Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, February 4, 2013

"I lift up my eyes to the hillsâ€"where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."¹

As I've mentioned before, for many years I have ridden a mountain bike, and riding down the steep hill where we live is quite exhilaratingâ€"sure is a lot more fun than riding back up againâ€"obviously, though, the benefit is only from the ride up. Unlike a car, however, on a bicycle you don't steer to turn. You lean to turn in the direction you want to go. If you lean towards the left, you go left. If towards the right, you go right. And if you lean too far either way, you'll fall. I know because I've leaned too far beforeâ€"not on our steep hill fortunately.

Life's like that too. If you lean towards the left of liberalism that's the direction you will go; and if you lean towards the right of conservatism, that too is the direction you will go. And if you are an ultra or extreme-left-winger or a dogmatic extreme-right-winger, chances areâ€"in timeâ€"you will ultimately fall too.

Both of these extremes are the opposite side of the same coin. The culprits are not likely to admit it, but both are equally neurotic. For example, a dogmatic-right-winger is theologically rigid because he is emotionally rigid, repressed, and in denial. It has nothing to do with his self-perceived spirituality. He's this way because he is insecure. His defense against this is his rigidity. He always wants to be in control as this is the only way he feels safe. It's exactly the same for the extreme-left-winger. He's no different and is just as rigid in his stance as is the extreme or dogmatic-right-winger in his.

The healthiest and best direction to lean is towards God, trusting in him and in his Word for the direction of your life. It is also essential to face one's emotional issues so we have our eyes open so we can see clearly the direction in which we are leaningâ€"and heading, for where you look is where you will go.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me be emotionally honest with myself and you so I can see clearly and stay focused on the direction I need to go. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV).

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