It was the morning of
Dec. 14th and I curled up on the couch with my coffee to read the
day’s devotional from Oswald Chambers’ book, My Utmost for His Highest. Chambers’ focus was on my obedience, and
God’s peace during difficult times.
However, one word
clung to my mind and wouldn’t let go—the word, “probes.” Here’s what Chambers
wrote:
When I have obeyed God, the problems never come
between me and God, they come as probes to keep the mind going on with
amazement at the revelation of God . . . any problem, and there are many, that
is alongside me while I obey God, increases my ecstatic delight, because I know
that my Father knows, and I am going to watch and see how He unravels this
thing.
Anyone who knows me,
knows I love “Star Trek”, especially “The Next Generation” TV series of shows.
So, when I read the word “probes” my mind immediately went to Star Trek and how
the starship Enterprise was constantly sending out probes to check out anything
in deep space that looked worthy of exploring or studying. And so Captain
Picard would give the order with three words that are famously attributed to
his character: “Make it So.”
So, what does this
have to do with my “word” from God for 2020?
That day, I thought about
probes and what purpose probing served on the show—and how it was similar to
God’s probes and probing in my own life.
As I said earlier, on
the show, probes were sent out to search out the unknown, with the hopes of
discovering “new worlds, and new civilizations.” Sometimes the Enterprise’s
probe was met with a welcome, but often it was looked upon with fear or simply
attacked. And yet, for some strange reason, the Enterprise kept travelling
deeper into space, sending out probes without hesitation. (We know that if they
didn’t, there wouldn’t be any Star Trek shows.)
1 Cor. 2: 9, 10 (NET)
says, “But just as it is written, ‘Things
that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or heart imagined, are the things God has
prepared for those who love Him. God has revealed these to us by the Spirit.
For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.’”
God, too, sends His probe,
His Spirit, into my heart to reveal deep things that God wants to bring to
light. Sometimes these things are good and beautiful aspects of my personality
that He wants me to see and develop and use for His glory, and sometimes these
are foul and ugly things that are enemies of God and that He wants to probe out
and destroy; but He can’t do it until I open my eyes and ears and heart to His
Spirit’s probing and surrender to Him.
And so for 2020 I say,
“O LORD, send Your probe—Make It So!”
I don’t know what lies
ahead for the year—what His Spirit will reveal. But I do know that if I keep
travelling forward in obedience to Him, these probes will keep my “mind going
on with amazement at the revelation of God.”
And to that I say, “Engage!”
"Make it So" image: https://imgur.com/
I love that you said this with Star Trek! ❤️
ReplyDeleteOh! And... 🖖
DeleteYeah! Where did you find this?! Love it!!!
DeleteIt is in my little icons thing on my iPad.
DeleteWell, I wish I could find such a clever emoji like Sandi! However, may i say I loved this post - not because i am also a Start Trek nerd (we used to call ourselves Trekkies but that sounds dated,,,) but because you wove such an important and relevant message into the post as well. God bless you as you continue to inspire! Live long and prosper!
ReplyDeleteTracy, type in Spock and the emoji comes up 😉🖖
DeleteYour post reminds me of Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting."
ReplyDeleteThanks for what you shared Connie. It's a good reminder that the Holy Spirit probes our lives. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI love this too! Sometimes I hesitate and attack the probe out of fear like they did on Star Trek. What a good reminder that God has my best interest in mind. May He be honoured in my life as I surrender to Him. 🖖
ReplyDeleteThanks, Connie, for your word, Probe. You brought refreshing thoughts of the Holy Spirit's ministry. How refreshing it is to me that "...the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” And as you said, God sends His probe into our hearts "to reveal the deep things that God wants to bring to light." God bless you this year.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Connie! I too am a Trekkie so I love your analogy with Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteSo I came to the Trekkie realm reluctantly through my sister and then my husband and then my sons! But now you have created a way so that I can refresh my perspective on Star Trek! From now on I will dive into their enthusiasm of "going beyond" because I will recall your metaphor! Probing! Yay! You u-turned me into a fabulous new perspective!
ReplyDelete