"But they are deeply guilty for their own strength is their god." (Habakkuk 1:11 NLT)
Self-trust is an idolatry in itself. When my deep inner leanings are propped up my own ability, intellect or problem-solving, I’m actually bowing at the altar of Anna instead of exerting my faith in God alone.
Saturday night we heard an amazing message on faith preached out of Luke 8:22-25. Manny Arango proposed that the disciples had faith, they just misplaced it. Not lost, only wrongly directed. The disciples, though they called Jesus ‘Master’, had put their faith in the storm blowing about them. “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” They were more sure the ability of the squall than the presence of their Lord.
The sermon affirmed in my own wild pursuit of absolute trust. This in-between season has exposed a root of self-sufficiency far beneath the surface of my story. Rather than giving into denial or shame, I’m grateful to God for the drought that has brought this sinful inner-orientation to my attention. Discover makes way for emendation. With the Holy Spirit’s help, I can make it right.
Truly, it’s about reorientation. Like the disciples, I have placed my faith in the wrong entity. If a convicted criminal can experience rehabilitation, a self-leaner become a God-leaner. We can trade out the mind of Adam (or in my case, Eve) and put on the mind of Christ. Once again, the Daily Office is a powerful practice to aid us in our inner orientation. This simple habit of awareness, surrender and stillness somehow seeps down deep into our souls and uproots our wrong thinking. In these regular quiet moments, we relearn to rely on God alone.
"Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are worked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God." (Habakkuk 2:4 NLT)
"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust in Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." (Psalm 28:7 NLT)
Lord, thank you for exposing our inner orientations. You love us far too much to leave us in or sin. Today we are grateful for Your unearthing. Help us lean away from self and learn to lean into You fully. Guard us against misplaced faith. When we say ‘Master’ may we mean it with our whole hearts. We trust in You. Amen.