Gaining Godly Guts

The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.

I am weary, O God;
   I am weary and worn out, O God.
I am too stupid to be human,
   and I lack common sense.
I have not mastered human wisdom,
   nor do I know the Holy One.

Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
   Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
   Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
   Tell me if you know!

Every word of God proves true.
   He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
Do not add to his words,
   or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

Proverbs 30:1-6 NLT

 

“Knocked back on my heels” is one of those idioms I learned years ago in grade school. In our daily lives, we also find ourselves getting knocked back on our heels. I want you to think about something, “Upon waking up, how do you jumpstart your day?” While you ponder, I want to share a personal anecdote.

Several years ago I began developing a medical condition quite frequently that would have my equilibrium disturbed at the onset of my day. I was advised to elevate my head while sleeping, slowly rise when I awake, sit up on my bedside each morning for several minutes, and then slowly drink water. This simple shift in my morning routine coupled with a spiritual whisper from God was life-changing.

Most people leap out of bed and begin their morning habit of tending to personal hygiene and getting dressed. There might be children in the home who need to be awakened, breakfast that has to be prepared — whatever the home dynamic, from the moment we rise, we are swiftly on the move.

Do you know that while God is observing your daily habits, there is also a dark force lurking and waiting for an opportunity to pounce on your life?

Because I was instructed to shift from a sudden jarred rising to a slow and more peaceful approach, I also gained Godly Guts–the voice of God down in your soul. This created a paradigm shift in how I began my day! I began to not just sit on the side of the bed and sip water, but I also started spewing out GRATITUDES to GOD. “THANK YOU, GOD, FOR ALLOWING ME TO…” then I began to pray. Next, I was opening my Bible app and reading a scripture passage. From there, I started a morning devotional.

God knows how to get our attention. My health crisis was my wake up call to adjust my routine, but God’s whisper allowed me to seek His perspective with a grateful heart.

I must admit, I was convicted earlier to deepen my relationship with God. I would put forth some effort and once my load got lighter, I’d begin slacking until the next hurdle in my life. But God! He knows us so much better than we know ourselves. In fact, God is aware of what we have yet to learn about ourselves. He is patient, yet relentless.

I am so thankful that he didn’t give up on me, and he will not give up on you either. You want to defeat the enemy, overcome distractions in your life, and rise above challenging situations with Godly wisdom. Gain Godly Guts by:

1. Recognizing your crisis (v.1) (Honestly Speak Your Truth)
2. Knowing your limitations (v.2-3) (Be Humble)
3. Remembering the Wise One (v.4) (God is Sovereign and so Loving. He is wise and has done the impossible)
4. Rely on God’s Word (v.5-6) (Commit to reading and studying God’s word without adding to it)

During this next week, consider how you will strengthen God’s voice in your life. Getting knocked off your heels is not the best feeling, but gaining Godly Guts is the best armor to stand again.