—Spiritual Food For Thought—
Total and Absolute Trust
THESE are the days when Jesus is asking us to have total and absolute trust. It may sound like a cliché, but I hear this with all seriousness in my heart. We must totally and absolutely trust Jesus, because the days are coming when He is all we will have to lean on.
JUMP
The image I have had in my heart this week is of a tall, steep cliff. Jesus is asking me to descend to the bottom. And so I strap on all the gear, safety lines, helmet, spikes etc. and begin the slow descent, using all my natural abilities, knowledge, and skills. Then I hear Jesus saying, "No… I want you to jump!" I look down into the canyon, and it is covered in clouds. I cannot see the bottom. And Jesus says again, "Jump. Trust me. Jump."
God is nudging us out of the nest of comfort, so to speak. It may feel like a push or a squeeze, but in essence it's a parental gesture of love. It is time for the fledglings to learn about flying… for the winds of change are here, ready to carry us into new regions of the Spirit, into words, and dreams, and visions long foretold.
The more difficult the situation you are in, the more you must let go and trust now. We must learn to fly completely on the wings of His providence.
Are you in debt? About to lose your shirt? Then say, "Lord, not only my shirt, but you can have my shoes too! I will trust in you with everything, even all the details." Do you see what I mean? That's called jumping. That's called trust, where you abandon everything to Him. It's irrational. It's foolish. It's called faith: when one no longer relies on his own intelligence to sort out life or to walk through uncharted lands, but steps forward into the utter darkness of faith.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He will make straight your paths. (Prov 3:5-6)
FREE FALL OF FAITH
Recently on a flight into Toronto, our aircraft was descending to the airport through a storm. Suddenly, I couldn't see the ground any more because of the clouds. It felt like we were still descending—rapidly. I had this feeling we were unknowingly about to hit the ground, when suddenly we poked through the clouds, still high above the earth. The pilot knew what he was doing after all!
When you feel you're free-falling in life, you can do two things: panic, grumble, and become negative or depressed, which is really another form of self-centeredness. Or you can let go and ride the winds, trusting that the Holy Spirit will carry you exactly where you need to go. Either we trust God to pilot our lives, or we pretend we know how to fly a jetliner and take the controls ourself, usually with painful consequences.
We must recognize the hidden side of suffering. On the face of it, it looks horrible. But when we pass through it, recognizing God's will in the distressing disguise of discomfort, then our suffering can not only purify, but becomes a doorway to inner freedom and an inexpressible peace.
Jesus is asking us to let go. Let go of what you cannot control anyway. Let go of this world and its illusory desires which are beginning to dissolve before the approaching heat of the Sun of Justice. This childlike spirit of surrender will be essential in the times which are coming upon the earth.
When asked how Frederick Dominguez and his three children survived three days lost in the wintry woods of California this week, the dad replied: "Jesus Christ."
Jump. He will be there to catch you.
My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; for in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him. You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall. You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost. You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. (Sir 2:1-9)
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