Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Balance Keeps You Headed in the Right Direction

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It’s all about balance. That’s what I learned from my eleven year old grandson. I can hear the doubt in your thoughts: Eleven years old and he’s teaching YOU, a wise sixty-one year old, about balance?? 

Well, I may be a wise older woman, but this young kid taught me a thing or two.

“Granny, will you go walk around the block, so I can go with you and ride my hoverboard?”

My first thoughts were “No, even though it’s winter, it feels like 100 degrees outside, and it’s humid. No, this Granny doesn’t do exercise. No, let’s just sit and visit.”

But that sweet, innocent face! I was honored that he wanted to walk with me. Well, I walked, he hovered. We had a lovely visit. I knew all too soon he would scoff at the thought of walking with his Granny! And I learned a lot from him!

It wasn’t his words that taught me. It was the hoverboard. Or, what I would call a skateboard on steroids!

I watched as he delicately balanced himself. He leaned forward ever so slightly to move ahead. To stay in step with me, he leaned back just a little; and to turn, all it took was a small lean to the right or left. Balance. It was all about balance.

When he leaned too far forward, he would rush full speed ahead and fall off. When he leaned too far back, he would come to a dead stop, lagging behind on our walk. And he would zoom around in furious circles when he leaned too far left or right. 

I feel like I have been running in circles lately. Is my balance off?

One recent decision, I completely ran ahead of God. It was obvious I should have said “no” and instead I said “yes.” FOMO. Fear of missing out, which also caused a face plant in the concrete from rushing ahead too fast.

And those times Holy Spirit keeps tapping me on the shoulder to do this ONE thing? This one VERY HARD thing? Well, that’s me lagging behind Him. Dragging my feet. Screaming in my head like a three year old, “Noooo, I don’t want to!”

Are you out of balance, too?

Let’s begin this new year and decade walking humbly in step with the Lord (Micah 6:8). Will you listen when He calls you to the path He wants you to follow?

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21 NASB

Jesus, I pray that 2020 will be our year of clarity in following You! As You guide us to the right or to the left, let us be led by You, and not our own desires. Open our ears to hear Your voice calling “This is the way, follow Me!” Amen!

 

Why On Earth Should I Pray?

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The scene played over and over in my mind. Like summer re-runs on tv, it kept looping through my thoughts. I re-lived every word. Could I have said or done anything differently? I had no peace about the situation. I tried to act like an adult by not moaning and groaning about it to everyone (not much, anyway). But my soul was greatly disturbed.

I was fighting mad, shadowboxing to try and resolve the situation that gnawed at me like termites on wood. Peace would not come.

During this time of angst, I was out of my normal morning routine of reading God’s Word and praying. Yes, I was reading my Bible each day, but unfortunately, I did not set aside time for a conversation with God. I wasn’t praying like I should have been.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB

God was faithful to place this scripture in my path that week. Like a big old boulder, He plunked it down right in front of me. There was no going around it. The thoughts in my mind were anything but quiet and peaceful. Paul tells us that we pray so that we can lead a tranquil life. I had neglected the one thing that could restore calm.

Could  Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane bring Him peace? He was brutally crucified. That doesn’t seem like a quiet and tranquil life to me. 

The original Greek word for quiet is hēsúchio, meaning undisturbed from without. Tranquil is from the Greek word ḗremos, meaning not easily upset or excited. Jesus could go to the cross because He was in constant contact with His Father through prayer.  His external circumstances did not disturb Him.

The battles and concerns I replayed over and over in my mind were things I should have taken to the Lord in prayer. There was nothing I could do in the circumstances. It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet. So I did.

[tweetthis]It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet.[/tweetthis]

Turning my concerns over to Jesus didn’t change my circumstances. Everything was the same; what was bothering me was still there. The difference was that praying about it gave me the peace of God. Through the power of prayer, I refused to let the situation excite me or disturb me. I had great peace. 

I like to think of it as prayer protection. Everything on the outside is still happening.  But now I am wrapped and protected in the arms of Jesus, sharing my concerns with Him. External circumstances do not disturb me. When I invite Jesus into my life and my situation He walks with me. I’d rather have Him by my side, experiencing His peace, than walk all alone.

Don’t let life’s circumstances rattle you. Give your concerns to the Lord in prayer. Lead the tranquil and quiet life He desires for you.

Father, I thank you that we can take all our burdens to You in prayer, so that we can lead a quiet and tranquil life. Thank You for the peace that prayer brings. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Grace be with you,