What do you have hope and security in?

 What do you have hope and security in? 

Whatever it is that you trust or hope in, whether it be money, job, intellect, family, nature or health, at some point these things are going to let you down. One day there may be; a financial crisis, business may go bust, people will fail you, a natural disaster or illness will occur that destabilises your hope and security because they were never intended to give you the hope and security you need. The things of life that can be gained and enjoyed cannot be depended upon to stand the test of time and cannot be guaranteed and they do not last forever. They can be enjoyed and appreciated, but if they are aspects of life that you have security and hope in they are going to fail you as they cannot the tests and trials that life brings. It does not matter how much money you have if you get an incurable disease, and it does not matter how healthy you are if an earthquake destroys your town. Yet we can all rely on these things to help us and provide stability to life as they are tangible and seem attainable. It is a relief to have enough, an encouragement to have a prospering business and a happy family, and it is good to appreciate and value such things. Yet they do not make good sources of hope or security and they are certainly not very good gods. These aspects of our lifestyle were never meant to be all that your life is about. They should not be your only endeavour or end goal, and you need to be mindful how much of your time, talent and treasure is absorbed by such things so that they do not dominate your life. As when these aspirations fail you, or you fail to gain them, then what? Does your whole world crumble? Do you question your sense of self, your worth and purpose? If so, then these enjoyable elements of life have become far too important to you. One day beauty, money, health, family and friends will wane, and what will your hope and security be in then? Life does not need to depend on such fragile and temporal things. There is something else you can trust in that will never let you down. There is someone that will never fail you, and will always be there, that will give you eternal purpose and security that is not based on any of these fallible things - Almighty God. The creator and sustainer of the universe is willing and able to become your hope and security. The One who created all of the things you desire in life and outlives them all can provide you with; security, hope, refuge, assurance, confidence and belonging - forever.  Are you putting all of your hope and security in Him?

Psalm 46:1–11 (ESV):  

1  God is our refuge and strength, 

a very present help in trouble. 

2  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, 

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 

3  though its waters roar and foam, 

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 

4  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 

the holy habitation of the Most High. 

5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; 

God will help her when morning dawns. 

6  The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; 

he utters his voice, the earth melts. 

7  The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

8  Come, behold the works of the Lord, 

how he has brought desolations on the earth. 

9  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; 

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; 

he burns the chariots with fire. 

10  “Be still, and know that I am God. 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth!” 

11  The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

God can fulfil any need or desire that you have. He can conquer any battle you face. He has power over; nature, nations and cities! He is strong and capable to completely shatter and to build. God can bring you peace when ‘the mountains tremble’, He can be your refuge when ‘the nations rage’. Are you depending on Him? Is He your hope and security?

For ‘he utters his voice, the earth melts.’! What a powerful and beautiful truth - God just speaks and the earth can melt! Just as His voice brought light and life to creation, He can also speak to melt things away. This is true on a universal scale as well as an individual one. Whatever needs to cease or start in your life, God can bring it into being. He has the capability and the power to do it. Nothing is too small or too big for God - remember He reigns over nature, cities and the universe! So, what are you asking Him to challenge and change? 

Whatever you have had hope and security in before, can it even compare with this?!

Reading through this psalm reveals something of the power and nature of God. This is the God who also wants to be your Father and friend. You can have this Almighty and powerful God impacting your life, giving you permanence and purpose. You can know His strength and great love for you when you choose to follow Him and put your hope and security in Him. You can have; refuge, strength, confidence, assurance, peace, security, promises, a home, victory and His presence for all eternity if you choose to live a life knowing and honouring God. You can know and grow relationship with the One whose words cease and start things, with the One who is stable through every natural occurrence, who brings wars into insignificance and can melt the earth away. 

Can you really afford to live without Him? 

Other things in life that seek your time and attention cannot promise you all of this! They are nice to have and should be appreciated if you have them, but they will eventually let you down, disappoint and disillusion you. So why live your life relentlessly pursuing temporal matters that will falter and fail you, why live life for less when you can have the God of the universe as your hope and security?

Why not do as the psalmist tells us in verse 10; ‘Be still, and know that I am God’. That is a command to stop! Stop doing what you are doing, settle yourself down and remind yourself exactly who God is. God is enough, ‘behold the works of the Lord’ and see. He can sort out nature, He can conquer cities, and He can even cause the Earth to melt, so surely He is worth considering and pursuing in your life. Surely, it would be dangerous not to consider Him? So, today, take time to think about what you are chasing after in this life and if it is really worth it. Where is your hope and security? Then ‘Be still’, and consider God. 

What can you rely on and hope in Him for?

how do you explain the inexplicable?

 We have read how Belshazzar was terrified by the mysterious hand writing on the wall, now we see his response as he responds to the shock;

7*The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” *8*Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. *9*Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his colour changed, and his lords were perplexed. 

Daniel 5:7–9.

Can you see his desperation?

The king is so alarmed that in the midst of the celebration he ‘cries aloud’, surely an unnerving response for a king. Then he orders the infamous wise men to come, they are summoned by the king’s command in the midst of the celebration. These worldly experts are are faced with the terrified king, a grand audience and are requested to read and interpret some mysterious writing. Doesn’t sound like such a tough job - to read something, but they cannot. They too are puzzled by this writing and the terror of the king increases as he realises his own intellect and that of the 'experts' has been outwitted. Where else can he turn?

The very people that are meant to be able to help, to bring answers and comfort have nothing. Known for their arts, knowledge and understanding, what a disappointment the 'wise' must have been to themselves and the king as they are shown not to be able to even read! What a contrast to what the king, the thousand people present and even the wise men expected. 

This is what can result when we rely on worldly things - whether that be understanding, material goods or even 'experts' - we, at some point, will be disappointed and let down. The king already felt; scared, confused and terrified, he became more so as he realised that all the resources he was dependent on failed. There are times when all the explanations, reasonings and insights are not enough, when they do not provide answers that suffice - .what then?

Are you prepared to put aside your dependence on your own understanding, and consider that there is something ‘out of this world’ going on? That even, perhaps, there IS a God that is trying to get your attention by allowing you to see that your resources - however vast, experienced, and dependable they have previously seemed - are not enough. Or do you decide to bury those events deep inside and not even face them because you cannot comprehend them? Having to live without the answer. 

King Belshazzar was not prepared to do that - he did all he could to seek out what this event meant. He used all of his resources, and those of others he knew, and still he was left ‘greatly alarmed’, and others also became ‘perplexed’ as there seems to be no reasonable explanation. Where do you go then?

Oh God I need you

Oh God I need you…

Is that the cry of your heart?

It has been mine this week.

It is easy to see our need of God when things seem to be falling apart, when we are stuck in sin or desperate circumstances, when we have nowhere else to go, in those times it is easy to see that we need God. When we can’t do something; we are emotionally drained, exhausted with effort, tired, struggling alone - then it is was to cry out to God in desperation, fear, as a last resort. It is when we are aware of our limitations that we have no shame in saying, “oh God, I need you”.

But, how about the rest of the time?

It is easy to realise our limitations and inexperience when times are tough, when there’s a struggle, but how abut when things are fine? When life is good even? Do you have the same cry of your heart then - “oh God I need you”?
I’ve got to confess, I don’t. I mean, I know I still need salvation and forgiveness, and I do love God, and talk to him about stuff, but I don’t think I really recognise my need of Him in the same way. Normally, I just get through life, tackle challenges and daily occurrences without much thought of the Most High - is that your experience too?

So, this week, as things have been tough, I have needed God. I have been aware of what is lacking in me, and what God can provide, I have leant on Him afresh. I have cried out many times, “oh God I need you”. So, why don’t I do that the rest of the time? Usually, I just get carried away with the false idea, that when things are ok, I can actually manage this life alright by myself. Is it the same for you?

If it is, then we are both mistaken. God is so involved in every intricate detail of our lives, it’s great really that He gives us these trying times in order for us to recognise our weakness and His strength, our ineptitude and His ability. Are the hard times opportunities for us to renew our dependence on God? To cry out again that we need Him? For God to remind us, that actually, haven’t you got this yet - you need me all the time?

There’s a song that has been going round my head this week that includes the phrase “oh God I need you”. Here are some of the lyrics;

“Without you I fall apart……..Oh God I need you….Every hour I need you…… oh God I need you….My one defence my righteousness….oh God how I need you”

The bit that really impacts me, is that ‘every hour I need you’. Are you and I aware that our need of God is so huge, that every hour we need Him? Every hour God is caring for you, every hour He is there for you, every hour He is putting the very breath in your lungs.

I think I want to end this blog with a prayer this week, if you, like me, get so distracted with life and your own abilities, rather than your need of God, why not pray along with me:

Oh God, Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your forgiveness, and your incredible love. Thank you for wanting to share our little lives with us.
Sorry that I don’t always realise your presence. That I don’t recognise my need of you when life is alright. Thank you for giving me those tough times to remind me that I am not enough, but you are. For allowing me to realise again how much I do need you. Help me God, to see you evident in my life, and build in me an every day awareness and dependence on you. Help me today to rely on you not myself.
Thank you for your kindness, forgiveness and presence. Thank you that your love never runs out, and that you want to share not just this life with me but eternity.
You are so good, and I Love you.
Amen

[Chris Tomlin - Lord I Need You - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rR_Rdb1CTE)

Who is like the wise?

Who is like the wise? 
And who knows the interpretation of a thing? 
A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, 
and the hardness of his face is changed. 
Ecclesiastes 8:1.

Who is like the wise? 

Being wise is more than being intelligent, it’s the application of things learnt and experienced, the ability to see the long-term consequences. In this world there are many intelligent people, but are there many who are wise?

I don’t believe I have met many wise people, I have met a few, but I am sure we would all benefit from there being more wise people around, why aren't there many? In reality wisdom is not something that we are encouraged to pursue; intelligence or knowledge, yes, but wisdom? Fame, riches, understanding, better living conditions, promotion - these things we pursue, but wisdom?
Why don’t many pursue wisdom?

What would you think if someone said to you today that what they wanted from life was to be wise? You would probably think it a bit odd, but admirable, it is not something I have ever heard someone say they seek.
When Solomon was asked by God for whatever he wanted, Solomon said he wanted wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:7-12). He could of had absolutely anything, yet he asked for wisdom. As a result of this humble response, God gave him much more - he gave him wisdom, as well as; possessions, riches and honour. Solomon desired wisdom in order to do his job well. It was not a selfish ambition, but a yearning to be good at what he had to do for the benefit of others. Interesting. Solomon sought after something that others rarely do, and he ended up with what others usually seek!

What would you ask God for if you were in the same position as Solomon?

If we are honest with ourselves, I doubt that many of us would ask to be wise. Yet, wouldn’t wisdom help us most?; in our struggles? breakthroughs? relationships? Achievements?

So why don’t we ask for it? I think we are too short-term minded. We look at our immediate situation and see what would help us now. Instead of seeking the qualities of character that can be developed in difficulty, we seek escape and resolution as quick as possible. We like a quick fix, not a long-drawn out solution that could take days, weeks, months or even years! Whereas wisdom will wait.
Those who are wise gain it through knowledge and experience. Wisdom takes time to become manifest, it is developed through trial and success and takes years to mature. Those who are wise are usually those who take the time to understand. They consider, wait patiently, contemplate their responsibility and accept it when they realise they have reached their limits. They are willing to involve others and acknowledge that they are not always in control. A wise person understands when the gifts, time, resources and capabilities they have are not enough. They are able to defer to others with greater capacity and can acknowledge their weaknesses as well as their strengths. Being wise is not having all the answers, or knowing an encyclopaedic amount of facts but, wisdom is realising we have limits. Wisdom is accepting this and still being able to hold your head high.

Maybe wisdom is recognising that we in ourselves are not the all powerful beings that we have come to believe we are, or the world expects us to be. The wise accept that they cannot be responsible for or in control of everything. They consider different solutions and ponder a better way. The wise do not solely depend on themselves or even others for the solutions of life. Those who are wise acknowledge their capabilities and limitations and humbly accept that they are not all-powerful and wholly responsible for the outcomes in life. They also see that their identity is not effected by success or disappointment, they are content with who they are and are willing for their character to be refined. The wise are not stalwarts, they realise that things need to change, and that can even mean themselves. They also know that they themselves will sometimes fail, and so they do not depend on their own wisdom too much.
Maybe the wise are such because they acknowledge their limitations (which is not a weakness). They realise that there are more knowledgeable and powerful beings around. Maybe the beginning to becoming wise is depending upon someone who has no limitations, and who has greater capacity and character than any of us. Could it be that the birth of wisdom originates in dependence on God? 

Maybe this is why, ‘A man’s wisdom makes his face shine’. A shining face, to me denotes a peaceful acceptance of life and circumstance, and an acknowledgement that they are not responsible for all the outcomes. A wise person knows that they are not the ultimate authority, that they must trust less in themselves and more in God. Worries, sadness, misunderstanding, they all cause us to exhibit a dull expression, yet a person who experiences contentment, joy and peace in their own capabilities can know rest and enjoyment in life and so their face shines. These are the fruits of being wise as they do not have to rely on their own understanding or strive to make situations better because they know they are not ultimately responsible. The freedom from these concerns would rightly lift the worry from their face and cause them to shine so that, ‘the hardness of his face is changed’. A wise person lacks hardness, they are gracious and accepting, they can appreciate others and their situations, and have learned not to judge others. They know the mistakes they themselves have made and know the fulness of God's forgiveness. A wise person is not perfect, in fact, as was said earlier, they acknowledge their own weaknesses. They have a fair balance and assessment of themselves. They consider their own lives and make every effort to live right.

A wise person is one who’s advice you should seek. They may not give you the answers you expect or you want them to, but they know how to speak truth into others’ lives. They can be trusted to accept you as you are, and see the long-term aim of your short-term problem. If you follow wise counsel you will benefit from it. It may be hard to follow, but the wise have the ability to see how your momentary trouble may lead you into greater things. So, if you are struggling with anything, if it is a part of your character that you don't like, a situation you do not understand or do not know how to handle, then seek out someone whom you consider wise. Let their knowledge and experience do you good. For, Who is like the wise?

If you wish to be a man or woman of wisdom, then:
- seek out the wise around you
- realise that wisdom will wait
- assess your character - does it need refining?
- accept your limitations and strengths
- depend not on yourself but on God