Theophobia vs. Triskadekaphobia

This will be the last Friday the 13th before Rob and Ayla's wedding. It's supposed to be an unlucky day, but I've not really seen it. Your Uncle Todd was even born on a Friday the 13th (1963), and he's been a pretty blessed fellow.

Now we're not ones for luck - good or bad. We believe the Father is in control of everything. The Bible tells us in Psalm 115:3, "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases." Isaiah 45:7 says, "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things," and in Proverbs 16:9, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."  In Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose," and in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." It is comforting to rest in the arms of the Creator of the universe and know that He has it all under control. There is nothing that will happen that He is not aware of. Nothing surprises Him. And the evil that man creates, God uses for His good. Glory to Him.

One of my first favorite contemporary Christian songs is called God Is In Control by Twila Paris. The first verse and chorus say this:

This is no time for fear
This is the time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here carried away by the motion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together
God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control

Walking under ladders. A black cat crossing in front of you. Opening an umbrella indoors. Spilling salt. These things cannot harm you. Our fate is in the hands of the One who created time itself. So skip any triskadekaphobia and instead embrace theophobia. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," Psalm 111:10. It's not being afraid of God but more of a reverence of Him. As it says in Psalm 33:8 "Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." And that is something we don't need a special day or date for. We can do that every single day.

Discussion: Do you think there is anything that brings bad luck or good luck? What do you think the fear of the Lord is?

Prayer: Father God, we thank you that you are so awesome, loving, compassionate and in control of our lives. Help us to surrender all that we are to what You want us to be. We love you so very much. Glory to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Be It Unto Me

Last Sunday after worship I asked a gal who is graduating from college this month what she was planning to do next. She said she had several options and added: "Just like your husband preached about today, I'm giving it to God and waiting to see where He leads."

How wonderful to have the confidence in God that He is in control. I heard it in Ayla's voice yesterday when she commented that her car was making strange noises. She said, "Please pray my car holds on. After this wisdom teeth surgery I have little money to my name right now. Just taking it day by day and hoping the car makes it. God has this." She knew God was in control.

This Christmas season we can look at Joseph and Mary and see their confidence that God had everything firmly in His hands, as my friend Rhona reminded me yesterday. Mary saying, "Be it unto me according to Your word, O Lord" (Luke 1:38) when the angel told her she will give birth to the Son of the Most High. Joseph taking a pregnant woman as his wife after a visit from the angel of the Lord in his dream. Both fleeing to Egypt after a warning in another dream. God had it in control, and they were obedient to Him.

That is our advice to you this day: that you remember who is in control and walk in obedience to His direction. The Father knows what will happen today and what will happen in the future. He knows the path you need to take to grow ever closer like and to Him. He knows what challenges are ahead. He knows your joys. He's got it all. Job 12:10 says: "In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." In Proverbs 16:9 it says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Ephesians 1:11 says, "In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will." Isaiah 14:24 says, "The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." 

Twila Paris sings in one of my favorite songs "God Is In Control:"

This is no time for fear
This is the time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here carried away by the motion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together
God is in control

Knowing that God has it all in His control as part of His plan is comforting, so going to Him in prayer to ask for guidance and then acting in obedience to it is essential and, frankly, wise.

Every major decision we've had to make as a couple we went to God about. Every job change, every move, tragic circumstances, major purchases ... we wanted to make sure we were acting in obedience and following His plan for our lives. He hasn't failed us yet and promises us He will not.

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse commonly found on graduation cards. It says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope," but it's Jeremiah 29:12-13 that completes the statement: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Want to know what God has planned? Ask Him. He will show the way. Scripture tells us in Isaiah 30:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'” So don't forget to ask, listen ... and obey. Then be amazed and give Him the glory. As it says in Exodus 9:16, "But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." 

Discussion: Share a time when you heard an answer to prayer about what you should do next in your life. Are there questions you have now for your future? How has God amazed you in guiding your life?

Prayer: Father, we are so thankful You have our lives in Your hands. Help us, Father, listen closely to Your direction and follow Your will. We pray we wiill glorify Your name in this journey of life. In Jesus, Amen.