Afternoon Thoughts:

In The Flow

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

This past summer my family and I were at a wonderful place called Camp-of-the-Woods tucked in the Adirondack mountains. It's an amazing get-away for families. Great chapel preaching every morning, no TV, beautiful lake, campfires, fishing, putt putt golf, shuffleboard, and more game playing than you can imagine.

Nature erupts with untarnished beauty and begs to be explored. So, when my exercise loving friends suggested we join them for a moderate family hike, we agreed.

Well, their definition of the word moderate and mine didn't come from the same dictionary. Actually, not from the same planet if I'm being completely honest. Honey, honey, honey...this was no moderate hike.

I pictured a path with a gentle, winding, upward slope.

What we actually hiked was a full on upward scaling of rocks and roots.Not kidding.

In an altitude where the air seemed so thin the inside of my lungs felt like they were sticking together and refusing my chest full breaths. Lovely.Up, up, up we went. And when another group passed us on their way down and cheerfully quipped, "You're almost halfway there," I wanted to quit. Halfway? How could we only be halfway!?!

I pushed. I pulled. I strained. I huffed and puffed. And I might have even spent a few minutes pouting.

But eventually, we reached the top. I bent over holding my sides wondering how a girl who runs almost every day of her life could be so stinkin' out of shape! Going up against the pull of gravity was hard. Really, really hard.

But coming down was a completely different experience. We navigated the same rocks and roots without feeling nearly as stressed. I enjoyed the journey. I noticed more of the beautiful surroundings and had enough breath to talk to those with me all the way down.

And about halfway down the trail, it occurred to me how similar this hike was to the Christian walk.

Starting at the top, working with the pull of gravity was so much easier than starting at the bottom and working against it.

Though we navigated the exact same path both directions, going in the flow of gravity made the journey so much better.

Just like when I face an issue in life, operating in the flowof God's power is so much better than working against the flow of God's power.

In other words, seeking to obey God in the midst of whatever circumstance I'm facing will position me to work in the flow of God's power. I'll still have to navigate the realities of my situation but I won't be doing it with my strength.

My job is to be obedient to God. Apply His word. Walk according to His ways- not the world's suggestions. Participate in His divine nature rather than wallow in my own bad attitude and insecurities.

Then I won't have to huff and puff and pout while trying to figure everything out. I stay in the flow. God, in His way and timing, works it all out.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV).

So, the question of the day... will we work in or out of the flow today? Go with the flow of God's power. This divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life. Wow, when I let that sink in, I'm so inspired to handle everything I face today the way God instructs. Every thing!

And if you're thinking of asking me on a hike, I require pictures of the path first. Okay?

Dear Lord, help me to operate in the flow of Your power today and not against it. Your divine power has given me everything I need for a godly life. I pray believing this truth today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.(Lysa TerKeurst)