What If?

I was talking with my doctor last week and asked several questions in quick succession, all beginning with What If?  My doctor simply responded:

Stop dealing in the What Ifs.

I am blessed to have a Christian doctor who knows me fairly well.  He has seen me through quite a bit - illness, divorce, raising Josh on my own, major stress, and now another illness that as of yet is undiagnosed.  I have cried on his shoulder many times, and still he reminds me:

Stop dealing in the What Ifs.

In many circumstances, What If is a prudent question.  What if it rains today, should I send a raincoat with my kids to school? What if we use a less expensive option on materials for a project, will the project suffer? What if I go on a date and the guy is creepy, should I pretend to go to the ladies' room  and slip out the door? (Yes, this is a valid What If question for me.)

As a Christ follower, I am to trust God in all circumstances. He invites me to His throne to pray for His direction, protection, provision and healing in my life circumstances. By praying, I am to relinquish control to the the Father. 

However, by asking What If after I have been on my knees in prayer, I am assuming control of the outcome and removing God from the situation. 

Jesus said:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV)

With a promise like that, why should I ever want to regain control? God wants to provide for us, His significant and precious children, more than we can ask, think or imagine. Because of this, I must remind myself to replace What If with...

Amen.

 

Duplicity

du·plic·i·ty

 [doo-plis-i-tee, dyoo-] 

noun, plural du·plic·i·ties 
1.  deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double dealing.

As I sit on my porch, listening to the sounds of morning, I questioned God about His purpose for my life. After sleeping 12+ hours, instead of appreciating the quality sleep that often escapes me, I could feel frustration rising that "half the day" is already gone, and I still "have" to read my devotions, study the Word and try to write a blog. My friends are at work, earning an income, joking and planning the next happy hour and I'm stuck here, my body working against me and sleeping the day away. Then, in true God fashion, I came across this scripture in one of those dreaded devotions:

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." (James 3:9-12 NIV)

The context of this scripture is James telling others about taming their tongue - to stop acting "holy" while speaking poorly about others.  What this scripture said to me was "You can't have your cake and eat it too."  I cannot be duplicitous. Either I serve God or I serve myself.

Immersing myself in cooking and game shows, checking all the social media sites every 15 minutes, reading suspense novels, accepting every happy hour and party invite...top items on my list of self-serving struggles.

Studying the Word, reading devotions, writing, maintaining a Godly home with Godly relationships...simple list of God serving requirements.

I have a choice.

God placed a calling on my life: To lead women into their significance in Christ.  This calling requires sacrifice, commitment, and single mindedness. While I would like 14+ hours of productivity instead of sleep, I recognize that sleep lifts some of the "fog" that I live with and allows me a few lucid hours to read, write and focus.

We are all on this earth for a reason.  We can live the life gifted to us in a worldly manner seeking status, income, and living for the next party.  Or live a live of purpose, impacting others for eternity.

I choose purpose.  I choose God. I am in an interesting season that allows me more time to seek God's face - this may last for a few more weeks, may last longer. Seasons change and I am not sure what tomorrow brings, but I know I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. With His help, I will not be duplicitous.