His Glory

"Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief."  This is #2 of God-given strategies for difficult times discussed in Robert Morgan's book The Red Sea Rules The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out.  This book. These rules. Whew. The timing the Lord has is impeccable.  Our pastors at Sierra Vista Presbyterian are preaching on this book right now. And Paul's sermon on rule #2 sunk in at just the right time.  Sunday was a great day, then Monday came crashing down upon us.  The house we made an offer on, are living in, and thought we would stay in got another higher, better offer.  I cried.  Believe me, I cried.  I sat on the floor of our closet in the dark, rocked back and forth, and sobbed my heart out.  I even had to excuse myself from the dinner table when tears started to fall again.  But...God shines through.  God whispers His comfort, His perfect words, and I am at peace.  How?  Because I have realized God's glory is more important than my plan.  God's glory is more important than my life.  Instead of praying, "God, get me out of this mess" as my sinful nature desperately wanted to, I decided to put Paul's sermon into practice.  I decided to pray, "How can I bring glory to God in this situation?"  How can my life point others to the Creator of the universe?  You know, peace FLOODS. It doesn't seem to seep slowly into my soul, it POURS, saturates, drowns.  What a wonderful feeling.


"God never wastes a suffering.  He always uses them to help us grow."  Lord, help me to grow.  Help our girls to see Your awesome power and provision.  Help them to see parents who fully trust in You.  Help my dear husband to experience this incredible peace and joy.  Help us to follow You wherever You lead.


The rest of those strategies?
Rule #1-- Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
Rule #2 -- Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief.
Rule #3 -- Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Rule #4 -- Pray.
Rule #5 -- Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
Rule #6 -- When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
Rule #7 -- Envision God's enveloping presence.
Rule #8 -- Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
Rule #9 -- View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
Rule #10 -- Don't forget to praise Him.


So, we will wait.  We will go look at other houses, just in case.  Just in case God doesn't want us to stay in this house because we know He is able to keep us here if that's His will.  Just in case God has a better house for us. A better place for us to be.  I can't imagine.  I thought we could be a light right here.  Maybe we still will be.  Maybe we already have been and it's time to move on.  I don't know.  But God does, and I'm perfectly content to let Him work.  Steve said he hates being in "crisis mode."  And I hate the "not knowing," too.  I'd like to be settled and have a house that is our very own.  But crisis is where we have a chance to let God work His OWN way.  We have no clue what we're doing so we have to let Him lead.  It's hard, but it's a GREAT place to be.  Let's "stay calm and confident, and give God time to work." :)