A disquieting serenity envelops my mind with a hope that defies all logic.
Through what the Lord allows to come my way, He strengthens me to remain steadfast. The “valley of the shadow of death” into which I have been mercilessly cast is the valley of debt.
Ever since I learned that debt is contrary to God’s will, I have done everything in my power to distance myself from it— as much as is humanly possible.
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And, knowing that God detests usury, I, too, detest it with an absolute hatred. He knows the lengths to which I go to avoid falling prey to the usury of credit cards.
Right now, I am in bondage to debt. Jesus knows that my eyes have never turned away from Him; yet, I have a cruel master who torments me.
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I wonder: how is it possible to have two masters simultaneously? Yet, the Lord strengthens me with joy, and a disquieting serenity envelops my mind with a hope that defies all logic.
The tormentor—that master of debts—wrings bitter groans from the very depths of my soul; yet, when the torment grows most devastating, hope in my Lord wells up from my spirit, assuring my soul: the Father is at home.
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I am not a free agent wandering aimlessly from place to place. I am a servant, bound to a wonderful Master who purchased me with His own life.
He did not remove me from my usual environment; rather, He Himself came to dwell within it. And, furthermore, He prayed to secure my familiar habitat:
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15 ESV).
Well, I must be honest, so that my readers may understand my Master.
He is the Son of the Living God, the Creator of the universe. The moment I opened up my heart to receive Him as my Savior, He also became my Lord. And this trust in His love gives me tranquility and peace.
He has allowed the “master of debts” to occupy a portion of my legal territory; yet, my true Master keeps this “master of debts” under such subjection that it is impossible for him to advance without His permission. This makes it abundantly clear that, in any situation my Master allows me to pass through, He strengthens me to stand firm at my post—ready to hear what He has to say, just as Habakkuk did.
“I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1 ESV).
My Garden of Exotic Thoughts!
