Beautiful Music and Failure

While I was at home at Mom's she gave me a set of her CDs called Classical Praise. They came from the Our Daily Bread organization. They are as beautiful as the other ones she gave me. It seems that when I listen to these during my devotion time, the Lord speaks to me in a very strong way. Today was just like that I learned so much.

First I read about Saul's failure in 1 Samuel 15. He failed to do the mission God appointed for him. He did part of it - but he failed to complete it because he was afraid of not pleasing men - vs. 24 "I violated the Lord's command and your (Samuel) instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave into them." He allowed them to keep some livestock and then thought he would make it OK by offering it as sacrifice. This failure destroyed his relationship with Samuel and Samuel mourned for him the rest of his life. This is what Samuel told him vs. 22-23 " Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination."

Saul failed but God didn't. These words from Charles Swindoll about this passage struck me and I think they will serve as a way to understand what I am to do next in my life.

• When a man or woman of God fails, nothing of God fails.
• When a man or woman of God changes, nothing of God changes.
• When our lives are altered by unexpected events, nothing of God is altered.
• God knows exactly what he is doing and nothing can restrain his bringing it to pass.
• We want God to show us his plan and once we know it we will gladly obey, but that is not faith. Faith is counting on God when we do not know the plan.

Now I just need to let these words sink in, for they are profound and just what I needed to hear on this day.

I am also reminded of this old hymn that was on my new Ken Medema album - Lead Kindly Light. Here are the words -

Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom,
lead thou me on;
the night is dark, and I am far from home;
lead thou me on;
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
the distant scene: one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose, and see my path; but now
lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
will lead me on,
o'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
the night is gone,
and with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost a while.

Lead kindly light