Babylon is Not My Home

I walked past the piano on my way to bed last night, and noticed a layer of dust. I pulled out the bench, clicked on the desk lamp, and sat down.

Prayers for a friend were heavy on my heart. I was reminded how a veil of dust can cover many things in our lives, and I began to write.

Verse One: “The dust had covered my beloved, futile thinking had come, but not for long, not forever, Babylon is not my home.”

I then remembered my journey in my twenties, dating a fellow whom I loved very much, but going about our relationship in a very different way than what God commanded. There was a picture of Jesus in his bedroom, and every time I looked at it I was reminded of my Saviour, and what He did for me on the cross.

Eventually I shook the dust of deception from my spirit, and stopped pretending to be someone I was not. I didn’t belong in that relationship, I belonged to Jesus. My joy would never be full without trusting Jesus, and obeying Him.

Scripture tells us of a time when the Israelites had forgotten God, and went their own way. As a result God exiled them to a foreign country, Babylon. At one point the captors ask the musicians of Israel to sing, and their reply is:

“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:1-4

My relationship with my boyfriend was like living in a foreign land. I tried to talk to him about my faith, but eventually it drove us further apart.

I wrote verse two: “By the river, I hung my harp up, no more reason to sing, but not for long, not forever, I’m the remnant and He’s my King.”

The bible tells us, “A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. A remnant will return; yes, the remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God” Isaiah 10:21.

My eyes began to get heavy as I worked on the chorus portion of the song. I couldn’t finish last night, but before I put down my pen and paper, another scripture verse came to mind.

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13.

If you have heard the voice of God call you into a relationship of faith in Jesus Christ, and have made a decision to follow Him, then everything you do thereafter will be subject to God’s will for your life. If you are living outside of His will, as the Israelites were, you may feel as though you are in exile. Your joy is hanging on a poplar tree, and you cannot breathe let alone sing, because you are in a foreign land where you do not belong.

God sees you, His love’s relentless, and he desires to see your relationship with Him restored.

Living Life Driven, isn’t Living – Let God Drive

“The days crawl, but the years fly” I heard a young mother of two tell me yesterday morning.

When you get older, and your children have left the nest, the days fly, and the years evaporate like a drop of dew at first light.

And it’s ok, as long as we can learn to embrace each moment, to celebrate where we are in the “now.” This takes discernment, and an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying.

I couldn’t drive up to see my grand-daughter today, and at first I felt disappointed to say the least. Knowing I will see her on Sunday, which is Father’s Day, does ease my mind. However, it got me thinking about a bible verse found in Matthew 6:34, “don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself…”

As I revisited that verse I realized I can look forward to seeing my loved ones this coming weekend, but should I not also look forward to this day? I can make a ton of lists in order to prepare for my guests, but what about preparing for today?

Middle age helps us understand life, and time in a new light. I use to get tripped up on the word “worry”. Consider the word “driven”. There are people tied up in knots about how they are going to provide for their future. But what about the those who cannot enjoy today because their minds are always set on what they want to accomplish tomorrow? It’s like waking up, and going to bed, and missing everything in between. Living life driven, drives us to distraction, and that my friend is not living at all.

We have our check lists, but prayer lists are far more valuable. You can continue to revisit your checklist, and check off the boxes through out the day as you complete each task, or you can give your entire list to God in prayer – once, and walk away knowing everything you do that day is covered and orchestrated by the Creator. Your tomorrows, and todays are everything they are suppose to be with God in the driver’s seat. No “what ifs”, no “should a, would a”, just moving forward with peace that surpasses our own understanding, no matter how fast life’s speedometer reads.