Stiff-necked

     Due to stress, my back and neck have been stiff and sore lately. As I read in Nehemiah 9 about the Jews being "arrogant and stiff-necked," it reminded me of myself. Then in my reading of Billy Graham's book, Hope for Each Day for today's date, it said the following, "It isn't easy to bring our stubborn wills into submission to Christ, but when we do, it is as if a misplaced vertebra has snapped back into place. Instead of the stress and tension of a life out of harmony with God, we discover the serenity of His presence. Who will control your will today? You--or Christ?"
     In Acts 27, I read where Paul was trying to sail to Rome and a litany of accidents, trials, and tribulations occurred along the way. Finally, the stubborn crew listened to Paul's directions and "dropped four anchors," "prayed for daylight," "stay(ed) with the ship," and "cut the ropes that held the lifeboat."
     I'm ready to release the worries, tensions, and strife of this life over to God today. I don't want to be stiff-necked or have my back out of alignment, instead I want to align my life with God's direction by dropping my anchors into God's word, praying for daylight, trusting that He is in charge of the ship, and cutting the ropes to the lifeboats that lead to escaping rather than persevering in His ways.

Acts 27:31-32 Then Paul said to the centurion and the solders, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let if fall away.