Yesterday I stopped by our local lawn mower dealer to get a tune-up kit for my lawn mower. The grass is starting to grow, and it is time to get the machine running well so it will do its job this spring/summer/fall. As I walked into the area to order parts, I could not help but admire the new lawn mowers! I saw some that were more powerful than mine, and obviously newer than mine. I paused to dream a bit about how nice it would be to have a new mower that could do all the new things the mowers do today.
It made me smile, because I do this same thing every year. We men like new “toys.” Every year I seem to go through this “dreaming” process as I go to pick up my tune-up kit. Of course, the place I go has the new mowers strategically placed so that you must walk past them to order new parts, or to ask questions about the machine you own. The mower with more power; with more accessories; with a larger deck for mowing; all are on the way in to the shop. We are constantly tempted to reach for that thing that is just beyond what we have, or what we think we need.
Today I read, “Through thee we will push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah” (Psalm 44:5-8). I was reminded that it is not by my strength that victory will come. It is not through my intelligence that problems will be solved. It is not by my bank account that my needs will be met.
I have a God in Heaven, Who wants to have a very active role in my life. God loves His children and does all He can to affect their lives for His glory and goals. Today I rest in the fact that it will be God Who will fight for me. It is God Who will step on the enemies that want to rise up and fight against me. He can handle the pride that wants to destroy me. He can defeat the fears that I have of the things that might come across my path today. He can give me the time I need to accomplish the things He has placed on my heart to do for Him. He can conquer the lack of knowledge I have and give me the understanding of different situations I face for His will to be accomplished.
The strength and wisdom I need for today is well within the abilities of my Heavenly Father. Today I want to rest in Him and do all I can for Him! I want to be a yielded vessel that He can use today. Not by my might …