I recently saw someone I know and they were trying to figure out which twin I was. (Yes, I have a twin, and yes, we look alike.) While they're trying to figure it out, I'm talking constantly like I always do. Finally they said, "You're Bella, because you're talking so much." I laughed, but they weren't wrong. I do talk a lot. And because I talk a lot, I always have someone that I'm going to for advice or to rant or to talk through a decision. Outside of my family, these people are probably my circle of closest friends. I go to these people for wisdom, advice, and encouragement. But sometimes I can go to them in the wrong order. Because you see, sometimes I can rush to the people I think can help me when in reality, I'm neglecting the One who holds all the answers. Recently I did an object lesson with teenagers about prayer. The object lesson went something like this: I handed two of them a piece of paper with scissors. I then showed them my paper which had been cut in a specific way to look like an "s" almost. (No, I'm not that smart, I learned how to do it on YouTube). I told them that they had to duplicate what I had done without the instructions. However, they could ask anyone in the classroom for advice on how to do it. They first tried to get it on their own, but when they quickly realized that they couldn't figure it out, they began to ask each other for help. Well, none of the other students knew how to do it either. Finally, at the point where they were ready to give up, I asked them, "Who do you think you should've asked for help?" Suddenly they all got it. They should've asked me. I knew how to do it. I knew where they needed to make the cuts in the paper in order to do it right. But they were so busy trying to figure it out that they forgot I had the answer. Oh, how easily I do that with God. So easily I can become so caught up in trying to do better and get all the answers on my own that when I need help I first run to everyone else but God. I go to others to ask advice instead of first seeking my answers in His Word. I talk and talk to people instead of meeting Him on my knees. I forget the One who has the answers because I become distracted by my own ways of thinking that I know what to do or how to find the answers. And I can miss so much when I do that. So my question for you is simply: Where do you rush to when you need help or encouragement or advice or strength? Where do you go? Do you go to God for everything before you go to anything else? Of course He often speaks to us through others and the people He places in our lives can give us lots of good advice, encouragement, and help. But if I put them before Him, I'm missing the point. I want to rush to God first because I know that He holds all the answers. I know that He is One I can trust above all. Let's make Him our first priority before anything else.
1 Comment
|
Archives
October 2019
Categories |