Flexible Living

"Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer." Deuteronomy 10:16

Many of us are crippled from birth. The backbone of our standard for living comes fused into unyielding rules and regulations. We are rigid in our determination to control life's course and outcome.

We're sure, for example, how people ought to look, behave, and respond. Things have to be done a certain way - our way. We know, too, exactly how a godly marriage should operate; and we're quite familiar with the model of the ideal Christian family scene - which, of course, we intend to duplicate perfectly.

Then real life sneaks up and whacks us from behind, seeking to break our unbending back and our stiff neck, threatening to paralyze us.

There is a cure. We are offered opportunity to exercise the suppleness of godly grace and perspective. Each time life throws us a punch, we can do a deep-knee bend, forcing our muscles of faith, hope, and understanding to strength.

Eventually that brittle backbone will grow strong and supple, bending with the rhythms of grace yet standing tall and firm in the face of compromise.

All of this requires considerable daily "give". Such give is not a one-time choice but a lifestyle of generosity, spontaneity, and openness to truth.

How often I have thought that if I could give just one gift to my children - besides a heart for God - it would be the golden gift of flexibility.

By Susan L. Lenzkes taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Numbers 31-32
Old and New Testaments Together: Numbers 7-8 & Mark 4:21-41
Historical: Numbers 31-32
Chronological: Numbers 3-4
Blended: Exodus 19-20 & 1 Thess. 5

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible