What is your Security Blanket?
We all know what makes us tick. What keeps us going day to day. What upsets us. What drives us crazy. What we need to feel “ok”. What helps us to take that next step forward? What motivates us? What scares us? What we have our faith in.
However, the question I’m asking you today, where do you find your security? What is it that makes you feel that you are doing the right thing? Or rather, how do you keep your life on the straight and narrow? People? Money? Education? Politeness? Rule Following? Perfectness? Sobriety? Doctors? A certain Job?
If only (we say): I had that job, more money, I could see that doctor, she would quit drinking, I was married, I was divorced. Because I (we brag): don’t drink, follow the rules, treat people right, go to church, pay my bills, have a degree.
No matter how noble, righteous, or dignified your “thing” is, I’m here to break it down, tear it to shreds and toss it in the trash can. There is only one “thing” for sure that we should get our security from.
There is only one guarantee my friend.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Psalms 40:4
Monday
People?
I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same……. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Mark 13:40,41, 44-46
Christina Mae Watson married Daniel Watson. Eleven days later they were on their honeymoon scuba diving at the great barrier reef in Australia. The groom, an experienced diver who had completed a dive-rescue course, had Christina’s complete trust. He had done this many times before and she felt safe with him. However, instead of keeping her safe, he murdered her, underwater while scuba diving. Her modest life insurance policy was his motivation.
There are literally thousands of stories about sexual abuse victims who were abused by an immediate family member, someone they had complete and total trust in. In addition, the TV is full of true stories about spouses killing spouses. Both of these type incidents happen more often than you can imagine.
These are extreme situations, but the point is this: People will fail us over and over and over. The evil lurking in these examples is in all of us. We are all capable of hurting other people. So many times, we think the elusive happiness that we’re all searching for is found in a person. It’s just not true.
Love others, support others, and embrace others. However, do not wrongly put all of your trust, faith and security in another person.
Real, true happiness is found in a relationship with God our Father, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Don’t bank on your happiness being in the hands of another person, or even a group of people. Spend as much time with God as you do watching at least ONE TV show.
Lord, please, help me to focus on You for my security and peace.
Tuesday
Sobriety?
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
A very good friend of mine nobly took the extremely painful steps 20 years ago to gain her sobriety. It was a long hard road, but she stayed sober and has continued doing so until this day. She married a fellow sober recovered alcoholic. Together, they knew sobriety was the answer. Alcohol was the problem and they had licked it. But guess what, sober and all, they are in the midst of divorce, with young children watching it all with eyes and ears wide open.
Alcoholism runs rampant every where I turn. I’ve often thought, “if only”. If only he/she/they would sober up. As an individual, staying sober is absolutely the right thing to do. Conversely, sobriety is not the answer to happiness, no matter what side you are looking from. Any habit or addiction is harmful to you and those around you. However, not letting someone sort it out on their own is almost just as harmful. That habit can be alcohol, drugs, pornography, over eating, being a workaholic, etc., etc..
Do you think nagging and being angry with someone you love is the right thing to do? Because you know if they’d kick the habit everything will be solved? Wrong. Quit looking to that as the answer. Focus your energy on yourself and your relationship with God. Otherwise, you are spinning your wheels and causing more damage than you realize. Instead, get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger and love yourself and others as Christ loves them.
Lord, please help me to see that You are the answer to all of my issues. Forgive me for falsely believing the key to happiness is to change others. I put my trust in You and You alone.
Wednesday
Rule Following?
(God said to Samson’s mother) You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut.
*******
Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down,and his strength left him. Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
Judges 13: 5
Judges 16: 19-20
Roy always followed all the rules in driving, never sped, always came to a complete stop, never got a ticket. Accelerated and used his brakes slowly. He was a meticulous driver. However, it didn’t matter how great he followed the rules of driving, he was killed in a traffic accident.
I don’t like driving at night, or in the rain. My brother refuses to be in an airplane unless absolutely necessary. Driving only at certain times and not flying: these are the rules we believe will keep us safe. I know other people that believe doing everything single little thing “perfect” will keep their life in check, all the while, their relationships are falling down all around them. A completely healthy man that runs every day and eats right; falls over dead of heart disease. A woman gets her yearly mammogram; dies of breast cancer.
All of these people, including myself have been deceived into thinking their “rules for life” will keep them alive and well. Yes, it makes sense to be prudent in your thinking and day to day life. However, don’t mistake sensibility with faith in God. You can not force your way into a great, perfect long life by doing all the right things. Even Sampson above, followed the rules of keeping his hair long, but evil still found a way to bring him down.
Lord, help me to realize when I am mistaking following rules for having faith in You. I want my faith in you to be my only refuge.
Thursday
Money?
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Matthew 16:26
It was a made for TV Christmas story. Whittaker’s hardworking family became celebrities overnight, when he won 315 million in the Powerball Lottery. But as Whittaker celebrated his good fortune, he had no way of knowing that he was embarking on a journey that would lead to tragedy and the loss of everything he held dear.
****
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American writer and journalist. He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for The Old Man and the Sea, and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. He spent several months as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. Ernest Hemingway was a legend in his own life-time - in a sense, a legend of his own making. Hemingway sealed his own notoriety when he killed himself with a shotgun in 1961.
Everyone has been there, “If I only had more money, all would be ok.” We have all heard others say, “Yes, but money can’t buy you happiness.” The fact is that if you are struggling with money issues, it is extremely hard NOT to think money will make everything better. It’s only natural and our innate human longing that causes us think this way. Do reading the examples above convince you? Those stories are just a very small percentage of similar stories.
The key is this: Accept where you are in life, continue to try to make a better living for yourself, BUT, find happiness right where you are, with what you have. This my friend is the only way you are going to find the security you want and need.
Putting your faith in the wrong thing causes you to need a life lesson, and trust me, they hurt. God is waiting for you to accept your life just the way it is.
Lord, I don’t want my security to falsely come from perceived financial wealth. I want all of my security and faith to be in you. Please, help me to see where I am failing in the area.
Friday
The key is that keeping our security in God will propel us to a sanctuary that He alone can provide. This is possible no matter what our physical health, financial prosperity, educational accomplishments, rule following ability or soberness can provide.
Lord, help me to discern the difference in finding my security in You or in false Gods. Allow me to concentrate fully on your blessings and peace, rather then scrambling to make everything else line up.
We all know what makes us tick. What keeps us going day to day. What upsets us. What drives us crazy. What we need to feel “ok”. What helps us to take that next step forward? What motivates us? What scares us? What we have our faith in.
However, the question I’m asking you today, where do you find your security? What is it that makes you feel that you are doing the right thing? Or rather, how do you keep your life on the straight and narrow? People? Money? Education? Politeness? Rule Following? Perfectness? Sobriety? Doctors? A certain Job?
If only (we say): I had that job, more money, I could see that doctor, she would quit drinking, I was married, I was divorced. Because I (we brag): don’t drink, follow the rules, treat people right, go to church, pay my bills, have a degree.
No matter how noble, righteous, or dignified your “thing” is, I’m here to break it down, tear it to shreds and toss it in the trash can. There is only one “thing” for sure that we should get our security from.
There is only one guarantee my friend.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Psalms 40:4
Monday
People?
I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same……. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Mark 13:40,41, 44-46
Christina Mae Watson married Daniel Watson. Eleven days later they were on their honeymoon scuba diving at the great barrier reef in Australia. The groom, an experienced diver who had completed a dive-rescue course, had Christina’s complete trust. He had done this many times before and she felt safe with him. However, instead of keeping her safe, he murdered her, underwater while scuba diving. Her modest life insurance policy was his motivation.
There are literally thousands of stories about sexual abuse victims who were abused by an immediate family member, someone they had complete and total trust in. In addition, the TV is full of true stories about spouses killing spouses. Both of these type incidents happen more often than you can imagine.
These are extreme situations, but the point is this: People will fail us over and over and over. The evil lurking in these examples is in all of us. We are all capable of hurting other people. So many times, we think the elusive happiness that we’re all searching for is found in a person. It’s just not true.
Love others, support others, and embrace others. However, do not wrongly put all of your trust, faith and security in another person.
Real, true happiness is found in a relationship with God our Father, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Don’t bank on your happiness being in the hands of another person, or even a group of people. Spend as much time with God as you do watching at least ONE TV show.
Lord, please, help me to focus on You for my security and peace.
Tuesday
Sobriety?
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
A very good friend of mine nobly took the extremely painful steps 20 years ago to gain her sobriety. It was a long hard road, but she stayed sober and has continued doing so until this day. She married a fellow sober recovered alcoholic. Together, they knew sobriety was the answer. Alcohol was the problem and they had licked it. But guess what, sober and all, they are in the midst of divorce, with young children watching it all with eyes and ears wide open.
Alcoholism runs rampant every where I turn. I’ve often thought, “if only”. If only he/she/they would sober up. As an individual, staying sober is absolutely the right thing to do. Conversely, sobriety is not the answer to happiness, no matter what side you are looking from. Any habit or addiction is harmful to you and those around you. However, not letting someone sort it out on their own is almost just as harmful. That habit can be alcohol, drugs, pornography, over eating, being a workaholic, etc., etc..
Do you think nagging and being angry with someone you love is the right thing to do? Because you know if they’d kick the habit everything will be solved? Wrong. Quit looking to that as the answer. Focus your energy on yourself and your relationship with God. Otherwise, you are spinning your wheels and causing more damage than you realize. Instead, get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger and love yourself and others as Christ loves them.
Lord, please help me to see that You are the answer to all of my issues. Forgive me for falsely believing the key to happiness is to change others. I put my trust in You and You alone.
Wednesday
Rule Following?
(God said to Samson’s mother) You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut.
*******
Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down,and his strength left him. Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
Judges 13: 5
Judges 16: 19-20
Roy always followed all the rules in driving, never sped, always came to a complete stop, never got a ticket. Accelerated and used his brakes slowly. He was a meticulous driver. However, it didn’t matter how great he followed the rules of driving, he was killed in a traffic accident.
I don’t like driving at night, or in the rain. My brother refuses to be in an airplane unless absolutely necessary. Driving only at certain times and not flying: these are the rules we believe will keep us safe. I know other people that believe doing everything single little thing “perfect” will keep their life in check, all the while, their relationships are falling down all around them. A completely healthy man that runs every day and eats right; falls over dead of heart disease. A woman gets her yearly mammogram; dies of breast cancer.
All of these people, including myself have been deceived into thinking their “rules for life” will keep them alive and well. Yes, it makes sense to be prudent in your thinking and day to day life. However, don’t mistake sensibility with faith in God. You can not force your way into a great, perfect long life by doing all the right things. Even Sampson above, followed the rules of keeping his hair long, but evil still found a way to bring him down.
Lord, help me to realize when I am mistaking following rules for having faith in You. I want my faith in you to be my only refuge.
Thursday
Money?
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Matthew 16:26
It was a made for TV Christmas story. Whittaker’s hardworking family became celebrities overnight, when he won 315 million in the Powerball Lottery. But as Whittaker celebrated his good fortune, he had no way of knowing that he was embarking on a journey that would lead to tragedy and the loss of everything he held dear.
****
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American writer and journalist. He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for The Old Man and the Sea, and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. He spent several months as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. Ernest Hemingway was a legend in his own life-time - in a sense, a legend of his own making. Hemingway sealed his own notoriety when he killed himself with a shotgun in 1961.
Everyone has been there, “If I only had more money, all would be ok.” We have all heard others say, “Yes, but money can’t buy you happiness.” The fact is that if you are struggling with money issues, it is extremely hard NOT to think money will make everything better. It’s only natural and our innate human longing that causes us think this way. Do reading the examples above convince you? Those stories are just a very small percentage of similar stories.
The key is this: Accept where you are in life, continue to try to make a better living for yourself, BUT, find happiness right where you are, with what you have. This my friend is the only way you are going to find the security you want and need.
Putting your faith in the wrong thing causes you to need a life lesson, and trust me, they hurt. God is waiting for you to accept your life just the way it is.
Lord, I don’t want my security to falsely come from perceived financial wealth. I want all of my security and faith to be in you. Please, help me to see where I am failing in the area.
Friday
When you are a kidnapped victim and then you have your own children, while still kidnapped, what do you worry about? What and whom do you trust? What do you fear for your children? This child was thrust into an awful situation and yet, under the most awful of circumstances she raises her two children.
We take our kids to get their yearly check up, we attend our parent teacher conferences; we challenge ourselves to feed them three healthy meals a day, a good night’s sleep in a quiet safe room. However, Jaycee was never able to take her two girls to a doctor nor was she allowed to enroll them in school. They lived outside, as if camping day in and day out. Nevertheless, they are alive, seemingly healthy and educated. I am amazed with Jaycee, the human spirit and the capacity to adapt and survive.
God is in control my friends. As you navigate your way through this life, good and bad things will happen to you and your loved ones. No matter how perfect you live your life or follow the rules. The reality is that every thing can change on a dime, good or bad. In Joseph’s story above and in Jaycee’s, in spite of overwhelming odds against them, they survived.
The key is that keeping our security in God will propel us to a sanctuary that He alone can provide. This is possible no matter what our physical health, financial prosperity, educational accomplishments, rule following ability or soberness can provide.
Lord, help me to discern the difference in finding my security in You or in false Gods. Allow me to concentrate fully on your blessings and peace, rather then scrambling to make everything else line up.
