Egypt

Day 21

Days to go: 344

Miles Walked: 26

Miles to go: 974

Fall has officially settled in and made a home for itself here in central Oklahoma.  It’s been hinting at its arrival for awhile now. Today, it arrived in full force, and brrrr – it was cold!

I am a part of a discipleship group on Thursday nights.  I love it.  It’s an amazing place where knowing Jesus is the constant pursuit.  A good friend is also a part of this group, and last night, he pointed out that our study material defined sin as a “fundamental lack of trust and reliance upon God to meet our needs.” 

Being a less than model student, I had not done my homework – so that definition was new to me.  It struck me, because it is so different from the definitions of sin I have heard before.  So often, what we hear described as “sin” is actually the outward symptom of the sin that has already taken place in our hearts.  Lust, greed, deceit, adultery, addiction – all of those things stem from the definition outlined in our study material – that “fundamental lack of trust and reliance upon God to meet our needs.”

This morning, I spent some time with two good friends.  I explained to them how the food addiction has been very difficult over the past couple of days.  One of them surmised it is probably because I have not yet learned to fully trust Jesus in this place.  Trusting Him instead of running to my addictions is still a very new behavior.  As I look ahead, it is scary to think of letting go and never returning to my old places of false security.   Hearing that made me think of the definition of sin outlined in my Thursday night study material.

I heard great hope in what she shared with me.  She is right. I have not learned to really trust Him yet – but I am getting there.  As I keep putting one foot in front of the other, and as I keep crying out to Him, I believe that trust will continue to grow.   I want to trust Him more.  

Oh, Jesus – help me trust You more.  Hmmm…that reminds me of a hymn I sang in church growing up:

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end.

(Refrain)
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

You may have already picked up on the fact that I’m a music gal. I believe there is a song for just about every circumstance.  Wouldn’t you know, there is a song for what I’m experiencing right now?  It describes the Israelites after they left their bondage in Egypt, before they entered the promised land.

Enjoy!  I’ll see you on the other side of mile 28!