I was reading Deuteronomy chapter 11 last week and the idea of curses and blessings stuck to my brain from that chapter. I highly recommend you read it.
Basically Israel is poised to cross into the promised land- the descriptions of it are glowing. A paradise, a place with abundance around every corner. But... Danger Will Robinson, temptations around every corner as well. Blessings and Curses.
For them the danger was not in lack but in the available options.
Following the advice of Gilbert to Anne in Anne of Greengables- I write about what I know.
I know a life very similar to what the promised land sounds like. I am an American Christian. I have a home (Cozy and dry), access to clean water, food, medical care, loving family and friends, freedom to worship, etc...basically more abundance than 90% of the world population.
But I have to navigate some major issues daily related to that abundance that can have dire consequences on my character. Frankly- I can rain down curses on myself in a snap.
One such example- Mommyhood. Last week one blog I follow discussed the delimma of fitting it all in. http://www.kellehampton.com/2011/09/fitting-it-all-in-hallmark.html
She tries to address the guilt and comparisons that happen between mothers and that we internally inflict on ourselves.
Moms have more options now than in anytime in history yet all that abundance has led to a shower of curses in the place of blessings.
The Israelites has to keep perspective. They had been freed by the very hand of God from Egypt- hence the wise perspective was:
He got to call all the shots captivity and He also gets to in the promised land.
Ditto for us. Our circumstances do not get to call the shots.
Because you can Work, not Work, homeschool, not homeschool, buy something, not buy something, marry, divorce, eat, diet, run, watch TV, etc... Does not mean you should.
Ask God, read His word, let Him guide you- avoid the curse of trying to have it all just because you can.
There are Idols hidden in all that abundance.
There are Idols hidden in all that abundance.
Caveat/Flipside/"oops lets not go there" of it all-
Because you cannot be healthy, work, run, marry, have a child, speak without a stutter, muscle out of depression, obsessive thoughts, etc... also does mean that loss gets to call the shots about who you are or what you mean to God.
You might say, "Well those things really are curses!".
If you have a loss wholly out of your control it is not a curse.
The curses of Deuteronomy were chosen. They were chosen option to forsake God's direction. And Bonus, repentance and faithfulness were the cure to that curse. (Deut.11:26)
The key wasn't the abundance, it was the heart attitude. Same key for times of loss.
You have to ask God, "Do I have a choice here?, in my actions, in my attitudes?" and really seek God's answer.
Christian unless you have the Joy of knowing God is in charge of your life and you can trust Him abundance or famine then you will feel cursed even when you are not.
We are in revival this week and our guest Pastor gave his testimony last night. He had stomach cancer in his 30's. His doctors gave him a terminal diagnosis but he prayed to have a few years to raise his young children. An experimental surgeon saw him and did an experimental procedure and he lived to raise his children. He had to put a rubber tube down his throat several times a day for the rest of his life but he lived and he had joy. He preached the gospel. The cancer has returned in multiple areas of his body. Both of is retina's have detached. One was repaired but the other has not been. It looks grim. But he preaches with such joy and passion it washes over you like a wave. He revels in the abundance of his 9 grandchildren and he is only in his late 50's or early 60's.
He makes choices every day about how to view and interact with his world. So do I. So do you.
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