4 Ways to Get Out of the Heat
Photo by Photo by Katerina Kerdi on Unsplash
It was so hot.
As temperatures swelled across the nation, bemoans of heat indices rose from mouths as well as weather maps alike.
What also rose were stories of people being overcome with heat exhaustion.
One woman in particular was being treated for heat exhaustion at a state fair. There were several air-conditioned buildings on the premises.
Why didn’t she take periodic breaks from the heat? Was she not hydrated? Or did her body simply say “enough”?
After all, the door to an air-conditioned building was only steps away from her point of collapse.
But as we question her behavior, aren’t we like that sometimes too?
God offers us an “escape from the heat” of fear, anxiety, condemnation, and yes, hell.
We all tend to wander at one time or another, thinking we know best and go our own way instead (Isaiah 53:6).
But changing course takes effort. We must stop what we are doing, veer off our path and walk into the “air-conditioning”.
The problem is it’s so darn easy to just keep going down the path we are already on. A body in motion stays in motion.
Our mind may be reeling yet laser focused as we charge on to our destination.
That’s when we have to stop, examine our path, and course correct if needed.
Here are four benefits to changing our path to get out of the “heat”:
Change Our Attitude
I’m not always right - *gulp* (don’t tell my husband).
I must be willing to lay down my will and be open to the Lord’s ways, which most likely will be very different – and better - than mine.
Proverbs tells us repeatedly to get wisdom, search for it, it is more precious than gold and jewels.
I especially love Proverbs 12:1 which says, “he who hates reproof is stupid”. In other words, we need to accept correction graciously and humbly.
We chuckle but the writer knew we needed the truth loud and clear!
We are wise and our path made plain when we align our hearts and minds with the Lord’s.
Change our Path
When we are open to the Lord’s leading, we must be willing to change course. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts not our thoughts.
Others may not understand. We may be questioned, insulted, and yes even ostracized as we forego the easy path that leads to destruction to enter by the narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:14).
As David tells us in Psalm 34:5 when we take His path we will be blessed and never be put to shame.
Change Our Ways
When we insist on getting our way like a spoiled child we drive others away and can drive ourselves to destruction.
When we change our ways and do things God’s way, life gets much better. Not necessarily easier, but so much better (trust me on this one, I know 😉).
We have the peace of knowing we are walking in step with the Lord and are therefore under His protection.
He knows so much more that we do! And when we follow the One who knows the way we will reach the best destination.
I’d much rather follow someone who knows where they are going than grope around in the dark!
Change Our Minds
Finally and most importantly, God offers us salvation through His Son Jesus. To repent means we change directions and go the other way.
We choose to turn away from sin and live for God.
God desires all people to be saved and to live with Him for eternity (1 Timothy 2:4).
When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are “delivered from darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Colossians 1:13-14).
This is the BEST news of all!
We begin living our eternal life now in His light and escape the “heat”- and misery - of eternal separation from God.
Now that sounds like the best course of action.
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