Where Does My Help Come From?

All this week I’ve been sharing posts inspired from Sarah Mae’s 31 Day to Clean Reboot series. 

Every day this week, Sarah has challenged readers to think about what distracts us, what it means to be diligent, challenging us to think about selfish behavior, and doing a great job of it.

Today is no different.

Sarah is reminding readers what it means to be a slave—to God. We live in a world where our affections can be easily transferred from one thing to the next. It’s easy to take our eyes off the One who’s given all to redeem us from the world. Be sure to read her excellent post on How to Become a Slave.

Mary Challenge: What do you need to loosen your grip on or give up all together? Ask God for the courage to flee your temptations.

Martha Challenge: Bedroom, bedroom, bedroom. And maybe clean out your jewelry box. Mine is certainly a mess!

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV)

Many things in this life can draw our eyes away from God: 

Friends and family.

Our job, ministry (isn’t that ironic?), goals, or dreams.

Recreational activities.

Habits.

MANY things can come into our awareness or experience which overtake (enslave) our thoughts, hearts, and life’s purpose—to love God and people: “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:36 (NLT)

These things become “gods” in our lives because of the devotion (time, energy, money) we spend on it.

Keeping that in mind—is it really such a stretch to understand a person could pledge their love to other gods and goddesses? Is it so hard to imagine a person who is looking for spiritual connection (especially disenfranchised Christians who’ve perhaps been told it’s rules that matter or have been taught a false gospel with no power or truth) might look in that direction?

When I first learned of Wicca (and the goddess) I thought I’d found an answer. Yes, I bowed head and knee in worship. I opened heart and mind to this female presence which promised so much immediate satisfaction. But if I’m honest, even as I reveled in new found spiritual discoveries I knew something was amiss. So I waffled back and forth, trying to find what was light and beautiful in the upside down world of the goddess, mysticism, and magick (Jesus: “…and if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep is that darkness?” Matthew 6:22-23)

The problem—I didn’t understand the question.

Where does my help come from? Is it in the hills? The mountains? Is it found in the grass or trees or flowers which grow upon the loam? The bright blue of the sun drenched sky or the velvet blackness of the night. Is it spoken on the wind? Found etched upon images of stone or wood proclaimed as faces of the divine?

No.

My help comes from THE LORD–CREATOR of heaven and earth. The God who loved us so much HE entered into this world as one of us so we could KNOW Him. HE sacrificed all so what enslaves us (temptation-sin–death) could be overthrown. Every day He reaches out to us, rescuing us by His great love. (John 3:16-17)

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

As you go about this day, I encourage you to consider those things which may be in your life that have supplanted God’s rightful place in your devotion—and pray for those who are looking toward a place from whence help can never truly come.