Are Birds of Prey Circling Over You?

Do you ever get the feeling that birds of prey are circling over you, just waiting for you to flub up, to give up, to fail…so that they can swoop down and peck out your flesh?

I do.

Whenever I attempt anything new or challenging or out of my comfort zone. Anything I know I absolutely cannot do on my own. Anything that requires the help of the Living God, or I’m toast.

What are these birds of prey and where do they come from?

I think there are a variety of them. Here are some examples:

Self-condemning thoughts
Critical people
Fear of failure rooted in pride that leads to things like procrastination and even (gasp) giving up altogether
Second guessing and over-analyzing

I could go on. But you get the point, and I’m guessing you can relate. Yet what do you do with those buzzards when their shadow falls on you as you travel the journey God has laid out for you?

I’ll tell you what has worked for me for almost 30 years…and I can assure you, I’ve had lots of practice. This works!

“ Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6

The word commit means to literally roll a burden from the back of someone weaker onto the back of someone stronger. By faith and dependence upon our Strong Refuge, we can do the work He calls us to if we commit it to Him and not otherwise! Trying to do things in my own flesh and by my own strength has always led to failure for me. Maybe others can get away with it. God has always had His thumb on me, and quite frankly, I’ve grown to like it that way. So I give over my ideas/plans/hopes/dreams to God…I roll the burden upon HIM…and trust that He will accomplish His purposes as I step out in faith to ACT. As a result of this “committing”, sometimes He allows me to fall on my face! This is painful, but sanctifying and humbling. If I have truly “committed” it to Him…I’ve let go of the reins and am OK with whatever He chooses to do! He is merciful to bring things into our lives that cause us to see ourselves as small and Him as Great! On the other hand, sometimes He does things that are above and beyond anything I could ever imagine, and I am able to rejoice in His goodness and power in choosing to use a little Wemmick like me to accomplish something amazing! It’s always well worth it to make sure your ways have been “committed” to Him before moving ahead!

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

I pray, “Sovereign Lord, You are in control of all things. Your purposes will stand. Do whatever it is that You want to do through me…be it large and grand or small and insignificant in the eyes of others. I will move forward, trusting You to open doors as needed, and trusting You to close doors as You see fit. I will bend to Your will and flex to Your movements in my life and the lives of those around me. I will not dictate my plans to You, but rather present myself to You as available and willing to do your bidding. I am Your servant to raise up or to bring low as You see fit. Do all Your good pleasure.” And then I rest in Him. I wrap His peace around me and hide in it! The birds of prey may encircle my head, but I am covered by His feathers and I am safe…regardless of seeming success or seeming failure!

“The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.” Psalm 119:95

To “consider” God’s testimonies means to think of them, adhere to them, and find my support in them. It means I will not allow a fear of what mere man can do to me or what mere man might think of me pull me away from focusing on God’s truth as found in His Word. I will keep my mind steady on God. I run to His Word and find my joy in His Sovereign rule and His steadfast love. I quit focusing on little wooden Wemmicks...and focus on the Woodcarver. This makes the greatest difference of all. In fact, if I am feeling out of sorts or distraught, it is almost always because I’ve allowed Wemmicks to become more important to me than the Creator. Running to the Word of God is the antidote for this very real temptation.

When I do these things (and it doesn’t happen overnight or all at once…it is a bit of a struggle sometimes), it does not change my circumstances. But it does change my outlook. I exchange anxiety and fear…for peace.

And the vultures get bored and fly away…