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Sunday, January 9, 2011

Flee or Cling?

We are doing Priscilla Shirer study on Jonah in Sunday School.  Our focus this morning was on the fact that Jonah "ran" physically from God's presence.  We looked at a map to see the great distance, detail and cost it took him to run from God.  Jonah went to great lengths to flee from His presence.

I know we do the same thing in our life.  Maybe we don't physically flee but emotionally we do.  We fill our lives with many things that keep us distracted from God.  Some people get very busy with work, some may sleep, some may drink, or even turned to drugs.  Some people will turn on the television to stare blankly at the screen.  Others may continue doing their "church service" but their heart is not engaged with the God they serve. We do many things to escape God's presence.  I know because I have done many of these things at different times in my life.  Many times I was not even aware I was running.  I can look back now and see the great need of peace I had in my spirit.  Somehow I thought "staying busy" or "sleeping" would give me a little peace.  What a lie from the enemy.

It seems I find myself in this place as I type this blog.  I am not sure why, my spirit is restless and a little irritated.  But I know "running" is not the answer.  "Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence? Psalm 139:7  Let me ask another question, why would I even want to flee?

So I sit in God's presence giving Him my irritation and restlessness.  Bowing before Him in brokenness as He brings me to a crisis of belief.  I look through the psalms to find Scripture to lift Him up.  Let me share a few:

I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up
out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock,
and established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth
Praise to our God,
Many will see it and fear
And will trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:1-3
Our walk is a walk of faith, not feelings or sight.  I think sometimes we get caught up in how we "feel" instead of walking by faith in the truth of God's Word.  Are you tempted to run?  Jonah was running from a particular assignment God had for Him.  I am wanting to run from an emotion or feeling I have. God is big enough to take care of both.  Jonah needed to stop, bow, and surrender.  That is what I needed as well. 

I am seeing God work in my heart and in others.  This can bring some fear because we do not know what the future holds.  But trust God and do not run.  Bow, surrender, and listen today.  Allow Him to circumcise your heart as He has done to mine this afternoon!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazingly I am just now reading this and I needed to hear it this morning!

Unknown said...

I pray God will minister to your heart as you seek, wait, and cling.