From the Top Down

To allow our dogs easy access between the house and backyard, we put up a divided screen at the door. With this screen in place, we can now leave the door open on nice days. The screen consists of two mesh panels that connect with magnets that run down the center of each. As anyone, human or canine, walks through the magnets easily separate. As the screens fall back together, the magnets seek each other and reconnect.

This process works really well when the top is properly placed and secured. Alignment all the way down is dependent on the very top center being securely matched up. If one of the corners comes loose and pulls away, the entire screen will remain open.  The power of the individual magnets is not sufficient to pull them together unless they are near each other.  A proper anchor at the top pulls the edge of the panels close together. From this proximity the individual magnets have enough attraction to connect all the way down the line and close the screen.

This is a picture of the life of a believer in Jesus Christ.  We can spend our time and effort attempting to hold our ourselves together. This will never work until we are connected to God at the top.

We initially put the screen of our lives up by coming into a relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. Receiving His sacrifice to pay for our own sin sets up the framework for our born-again life.  “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 AMP)  Once our salvation is secure, our lives will begin to fall into place as we continue to seek God as our head.  “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:33 AMP)  We must look up to our heavenly Father and His will.  Then our needs will be met. If we look to our own plans, our lives become unstable from the top down.

King Solomon was a great example of this. Given the opportunity to ask for anything he desired, young Solomon chose to seek wisdom from God.  “God replied to Solomon, Because this was in your heart and you have not asked for riches, possessions, honor, and glory, or the life of your foes, or even for long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may rule and judge My people over whom I have made you king, Wisdom and knowledge are granted you. And I will give you riches, possessions, honor, and glory, such as none of the kings had before you, and none after you shall have their equal.” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12 AMP)  As long as he followed God’s word and His wisdom, Solomon prospered. When he parted from God’s word, especially in the areas of women and teaching the precepts of the Lord to his sons, he fell.  Even Solomon could not keep the pieces of his life together apart from his connection to God.

Daily we must seek the will of the Lord in all of our plans.  “A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” (Proverbs 16:9 AMP)  We look to His face and character through prayer and Bible study to stay connected to God. “You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].”  (Psalm 27:8 AMP) When this is our habit, all the things of our life will snap together like the magnets on the screen.  God is our designer and He knows best how to line up our lives properly. Things may not always be smooth, but God will hold us together. 

Stay connected to God as your head. Allow Him to line up your life. Enjoy the breeze of blessings that comes in.