Putting a gift into just the right box, wrapped just the right way, topped with just the right ribbon seems to make it extra special, doesn’t it?
As it awaits its opening, it draws glances and wonder, maybe looking even too pretty to unwrap.
Have you ever, though, put God in a box? Oh, what we miss of God when we try to contain him!
We have excuses for why might try to stuff God into a box. We might want to muffle God’s truths to avoid conviction. Maybe we want to minimize God’s guidance because we want to be in charge. Could it be that we push God away when we are confused and weary? Might we try to hide some aspects of God to present him as more appealing?
Perhaps you are dealing with a very difficult circumstance right now. Whatever your situation is, God knows all about it and he knows all your emotions in it and he knows how to help you through it. Are you giving God the opportunity to be who he says he is? Or, in your struggle, are you limiting him based on your comfort level or others’ opinion or a lack of knowledge of who he says he is?
Who is the God of your faith? Learn about him, talk with him, read how he has worked in the past so you can find him faithful in the present – even in your present situations. The miracle-working God is able to turn hearts toward himself. Even if a difficult situation does not seem to change, God’s power-and-love is able to guide you through it. Will you let him do this?
Do you believe God is loving? Allow him to comfort you. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (1 Corinthians 1:3-4a NIV).
Do you believe God is faithful? Allow him to lead you. “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4 NIV).
Do you believe God is able to restore? Allow him to work in you. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b NIV, letter H for Healer in Follow and Lead).
We serve the great and mighty God!
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV).
Allow God the opportunity to work in your life as you meditate on and study his truths using Follow and Lead or any Heart Training book! Encourage someone else in this, too, when you give a book as a gift.