As my family and I went on a boat ride, the ocean was a bit rough. As I experienced this ride, I looked out at the sea from the front cabin and then from the back of the boat. I'd like to share what the LORD put in my mind concerning our spiritual walk with Him:
First, let me explain what I went through from looking at the ocean from both views of the boat. From the front, as I saw the waves coming at us, splashing up, the boat going over the waves and, at times, crashing down when there were big ones. I was filled with fear, wanted to stop & just be delivered back to shore, wanted to tell the captain what to do, etc. It was not a place I wanted to stay.
Then, because I just couldn't take seeing all that, I went to the back of the boat. I was so much calmer for all I saw were the seas after we'd passed over each wave. I saw how far we'd come, rather than how far we still had to go to reach our destination.
Spiritual application:
We need to ask ourselves: "Am I a person who likes to be at the front of the boat where all the action is but living in fear, anxiety, telling the Captain (God) how to direct the boat (our lives) as I argue about or disagreeing with what/how He's doing things, telling Him where I want to go? Or am I a person who would rather just go for the ride, resting in assurance that the Captain (God) has everything under control, fully trusting in Him to direct the boat (our lives) through whatever life brings, and thus safely bringing me to the destination He has planned for me, for HIS GLORY?
Though it's hard sometimes, I find myself much happier sitting in the back of the boat, trusting the Captain. I don't want to be in the front, filled with fear, telling the Captain how to do His "job", etc.
"And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten on the same day, you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD." Lev. 22:29-30
A friend shared what came to mind when they really thought about this, and I loved what they said, so I'm sharing:
When sacrifices were made, it was whole animals; that means a LOT of food/meat. This had to be eaten the same day. To consume this amount, it could very well have been possible that families invited others over to celebrate with them, and this was a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
In our society, we gather together to celebrate birthdays, holidays, etc. Why don't we start holding celebrations (cookouts) of thanksgiving to our LORD for things that He's done in our lives; giving Him thanks and blessing Him? Sounds like an excellent idea to me.
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