Creating corners in our lives

If you're like 60 percent of all Americans, in the last week you've created a list of things you'd like to stop and some things you'd like to start. If your like most people you've stopped or started something because you want to be happier. If only you could start this or stop that, then surely you'd be happier.

God has a lot to say about what He has created for your good, for your happiness. In the Bible, in the Book of Leviticus, you'll find all sorts of instructions that God gives to His people for the purpose of them getting a picture of what it means to be his people -- what is for their good and happiness. A portion of Leviticus 23:22 reads, "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field up to its edge, ..." In other words, if you'll create these corners there will be a greater satisfaction in your life than you know.

Now, most people -- when they go out this summer and pick the vegetables in their garden -- will collect everything. In the farming community in which I live I haven't seen any fields with crops standing in the corners after the harvest. Everything is collected. But God tells His people to create corners by not reaping up to the edge. To determine before harvest even begins that you will only go this far and no further.

God sees something in us that we don't; at least not until it's too late. Many of us are driven by fears of not having enough, fears of being alone, fears of never being happy. Or simply we are stressed because we have used all the resources we have. We have reaped the edges and then some.

When you and I create corners in our lives, when we determine by God's word that these are the boundaries that we need to establish for our good, then we open an opportunity in our lives to know God, to trust Him and to see Him at work in and through us in a way that we never have before.

Creating corners doesn't limit things, but grows trust that He will provide if we create this corner. It opens opportunities to see Him at work in and through us. Every corner is the chance to know Him more.

What corners do you need to create?

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father, minister and writer. Read more from him at www.robhurtgen.wordpress.com.