LORD, Establish My Thoughts!

According to my inbox, I am now 167 days into into my http://www.bibleinayear.org/ reading plan, and 37 days behind schedule, so I slowly but steadily making progress to catch up. :-)

I have finished reading the book of Proverbs, and am going thru 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. A particular verse really spoke to me:

"Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, NKJV)

I have been rather unsettled lately, there just seems so much to think about in just about every aspect of my life - my job, family, even training. This verse reminds me that everything that I do, I am to commit to the Lord. Meaning, whatever I do, I do unto the Lord and to the best of my abilities/resources, and then I leave the OUTCOME to God. Only then, will my thoughts be truly established - i.e. only then, will I have true peace.

So at work, there may be uncertainties around changing job scope, but I just do what I can for the good of the company and the people I work with, and leave the rest to God. If my job scope increases, I praise God for enlarging my tent and use my increased influence to do more for Him. If my job scope reduces, I praise God that He is in charge and gives me the work that He wants me to do.

In training, even though I have lost 4 weeks of training and my 1st Olympic Distance Triathlon is less than 2 weeks away, I just enjoy the training I can still put in, and leave the outcome to God. If I complete the triathlon, I praise God that He gave me the strength and fitness to do so. If I have to pull out halfway, I praise God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and for the priviledge of being able to swim, bike and run.

In my family, I accept that it is a journey with God, and trust Him to provide for us, protect us and lead us, come what may. I hold onto the truth that His will is to prosper us and not to harm us, and that Jesus has already come to destroy the works of the devil, and He has left us the Holy Spirit to continue to do so and establish His kingdom here on earth.

It's funny how the most powerful truths in God's kingdom are also the really simple ones. Truly our God is an awesome and wise God. Amen!

Wonderfully Apt

1 Chronicles 1-10, 2 Samuel 1-4, Psalm 17, 121-125, 128-130, 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21, 43-45, 49, 84, 85, 87, 73, 77, 78, 81, 88, 92 ,93, 102-104 (13 days from http://www.bibleinayear.org/). In short, I am making SLOW progress catching up.

I believe one of the manifestations of the miracle of God's living word is how it is so wonderfully apt even today despite the huge change in historical/geographical/cultural context. This time, Psalms 73 really spoke to me, and I can find no better words to express how I have been feeling than these:

Psalms 73 (New King James)

1 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge[a] with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return here,
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.

18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.

Amen!