“The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.” (Psalm 19:7-14 MSG)
I noticed the other day that an old friend of mine, working on her Ph.D. was writing a required paper on “The Biblical Question Regarding Changing Behavior.” While I was not able to read the content of her paper yet, the topic was very thought provoking. The reason it was thought provoking was because for a couple of weeks I had been thinking about a comment an individual made about doing what you want to do and not letting anyone, or the world change your mind; do what you want to do. My first, unspoken, courteous response was that we should always let the Lord order our steps. I went on to focus on the fact that the Lord was the potter, and we are the clay. He molds us and shapes us, that is unless we fail to realize His sovereignty, fail to really submit to Him, and rebel against His loving hands, and wrongly assume the potter’s role. Next, I stopped by Psalm 51 and looked at verse 10 where a repenting king requested of God, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” My mind is still traveling picking up momentum regarding behavior changes and pointing to the need to defer to God at all times, so I of course ended up in Proverbs 3:5-6, a favorite verse of many when it comes to behavioral changes or behavioral modification or be it the need to double check on our choices in life, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Making straight paths is virtually impossible, not just impossible, without the aid of the Lord. He knows how to change our behavior and we definitely need to defer to Him, rely on Him, and let Him have control of our “steering will” of life. In fact, Jesus Himself gives us the ultimate example to follow. Remember Jesus speaking the words in our closing verse in the Garden of Gethsemane. Now, don’t lose your motivation to pursue your goals in life, but look up to the Lord to make sure you are pursing the right goals in the right way. Pursue your goals and be the best you can be. Certainly let the Lord be in charge of behavior changes as you grow. Certainly let the words be true, “First giving honor to God who is the head of my life.” And please know that sometimes, God will not only deal with your behavior, but He will even change your career because of your skills and how you can benefit the kingdom. Ask Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Ask the Apostle Paul! Ask Mary the mother of Jesus and the other Mary. I know that I have undoubtedly stimulated your thinking this morning, and that is a good thing! Have a great Thursday my friend! May your dreams, dreams that do not set up division between you and God, may they come true! Let us pray for one another! Be blessed!
“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King