Compete with the Horses

God is testing our thoughts about Him. As we approach another July 4th, the celebration of our liberty is mixed with serious concerns regarding the health of our republic. We are looking for answers that seem to be eluding us. This is truly a time of testing. Understanding what is being tested is essential to finding answers. Jeremiah 12:3 says, “… you know me Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you…” Jeremiah ministered when his nation was sliding quickly towards destruction. The people were immersed in an identity crisis and their only hope was changing their thoughts about God. The nation of Israel knew God and then deliberately turned away from Him. Israel then tried her best to preserve herself, but everything they tried failed. Jeremiah wants to quit. This is where God calls upon Jeremiah and the nation to reconsider how they think about God. Our hope and rescue reside in how we think about God. When our thoughts about God are pleasing to God, we find a different perspective and a new strength. Jeremiah shares what that looks like in 12:5, “If you raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a safe country, how will you manage in the thickets of Jordan?” Safe country is thinking about God in ways that are pleasing to God. That is where we find the strength to deal with the hard stuff of life, where we find the strength to compete with the horses. Little known Founding Father, Elias Boudinot of NJ wrote to his daughter, “You have been instructed from your childhood in … the absolute necessity of a change of heart and an entire renovation of your soul to the image of Christ …” In those words, he echoes the guidance of God from Jeremiah’s Book to us all. We raise the bar on our discipleship and find the answers we need when our thoughts about God change our hearts to the glory of God. Gerald