Musings

Written by cycleguy on August 3rd, 2016

I’ve had this post ruminating around in my empty head all day. I had an impromptu staff meeting. A surprise counseling session. An Owen County Chamber meeting. Some errands and a much-needed 18 mile ride (although I slogged through it so go figure). I finally have a chance to sit down and type.

I read this statement this morning in my Psalm devotional book:

Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.

Then I read the story of Joshua and the Israelites as they carried out their mandate from God about taking the land (Joshua 10). They came to the aid of the Gibeonites (who had deceived Joshua & the leaders but with whom Joshua had made a covenant) first. Then they continued taking the land God had given them. To their eyes it looked impossible. They had limited resources.

What Joshua, his leaders, and the Israelites had to ask themselves is this: will I trust God? I read the Crossway Men’s Devotional Bible on this passage and it asked this: Will I be a big God-er or a little god-er?

Here are my thoughts and you can take them for what they’re worth: If I limit God by my expectations, I have basically become a little god-er. If, however, I believe in God’s unlimited power, then I become a big God-er.

Those were my musings this morning…August 3.

 

13 Comments so far ↓

  1. jeff says:

    Did he get to take the young virgins as his prize? God often liked that reward which I have my own thoughts on.

    • cycleguy says:

      First, you obviously didn’t read the chapter since there was no mention of that at all. Second, you missed the whole point of the blog post. Why did you comment such a wild, hairy comment?

      • Jeff says:

        No I didn’t read it. I just thought it might be one of those battles where the prize was young virgins. 17″Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. 18″But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves.
        I have always looked for an explanation as to the character of a God given this sort of outlook toward young girls. I thought maybe this battle would prompt that explanation. I guess I will keep wondering.

  2. I think the answer lies (with me anyway) with the distance of my proximity to Him. When I’m close I know He is bigger than all the obstacles I face. The doubts I wrestle with diminish when I realize how big my God is. Two verses help me with this…

    “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

    “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13

    Good musing brother!

  3. We do have that tendency to limit God’s power with our human expectations. So wrong! His power is unlimited and far beyond anything we can fathom.
    Blessings, Bill!

  4. floyd says:

    Good thoughts today, Bill. If God can supply the unlimited power that is the Source behind the perpetual motion and the sun, then our thoughts and expectations from God should be at least as big as our minds can grasp… even if it’s not in our limited time frame and understandings. Good reminder, thanks.

  5. Betty Draper says:

    Having lived with limited resources often I can say, God is big in my eyes, most of the time. I can get in my little god mindset and make myself miserable and others around me to. To have a Big God means one will take incredible risk a lot. Good post.

  6. Crystal says:

    It’s easy to think I believe in God’s unlimited power when things are going smoothly but when things seem out of control and huge it’s difficult to not view God and life from the perspective of my own limitations….wow! Got to process this – thanks for sharing! Hadn’t really thought of it like this! Want to be a “big-God-er”!

    • cycleguy says:

      it is easy Crystal but definitely not the way of life. When all is going good we don’t need Him or to see His display of power. it is when things get tough and we call on Him that things get radical.