Quiet time insights

Carolyn Lewis
Posted 5/12/21

“If it is to be, it is up to me.”

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Quiet time insights

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“If it is to be, it is up to me.” That was my Mom’s favorite saying for many years. She always had a favorite saying over the years that she would remind us of when we were together, but this one was special and lasted many years. She wrote it in bold letters and had it on the top of her bulletin board that my Dad made her. She lived to be 90 and that was pretty much the theme of her life. After my dad died, she relied on that more and more, as she realized that if her life was to have meaning, it was up to her. 

The older I get, the more I use that simple phrase myself. Even when people tell me to have a good day, I often say, “if it’s up to me I will,” or, “I plan to.” Because, you see, it really is up to me.

My plan for my day starts in the morning in my Quiet Time, when I read a portion of the Bible and ask God what it means for me. Recently, I was reading in Proverbs 4 in the Living Bible and discovered a section that reminded me of my Mom’s saying.

Proverbs 4:1-7 “Young men (women) listen to me as you would your father. Listen and grow wise, for I speak the truth – don’t turn away. For I, too, was once a son (daughter), tenderly loved by my mother as an only child, and the companion of my father. He told me never to forget his words. “If you follow them,” he said, “you will have a long and happy life. ‘Learn to be wise,’ he said, “and develop good judgment and common sense! I cannot overemphasize this point.’ Cling to wisdom—she will protect you. Love her—she will guard you.’ Determination to be wise is the first step toward becoming wise! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.”

I can identify with that passage as I, too, was an only child, and was guided by parents who had a great deal of common sense and good judgment. I also was a good student and learned early that I not only had to learn but had to apply what I was learning for it to do any good. I realized that reading the Bible was an active process, not just passive. Sure, it was nice to read, but if it was to do any good in my life, I had to apply what I was reading and do what it says. 

As you read the Bible you will notice that it says if you obey my commands, then I will help you. Verse 10 says, “my son, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.” We don’t work for our salvation; that was freely given by Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. But we do have to work out life’s problems by following the guidelines and commands God gives us in the Bible. We need to be determined to work out problems and not just walk away and do nothing. We need to pray and then act as God shows us the way.

There were several times in my life I wanted to walk away and not have to deal with pressures and problems we faced, but that isn’t what I was taught growing up and it isn’t what God teaches us to do. During those times I would continue to read and study the Bible and God would lead me each day and would send a friend to help me along the way when I needed encouragement. I had a very good Christian friend who would pray for me and with me and check on me and encourage me during some long, difficult periods in my life.

I read in Acts about Paul and Barnabas and realized what an encourager Barnabas was and how important he was to Paul’s ministry. I’ve had many encouragers along the way in my life and have tried to be there for others as God leads me. 

Do you have an encourager in your life? Someone who wants the best for your life and helps you to be the best person you can be? Are you that person to someone in your life? Sometimes it just takes a simple encouraging word to lighten someone’s load, to show someone cares about them, to know someone is praying for them. It’s up to us to choose to be an encourager, and God will show us the person who needs us and will guide us as we help them. 

Ecc. 4:9, 10 “two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.” 

And remember, if it is to be, it is up to me.