Oars in, Sails up.

No.7

///// An IronMen Moment /////

Paddling vs Sailing...the ancient debate. Which is better, do you think?

Corrie Ten Boom wrote,
"Let go, let God."
And,
"Don't wrestle, nestle."

I love those statements. They are such simple, yet powerful reminders...to re-enter the trust relation to God. To abide in Him.

My nautical version of that is
"Oars in, sails up."

Its about the Abiding connection to God. We live in such an independent, self-driven culture that we somehow think we've made a mistake if we discover we are limited in our ability to do something. Have you ever offered up one of those petitions to God where you are nearly embarrassed by your admission that you CAN'T do something that you know He wants of you?

I'm learning to view those as opportunities. Opportunities to pull my oars in, cease the self-effort...and then pull the sails up. Pulling your sails up is a conscious effort to put things in His hands. To NOT trust in our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5,6).

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (niv)

It occurs to me that God intentionally leads us to places where we come to the end of ourselves. 
And why? So that we will look to Him. He WANTS us to. He wants us to trust in Him. But if we're in a high-octane, constant need to control our world, it becomes difficult to pull in our oars. Much less to put up our sails.

Brought to you by IronMen.

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