Religion

Exiting the Roundabout

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Roundabouts are replacing congested and busy intersections in Michigan to keep traffic moving smoothly and reduce traffic accidents. These traffic roundabouts are often conundrums for drivers who experience them for the first time. Drivers are to yield to oncoming traffic within the roundabout as they merge into the roundabout themselves. Then drivers are to move within the roundabout taking the appropriate exit to their planned destination.

Too often drivers miss their exit or are unsure of their exit to only to keep circling in the roundabout in frustration waiting for an opportunity to merge onto any exit. Other drivers witnessing the inexperienced roundabout driver can be seen at times offering hand gestures which are either kind or rude which can be accompanied by honking their vehicle horn.

Traffic roundabouts can be stressful when I am unsure of my exit or where I am going. Life is like a traffic roundabout. Decisions to merge or exit can be daunting. At times it takes courage to trust where I am going and that I will arrive at my destination on time. Witnessing others in their uncertainty can also cause me to become stressed. Trusting my motives takes courage to decide whether my intercession is helpful or enabling their distress.

Wisdom’s Blessings Come from the LORD

“The plans of the heart belong to humans,
but an answer on the tongue comes from the LORD.
A person thinks all his ways are pure,
but the LORD weighs motives.
Entrust your efforts to the LORD,
and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:1-3 (GW)

“Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (GW)

Prayer Journal Prompt:

“COME CLOSE TO GOD, AND HE WILL COME CLOSE TO YOU.” JAMES 4:8 (GW)

What has me going in circles?
How can I trust my decisions are correct?
Are my motives pure?
What does it mean to me, “Trust the Lord… and not rely on my own understanding”?

(c) 2016-2023 All Rights are Reserved

An Undiminished Radiance

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The foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless love of God who exhibited the ultimate power of that love through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 (GW)

I can never earn God’s love for me. Yet He loves me still.

It is, I, who desires to draw closer to Him… or not. I try to fight against my circumstances – hardships, adversity, suffering, in mind, body, and spirit – whatever my circumstances may be are the very things that will sift and sand me into something beautiful and shiny.

“What will separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death separate us from his love?… The one who loves us gives an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties.” Romans 8.35-37 (GW)

The world wants me to see my circumstances and my sin differently than God. I recognize in my circumstances as I draw closer to Him that confession, repentance, and obedience are the necessary tools to feeling the love of God has for me. It is not the shallowness of the simple act of confession, but the genuine confessing, repenting, and the grieving of my sin that impacts my devotion to Him.

I persevere in my faith in Jesus Christ to look past my circumstances to see what God sees – an undiminished radiance.

“In fact, to be distressed in a godly way causes people to change the way they think and act and leads them to be saved. No one can regret that. But the distress that the world causes brings only death. When you became distressed in a godly way, look at how much devotion it caused you to have.” 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (GW)

Prayer Journal Prompt:

“COME CLOSE TO GOD, AND HE WILL COME CLOSE TO YOU.” JAMES 4:8 (GW)

Am I keeping my distance from God? Why?

How does the world view my circumstances?

What is happening in my life that keeps me from seeing what God sees?

What does, “the grieving of my sin” mean to me? What does it mean to God?

 

(c) 2016-2023 All Rights are Reserved