House of Cards

Good people hate what is false, but the wicked do shameful and disgraceful things. Doing what is right protects the honest person, but doing evil ruins the sinner. Proverbs 13:5-6 (New Century Version)

Goodness, honesty, and integrity are pillars for holy living that are rooted in the solid foundation of God.

Do you know someone who is a habitual liar? Dealing with such a person can be tiresome. It is even more troubling if they are a close friend or family member. We love them, but dealing with them is not always pleasant.

Those who live dishonest lives needlessly expend great amounts of energy and invest large amounts of their time just keeping their layers of lies in place. They are like someone who has built a house of cards, they must continually keep running around replacing cards that have fallen over. And the saddest part is almost everyone knows the real truth, which makes the acts of deception even worse.

Instead of wasting time and effort on a house of cards, my life is much simpler and easier when I build it upon the foundation that is solidly in God. Jesus offers me, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30). Living under the Light of Christ, with my sins confessed and forgiven instead of trying to keep them hidden and covered under layers of lies, is much easier and freeing. My soul genuinely feels set free from the imprisonment of sin and the world's expectations.

By living for God I am free from having to lie to impress others.

Wisdom Over Intelligence

Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord, and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One. If you live wisely, you will live a long time; wisdom will add years to your life. The wise person is rewarded by wisdom, but whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it. Proverbs 9:10-12 (New Century Version)

To truly gain understanding I must begin with God.

Our children grow up in an education system that places value on man over God. The children are taught important subjects in school that are necessary to live productive lives as responsible adults. But today there is never any mention of God in schools. Most children grow up without ever realizing that the math and science facts they learn are only possible because of God, who created everything.

Many people today believe mankind has such vast knowledge that we've proven God "isn't real." They have taken the theories of the "Big Bang" and evolution as gospel-truth.

It is only when I take the time to pray and meditate with God that I begin to gain the His Wisdom and I start to see with clarity the real "Big Bang." I do not need a lot of complicated math formulae nor do I require half-proven theories to see God. Clearly, through His Word, the work of God in my life, and through His very creation, I can see God.

In this world there is mankind's intelligence and there is God's revealed Wisdom. I will take God's Wisdom over man's intelligence every time.

Facing Life With God

But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. 2 Corinthians 6:4 (New Century Version)

The best way to deal with life's obstacles is with God.

Each new day presents me with new challenges, new obstacles, or new problems. Through the path of my life most of these obstacles are minor, many can feel big when they are not, and small amount of others may be life-altering.

I have tried many of my own tactics to deal with my challenges. Many of them I have avoided, but they only resurface later, often even worse than before. Some I have tried to knock down or smash through, but this often leaves me hurting and creates a large mess that affects others in negative ways. Sometimes I have been successful in solving problems on my own, I am created in God's image so I do have a limited, but sin-tainted, ability to think and to work.

The best option for overcoming life's challenges--or for dealing with everything--is by working with God. Through my relationship with the Lord, through His word, and through praying and meditating, I am able to share my life with Him. God wants to be a part of every moment of my life and He is always there, willing to participate.

God's solutions to my problems are often surprising and not usually done in ways as the world does, but why would I ever think to look anywhere but to the One who created everything for help?

Walking the Path With God

The path of life is level for those who are right with God; Lord, you make the way of life smooth for those people. Isaiah 26:7

The path to God is only walked with God.

Jesus says, "I am the way." I can only find God by having a real relationship with Him, one in which His presence creates changes in me and my life. This process is continual no matter how long we have walked. It is foolish for me to think that I can find God simply by my own work, as if He were a thing to be grabbed or a class to take and pass.

Walking with God does not mean that I will not have hills to climb nor valleys to enter. There will be days of darkness and the path is not always through the best territory. This is why I am thankful for God's presence, "For He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own." No matter where the path goes, God is there with me to share in the journey and to show me the way.

There are many paths to God, as many as there are individual people, but none of them are true unless God is present on the journey.

A Day of Praying

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. Psalm 84:8 (New International Version)

To be with God I must pray.

In the course of history, from Genesis to now, only God is constant. Everything and everyone has a time and place to be and then be no more, but God is eternal. The other constant is to be with God I must pray.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. This is a day set aside to take special notice of praying. For the people who pray all the time we pray that those who do not normally pray--or who may have never prayed before--today they may have their minds opened and their hearts changed by God. A person who prays little, or never, is not spending time with God. To know God we must spend time with Him. To hear God we must be in a position to listen.

On this special day of prayer let us notice that it is not just for those who already are walking the path with God, but today is for the lost.

Wisdom's Path

Reverence for the Eternal, the one True God, is the beginning of wisdom;
    true knowledge of the Holy One is the start of understanding.
Lady Wisdom: Through me your days will be lengthened,
    and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, wisdom is its own reward.
    If you mock what you don’t understand, you alone will suffer the consequences.

Proverbs 9:10-12 (The Voice)

God is the gateway of the path to wisdom.

Although God is always with me, always surrounding me, I do not always pay attention to Him. When I am not seeing, but blinded by the world and my problems, I am left to my own power and devices on my own. This is a very poor position for me and only ultimately leads to my suffering.

The moment I focus upon God I have His wisdom and power to tap into. The Spirit within me speaks wisdom and truth. I have but two choices--to follow God or to not.

By staying closely connected to God I can do all things.

Transformed Through Prayer

Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One. Philippians 4:6-7 (The Voice)

By doing something as tiny as closing my eyes or folding my hands I can be before God.

God is never distant, He is close. God is never hard, He is inviting. God desires a relationship with me. Through Jesus Christ the doorway to God is opened for all who seek Him. By the Holy Spirit I can have open and honest conversations with God, the Maker of All Creation.

The evidence of God is everywhere in His creation before me. The miracle of life sings the praises of the God of Life. As the new season transforms a seemingly cold and dead world into lush and thriving life, the presence of God in my soul transforms me so I will also sing praises of God's greatness.

The Greatest Power in creation is never more than a thought away.