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“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 (ESV)

Have you ever noticed how we often make what’s “simple” so hard and difficult?  Our overriding pursuit of perfect often causes us to exhaust all measures and resources for our desired ending.  We plan, budget, analyze and strategize until our minds become deadlocked into non-activity.   Paralyzed, we convince ourselves it’s just too complicated.

Find myself in that place sometimes when it comes to God. Reading His word can challenge me.  Where do I start?  How much do I read?  Which study should I do?  All valid wonderings, but God simply desires that we come.  He invites us to come hungry and thirsty for His words.  He longs for us to simply read, meditate and digest the nuggets of His truth even if we don’t understand it all.  God desires our soft heart, open mind and teachable spirit.  He doesn’t have a quota or a list of how much we read or what passages we study. He simply invites us to come just as we are.

Prayer works the same way – an open invitation to talk to God and listen for His voice.  Yet, we make it seem difficult.  We search for the right words to say.  We shy away from praying with others because we fear messing up.  We even sometimes try to duplicate the prayers of others as if they hold more clout than our own.  We steer away from voicing how we really feel – the doubts, questions, etc.- despite the fact God knows all about you and me (Psalm 139:1). Yet He loves hearing our voice; God waits expectantly.   While there are many examples of how to pray in His word, God doesn’t restrict the cries of His children.  He longs to commune with us even if we stutter and our voice quakes.  God simply invites us to come just as we are.

Simple is how God approaches His creation.  Difficult is the potent lie of Satan saying we can’t approach God.  Why?  Because he knows when we read God’s word, talk to Him and listen for His voice, we fall deeper in love with the One who beckons us to come.  So, sweet friends let’s abandon all those hangups, excuses and fears.  Let’s run deep into the arms of our Heavenly Father and leave perfection behind.

“Father,  You created us, loved us, and gave your Son for us. When we confess our sins and choose to believe in You, we get to live with You forever!  Nothing could be simpler and yet more profound – leaving complicated behind.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life