What is the first thing you do when you arrive at home after work? Or after a long day? Or after a family event? Sad to say most people in our current culture find themselves behind a screen within 15 minutes of being home. Whether that is on the couch watching Netflix, on their bed watching YouTube, or in the La-Z-Boy scrolling through social media. But it’s all for the same reason: “I just need a moment to myself…”
Let’s take a look at the Word of God:
“Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.”
Isaiah 45:24 KJV
This has been a frequent mediation of mine. I too have found myself running to the devices of man to give my brain a break for the day. But instead of it giving me rest I found myself losing appetite for the things of God and certainly not meditating on things above as we are commanded to do (Col 3:2). Therefore I changed the way I rest. I find the renewal of my strength in one now: Christ alone.
The above verse puts it this way: “in the LORD have I righteousness and strength”. Like so much of scripture: it’s so simple it hurts. Where is our strength to be found? In the LORD. He wants to be the first thing we run to after a long day. He wants to be the one we ask for motivation to take on another one. How sad I have made my mom in my younger years when, after getting home from school and not seeing her all day, instead of talking to her, answering her questions, sharing my concerns and stressors with her, I would run to my room to spend some time behind a screen, controller in hand, lost in a world that doesn’t exist. What do you think we are saying to God when we do the same thing? How about: “I find more relaxation in a lie (fake reality) then in You.” Woe to us!
Only in Him
However He is abundantly merciful. If my mom never shut me out, never forsook me, never abandoned me, then most certainly our God, who is love, would never. But He does beckon us. Beckons us to forsake the vain inventions of man and find in Him all we need. He is life itself, everything flows to and from Him (Rom 11:36). Everything we need is found in Him (2 Peter 1:3)
In practicality what does this look like? Great question. The fact that so many Christians are not sure where to go from here points to the obvious that we do not know our God at the intimate level that He wants to be known. First thing to do is to begin to pray. As you pray may it be a “turning” from all worldly devices and vanity (idols) to the living God. Pray as a mode of seeking Him, drawing nigh to Him, and asking Him to draw nigh to you. Next you must open your Bible. There is no over stressing the importance of your Bible. You can’t truly know your God if you neglect the one ordained method of knowing Him, that is, His word. Finally, find and participate in true Christian fellowship. Other followers of Christ who find in Him their strength and righteousness. You will see how other people find in Christ there all in all and be encouraged by them all the while sharpening one another (Prov 27:17) in the presence of Christ (Matt 18:20).
Action
- Praise God for His infinite strength and righteousness being readily available for you in His Son
- Confess to God how swift your feet are to run to man’s vain devices
- Ask God to put these steps into action and help you Pray, Read, and enjoy Christian fellowship.
- Listen to this post’s song: In Christ Alone