Where would we be without God? I really do wonder, if He were not by my side, where would I be today? It's a staggering thought. Here's what He's been teaching me lately:
I can stand in the gap. My mom originally brought this up- the concept of intercessory prayer. I can go before God on the behalf of others and present their case as a intercessor, almost like a lawyer arguing the position of his client. Of course I've always prayed for my friends, but this has helped me to see it as a much more important exercies. I'm not just sending good vibes to God about a person I love and hoping that it will influence His final decision, I'm activly protecting this person from God's wrath, deserved though it may be, and trying to persuade him to bless them because they are important to me.
The Bible is God speaking to me. All of it, even the geneologies in the minor prophets, is there for a reason. It's not just a historical book; every character, every story, every verse is ladden with rich meaning that applies to my life as a homeschooler living in twenty first century America. But it's not just going to jump out at me- I have to read activly looking for that meaning, and I have to think hard about the things I'm reading afterwards. I read important e-mails over and over trying to get whatheck the sender is trying to tell me, and isn't God's communication to me a thousand times more important? Meditation. Okay, God, what are you telling ME in this verse?
God's not looking for a perfect record. As a matter of fact, God doesn't keep records. He sees me as I am now, today. Sometimes I scare myself. "Yeah, I knew I was a sinner, but I didn't know I was THAT much of a sinner." He knows what blackness is in our hearts, and it doesn't scare him away. It doesn't surprise him at all when we sin, even when we sin big time. It's not like we are any worse people after we sin than we were before. Not while Jesus is Lord of our lives. Sin does have consequences, but we can't loose cool points with God or be permanantly taken down a notch in his opinion because of it.
The only way to find yourself is to stop trying. Read Exodus 4:10-15. Moses is talking to God at the burning bush, and he's being quite uncertain about the whole 'leading the people out of slavery' thing. "Whoah, God... wasn't there some sort of mistake? I'm not that kind of guy- I'm the quiet one, member? I tend sheep. I make bricks. You don't want to hear me speak in public, really." But God had other plans. And I wonder, how many times have I let my own idea of who I am stand in the way of what God wants me to be doing? Until I stop worrying about who I am and who I'm becoming, I'm not going to find out what I'm supposed to be doing. And until I figure out what I'm supposed to be doing, I'm never going to find out who I am.
God is wilder than my wildest dreams. I say it reverently. I've been listening to "A Little's Enough" a lot lately, and suddenly one day it struck me: "I can do anything" doesn't just mean He can keep the boogie men away at night and solve world hunger. It means he can fulfill my deepest longings, which, I assure you, are beyond the dignity of petty. Whatever he's got in store for me is going to be even better than what I've imagined. I have a tendancy to get scarred stiff about the future- I know exactly how I want it to go and I'm terrified of something interveaning. But if it's God interveaning... what on earth do I have to be afraid of?
I am called out of this world. Life is not a hay ride. It took me a while to notice this, didn't it? But it's not; the pain and suffering going on all around us is overwhealming. And it affects us, in our lives, right now, and it hurts. But I have a choice. Am I going to crumble, or am I going to rise above it? The longer I live the smaller the world gets, and the less significant life becomes. The whole thing is just a short journey in a foreign land- guys, we're sprinting towards heaven here. Smile, this is not the end of all things. There is a bigger goal in mind, and a higher calling than merely surviving. I can punch through the negativity by choosing to be positive. I don't have to give in to every human emotion I experience, I can rise above that.
One more big one, but I can't remember. I'll think of it latter. So what about all of you? What's God been teaching you lately?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
I'm stepping out and above it all
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4 comments:
Prayer. I never thought of it that way. I don't know. . . what references make you come to that opinion? I don't think I have heard it that way. Do we really have any of that kind of "power" persay? That is a really interesting thought. I'm not saying that I don't believe it, but . . . I never heard it.
haha, i knew someone would bring that up. in fact i was questioning that myself as i wrote it. i'm going to investigate and get back to you on that.
this may seriously be one of the best posts you've ever made-it is really thought-provoking.
Yeah...and I guess I think that we do have that power to an extent. The better we know God (which will happen the more time we spend with Him, i.e. prayer) the more we will know His will. And when we ask for things in His will, doesn't the Bible say He won't refuse us? So I suppose it depends on what you are praying. :P I really liked that though. We can pray for people we don't know. Really. Try it - pick out a random name and pray for someone/everyone with that name. or pray for a country. or your best friend. or a war. or the church. or what God is teaching you. or...or...or... Oh the power of prayer.
I highly recommend this book: "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" I am almost done with it and every time I pick it up it's like God smacks me in the face with something. Ok God, I get it. It's an amazing book.
I loooved this post too!!!!! ditto what Sam said. We should all post what God has been teaching us lately. I know I have a few things.
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