Steady

Keep Calm: Faith is often only associated with extreme situations. Meaning, most people only look to God when their world is in turmoil or after moments of victory. But 90% or more of life is lived with a semblance of normalcy. The trouble is, if we only remember God when things are really good or really bad we aren’t remembering Him in all things. “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works.” — Psalm 143:5. “I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, And I keep Your law.” — Psalm 119:55. “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain.” — Ecclesiastes 12:1–2. Remembering God daily is your rock of stability. For when the days of triumph are achieved you will praise God for the victory, and when the days of hardships arise you will cast your burdens upon Him. To maintain calmness in your life you need to commune with God daily. “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.” — Psalms 73:28. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” — James 4:8. The Lord is here to help you and sustain you through all challenges. If you try to go it alone in life you will discover it is a lonely and difficult path. To find steadiness, you need to lean upon the rock, and the rock is Christ Jesus.

Unsteady: Many people in modern society live highly unstable lives. They are ruled by the emotions of the moment and have little control. If someone is slighted they take it upon their hands to pay another person back, sometimes even to the point of violence. This feeling of rage has now become the norm in our culture. Civility seems like something from a bygone era. Most people feel they are owed something more, and if they aren’t getting it, they blame others rather than taking personal responsibility. People are quick to anger, selfish, unrepentant, impatient, unforgiving and they call what is evil good and good evil. There is never the fear of God before them because they are self-sufficient and answer to no higher authority. It is a tough way to live, but thank God, we as Christians don’t have to live such a life. We have the Holy Spirit living in us and the guidance of the Word of God. However, since we are inundated by prevailing actions of the world it’s easy to regress and copy that lifestyle. If you find yourself feeling like you are unsteady and displaying the characteristics of the world, it’s time to readjust. God wants you to enjoy life and not be swayed back and forth by every emotion. He has come to bring us peace and clarity. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33. Embrace all that the Lord has taught you and steady yourself in Him. The world teaches that you should be ruled by the emotions of the moment, but the wise man knows how to control himself in all things. “Like a city that is broken into and without walls, Is a man who has no control over his spirit.” — Proverbs 25:28. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22–23. To be steady you must find it in Christ Jesus.

Selfless: If you focus on helping others you will find that God will work through you in extraordinary ways and steady your walk. Having an attitude of being selfless runs counter-culture to how the world tells us to live, so be on your guard against influences that try to make everything about you. “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 2:4–5. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2. “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” — Luke 6:38. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13. Sacrificing for others is what God commands us to do. This attitude of selflessness has a way of emboldening people to accomplish some incredible feats. The story of Esther is a great example. Esther was married to King Xerxes, and when her cousin Mordecai tells her that the king’s advisor Haman wants to kill all of the Jews, she knows she has to ask King Xerxes to stop Haman, but she also knows she can be killed for approaching the king for such a request. She tells Mordecai, “Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Esther’s selflessness to risk her life ended up saving her people. In a day and age where our society is so self-focused, it would be a refreshing thing to see more people practice an attitude of selflessness. In the military, the Medal of Honor recipients are time and time again men who sacrifice themselves for their brothers in arms. Here are a few summaries of recipients:

Michael Murphy was killed in the line of duty after he left his cover position and went to a clearing, exposing himself to enemy fire, in order to get a clear signal to contact headquarters to request immediate support for his team.

Recipient Travis Atkins wrestled a suicide bomber to the ground, using his body to shield the rest of his patrol from the blast.

Medal of Honor Recipient Robert J. Miller, advanced toward the enemy when his unit came under fire, drawing their attention away from his fellow patrol members so they could safely withdraw to protected positions.

Recipient Edward O’Hare, a U.S. Navy fighter pilot, received the Medal of Honor for facing off alone against nine enemy bombers to protect the U.S.S. Lexington. His actions saved the ship from serious damage. Later, he died in action during a mission to intercept Japanese bombers.

Being selfless doesn’t require an act that will cost you your life, but it does require that you think about others before yourself. Sacrifice in the small things and watch how it will steady your day-to-day life. When we do what is right we are at peace in Him.

The Rock: Isn’t it nice to know that in a world where the enemy prowls around looking for someone to devour, Jesus is our rock of stability. It is upon His Word that we set our hope and live accordingly. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.” — Matthew 7:24–27. This world will offer appealing distractions and promises of stability, but none of them will last. Their promises are built upon the sand. For what good is it to gather all the things of this world only to have nothing in heaven laid up for us? Remember the rock of your salvation. Remember your home is not of this world, but of a heavenly one where we will behold the Almighty and praise His Holy name. Have this eternal mindset and you will live differently. You will see the enticements of this world for what they are and follow the path of Christ. Find your steadiness built upon the rock.

In Him,

Tim and Will