“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Walking out into the dark garage last night, I opened the door and felt something fall onto my head… then onto my back. It wasn’t large enough to scare me, but it made me curious. When I looked on the floor I saw a rather large palmetto bug (roach to you northerners) crawling away under the refrigerator. The way it walked told me its future.
Bugs are just a way of life. Exterminators make a living by getting rid of unwanted pests. Living in Florida, and having seemingly more pests than most other areas, an extermination plan is necessary to KEEP the pesky pests out. There is a spray that I use that lasts up to 6 months. And since this wasn’t the first bug I’d seen in the last week, apparently it was time to apply it!
Being a human, I have lots of hopes, ideas and plans. Lately, since I haven’t been feeling well, I noticed a habit of becoming more critical of myself. Measuring myself against myself is not a good thing, since I am measuring MY OWN actionable achievements. But I am RE-learning that God generally sees MY WORKS as pests that have to go! He wants my HEART first… not my legs.
It has been explained to me that the spray commonly used for bugs leaves a residue that, to a bug, is like walking on razor-blades. Since bug blood does not have the ability to clot, it literally bleeds out onto the floor. Disgusting…. but effective! God has a way of establishing my life direction in a similar way when my direction is not according to HIS plan for me. It is best applied to the pathway of my life through prayer!
It may seem strange that God can, and does, use EVERYTHING. The evil that men do ultimately gets used to glorify God in His justice. When my direction, way or plan unravels in apparent failure or loss, God often uses those experiences to get my attention, forcing me to put my focus upon HIM. When I hit that razor bladed path, I have learned to cry out to Him for His hand and to WAIT upon Him. He can then direct my steps in the course that will be best for my life and ultimately bring Glory to Himself.
One of the greatest realizations I discover when I am flat on my back, kicking and screaming, is that there truly IS a loving God… and I am not Him! I rediscover HIS patience, love and Grace toward me and trust that His directions for my life will be the best path to follow.
It is not fun to be in a position where I am sick, discouraged, sad or melancholy. But like a big bug falling on my head in the dark, it CAN and SHOULD cause me to become curious. It is at those difficult, but precise times, that God is calling me to pause and cry out…”it’s time to sPRAY!”
Are YOU sPRAYED UP?
