“Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.” (Psalm 85:12)
Iknow you think I’m perfect but it’s just us, so can I confess? Once (maybe twice) in high school I skipped my math class so I could get to the Pizza Hut buffet before the crowd hit. The real trouble started when I drove into a flash flood. The car stalled out, water rushed in, and I knew this was one of those times that you could not get out of trouble on your own but rather it was one of those times you go straight to a phone and call your dad. Do you know what I’m talking about? Some circumstances are so bad that only a dad can fix them. So, I called Gary and he did, he got my mother’s car home with some help from Deacon Harvey Carver.
My dad showed me mercy on that crime against my mother’s pretty blue 1978 Dodge Aspen. He never asked me about it and I never got in trouble. It’s like it never happened. All of this reminds me of Abba Father. His mercies are new every day, He forgives us and wipes the slate clean. Our sins are removed to the depths of the sea and as far from the east is from the west. Because of the work of Christ on the cross we are free from the bondage of sin, someone shout, “Hallelujah!” I know someone that is hurting. They have real problems which are the source of great pain and hardship. As I told a youth pastor one time, “It must be hard to be you.” What I mean is, it must be hard to be my friend. I don’t envy them and I’m afraid these circumstances might end up costing more than they ever thought they could pay for trouble. I get it. I’ve been where they are, and it was the grace of God that fixed the problem. It was really like a miracle so I know God is still doing crazy good things, and I have confidence that the Father can intervene.
But here’s the deal, we need to call His name, don’t we? My dad did not just show up at the scene of my crime. I had to get out of the car, wade through knee deep water and ask to borrow a phone (before cell phones). This is what I hope for with my friend.
Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him,” and Psalm 34:17 tells us, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”
How many of us have faith in God but fail to invite Him into our problems so that He can do what only He can do? We are full of pride, full of the flesh. Why is it easier to say, “No thank you. I got this.” Rather than say, “Lord, help!”
How many of us are struggling but we think our struggles are not so bad that we need to call 911 (pray)? We have bitterness from unforgiveness, we have jealousy, we have greed, we covet, we worship things, we are worldly. How many of us would rather just fight the battle before we are willing to surrender to Christ with our failures and win the war over the things that keep us in bondage?
Go ahead, dial Him up and see if He answers - He will.
He told me to tell you that.
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