Every situation comes as puzzle waiting for someone to solve and resolve the details. Regardless of the number of pieces, the questions always circle around the first piece to pick up. Should this be the first piece or perhaps the one on the left? What is the value of this piece of the puzzle versus any other? Once I choose the first one how about the second? Is there any logic to the third?
Everyone faces this question. Politicians face the challenge in choosing the right place to start and critics are there to question whatever decision they make. Parents are constantly questioning their decisions on where to start. Individually the process is often much more difficult. How do we examine our choices without making a statement to ourselves that we have failed? Can we reset out priorities in a positive way?
As I leap off into a new job, this question has been echoing for weeks. Where do I start? What should I look at first? Is there an obvious place to put my energies?
The answer is more fundamental and obvious than one would first believe. What did God do when faced with the same challenge?
“God sovereignly made me [Wisdom] – the first, the basic – before he did anything else. I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start.” (Proverbs 8.20,21)
God took time to get the fundamental priorities and principles in place before She did anything else. Wisdom was in place before the action got started.
Think of what this means for your and me. Following God's model, we would examine and determine our values and priorities in context of what God put in place for us and without regard to our past, present, and future. Looking at the future comes with God's hope that is independent of my past. God's blanket of mercy, forgiveness, and love covers my past.
Today is a fresh opportunity to get our steps right. Beginning anew with God is gift filled with hope. Life is more than it seems.
