Have No Substitute

My husband was at the dump and saw this tiny kitten curled up inside a tire. The kitten was sick and dirty and alone. My husband took him to the vet and told them to help him in any way they could and he'd pick him back up on his way home. Below you can see how he was when he was found.

Months later as the temperatures began to cool, we brought out our blankets. This one blanket is soooo soft. And, as I'm laying in bed, our kitten, Marshmallow, who's now more like a teenager...lays down and begins 'nursing' on our blanket. We were quite surprised and amused by this, until we remembered how we had rescued him and he lost his mom at a young age. If his mom had not died, he would not now be finding a substitute to fulfill that longing and comfort from his mother. Marshmallow noticed our blanket feeling soft like his mama and that longing came back to him.

How much are we like this? What are you going back to for comfort, but it's a lie. It's not a true help. It's a distraction. It's a quick fix. And, God watches and waits for you...waiting for you to go to Him instead, so He can HEAL you and make you whole. God can and will be your ALL in ALL, if you'd only allow Him to. Sure, it may take you through some heartaches and tears and work, but in the end, you will be made whole from all the hurts and pains from your past.

For the Lord longs to comfort you and have compassion upon you. And, He says, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted you on the palm of each of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.” (Isaiah 49:13,15,16).

Some of you may have not had a good parent. Perhaps your parent was too busy working or doing their hobbies and not giving you the attention you wanted. Some of you had a parent die at a young age. You didn't have a parent to cheer you on. You didn't have a parent that cherished you and loved on you. And, because of this some of you are going to anyone who will give you attention. Whoever 'speaks the loudest' is the one you're sticking with. That man that keeps wanting your attention, you give it because you're getting the attention you didn't get from your father. That woman who is so clingy to you and wants you to be her girlfriend...you wouldn't normally like her type...but, because she so wants you, you consent, so you can get that attention you didn't get as a child. It's not exactly the attention you want, and probably even bad attention, but it's attention, nonetheless....so you stay.

But, God calls you His child. He longs to adopt you as His own. HE wants to give you that affirmation you are looking for. He wants to love you, teach you, and show you the right way to live. He, alone, can satisfy this longing in your heart. For in God, the fatherless find love, pity, and mercy (Hosea 14:3). Be fulfilled in God. No mere person can satisfy these longings in your heart.
 

And, there are those who have addictions and/or in a rut, which could be smoking, looking and watching things you should not be watching, sleeping too much, drowning yourself in tv shows or Facebook, or taking drugs. This could be the person that consumes themselves in work, so they don't have to deal with problems in their home; or a person who is always seeking fun and doesn't take care of the issues facing them. You're troubled. You're battling all these thoughts in your head, and you don't know how to make it quiet. And God says, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to Me. And My peace shall be yours, that peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and fix your mind on these (Philippians 4:6-8).

Make yourself stop thinking all the negative thoughts. You DO have control. You just have to fight it. You have to find other things to take their place. You, with God's help, can win and defeat these thoughts that are consuming you. And, as you change your thoughts and as you take charge of your mind and thus your very life, God will be with you. As you seek Him to give you wisdom and knowledge...as you seek Him to be your Comfort and Friend...as you make Him your Lord and Savior; He will guard and keep you in perfect and constant peace when your mind is stayed on Him, as you commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, and hope confidently in Him. (Isaiah 26:3).

Jesus Himself said, “Peace I leave with you, My own peace I now give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Stop allowing yourself to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourself to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. (John 14:27).”

If you need to know what the truth is, “It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). Ask Him to show you the truth. If you sincerely ask for truth and wisdom, He will give it to you (James 1:5).

  If you feel all alone and need to know that He is with you, remember the Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One Who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Imagine the Holy One Who created you loving you so much that He stays with you and quiets your soul!

  If you need peace, remember that the Lord is Peace. He is Jehovah Shalom. His Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). He will calm you if you ask Him.

If you need to be cared for, strengthened, helped, and safe, ask Him to be your Shepherd. When He becomes your Shepherd, you'll hear His voice. And, you will find

Him taking care of you in so many ways as you follow His direction.

If you have lost your way, and just don't know what to do next, God can shed light on what you should do and where you should go (Psalm 27:1). He can take away all the darkness and show you the truth in all manners and what is the best thing for you to do.

If you need a Father, He is the Father to the fatherless. He is your place of safety. His arms will hold you up forever (Deuteronomy 33:27).

If you feel like there is death and darkness all around you, call Jesus to bring you into the light, for He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

Does it make sense to keep nursing on a blanket when you're too old for such things? Does it make sense to stay in the dark and stumble all around when you could be in the Light and walk a straight path? Does it make sense to find comfort and peace in things that only harm you? Does it make sense to follow after people who are only for themselves and not truly for you? Does it make sense to keep on listening to lies when you know Who is and has the Truth? Does it make sense to continue to do the same things over and over again, and expect your life to 'magically' get better?

None of these make sense. If you want your life to be better, go to the One Who created you. Allow Him to be your Lord and Savior...truly. Not just in words, but really be as your Lord (Boss) and Savior. Allow Him to put you in the Light, so you can stop stumbling around in the darkness. There is no true fun in that! Allow HIM to be your Peace and Comfort. Stop turning away from Him to other things that are fleeting and have no lasting effect. Stop turning to things that harm you.

He loves you with a mighty love. Make this the year that YOU love HIM with a mighty love. Make this the year that nothing stands between you and Him. Make this the year that He truly is your First....First moment of day, First thought of praise, First thought of prayer, First thought of all things. Allow Him to be your best Friend. Make this the Year of No Substitutes!

Oh, and our Marshmallow? He is a beautiful cat now...still 'nurses' some. He looks fine on the outside. He looks full grown. But his mind and emotions are not. WE look ok on the outside, too. But, we all have these things distracting us from Jesus – the Truth, the Life, and the Way. Nobody knows...but God. God sees all these things that are pulling you away from Him...and pulling you away from a more beautiful and stable life that He has for you. God is trying to get your attention. He's been trying for a while now to help you. When will you stop looking to the left and to the right? When will you finally look straight ahead to the One Who is good and great and mighty and so loving, and standing right in front of you...waiting....

Have no substitutes!

It's amazing what love and care can do!

Allow God to love you. He finds you worthy!