IS YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND?

Psalm 139:23-24:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

I learned some things about ostriches recently that were very interesting. Ostriches are unique creatures. Of all the birds that exist today (roughly 8600 species), ostriches are the largest, reaching a height of 9 feet and a weight of 300 pounds. They cannot fly, but they can run, reaching speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Wow! The thing people most often equate with the ostrich is this statement, “It buries its head in the sand.” While that statement is technically not true (it only lowers its head to the sand when it senses danger), it is a statement that describes lots of people.

Many people I have known over the years have suffered from what might be labeled “the ostrich effect.” These folks have a problem… and do not want to deal with it. They sense some danger or something unpleasant in their lives or in their family, and they lower their head in the sand so the danger might go away. They deceive themselves into thinking, “If I don’t let myself see it, maybe it isn’t really there, or, maybe it’ll just go away by itself.”

WHAT ARE YOU NOT FACING?

One of many sad situations I can remember in my ministry was a young man who had an alcohol problem. His drinking problem was, not only destroying his life, but his family was suffering as well. Others, including myself, tried many times to get him to see his need to get help. I remember every time I tried to talk with him about it, he became very defensive. He felt I was personally attacking him. He’d immediately point at others he knew who drank and insisted he was no different, and he was okay. It’s like he would just stick his head in the sand and act like he didn’t really have a problem. Sadly, he continued down that road of pretending until alcohol completely destroyed his life.

GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND.

That sad story is not unique. Many others do the exact same thing in not wanting to face and deal with their own problems. They would rather bury their head in the sand and tell themselves it is someone else’s fault. The reason they have such trouble getting along in their marriage or with family, friends, work associates and fellow church members is because it’s always, ”Those people are not doing right!” Can it really always be someone else’s fault? Is it always your boss’s fault you can’t see eye to eye on things? Is your spouse always the one with the problem? Are your parents always wrong? No! If you are one who finds himself/herself in constant relationship turmoil, it is time to pull your head out of the sand. You are the common denominator.

PRAY WHAT DAVID PRAYED.

Have you prayed the prayer of David lately? Note again what he prayed within our verses for today. Have you ever honestly and humbly said, “Search me, O God?” God can and will work miracles in your life if you start opening up to Him. He will show you what is hurtful in your heart. He will clean you up and bring emotional healing if you come to Him wanting to be changed. As the song says, “It’s not my brother, not my sister, but it’s ME, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” Maybe you have developed the ostrich effect in your life. It could be its past time to get your head out of the sand. Maybe this devotional is hard for you to read because it is convicting to your heart. Instead of dismissing it as another attack, why not be honest enough to ask God about it? Then…

DO WHAT DAVID DID.

He learned as a young boy not to stick his head in the sand! He faced his Goliath of a problem! He said to his giant, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” David didn’t lower his head. He held his head high and ran toward that giant, took his sling, slung that stone and hit him right between the eyes! David watched as the giant he faced fell to the ground with a thud! What did David do? He faced, slew his giant and then cut off his head. David showed us how to, literally, GET A HEAD in life!

So, get your head out of the sand! David did it and so can you!

Think it over…

Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.

Photo by Wallpaper Cave