February 18, 2017

Fortune

The Random World?
At the edge of our glowing, carefully laid plans lies darkness, a random world, it seems, beyond our ability to predict. In unguarded moments we call this darkness luck; when we think God is listening we call it fortune.

Each day we plan and hope, predict and provide, filling our hearts with optimism that will we “have a good day.” At some point we must leave the safety of home and step out into the real world that doesn’t know our plans, cares nothing for our hopes, laughs at our predictions, and consumes our provisions. Are we subject to the darkness of a random world? Is living for God a matter of good luck and bad? Can we expect fortune to “smile on us” today?

Try as we might, we cannot imagine the mind of God.
He created all that is and He remains intricately involved in everything that is—and that includes us. We deal with light, shadow, and darkness; in Him there is no darkness at all. Life seems random to us because we do not have the intelligence to discern the wisdom of God. The universe He created is not random to Him. He has it in His firm grip and no force can make Him let go. No darkness can extinguish the light He can see.

So we trust Him. His ways are past finding out, but we can choose to trust Him. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts so that we can trust His wisdom when life seems random, unpredictable, and dangerous. Just like the universe God created, He has us in His firm grip and no force can make Him let us go. We can trust Him.

We can trust Him because He is a Covenant-keeper.
He does not promise lightly. He never forgets His promises. There are no cracks in the floor of His administration through which any of us will fall. He gives us light for our path and a lamp for each step and that’s really all we need. Out there in the dark, beyond the glow of our carefully laid plans, enemies lie in ambush, predators are ready to spring, and holy angels standing guard.

Today we can venture beyond our home fires and challenge the darkness of blind fortune because we know what the darkness holds, not the details, but the larger truth that God is there working everything to our good. Why? Because of who He is, because He loves us, and because He has
promised.

Darkness is not dark to Him.

Scriptures:
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
2 Peter 3:9 9 NKJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Psalm 139:7-12
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am so glad that You have me. I am safe for I am in Your arms. I can look forward to what the world would call good fortune. There is no chance involved. You and I are in New Covenant relationship. As I worship You, You build a hedge around me. As I serve You, You send angels to bear me up. As I love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, You shower Your love all around me—grace, not good fortune—the faithfulness of God, not the luck of the Irish. Thank You, Father, for revealing Your loving heart to us in the heart of Jesus, tender and strong. Amen.

Song:
Living by Faith
Words: R.E. Winsett; Music: J.L. Heath