Step 3: . We made a decision to turn our life and will over to the care of God.

March 10

Scripture reading for today: Psalm 9, Proverbs 4

If you keep up with the recommended scripture reading, I wonder how you’ll respond to Proverbs 4. I’ve had several conversations over the years with people who got all hot and bothered by the writer’s assumptions.

This is a chapter written by a guy who believes that his dad gave him solid advice. He proposes a principle for right living: listen to your dad and all will go well with you. But what do you do with that advice when you’ve come to believe that your father gave you bad counsel, or abandoned you, or simply neglected to share any wisdom at all?

Two thoughts for today.

(1). Whether right or wrong, good or bad, every single one of us are students of our families of origin. We can commentate on the worth of this educational experience until the cows come home. Trust me on this one – our natural inclinations are formed at the feet of our parental units – we are born imitating the family we are born into. So watch yourself. Judge all you want, but remember this: apples don’t usually fall far from the tree. I don’t know a family that has perfectly executed the task of perfect parenting. Pete and I certainly haven’t. Each of us makes parenting blunders – blunders our children could easily imitate. I suggest that you consider ceasing the critique of what your parents did or did not do, and instead, begin to take responsibility to learn from God what the next right step is for you. (A thoroughly non-codependent way to live.)

(2). Great news for all of us – we have the opportunity – the privilege – to decide to accept God’s offer of adoption. God invites us to come to believe, and we need to seriously consider this offer. At the moment we decide, we are transported into a new family system.

Thought for today: The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 NIV

Thought for tomorrow: Consciously, willfully, deliberately, intentionally – stop. Pause to prepare. Adoption into a new family means a fresh beginning – and an obligation to learn a new way of living. This is what it means to turn our life and will over to the care of God – our new daddy.

March 10
Teresa McBean

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