God? or Fortresses?

For some time, I've been thinking about a particular passage in Daniel.  "And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers . . . but instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know. . . "  

In fact, 7 years ago I wrote the following in my blog as I recounted the discussion I'd had with God about it: 

"They put their faith in the 'god of fortresses'" (Dan 11:38).  Okay, but what does that have to do with me? "You put your faith in the god of fortresses, too." When do I do this, Father? "When you put your faith in anything but me - for example, when you trust your DIET to protect you from illness and restore you to health and proper weight instead of trusting Me."

I feel like a slow learner when I realize that I am STILL being shown areas where my faith isn't 100% in God.  God's spoken to me about these things over and over in different ways, but I'm still not living fully as He would have me live!  When I'm seeking healing, is my trust in diet rather than in God?  When I need food and shelter, is my faith for my daily needs in God or in the money & resources that He provides?  When I seek to know God better is my faith in God, or in some person who has written a devotional, preached a sermon, or in other ways ministered to me?

Most recently when I was supporting my mom as she underwent two total knee replacements and resultant healing process, I realized how much faith I was putting in the skill and advice of "professionals" (doctors, nurses, physical therapists) and even pain medicine - instead of in God for her healing!  It's a subtle thing.  It's not that these doctors or medicines are necessarily bad - as I discussed it with my Heavenly Father, he explained to me that these things are - or at least CAN be - His servants.  But servants do what their master tells them to do - with His authority and His resources.  It is not the servant that is responsible, it is the Master!

Recently I was reading in Hosea, and certain verses seemed to directly line up with this passage in Daniel:

"Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.  You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors . . ." (Hosea 10:12,13 emphasis mine)

I realized, there's a cause & effect relationship.  When I have "plowed wickedness", "reaped injustice", "eaten fruit of lies", it is because I have trusted in my own way (NIV says "depended on your own strength"), in my numerous warriors.  In fact, as I think about it, ALL sin is based in having our focus elsewhere instead of on GOD.  This has to STOP!  It creeps in so insidiously.  I need knowledge of how to do something.  I pray for that knowledge and God graciously provides.  Then I feel that I now know whatever it is and tend to look to God less in that area of my life!  How foolish!  

Over and over through the Bible, we see that people run into trouble when they begin to think THEY have done something (instead of praising God for what He has done for and through them).  A glaring example of this is Nebuchadnezzar as described in Danial chapter 4 - but there are MANY, MANY examples.  

Father, please forgive these tendencies in me - but more importantly, please REMOVE them!  I want NO other Gods before you - certainly not myself!!!  (and that is certainly what selfishness is - putting me before others, including you)  I know that the god of fortresses is a false god and leads to destructive places.  I want to trust ONLY in you.  As I deal with the aspects of my day-to-day life - my finances, my daily routines, the tasks you have set before me - may I ALWAYS do so with an eye to YOU as my God and nothing/no one else!  Thank you, Father!

My Immunity

Last time I wrote, I wrote about praise, and it continues to be a focus for me.  A couple of weeks ago, I felt God was telling me that praise in the form of music was important for me to incorporate into my quiet time with Him.  The Psalms are full of injunctions to "Sing unto the Lord" and to praise him with various musical instruments.

I have once again discovered, as I put these directives into practice, that His directions to me are always for MY benefit.  It's not that He has such a big ego that He needs my praise.  It is for MY benefit to praise Him!!!

One day last week as I was praising Him - talking with Him about things I admire in Him - I started talking to Him about the marvelous way He made our bodies to protect themselves from so many diseases & attacks from various sources.  Our immune system is amazing!  And I want to do all I can to work with His plan for my body so that system is working at full power.

And then I had a thought.  If God put that much design into defenses for our physical body, He surely has done so for our emotional and spiritual bodies as well!  The answer was swift.  YES!!! This is why we are told to "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil 4:4 - and many similar).  This is why we're told to "count it all joy when you face various trials" (James 1:2).  This is why we're told to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord . . . enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name."(Ps 100:1,4)   Praise, gratitude, faith and joy are the foundations of our TRUE immune system!  Medical science has shown how our attitudes affect our physical health.  And obviously, our mental outlook is much improved when we focus on joy and gratitude.  And now I'm realizing it is also how our spiritual selves defend against the enemy's fiery arrows!!! Thank you, God!

Father, today - and every day! - may I remember to always look to you.  May I face any challenges with joy and faith, presenting my requests with thanksgiving, and keeping your praise on my lips.  Father, you are an awesome God!  And there is no selfishness or self-seeking in you.  Your directives are ALL for OUR good, and that is what brings you joy.  Father, may I emulate you!  May you so fill my heart that all I want from others is THEIR good!  May there be no vestiges of selfishness or self-seeking left in me.  Cleanse me, Father & I will be clean! Thank you, God!!!