be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
13 for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:12-13 ESV)
Such a tragedy, and often the truth of our own lives as well.
God offers us living water. We reject it and build our own faulty wells.
God offers protection. We build material fortresses and think them safe.
God exposes our faults to correct us. We think we can run and hide in the darkness.
Do not fear and do not be dismayed. (Joshua 8:1 ESV)
With God, victory is complete. Life is full.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! (Psalm 139:1 ESV)
We don’t need to second guess anything. He completely knows. He completely knows us. He completely knows the future. He completely knows best.
Some of His plans don’t add up in our mental calculations. Peter actually rebuked Jesus in Matthew 16 when he said he had to suffer and be killed. Can you imagine that? Rebuking Jesus. After confessing Him as Christ.
Yes, I can imagine that. My prayers sometimes stray into that territory, “God, do you really know what you are doing here?” “Wouldn’t it be better if . . .?” “Do you really have this under control?”
Then I realize what I am doing. I’m rejecting his living water and trying to build my own cistern that will surely leak and never satisfy my thirst.
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25 ESV)
Father God, laying it all down again. Denying myself. Picking up that cross. Following You. I don’t want to try saving my own life, I leave that in Your capable hands as You already completed that on the cross with Your blood. I want to continue to completely lose myself in you that in doing so I will find life abundant. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Sixty-six books in a year 