And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. -Psalm 9:10

A staple of defensive driving courses since its release in 1950 is Disney’s animated short Motor Mania. What’s amazing about it is how relevant it still is today for its insight into human nature.

In it, Goofy is the mild-mannered Mr. Wheeler, a working man getting ready to go to work. But once behind the wheel, he transforms into a devilish (horns and all) character called Mr. Wheeler, who drag races from stoplight to stoplight, drives dangerously in traffic, endangers pedestrians, and generally puts his needs over that of everyone else on the road. Just moments earlier, he was one of those very pedestrians he is now endangering!

Sound familiar? The act of getting behind the wheel unlocks otherwise buried urges for control and dominance when we’re suddenly granted more power than any human could have when not behind the wheel. Behind the wheel, we pilot multi-ton battering rams that can literally change or end people’s lives around us.

Human nature’s fight for control and dominance over one another—and straying from God’s lane—is the same since Adam and Eve. In Genesis, Jacob’s name change to Israel (meaning “wrestles with God”) says it all.

It takes a conscious effort to not let our inner Mr. Wheeler take over in life to get over one another for our own benefit. Who’s driving in your life right now, Mr. Walker or Mr. Wheeler?

If we trust God with the wheel of our lives, He will not disappoint us in our journey—or the destination.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. -Jeremiah 17:7 (NASB)

Another year, another step through the desert.

After severe bondage in Egypt, God used Moses and Aaron to free His chosen people by His mighty power. But the Israelites were immediately faced with a new challenge of faith: a long desert season.

On foot, the journey to the Promised Land should’ve taken about two weeks. But ultimately, the Israelites’ lack of faith condemned them to wander in the desert for forty years.

But that long season was not only a trial of faith, but the culling of disobedience. The old flesh ways and faithlessness were left there before entering the Promised Land.

If you’re in the long, dry desert, know that the Promised Land is ahead…but before God will lead you there, reassess what parts of you might need to die to self. In what ways might you still serve your flesh and self, rather than Him?

While in the desert, continue praying and believing, and never forget that God is faithful and right there, leading you if you seek Him. As surely as the God of Israel lives, He blesses you with strength and comfort and nourishment through this time…and is preparing you for the next level.

Today’s soundtrack

“O My Soul” by Casting Crowns reassures us that God is with us through the valleys.

Third Day’s “Trust In Jesus” reminds us of what we do while we walk and wait in this world.

Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” -1 Samuel 17:26 (NASB)

In this day and age, especially in the United States, being a cyclist, motorcyclist, or driving a small car means you’re dwarfed by just about everything around you. SUVs, trucks, and even sedans are like moving walls all around you. You can’t see past them or over them. And sometimes they don’t see you, so you have to be vigilant for your own sake.

What’s interesting about being the vulnerable one is that you have to be assertive and sure of your movements. If you only see with your eyes and think that it’s just too intimidating to drive among such large vehicles, you can paralyze yourself, and miss the possibilities God has waiting on the other side.

When the Israelites made it to the Promised Land and heard reports of unbeatable giants, their faith was quickly shaken. They only trusted in their senses, and not God’s promise of the land to them. But two spies, Joshua and Caleb, saw those same giants through God’s eyes. They knew the giants were of no concern. As a result, Joshua and Caleb were the only two members of their generation allowed to enter the Promised Land 40 years later…and Joshua was handed the mantle to lead his people.

When young David faced and defeated the Philistine giant Goliath, while every single other Israelite soldier cowered, David saw the giant through God’s eyes. He knew Goliath was nothing when facing an opponent with God on his side. David went on to succeed King Saul as the second king of Israel–and the nation’s greatest, with a heart after God’s own heart.

By all earthly logic, giant situations and problems can be intimidating or even seem insurmountable. But with God, all things are possible. Mountains, giants, and the like are all leveled in when God is on the playing field.

If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace. -Proverbs 29:9 (NKJV)

Sometimes, you just cannot get through to someone. Reason doesn’t work. Compassion doesn’t work. Appealing to commonalities doesn’t work. It’s like talking to a brick wall.

As a person who’s a “fixer,” someone who wants to fix situations and problems, this is a very frustrating place to be.

Sometimes, God wants you to discern that you cannot get through. In times like those, with people like those, pray for them. Pray that God can make a way through to them. It could even be that God may not want to!

Whether it’s a difficult person or a situation, it may not be us whom God wants as the instrument to change–no matter how much we want to be. If we truly believe His plans and timing are perfect, then let us surrender in obedience, and be His instruments where He intends us to be.

But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you! -2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:17‬ ‭(NLT)

Another day, another set of struggles and battles. Work (or lack of it), family, health, traffic, bills, schedules…and plenty of spiritual battles, even before we get out of bed. Maybe our heads are already filled with all the challenges ahead before we drag ourselves out of the house.

I’m guilty of this…overanalyzing all of the above, trying to figure out how to get it all done, how to tackle it…and all in my own strength. How quickly we can look away from God above and in us when we have earthly and flesh problems before us! How quickly looking away makes life about me, and not Him!

But what God shows us in His Word, as He taught the Israelites over and over, is that victory is achieved by God, not us. We need only be still (Psalm 46:10) and acknowledge Him in all things (Proverbs 3:6), and let Him fight (Exodus 14:14), because He is greater than any struggle we face. He uses all things–including our struggles–to His glory. Will we step back–and out of His way–so He can work?

Let’s stop and just breathe. Just be still, and let God win!

Today’s soundtrack

“Just Breathe” by Jonny Diaz gets our frenetic lives, but reminds us that we can be still, because God fights for us.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. -Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. -Romans 8:28 (NASB)

When you’re driving, sometimes you just wish you were there at the destination you’re trying to get to…and you might be tempted to run a red light, or break the speed limit. You might impatiently cut off a slower driver and blast past them…only to be stopped yourself at a light ahead, and that slower driver pulls up beside you anyway.

Traffic flow and control systems are in place to make some organized sense when so many people are sharing the roads together. Without such systems–and drivers actually participating and adhering to them–it would be anarchy and chaos everywhere. For the most part, people go with the flow, but sometimes they don’t, and problems ensue.

That’s a lot like life, isn’t it? Because God sits out of time, created time, and is independent of it, He orchestrates everything subject to it…like our lives. As His Word promises, He has amazing plans for us according to His will and His timing. And His plan for our intertwined lives reminds me of a traffic system in a city–but infinitely more complex.

There are seasons of waiting at red lights, seasons of action at green lights, and the in between seasons. We can pray to be attuned to His traffic flow.

He knows exactly when to keep certain people’s lives moving in a certain direction, when to hold others at a red light, and make all their lives flow in a way so they don’t catastrophically collide in a huge mess. But sometimes, we get impatient, or make terrible decisions, and do cause a fender bender…or a wreck…or a pileup.

But as Romans 8:28 shows us, He will use even the bad times and decisions and weave it all together for the good of His children, to His glory. He is the ultimate traffic controller for our lives, and we can instead enjoy the red lights and see all the blessings around us till the light turns green.

Make the most of every stop, every curve, and every bend, seeking Him along the way. He’s got plans to prosper us and not to harm us, but on the way there, through every season, are blessings and lessons He gives us to grow and prepare us for His wonderful plans ahead.

The light’s about to change. Get ready.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. -Psalms 145:19 (NKJV)

What do you do when you’ve got unscalable cliffs to your left and to your right, stormy skies pouring down from above, and only uncertainty ahead in the fog?

The Psalms are an amazing place to take refuge in the bible, especially when you’re trudging deep in a valley and season of trials, tribulations, and despair. The longer you’re in the valley, the more chances you have to fall prey to the enemy’s whisperings of doubt and fear.

But God’s promises and plans are far better than anything we face in our time on this earth…no matter how bad. No matter how intimidating. No matter how seemingly hopeless. His Word we are to hide in our hearts and carry with us (Psalm 119:11), and retreat into His Word when there is nothing but terror and grief and strife and uncertainty all around us.

We continue to walk, and we walk in fear (reverence) of the Lord, and He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him. He hears His children and will save them! Let us instead walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), in complete faith, obedience, and surrender.

Though it may appear endless from where we stand, God’s much longer, larger view and scale of our lives reveals His grand design…far beyond our comprehension. He’s using these times to shape and strengthen and grow us.

Our seasons and times are far from endless. The only truly endless and infinite entity is God, who has endless love for us. It’s in Him whom we trust our now and our future.

Today’s soundtrack

Lauren Daigle’s “Trust In You” reminds us that even when He doesn’t act right when we want Him to, we trust completely in Him.

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” -Luke 9:62 (NIV)

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. -Corrie ten Boom

It’s hard to let go of the past…the good and the bad. But we can cherish the good memories, glean lessons from the bad ones, and trust God with our future. As I keep reading more and more in His Word, I see over and over how His long view of our lives works out.

God takes all of our experiences, good and bad, and uses every single one of them to build a better, stronger us…and one closer to Him than at any point in the past. Trust and believe…and don’t take my word for it, but His!

The Christian walk is all about moving onward and upward, letting go of all things with your sole–and soul–focus on Christ. Continue to pray, and like Abraham, surrender all to God–including the dreams and promises–and watch Him bless you like never before.

So, say goodbye to yesterday…trust Him with everything…because God’s plans for you are so much greater than you could ever imagine.

Today’s soundtrack

Danny Gokey’s “Tell Your Heart To Beat Again” gently urges us to close the door on yesterday, because we don’t live there any more.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. -Exodus 16:4 (NIV)

In archery, you can carry a quiver of arrows on your back, which is great when you’re on the move. The catch is, you will run out, especially if you can’t get to a supply.

When I started this blog in January 2015, I made a commitment to the Lord to post something new He taught me every single day. Piece of cake, right?

Like every blogger, I had sugary visions of scores of scheduled blog posts, written well ahead of time. I thought of the store of blog posts like arrows in my quiver, at the ready for shooting. And like many bloggers can testify, there were times where the quiver was stocked and queued up for several consecutive days of posts.

But then, life happens. Trials of all kinds hit you, and the quiver quickly dwindles. Sometimes it’s even empty, with only hours left before the next day would arrive! Could I possibly stick to such a resolution?

I realized that Satan has a way of attacking the efforts of those who are making efforts to glorify God. It could be in your commitment to serve in your church, or the homeless, to make Him known at work or school, or to make Christ the center of your home. When you pursue God, Satan will do all he can to thwart you.

But I had to remember this lesson, which I share here: God’s manna is new every day. We need not worry or try to store up too much, as if God won’t provide! I can testify that, no matter how tough the season and distractions in my life, whenever I would stop and let Jesus take control of my life, He has come through 100% of the time.

There were times when I had no post ready for the next day, and like the manna God made for the Israelites, so did He give me the lesson I needed to write about before the day’s post was to be published. And, sometimes, He would fill my head with enough posts for up to a week at a time to queue up–and sure enough, the days that would come in that week would keep me too busy to post anything!

The quiver was not mine to fill, nor the arrows in it. God provided them, and all I had to do was line them up and let them fly.

So, God will always fill our quivers with just what we need. He will feed us everything we need. We need not worry about what to eat or wear or what the future holds. We only need to concentrate on doing our best for Him in the now, because He’s already taken care of the later.

God’s got this, all day, every day.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. -2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

In an office I occasionally visit is a painting of a beautiful adobe doorway leading to a courtyard. Above that doorway is a sign that simply says, RESURGAM. Above that word is a cross. After some Googling, I learned that the location of that sign was a historic site in California, Mission San Juan Capistrano, named after St. John of Capistrano, Italy.

“Resurgam” is a Latin word that means, “I shall rise again.”

As believers, we face spiritual battles from the moment we open our eyes till the moment we close them at night. And as the day grows longer, so does the intensity of the attacks from the world, and even in our own minds: temptation, condemnation, fear, doubt, envy. Prayer is our first line of defense.

But because God’s mercies are upon us anew each morning, and because we surrender all our burdens to Him throughout the day, and before we close our eyes at night, we can rise again.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)

We age and ache a little more each day, but can take the world off like a cloak and shake off its cares and worries. Each time we trust in God by keeping our eyes fixed on Him, that cloak gets lighter and lighter. As soon as we forget that, it gets very, very heavy.

We are believers…spiritual warriors who carry the torch for Christ all day, every day. And because He rose, we shall rise again every day the Lord gives us breath!