Reluctant Retiree

We all are excited and happy when we receive something new. Who doesn’t love the smell of a new car and the pride of ownership. When we walk into our new house or apartment we are thrilled with the possibilities and look forward the new adventure of living someplace new. When we receive a gift, a smile comes from our faces and warm hearts fill our souls. New things bring expectation and instant joy.

Psalm 40:3 says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” When we believe in Jesus and put our trust in Him, God makes us into a new creation in Christ. Our hearts are purified and our hands are cleansed from sin. Our thoughts and motivations are new and selfishness is removed. We have a brand new outlook on life. Let that new song reverberate in praise to God and others will also trust in Him.

In the midst of many home projects I have found out that I do not have all the supplies that I need. Then I have to make a quick run to the hardware store to get what I need. What is more frustrating are the times that I have to make multiple runs to the store to get supplies. Generally the stores have what I need so that I don’t have to go to many stores to find the right supplies.

II Corinthians 9:9-10 says, “As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” God abundantly supplies all that we will ever need to live in righteousness and bear fruit in good works. There is no store that we need to run to, everything we need is found in Him. It would behoove us to ask God to supply our needs before we begin to do any good work. His storehouse of blessings is always open to us.

We think of hope as something less than a wish or desire. But when the Bible speaks of hope it refers to an assurance of future events, the confident expectation that something will occur based upon the promises of God.

Job 4:6 says, “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” Our hope remains strong within us when we are faithful to glorify God and live in a godly manner. We can expect God to fulfill His promises because He cannot speak falsely, He is always faithful, He is always good, and He has all power.

I have lived in many different places in my life. We lived in Tempe, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada at various times. Both of these cities are in desert lands, where water is scarce and the land is parched. Both cities have needed to find water sources in order to sustain human and plant life.

In some ways we are like these dry lands. Our souls need nourishment to survive and thrive. God has promised to give us living water for our souls, in the form of His Holy Spirit. The Spirit renews us, guides us, teaches us, and reveals God to us. The Holy Spirit is given to those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and redemption. Without the Holy Spirit, we are left in the wilderness of life to struggle aimlessly to survive.

Isaiah 44:3 says, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendents.” God gives us His Holy Spirit as living water for our souls. We must keep the faucet of this living water turned on by constantly seeking His wisdom and guidance, and by trusting Him to lead us in the ways that we should go.

The world can be a mess sometimes. There are wars, pandemics, and natural disasters. We have people using violence to get what they want. Others are simply taking what is not theirs. How can we explain such a mess?

Isaiah 30:18 says, “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” When we mess up, God withholds His justice and, instead, waits for us to turn to Him. Then He will reveal His mercy on us and be gracious with us, exalting His name. He wants everyone to come to Him, so He waits. Then He lavishes grace and mercy upon us. However, His patience does not last forever. If we don’t come to Him we will experience His justice against evil. Don’t wait any longer to repent and trust God.