"Solomon's Splendor"
I often think about the Israelites freedom walk and the time that they spent in the wilderness. After 400 years in captivity, the Lord set them free. As they walked through the wilderness, they lamented and they cried for their captivity to return. In the wilderness, there were many unknowns, they didn’t know what to expect. They didn’t know what would meet them over the next rise or around the next bend. They didn’t know where their protection would come from or where they would find food and shelter. The “comfort” of their captivity was more tolerable than the unknowns of their freedom. With each step that they took away from Egypt, they took a step of faith, in God’s provision and God’s promise of abundance.
We are all called on our own, personal freedom walks countless times in our lives. Sickness, unemployment, death all call us to the wilderness of our hearts and the unknown. We don’t have any idea what tomorrow will bring, what is waiting around the bend or the lurking behind the next hill. But we walk, and we take one step at a time, a step in faith, farther and farther away for that which held us in captivity. We find ourselves walking farther away from the hopeless job, we walk away from the abusive relationships, we trudge away from the sickness and the despair, we walk away from deceased love ones and we enter into the very wilderness of our hearts, where we have a choice. In this wilderness of our hearts there is fertile ground. We can sow seeds of faith or we can look back and long for the chains to return, the very chains of our captivity to be clamped around our necks again, entrapping us in bondage and slavery. If we choose the chains, the fertile ground of our hearts will allow the chains to grow and entwine us in the memories of our misery and in the longing for the familiarity of our shackles.
Or, we can rejoice in our freedom! We can walk on and hold dear what we once were and look forward, with pregnant expectancy, to what is to come. When we see the storm clouds on the horizon, rather than become frightened, we can see the eye of God that is always watching us and providing for us. Those clouds will bring life, they will clear the old things away. The rain restores and the wind cleans the cobwebs of our memories, so that we can become the very reflection of God and reflect His countenance of abundance and provision. In the eye of your storm, watch for the daily manna that God will provide. Look for the blessings in your circumstances Open your heart wide and send out a daily olive branch, a twig of hope and faith, that will return back to you with a promise that solid ground is on the way and right around the corner
Fun Fact: There are LOTS of hidden images in this piece! Look for SDG two times, along with other messages from the Lord...... ; )
22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
Luke 12: 22-32
Copyright 2010 Lisa Albinus
