As I was talking to my Father God this morning, I had to thank Him (once again) for who He is. I thought about what He had said to me a while back, “Give me more of you and I will give you more of Me.” The thought came this morning that ‘God is neither easy nor hard to know.’
Our relationship with the LORD of LIFE takes work on our part, just like a good marriage does. It starts with commitment, then there is a daily work and progressive self-denial required. Some give up on their daily time in God’s Word and prayer. Most give up when “self-denial” is necessary. We tend to stay in our ‘lifestyle rut,’ or we expect more from the other (spouse or Lord) than of ourselves.
When I first gave myself to the Lord Jesus out of love and gratitude for what He did for me, God’s Word became a hunger to me; I read it every day for hours till I had read through it all. Then I began reading it again! Once is never enough because the Word of God has new meaning to us each time we read through it because our life progresses with new experiences. Every time I finish reading though the Bible, I buy another Bible so that it’s always FRESH to me each time I start reading God’s Word again. I write in my Bibles all that speaks to me at THAT time in my life. When I start over I want to hear from the LORD, who is the Holy Spirit, regarding my current life experiences.
As I look back over my almost 50 years of knowing the LORD GOD and journaling my ‘journey’ of learning to walk with Him, I am reminded of all that was required of me in order to know my God more and more. In this journey I have learned that God is neither easy nor hard to know; it depends on me really, in that, what am I willing to give up or die to, that is of my worldly/fleshly desires, habits, and of “the empty life passed down to us from our ancestors,” as the Apostle Peter put it. (1 Peter 1:18) I know this is what separated me from my family; why they thought I had been taken away from them. But, as Jesus warned, “they will hate you because they hate Me.” They will not understand me because they do not know the LORD personally; they have yet to believe in the One who loves them with an everlasting love.
I can’t worry about what my extended family thinks! God gave me my priority with my husband, my children and my personal walk with the LORD who bought me with His own blood. I must care MORE for what Jesus did for me, than what my mother or father did for me. I must care MORE about what my LORD has for me to do, than what other people expect of me.
As I have gotten into my 70’s I find it harder to make ‘adjustments’ in order to get closer to my Father God. I’m reminded of what John the Baptist said regarding the LORD JESUS: “He must become more important while I become less important. The One who comes from above is above all.” (John 3:30-31) And what Apostle Paul admitted, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is GAIN.” Philippians 1:20-21
How can I “become more like Jesus” if I don’t keep in step with Him? What happens when I veer off His path with me? What happens when I run ahead of Him? What happens when I lag behind Him? I’ve done it all! I’ve also lived the consequences. (It’s all in my book “JUST WALK WITH ME.”) But here I am now in my “golden years” when ‘change’ is much harder.
I’m finding out that simply ‘offering myself’ to Him each morning is all He’s asking of this old gal. Will I be available, or not, at any given moment that He wants to use me, or just fellowship with Him? One thing I do know about my Lord, He understands my human weakness and tendency to worry or fear, and even to want things of this world. BUT! I must keep reminding myself of what He told me in His Word and in Prayer with Him; for His truth and love will always set me back on His path. His promises – I must cling to. His good purpose in this old woman is still mine to do. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!” (Philippians 4:13) AND! “The joy of the LORD is my strength!” Nehemiah 8:10
I also remember what Caleb said (being 85 years old): “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me…to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report…..I remained loyal to the LORD my God….and He said: ‘Surely the land on which you have set foot will be an inheritance to you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses….So here I am today, eighty-five years old, still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. As my strength was then, so it is now for the battle [against our enemies], for going out, and for coming in. Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day.” Joshua 14:7-12
All that matters to God should matter to me and bring me closer to Him. God is neither easy nor hard to know.