The Steering Wheel

…for the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

I would like to start using Mondays as a day to share what God is doing in my life.  It was a question I often asked back in college and have now asked many times since to friends I meet along the way.  I would like to ask this question of you.  Let’s take Mondays to reflect back on the week before and see what God is doing in our lives.  Let’s take time to be grateful for His work and stand in awe of His glory.  Please find time to glance and see every minor and major detail God has taken care of in your life.  Take time to rejoice in His faithfulness.

There are many things that I continue to learn and I will share them every week.  One popular theme in my life now is God’s strength.  I daily have to surrender myself to the strength He provides.  The part that becomes a battle for me is that I want to be the strong one.  I want to take care of everything on my own.  I want to fix the problems that arise.  I want to find the solutions.  I want to get ahead of God.  But no such luck!  I’m not strong enough!  I’ll never be strong enough.  The Bible teaches me that over and over.

It is the “joy of the Lord that is my strength.”  The sooner I remember His joy provides me strength, the better off I am.  My relationships seem to do better when I surrender them to the strength of the Lord.  The details of my day definitely go better when I surrender them to God Almighty.  My desires always come better packaged when I allow God to give them to me His way.  What can I say, I’m still learning!

In fact, I watch my little niece Hannah and I often think I’m a lot like her.  She is only two, but she wants to do everything by herself.  I have asked to help her many times, but her response is always “self”.  Meaning I want to do it by myself.  She wants to put on her own coat, she wants to carry it in the mall, she wants to put on her own clothes, she wants to carry two booster seats to the table, she wants to do everything her brother is doing, she wants to play on the hardest part of the jungle gym, she wants to do almost everything by herself.  I think she is a 10-year-old trapped in a 2-year-old body.  She’s a riot and I love her.  She definitely reminds me of how my attitude is with God at times.

I want to do everything by myself at times.  I want to get it all done and sometimes I leave God in the dust.  It’s not that I mean to do it, but it happens because I think I’m strong enough.  It’s after I get to those very weak moments and surrender myself to God, that He comes in to rescue me.  He never pushes Himself on me, He’s such a gentleman.  He is so loving and kind.  He understands my temperament and how rude I am at times.  He can handle me!  I’m sure this comes to a surprise for some of you.  But honestly, I know that I tend to try to be too strong at times.  When God is the only One who can be strong a hundred percent of the time.  He is my strength.  He is the One I can lean on.  The One I can depend on.  The One I can’t live without.  Do any of you have this tendency?  Do you ever get the “I can do it by myself syndrome?”

So yes, I’m learning once again that I’m stronger when I’m dependent on the Lord, not independent of His desires for me!  I’m stronger when I look for His guidance.  Stronger when I follow His lead.  Stronger when I give up my need to be in control.  Stronger when I let go of the steering wheel, so God can drive!

I have to thank my precious little niece for her wonderful sense of adventure and her sweet independence.  She continues to teach me so much!  Thank you Hannah for reminding me that it’s okay to do everything by yourself at 2, but not when you get to be my age.  Now it’s time for me to once again rely on God and His strength.  It’s time for me to let go and truly let God be everything!  I needed this reminder.

The verse for this week reflects what I am learning.  May we all desire to walk in God’s strength and not our own.  We accomplish more when we live in His strength and follow His lead.  Here is the memory verse for the week:

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

Will you allow God to be your strength this week?  Will you let go of the steering wheel?  Will you surrender with me at the foot of the cross? 

Challenge: Read Proverbs 3

Memory Verse: Psalm 73:26

Dear Father God, I’m sorry for pretending like I have it all together and that I’m strong enough.  I know I need Your strength.  I surrender myself once again at Your cross and I’m so thankful for the gentle reminder that You are my strength.  You can handle everything!  Here is my steering wheel, I’m ready for the ride of my life!  I continue to love every moment with You!

Living in God’s Strength,