July 1: Insight Post by Rusty Coram
Wednesday Insight Post
by Rusty Coram
This week we read in Lamentations an important guide for all of us who choose to follow Jesus: “27And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:
28Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands.” Lamentations 3:27–28 (NLT). Taking the time to reflect, evaluate, and plan is critical to living in a way that honors and loves God. As we do this, context is important and, in this case, there is essential truth about God that we learn just a few verses prior to this: “22The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
23Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22–23 (NLT). When we carve out time to truly be alone with God and give Him our undivided attention, it is imperative that we have ourselves grounded in truth, and not just our thoughts and feelings. Being grounded in His truth gives us the framework and capacity to think with wisdom and clarity. Recently I have been talking with a friend who spends significant time alone, but they are more attuned to their own ideas than surrendered to “the Lord’s demands” (Lamentations 3:28). When we deliberately focus our mind on who God is, what He has already done for us, what He promises us, and the allegiance He is due, we will find that time alone with Him is life-giving in a way that nothing else compares to!
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org