Unless the Lord builds the house,
When I spent a day wandering through Edinburgh earlier this summer, I was unaware of the city's coat of arms which bear the Latin inscription Nisi dominus frustra, - Without God, frustration, taken from Psalm 127. Written as a song for pilgrims walking up to Jerusalem, this psalm of ascent addresses the futility of life and work without God. Building a house or a life, guarding a city or my own security - nothing I accomplish will be of eternal value unless I relinquish control to God. Yikes. That's easy to say and oh, so hard to live out. I have my own list of unless-es:
Unless I am published, I am not a writer.
Unless she apologizes, I won't make amends.
Unless I hold it all together, there is something wrong with me.
My unless-es narrow my vision and distort the truth of who I am in Christ. They belittle my work and the lives of others. When I yield to "unless God," He reorients my focus and plans to his purpose and calling on my life - to bring glory to his name. When I let go of control there is room for God to work. He shows me what nourishes me. He broadens my vision and enriches my writing. He provides a map for my soul, a guide for the journey of life.
In my writing I have only to write as best I can with the knowledge and grace he has given me. Everything I do flows out of my life in Him, and I am left with freedom and abundance.
Lorrie writes from Vancouver Island where she loves to walk, alone or with family and friends. She writes a slice of life blog at
www.fabricpaperthread.blogspot.com
