Last evening after supper my husband suggested we ride the Greenbelt Bike & Walking path in Kingsport. We loaded up our bikes onto the trailer and headed off for our first adventure on this trail. We followed the directions we found on-line about a parking area. After unloading our bikes we found ourselves riding on a gravel path – downhill…for a long way! I called out to my husband who was ahead of me, “You know, whatever goes down has to come up!” I knew coming back would be harder than the path we were taking now.

Soon we hit the paved path of the Greenbelt and enjoyed a lovely ride. We saw a little water fall, a riverbed beside us, a family of ducks swimming, and others sunning themselves in the grass. It was beautiful!

We’d timed how long we’d ridden so we could make it back to the car before dark. It was now time to turn around. I kept thinking about the steep hills we’d ridden down. I was riding an old-fashioned bike – the kind with no gears. Pretty soon, I looked ahead and a hill loomed before us, and there I saw a man walking and pushing his bike up the hill (not real encouraging!) Determined to make it, I began pedaling harder. Soon I stood and pedaled – I was riding past the man (albeit, very slowly!), then I sat and pushed, thinking to myself “one more pedal, one more pedal.” Finally I made it! This was repeated a couple more times before we reached the gravel path. Ugh! Now it was even harder.

Slowly, but surely, we made it back to the car. We did end up walking up the gravel path – it was just too steep to climb without gears, but even walking, it was quite a workout. The point was, with the Lord’s enablement and strength, we made it!

The Christian life isn’t about coasting downhill every day, is it? Many television evangelists would tell you that’s what it’s like, but that’s not what the Bible teaches. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous…” Psalm 34:19 There can be many days all bunched together that we literally feel like we’re standing up on the bike and pedaling for all its worth and moving very slowly. Then we get really winded and have to get off and walk. The important thing is to keep moving. I knew if I stopped while on my bike I’d never make it to the top. If you’re going through a difficulty right now, the enemy will tempt you to question God’s ways, his love for you, and will urge you to quit, but he’s not telling you the truth. The truth is that the unrighteous man also has troubles, but the last part of Psalm 34:19 says the Lord delivers him (the righteous) out of them all. The unrighteous man is on his own. However, we have an advocate, praying for us when we’re panting, out of breath, and needing strength. He will see us to the end. Think back to the blessings of the past; answered prayer, God’s provisions, and His mercy and keep on pedaling! Don’t quit – with the Lord’s enablement, we will make it!

Because of Calvary,

Every wise parent knows that you have to give your child the outcome of what will happen if they disobey, but we’ve all heard parents say things lamely in public like, “If you do that again you’re going to be in trouble!” By their careless attitude, we know nothing’s going to happen. The child knows nothing’s going to happen. And even the parent knows nothing’s going to happen – except that they might give another warning in a louder voice. However, when God gives a warning in His Word, we can bank on it – He will follow through with what He says; not because He is a mean God, but because He loves us and disciplines us as a Father disciplining His children.

A part of my daily devotions is to read the Proverb that corresponds to the day of the month. Since yesterday was the first day of September, I read Proverbs 1 and was reminded of a warning given at the end of the chapter. Verses 30 and 31 says, They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. When God wants to discipline us, He lets us have our own way.

Some might think, “What’s wrong with that? That would be great to get my own way!” God let the Israelites have their own way, remember? They complained about the manna He sent them because they wanted meat. So God gave them what they wanted and sent them quail. It made them sick while it was being chewed between their teeth. Later, Israel wanted a king, though that wasn’t what God wanted for them. He warned them what it would be like, but they wouldn’t listen, so God gave them Saul who was exactly as God said he would be and the people suffered as a result. Jonah got what he wanted as did Judas, and we all know the awful results. They got their way that destroyed them (or almost) instead of God’s way that would have been full of blessing.

Okay, so what does that have to do with you and me? How often I want my own way instead of God’s! How about you? Here are a few instances in which we’re tempted to go our our direction instead of the Lord’s:

• If we don’t like a decision our husband’s made or something he is doing, we are tempted to jump ahead of him, take charge and not submit.
• If we need something now and don’t have the money, we’re tempted to put it on a credit card instead of waiting on God to provide it in His way and time.
• If we’re praying for a person that needs to change, we may be tempted to play the role of the Holy Spirit instead of letting God deal with them.
• We may try cover our sin when we know we’re guilty instead of confessing and making it right with God.

The list is endless because our sinful hearts lean that way, but oh, the wonder of letting God have His way instead! He does things in such a marvelous way. He does things exceeding, abundantly, above all we could ask or think! Eph. 3:20 Why would we want our own measly little way instead of that? Oh, may we each seek His way today and see the wonder of an omnipotent God working in our lives!

Let Him Have His Way with Thee

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Refrain:
His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see’
Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

—Cyrus S. Nusbaum, 1898

With love,