By Pamela Stephens

Our PlansOur Plans

Our Future

Our Goals

Our Dreams

Our Hopes

RunningRunning

Jonah—Disobedience leads to running!

Psalm 55:6 “Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest..I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and the storm.”

Where do we run? (Emotional, Mental, Physical, Spiritual)

--Escape to the “fridge”

--Escape to the medicine chest

--Escape to the liquor cabinet

--Escape through TV, movies, busy-ness

Facts About RunningFacts About Running

We can run, but we can’t hide! Psalm 139:7-12 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

We can run, but we are always there!

We can run, but it doesn’t change anything!

We can run, but it delays answers/solutions!

Another ChoiceAnother Choice

OBEDIENCE keeps us from getting “swallowed up” by our problems!

OBEDIENCE keeps us from having to clean up unnecessary messes!

OBEDIENCE keeps us in communication with our Father, God!

I Samuel 15:22 “To obey is better than sacrifice!”

When you want to RUN:When you want to RUN:

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge!”

Psalm 42:11 “Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 17:8 “..hide me in the shadow of your wings..”

Psalm 18:2 “my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge..”

Psalm 61:3 “you have been a shelter for me and a strong tower.”

ResistingResisting

Moses resisted God’s call– Ex. 3

Resisting is really denial of what is truth.

We resist uncomfortable situations, or don’t take necessary actions to avoid problems or people.

We bury our head in the sand like the ostrich, leaving an imposing target!

We pretend all is well..and make up excuses for bad behavior.

We cannot change anything by ignoring it!

Facts About Resisting:Facts About Resisting:

We are saying: “my plan is better than God’s plan.”

We are fighting against the arm of God. “do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.” 2 Chron. 13:12

We cannot stop the clock, or the consequences we will reap by resisting! “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Prov. 14:12

Another ChoiceAnother Choice

Give Over the Controls to God

Spend time in God’s Word

Ask God to Teach you—Prayer

Gratitude—It’s an Attitude!

When You Want to Resist:When You Want to Resist:

Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘this is the way; walk in it.’”

RationalizingRationalizing

Definition: “the skin of a lie stuffed with excuses.” (If only_________)

Adam and Eve – Genesis 3 It’s in the “family tree.”

Saul– I Samuel 15… excuses, excuses, EXCUSED!

When we disobey, no one else made us do it; it was OUR choice!

Facts About Rationalizing:Facts About Rationalizing:

It’s easier to blame someone else, rather than

taking responsibility for our choices.

It doesn’t change reality, it only attempts to hide it.

It never leads to spiritual growth, but only to stagnancy.

When You Want to Rationalize:When You Want to Rationalize:

I John 1: 8-9 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalm 32:1-5 “..when I kept silent (about my sin) my bones wasted away..then I acknowledged my sin..and you forgave me.”

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God..see if there be any offensive way in me.”

Another Choice:Another Choice:

Admit Fault-- It’s my own doing!

Agree with God – It is wrong—call it what it is—SIN!

Accept Responsibility -- I hurt someone else: myself: God.

Act on it! -- Change your behavior, ask forgiveness, turn

around!

Run, Resist, RationalizeRun, Resist, Rationalize

Run: we run when life gets hard

--marriage, circumstances, change

Resist: we resist when bad things happen

--cancer, life changes, death

Rationalize: we rationalize when it’s really our fault-make excuses/blame

--addictions, behaviors, failures

There is Another Way!There is Another Way!

Psalm 62:1 “My soul finds REST in God alone!”

Not in relationships

Not in possessions

Not in vocations

Not in finances

Not in fame

Living Happily Ever AfterLiving Happily Ever After

Dealing with the Real!

His PlansHis Plans

Jeremiah 29:11 “for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, not to

harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”

RestingResting

Instead of Running away

Instead of Resisting truth and what is reality

Instead of Rationalizing why we are the way we are, we must:

REST– “My soul finds REST in God alone.” Psalm 62:1

How do we do that, you say?

Learning to RESTLearning to REST REMEMBER what God has done for ME in

the past! (Make a list if you need to)

EXPECT God to work again on my behalf! (Attitude of Expectancy for our answer)

STAND FIRM in my Faith!

(there is no armor for our backs! Eph 6)

THANK God that he will again prove himself faithful to me! (An opportunity for a lesson to be learned, a miracle, an answer, growth for us!)

Psalm 77:11-12 “I will remember the deeds

of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles

of long ago. I will meditate on all your works

and consider all Your mighty deeds.”

Psalm 5:1-3 “Give ear to my words O God,

consider my meditations; listen to my cry for

help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In

the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the

morning I lay my requests before you and wait

in expectation.”

I Pet 5:7-12 “Stand firm in your faith and

after a little while, he will restore you and make

you strong, firm, steadfast..this is the true

grace of God. Stand firm in it!”

I Thess. 5:18 “Give thanks in all things.”