Another reminder from the Lord tonight in my time with Him...This is from a wonderful book that I read with Jamie as he entered his teenage years and am reading with Eli now called Created To Work by Bob Schultz. It isn't just for boys though...I learn (and relearn) things as I read through it.
Here is the excerpt from tonight...
"I learned some things about confidence while playing high school baseball. I got plenty of hits but they always went to right field. My coach blamed it on my slow swing. But when we played against McKenzie High School, the reason for my trouble became clear.
"Tim, McKenzie's pitcher, was the fastest in our league. He could throw a fastball past most of our best hitters, strike after strike.
"The first time at the plate, I hit the ball so hard it knocked down the shortstop. My next hit went out into left field for a single. My third swing sent the ball all the way to the left center fence! How could this slow right-field hitter blast Tim's fastball almost out of the park? My shocked coach asked, "What happened to you?"
"The answer was simple, "Confidence." Tim was the only pitcher in the league that could control the baseball. I had complete assurance he wouldn't hit me. With other pitchers, I feared being hit. The wilder the pitcher, the more I thought about the ball hitting me, rather than me hitting the ball. However, with Tim it was different. When he started winding up, I started swinging. I trusted his control, kept my eye on the ball and hit away.
"At the root of Christianity is the belief that the God Who created the universe controls it. Every life event thrown to you and me comes from the most controlled Pitcher in the world.
"When a Christian begins to lose confidence, it's often because he's lost sight of God's control. False, fearful ideas creep into his mind where thoughts of safety and courage belong. He starts to think that events happen by chance instead of under the watchful eye of God.
" The first step back to confidence is telling God the details of your life--what's happening and what you think about it. Instead of struggling, running, crying, or hiding, stop; quietly open your heart to God. There is a tendency in all of us to run when we get scared. Running only increases our trouble.
"Isaiah 30:15,16 described me, 'For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee; and We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.'
" Returning to the simple belief that God is in control, telling Him every detail of my trouble and resting in His care is the greatest source of my confidence."
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."
Here is the excerpt from tonight...
"I learned some things about confidence while playing high school baseball. I got plenty of hits but they always went to right field. My coach blamed it on my slow swing. But when we played against McKenzie High School, the reason for my trouble became clear.
"Tim, McKenzie's pitcher, was the fastest in our league. He could throw a fastball past most of our best hitters, strike after strike.
"The first time at the plate, I hit the ball so hard it knocked down the shortstop. My next hit went out into left field for a single. My third swing sent the ball all the way to the left center fence! How could this slow right-field hitter blast Tim's fastball almost out of the park? My shocked coach asked, "What happened to you?"
"The answer was simple, "Confidence." Tim was the only pitcher in the league that could control the baseball. I had complete assurance he wouldn't hit me. With other pitchers, I feared being hit. The wilder the pitcher, the more I thought about the ball hitting me, rather than me hitting the ball. However, with Tim it was different. When he started winding up, I started swinging. I trusted his control, kept my eye on the ball and hit away.
"At the root of Christianity is the belief that the God Who created the universe controls it. Every life event thrown to you and me comes from the most controlled Pitcher in the world.
"When a Christian begins to lose confidence, it's often because he's lost sight of God's control. False, fearful ideas creep into his mind where thoughts of safety and courage belong. He starts to think that events happen by chance instead of under the watchful eye of God.
" The first step back to confidence is telling God the details of your life--what's happening and what you think about it. Instead of struggling, running, crying, or hiding, stop; quietly open your heart to God. There is a tendency in all of us to run when we get scared. Running only increases our trouble.
"Isaiah 30:15,16 described me, 'For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee; and We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.'
" Returning to the simple belief that God is in control, telling Him every detail of my trouble and resting in His care is the greatest source of my confidence."
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."
We can keep our confidence in God because He knows us totally. And He loves us always. He loved me at my worst and still loved me now. It is an amazing love, a trustworthy love.
Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Christ didn't wait until I "got it all together". He doesn't withhold His gift of salvation and forgiveness until I can "get my act together". When Jesus Christ sees a broken and repentant heart, one who sees the truth about herself and comes to Him with that truth, He says, "I already know who you are. I love you anyway. You are one I have died for. Come...enjoy eternal life with me under my righteousness."
Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Christ didn't wait until I "got it all together". He doesn't withhold His gift of salvation and forgiveness until I can "get my act together". When Jesus Christ sees a broken and repentant heart, one who sees the truth about herself and comes to Him with that truth, He says, "I already know who you are. I love you anyway. You are one I have died for. Come...enjoy eternal life with me under my righteousness."
It does not matter if you are 20 or 80 ...Jesus is ready to tell you the same thing. You are the one that He thought of when He gave His life to save your life from sin's penalty. You are the one He loves. You are the one He rejoices to see return to Him like a prodigal son returns to his parents.
His love is amazing.
His love is amazing.
