the secret of walking with Jesus

This year I've been seeking after His perspective. Every since reading about Oswald Chambers' wife, Biddy, seeking God's perspective and willfully, faithfully, aligning her own to it, I made perspective my word for the year.  

How I am looking at this person, situation, concern or gift is going to come after and be shaped by HIS perspective on this person, situation, concern or gift.  

Just this simple practice of stopping, searching and re-aligning has been working on my heart. 

So as I started packing our bags, shopping for a few groceries and preparing our family to head home Wednesday, I was at first caught off guard by email and facebook threads.

The police vs. army battles and deaths of last week, the only human forces Haiti has to rely on, have resulted in increased insecurity in Haiti, and while, "it's time to travel home" was newly on my mind, "do not travel under any circumstances" was newly in my email and facebook feed. 

Friday, the Embassy raised the Haiti travel advisory to level four, putting Haiti on the short, red list with Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, and lately, China.  

Suddenly, perspective has become wildly important again.  

To become one with Jesus, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. 

We thought things would be better heading home, not worse. We thought this time would be so restful and relaxing, not so challenging and wrought with concerns and deep prayers and decisions and even pain.  

I thought ___, and instead ___.  Has that ever been you? Are you there now? 

As I battle disappointment over unmet expectations, and unexpected challenges instead, He whispers to me the same pattern I've been fighting to engrain. 

What am I doing, Stacey?

What do I have, instead?

What am I allowing to teach you?

Where am I in this?

Do you trust me?

If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, says O. Chambers, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.

So we pray pray. And lay awake at night, late late. I ask Him to think for me, to guide me in the way I should go, to free me in the places I am stuck, to restore me in the ways I am weary. To heal me in the places I am hurting. To calm me in the places I fear. 

I ask Him to do the same for Haiti, as many loved ones faces gather in my mind and heart.

I will be glad to hold their hands again Thursday. I will be thankful to pray together in chapel on Friday, on our knees. 

Darn it, I will be found trusting Him.  

When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you,

all your striving to maintain that relationship by some method is completely unnecessary.

All that is required is to live a natural life

of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ.

Never try to live your life with God

in any other way than HIS way.

And His way means absolute devotion to Him.

Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead

is the secret of walking with Jesus.  

-Chambers

Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead? I repeat to the Father, baffled.  That sounds like utter craziness. How is that even possible? 

As I utter, the image of Peter walking across the tossing waves, eyes fixed on Jesus crossed over my mind.

When he showed no concern for the uncertainties that laid ahead, he was walking with Jesus. 

It was when he unglued, when he looked at the turmoil, instead, that he started sinking, and man, do I resonate with that tonight.

My eyes, then, are not on what I thought or hoped or prayed.

My eyes, tonight, are not on man's understanding nor labels nor thoughts, nor my own. 

My eyes, then, are watching His face...waiting for His perspective, wanting very much so to take it on as my own.

Whatever your storm tonight,

whatever level your weary, your disappointment,

whatever hot tears have joined the hot shower

whatever uncertainties lie ahead

have faith, family, with me.

Show no concern.  

Truly.

Do not worry about tomorrow. 

Truly.

Show no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead, for they are under His feet.  

Let us point others off the concerns of the day and onto His sweet face,

brows smooth and voices calm, with faith.

Trust in HIS perspective.  It is the secret of walking with Jesus...

the only path I am interested in today.