Wednesday the Third Week of Lent – Blessed with Confidence
Jeremiah 17:7&8
Blessed is the one who trusts in Me alone, the Eternal will be his confidence. He is like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots beside the stream. It does not fear the heat or even drought. Its leaves stay green and its fruit is dependable, not matter what it faces.
To me this speaks confidence, this speaks to the hardwiring wiring God has placed inside each of us. It is our choice if we want to spark this vital resource and soak up the goodness. We can strengthen our vertical by placing ourselves in this scripture, by living out this scripture each and every day of our lives.
The choices and consequences are clear. Rely on people alone, and life will be tough and brutish. Rely on the one True God and life will be rich and productive.
The spark was placed within us, it only takes a spark to transform your life, that spark ignites and grows as we look to the cross, when we realize what God did for us. He sent Jesus. Hebrews 2:18 tells us that Jesus suffered and endured every test and temptation, so that he can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life. It is our choices on the horizontal that keep us from experiencing the strength of our vertical.
Jeremiah 17:9&10 goes on to explain the heart condition on the horizontal. The masks and false fronts people wear to disguise their real feelings, intentions, or selves may fool the people around them but are useless against God. With a gaze more powerful than an Xray, the Lord peers beyond all facades, straight into the heart, the core of our being. What is there cannot be masked. All of our jealousies, deceitfulness, rage, and ugliness are on display for Him and subject to His judgment. The Lord does more than just look at the heart, however; He can transform hearts and renew people from the inside out. (ref: Soul Note, The Care and Counsel Bible p.986)
Transforming our human condition is an inside-out job! Being accountable to(and for) our actions and our behaviours is a choice, sometimes a hard choice and it is a continuum of transformation. The more steps we take down that narrow path, the easier it gets and the stronger our vertical becomes. The more content and connected we are on the inside the better we can be on the outside. Tapping into God’s hardwiring within us helps us allow that spark to glow and grow!
As we become that tree planted near the river stream, our roots spread out. As our tree strengthens vertically by having deep roots, we can rise up against fear and anxiety! We can rise up to whatever horizontal intersection we are struggling with. We can be vital and dependable no matter what we face. We can experience the blessings and confidence that our one True God has for us ❤
Anita Stettner 