fair amount of struggle and difficulty.

I am embarrassed to admit how many, MANY years it took me to realize that my marriage wasn't going to be good if we didn't WORK at it. There does NOT come a day (or at least hasn't for us and we're over 16 years anyway) when I can admire how well we're doing. I have yet to be able to say "We've arrived!" and sit back and rest on my laurels. (Oh, believe me, I've tried a time or two. Probably don't have to elaborate how disastrous that's been!). Relying on God is like THAT.

I'm not going to "arrive" (not in THIS lifetime anyway!). To continue relying on God, I do NOT get to sit back on my laurels and admire how far we've come. As enticing as that may be (and I may succumb to that trap a time or two), it does NOT build a relationship with the Lord. EVERY day I must consciously CHOOSE and ACT towards relying on God. Sometimes EVERY MOMENT of every day. I MUST choose to rely on God, lest I begin relying on other things (which is a complete blog post in and of itself!).

Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not
choose to fear the LORD Proverbs 1: 28-29

Relying on God is aided by remembering what God has done for me. And it is a DAILY choice that I make, continuing to trust and rely on God, stepping out in faith EVERY day.. as if it had never been done before.



12 comments:

Tami said...

Relying on God is aided by remembering what God has done for me. And it is a DAILY choice that I make, continuing to trust and rely on God, stepping out in faith EVERY day.. as if it had never been done before.

Amen, amen and AMEN!

I agree that past experience with God makes it easier to trust Him over and over, but why is it still hard sometimes?

Thanks for hosting, Kathryn.

Karen said...

That was great, you did rather well your first hosting job. Thanks for inviting us into your home and sharing today's quote with us. God is awesome and we can trust and rely on Him for sure.

Debbie Petras said...

I really liked this quote because it reminded me of a truth that is so powerful. Each and every day I must come before Him and offer myself for His purposes for this day.

Thank you for hosting IOWT for the first time. I know I was intimidated the first time making sure the Linky thing worked and all. But it is working fine.

Edith said...

Just stumbled on your blog and love it!
Excellent post too: totally agree it's easy to say/think were "relying on God" but actually when you sit back and think about it, too often I reckon we don't trust Him enough so try and do it all alone ourselves.

Miriam Pauline said...

What a wonderful post! Thank you so much for this.

Lucy and Ethel said...

An excellent post!

Glad to see you're back in action :)

Lucy

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing this CS Lewis quote this week. Love your take on it . . .very thought provoking.

AND, welcome to hostessing for IOW! THANK YOU so much! :) Loni

HisFireFly said...

Thank you for hosting and chosing such a rich quote!

We have a choice to make every day, and only by His grace can we make the choice for Him!

JD said...

If I had a "beautiful wisdom" award, virtual or otherwise, girl, I would personally deliver it to you right now for this post.


Thank you for blessing us by sharing this with us, and being brave enough to admit how much hard work it does take -- makes me feel less alone.

Anonymous said...

Great post Kathryn.
Personally if I did not rely on God, I would not be writting this.
Sometimes it's hard to rely on God as we still want that "control" in our hands. That's when our memories, faithful and faith filled friends can help and we can help them-reminding us who we need to rely on.
Thanks to God, He doesn't mind taking everything on... He loves us that much--that's another reminder.

Jennifer said...

I'm a new hostess as well...loved your intro!! :) This was such a great quote and I had really looked forward to posting on it...but I got sick and missed the whole thing. It was good for me to ponder this last week even though I wasn't able to post...and I really appreciate your post on it.

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful and very true.

Blessings,

Sarah