My Way, or God's Way

Sometimes the simple way seems to be too simple, and we miss out on the best way. 

(Photo Source: Dreamstime)

"A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us to the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. ~ Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ."

(My Utmost for His Highest)

Reading these thoughts by Oswald Chambers this last week made me think again of the words of Jesus in Philippians 4:6-7 ...

"Don't worry about anything; 

instead, pray about everything.

 Tell God what you need, 

and thank Him for all He has done. 

Then you will experience God's peace, 

which exceeds anything we can understand. 

His peace will guard your hearts and minds 

as you live in Christ Jesus."

How often do I choose the hard way, thinking that my circumstances warrant worry? And then as I travel down that lonely, dismal road, I find myself desperately searching for signs of peace. But peace is not found on the road of worry. 

The best way is so simple that we can easily miss it. And I want to learn more and more to take the simple way ... to listen to His Words, and to put one step in front of the other, and follow Him on the road to peace. 

And along this path of praying instead of worrying, I will be filled with joy, counting His unending gifts along the way.

Thank You, loving Lord, for Your gifts to me this past week:

~ A long phone call with our oldest son ... so good to hear from his heart.

~ My loving husband, so patient with me ... always.

~ Our empty nest years together ... we love these years.

~ Land purchase by a daughter and son-in-law ... will be wonderful to have them live close by!

~ Greeting our little grandson at the door, with his new cowboy boots and a backpack ... so cute.

~ Rocking this little two year-old grandson to sleep later that night ...

~ Good heart-to-heart time of sharing with a sweet daughter ...

~ Having our Honda fixed for a third of the cost ... after damage from a deer.

~ The best news ever ... one of our SV volunteers leading a middle school student to Jesus!

~ Thirty-one people now, from our church, choosing to memorize Colossians in-a-year.

~ Perfect timing of things ... our pastor teaching on Colossians for these first 4 - 5 months of the year.

~ Gathering with like-minded friends to pray before our worship time at church ...

~ Such joy to worship and learn with others who speak the same language of our hearts.

~ Your Spirit within, helping me daily, throughout each day, to pray instead of worry ...

~ And helping me back to the simple path when I wander off.

(One Thousand Gifts #201-215)