First
of all I know this long…really long actually!!! I’ve added this post because I have a few more coming today I think and I hope this will help explain parts of the next ones. Third of all, this was in
response to a question I received awhile back (and my response on my xanga)…hopefully this is enlightening for
some, encouraging for others or at least not a waste of time:) Again, part of me apologizes for the length, but my prayer is that those of you who do actually read through this whole thing at some point would be blessed by it…
The shortened question: I’m
struggling with what it means to put God first. What does that really
mean? Also some struggles on how to talk to God and how to listen to
Him… I’m really unsure if it’s Him talking or me…
Salvation
in general is easily the simplest and hardest thing ever to do. There
are a number (majority?) of Christians who will
tell you all sorts of stuff, but they’re lifestyle will show that what
they care most about in regards to God is whether or not they get into
heaven or more accurately that they find a way to stay out of hell.
This is essentially eternal fire insurance and they’re willing to pay a
price to earn the right to not be there for eternity.
in general is easily the simplest and hardest thing ever to do. There
are a number (majority?) of Christians who will
tell you all sorts of stuff, but they’re lifestyle will show that what
they care most about in regards to God is whether or not they get into
heaven or more accurately that they find a way to stay out of hell.
This is essentially eternal fire insurance and they’re willing to pay a
price to earn the right to not be there for eternity.
Really!!!
Think about it…when you stop to think of heaven you probably think of
pearly gates, streets of gold, shining light, cheerful bliss and then
you realize that even that seems dull…did you at all really get hyped
about going from just those thoughts? Like really? I mean that’s sweet
and all, but we’re missing the point!!! Hell is essentially an eternal
separation from the presence of an Almighty Maker who has fearfully and
wonderfully made us in His image. Without Him, an eternity of heaven
would be a ridiculous torture I don’t want to ever go through (and
thankfully won’t have to.)
There
are many Christians who tend to believe in garage-ianity which is
basically the concept that if you sit in a garage, you will inevitably
become a car. These people believe that if you sit in a church every
Sunday (and maybe Wednesdays too, you’ll become a Christian and go to
heaven.) It doesn’t work that way because it has absolutely nothing to
do with religion.
are many Christians who tend to believe in garage-ianity which is
basically the concept that if you sit in a garage, you will inevitably
become a car. These people believe that if you sit in a church every
Sunday (and maybe Wednesdays too, you’ll become a Christian and go to
heaven.) It doesn’t work that way because it has absolutely nothing to
do with religion.
I
was talking to a colleague here the other day outside of school about
different religions. Every religion that we know of is basically based
on the idea of balancing our good with our bad and doing a variety of
things to outset the bad things once we’ve done something bad to some
degree. This cycle seems futile but really is an easier way to live if
you think about it. Everyone else struggles along with you and there is
a set balance of when you do this, you then have to do this to get your
heart back at ease. You are in control and it all is focused upon you
and your actions. If you mess up by your standards, you have to do something that you decide to make you feel as though you have paid a price worth the thing that you decided was wrong…get the drift?
was talking to a colleague here the other day outside of school about
different religions. Every religion that we know of is basically based
on the idea of balancing our good with our bad and doing a variety of
things to outset the bad things once we’ve done something bad to some
degree. This cycle seems futile but really is an easier way to live if
you think about it. Everyone else struggles along with you and there is
a set balance of when you do this, you then have to do this to get your
heart back at ease. You are in control and it all is focused upon you
and your actions. If you mess up by your standards, you have to do something that you decide to make you feel as though you have paid a price worth the thing that you decided was wrong…get the drift?
The
ironic thing is that it is all about you…and I’m sure that I just
offended some people. Likewise, it has absolutely nothing to do with
you! Humans don’t like to think of a God that is terrible, powerful,
fearful, awesome and wild because it disrupts the nice little box of
what we are personally comfortable with. A God like that requires an
intensity no man can handle. It is this kind of God who has devoted all
of Himself to you in hopes that you would devote of yourself to Him.
ironic thing is that it is all about you…and I’m sure that I just
offended some people. Likewise, it has absolutely nothing to do with
you! Humans don’t like to think of a God that is terrible, powerful,
fearful, awesome and wild because it disrupts the nice little box of
what we are personally comfortable with. A God like that requires an
intensity no man can handle. It is this kind of God who has devoted all
of Himself to you in hopes that you would devote of yourself to Him.
He
is a God who passionately and voraciously pursues the crap out of you
because while He loves you as you are, He loves you too much to allow
you to stay that way! He is a God who has already died for you, which
is something most Christians understand to some degree. However, we so
often miss that He is a God of LIFE, not of death…and while He died for
you, He has spent an eternity living for you so that He can spend an
eternity living with you.
is a God who passionately and voraciously pursues the crap out of you
because while He loves you as you are, He loves you too much to allow
you to stay that way! He is a God who has already died for you, which
is something most Christians understand to some degree. However, we so
often miss that He is a God of LIFE, not of death…and while He died for
you, He has spent an eternity living for you so that He can spend an
eternity living with you.
When
I was a child, I would do all sorts of things for the people I loved
because I sincerely loved them. It took me years to realize that while
this was greatly appreciated by my loved ones, there was something
greater…to be with them…I can’t stress how ridiculously powerful it is
to be in God’s presence and yet I so often find myself going back to my
old habits of trying to work my way back into His presence. Is it a
fight and a struggle and a pursuit to get there? YES and in the same
breath all it takes is surrender!
I was a child, I would do all sorts of things for the people I loved
because I sincerely loved them. It took me years to realize that while
this was greatly appreciated by my loved ones, there was something
greater…to be with them…I can’t stress how ridiculously powerful it is
to be in God’s presence and yet I so often find myself going back to my
old habits of trying to work my way back into His presence. Is it a
fight and a struggle and a pursuit to get there? YES and in the same
breath all it takes is surrender!
Surrender
in the world’s eyes is a sign of weakness. However, for someone of
strength, it literally takes all of their strength often to choose to
surrender. When surrender becomes a choice instead of an action that is
forced, it is powerful and not of this world. It goes against
everything this world will tell you and is truly not natural…(it’s
supernatural as they’d say) It is out of this surrender that we are
broken, humbled and at our strongest, boldest most powerful spots of
our lives. In our weakness, He is made strong. It is He who lives in
us, and when we finally surrender our control, He works mightily
through us.
If
you had two poodles who like to fight, there would be one sure-fire way
to know which one would win every single time. All you would have to do
is make sure that one is well-fed and the other is malnourished. The
one that is well-fed will beat the snot out of the other one every
time. However, I have never heard of a poodle that has killed another
poodle in a fight. Have you?
you had two poodles who like to fight, there would be one sure-fire way
to know which one would win every single time. All you would have to do
is make sure that one is well-fed and the other is malnourished. The
one that is well-fed will beat the snot out of the other one every
time. However, I have never heard of a poodle that has killed another
poodle in a fight. Have you?
As
humans, we were born with two dogs in our mind. One dog that loves to
do good and one that loves to do evil. I have never heard of one of
these dogs being killed before but I do know it’s possible to
constantly defeat whichever dog YOU choose to. So many times we as
Christians wonder why we are being afflicted or going through so many
struggles but we fail to take responsibility for the choices we often
make to feed the bad dog. I’m fairly certain that a majority of my sin
in my life is direct cause from my choice to sin. Rarely do I feel as
though I just stepped into sin unaware. What kind of appetites’ do your
dogs have?
humans, we were born with two dogs in our mind. One dog that loves to
do good and one that loves to do evil. I have never heard of one of
these dogs being killed before but I do know it’s possible to
constantly defeat whichever dog YOU choose to. So many times we as
Christians wonder why we are being afflicted or going through so many
struggles but we fail to take responsibility for the choices we often
make to feed the bad dog. I’m fairly certain that a majority of my sin
in my life is direct cause from my choice to sin. Rarely do I feel as
though I just stepped into sin unaware. What kind of appetites’ do your
dogs have?
Whenyou become a Christian, you add a third dog into the mix…This dog is no
joke! In fact, He is a great Dane that loves the good dog and hates the
bad dog. There is however once stipulation. He usually will only fight
the battles you ask Him to. He will allow the good little poodle to
fight through many battles until it realizes that the victory would be
much easier if he just realized he couldn’t do it on his own strength
and asked the Great Dane to do it instead. This takes a lot of strength
for a little dog trying to prove its strength to the bigger dog…you
still following me? Unfortunately we don’t know the true strength of
the Great Dane because we rarely let Him fight our battles for us…we
are too consumed with our lives, choices, desires and intentions that
we don’t spend much time staying close to the big dog for
protection…hence we get eaten up. I can’t begin to even start counting the times when I said to God “don’t worry about this one, I can take care of this problem on my own…I’ll bother you for some help when I REALLY need it…There are more important things for you to take care of now for others…” Really?? Nothing is too small for Him, and do I really have the audacity to tell Him that I can take care of ANYTHING without Him?? ok moving on…
The
more we desire to know an issue, the more we try to search for the
answer within our minds. This is where we debate with ourselves as to
which thoughts are supposedly ours, His or other…(There are also a
great number of people who are under the impression that every thought
that goes through our head is “ours.” I’m not going into any depth with
this other than a few questions: 1. Is temptation sin? 2. Did Jesus
sin? 3. Was Jesus tempted? 4. How could a sinless man have sinful
temptations without sinning?) So, how do we figure out what voices are
which?
more we desire to know an issue, the more we try to search for the
answer within our minds. This is where we debate with ourselves as to
which thoughts are supposedly ours, His or other…(There are also a
great number of people who are under the impression that every thought
that goes through our head is “ours.” I’m not going into any depth with
this other than a few questions: 1. Is temptation sin? 2. Did Jesus
sin? 3. Was Jesus tempted? 4. How could a sinless man have sinful
temptations without sinning?) So, how do we figure out what voices are
which?
First
of all I just want to say that you have no greater encourager than the
Holy Spirit. The big dog wants nothing more than for the little good
poodle to come out victorious! So if you’re ever thinking of whatever
is pure, whatever is holy, whatever is pure, whatever is good…you know
where that encouragement is coming from.
of all I just want to say that you have no greater encourager than the
Holy Spirit. The big dog wants nothing more than for the little good
poodle to come out victorious! So if you’re ever thinking of whatever
is pure, whatever is holy, whatever is pure, whatever is good…you know
where that encouragement is coming from.
On
the other hand, the bad poodle knows very well that it can’t stand up
to the Great Dane, so it will try to convince you by every means
possible to “fight fair.” This dog will try to make the fight personal
so you focus on fighting instead of focusing on surrendering. So when
your feeling consumed with guilt, frustration, animosity, hurt, anger
and such often times it’s from the accuser. It is true that we will all
face a final judgment in which our guilt will be quite apparent. The
question is if you have the big dog to take the heat for you or not.
the other hand, the bad poodle knows very well that it can’t stand up
to the Great Dane, so it will try to convince you by every means
possible to “fight fair.” This dog will try to make the fight personal
so you focus on fighting instead of focusing on surrendering. So when
your feeling consumed with guilt, frustration, animosity, hurt, anger
and such often times it’s from the accuser. It is true that we will all
face a final judgment in which our guilt will be quite apparent. The
question is if you have the big dog to take the heat for you or not.
Don’t
for an instant think that you have no responsibility yourself for the
thoughts that go through your head. You in fact decide the filters for
the content that you allow in. What you allow in will either feed one
dog or the other. Naturally, the stronger dog will decide more of what
comes in which means that the more you are struggling with something,
the more you have to fight to get out of it or else it will just lead
to deeper and darker things. Likewise, the more freedom from something
that you have, the more desire you will have to fight (much more
enjoyable pursuit than struggle) for deeper and brighter things.
for an instant think that you have no responsibility yourself for the
thoughts that go through your head. You in fact decide the filters for
the content that you allow in. What you allow in will either feed one
dog or the other. Naturally, the stronger dog will decide more of what
comes in which means that the more you are struggling with something,
the more you have to fight to get out of it or else it will just lead
to deeper and darker things. Likewise, the more freedom from something
that you have, the more desire you will have to fight (much more
enjoyable pursuit than struggle) for deeper and brighter things.
REST is SO Holy, that I can only touch on it now…I will devote an entire blog to it sometime later though…
OK…now
after all of that, I want you to stop and rest! Simply put, we are
creatures of habit and we like to think with our heads. What I have
come to realize is that the Holy Spirit talks most profoundly to me in
my heart-not my head. It is when I finally realize that I can’t figure
out the answers that I’m willing to sit down and let my head and heart
relax. It is then, and only then, while my heart is quiet that I hear
the still small voice telling me which way to go. Let me emphasize this
to you a little bit more. It is all about the heart, not the head. In
fact He even weighs our hearts, not our heads, as it says in Proverbs I
believe. The distinction of seeing, hearing, talking with our hearts
instead of our heads is often sung but we’re too dense to realize what
it actually means (or at least I have been far too often.)
after all of that, I want you to stop and rest! Simply put, we are
creatures of habit and we like to think with our heads. What I have
come to realize is that the Holy Spirit talks most profoundly to me in
my heart-not my head. It is when I finally realize that I can’t figure
out the answers that I’m willing to sit down and let my head and heart
relax. It is then, and only then, while my heart is quiet that I hear
the still small voice telling me which way to go. Let me emphasize this
to you a little bit more. It is all about the heart, not the head. In
fact He even weighs our hearts, not our heads, as it says in Proverbs I
believe. The distinction of seeing, hearing, talking with our hearts
instead of our heads is often sung but we’re too dense to realize what
it actually means (or at least I have been far too often.)
Following
Christ is about a relationship, not a religion because He wants to
share His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness,
self-control and most importantly His PRESENCE with us. Therefore, the
more time we spend WITH Him, the more we will KNOW Him. The more we
know Him, the more we desire to be like Him. The more we desire to be
like Him, the more we pursue Him. The more we pursue Him, the more
freedom, boldness, security, confidence and HOPE we have. It is our
Hope that He will continue to give us more and more tastes of His
presence until we can fully know Him even as we are fully known that
drives us to put our faith in Him. This is not a blind faith as some
would have us believe because it is firmly rooted in the faithfulness
He has already shown.
Christ is about a relationship, not a religion because He wants to
share His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness,
self-control and most importantly His PRESENCE with us. Therefore, the
more time we spend WITH Him, the more we will KNOW Him. The more we
know Him, the more we desire to be like Him. The more we desire to be
like Him, the more we pursue Him. The more we pursue Him, the more
freedom, boldness, security, confidence and HOPE we have. It is our
Hope that He will continue to give us more and more tastes of His
presence until we can fully know Him even as we are fully known that
drives us to put our faith in Him. This is not a blind faith as some
would have us believe because it is firmly rooted in the faithfulness
He has already shown.
Youknow what the most beautiful thing about it all is? The pursuit of the
Holy is not about the pursuit of “holy” people striving for more of God
as much as it is a Holy pursuit of unholy people by a HOLY God! He
leads us one step at a time by giving us a pringle at a time…just a
taste…knowing that once we pop we just can’t stop (as the saying goes.)
Meanwhile, we think that we are doing so much to push on towards God
and really it’s Him pullin’ the strings to help us choose to take just
one step closer at a time. It’s all part of His pursuit of us, not our
pursuit of Him. That is why I had made a comment earlier about how it
ironically is all about us…at least to Him and since He’s the Great “I
AM” we have no right to say otherwise. He sets our value…not us!!! Let
me say that again…HE sets our value…not us!!!
The
life that He wants to download into (more like re-imaging) us was so
important to Him that He literally became one of us to die for us…(The
transfiguration where Jesus shone with all that splendor was not nearly
as impressive as the fact that He didn’t shine like that ALL the time.)
His death was to more than get our attention- it was to ransom our
lives to Him because WE were HIS pearl of great price.
life that He wants to download into (more like re-imaging) us was so
important to Him that He literally became one of us to die for us…(The
transfiguration where Jesus shone with all that splendor was not nearly
as impressive as the fact that He didn’t shine like that ALL the time.)
His death was to more than get our attention- it was to ransom our
lives to Him because WE were HIS pearl of great price.
With
that kind of value that He associates with us, He will go out of His
way to talk to us. “Would a good dad give His children good gifts? Of
course He would…How much more would our Father want to give us good
gifts” (~bible) The biggest thing He wants from us is a relationship.
Does He love giving us good gifts? OF COURSE! However, he wants us to
be disciplined and not spoiled. He wants us to seek His heart and not
just His hand. He wants us to know the depth of who He is, not just the
effects of what He does. That is why it is so hard for us to hear His
voice.
that kind of value that He associates with us, He will go out of His
way to talk to us. “Would a good dad give His children good gifts? Of
course He would…How much more would our Father want to give us good
gifts” (~bible) The biggest thing He wants from us is a relationship.
Does He love giving us good gifts? OF COURSE! However, he wants us to
be disciplined and not spoiled. He wants us to seek His heart and not
just His hand. He wants us to know the depth of who He is, not just the
effects of what He does. That is why it is so hard for us to hear His
voice.
We
look for Him in all sorts of huge things (earthquakes, fires, floods,
anything huge in your life that you are dealing with.) All the while,
He wants to whisper something to you to give you the strength to make
it through and the wisdom to know how. So what if you don’t know His
voice? Good question…
look for Him in all sorts of huge things (earthquakes, fires, floods,
anything huge in your life that you are dealing with.) All the while,
He wants to whisper something to you to give you the strength to make
it through and the wisdom to know how. So what if you don’t know His
voice? Good question…
“My
sheep know my voice and they follow me…” (Jesus) When sheep are young,
they are stupid. When they are old…they’re still stupid. However,
they’ve learned a few things by then. When they are young they tend to
follow the other sheep that are around them until they get used to the
shepherd’s voice. (For young sheep (Christians) who do not know His
voice, He has gone out of His way to give you written instructions in a
letter called the bible to help guide you until you learn what His
voice sounds like. After that, always use it as a compass because he
will never tell you something that contradicts His word. He also
surrounds you with other “older sheep” to help give direction. Do not
merely follow them all the rest of your days however because they are
still stupid sheep…)
sheep know my voice and they follow me…” (Jesus) When sheep are young,
they are stupid. When they are old…they’re still stupid. However,
they’ve learned a few things by then. When they are young they tend to
follow the other sheep that are around them until they get used to the
shepherd’s voice. (For young sheep (Christians) who do not know His
voice, He has gone out of His way to give you written instructions in a
letter called the bible to help guide you until you learn what His
voice sounds like. After that, always use it as a compass because he
will never tell you something that contradicts His word. He also
surrounds you with other “older sheep” to help give direction. Do not
merely follow them all the rest of your days however because they are
still stupid sheep…)
On
occasion, one sheep will stray from the rest. At that point, the
shepherd realizes that one is missing and leaves the others to find
this one sheep. Once He finds the sheep, He brings it back into the
fold and then proceeds to break the sheep’s leg.
occasion, one sheep will stray from the rest. At that point, the
shepherd realizes that one is missing and leaves the others to find
this one sheep. Once He finds the sheep, He brings it back into the
fold and then proceeds to break the sheep’s leg.
At
this point in time, that sheep (and maybe the friends/family of the
sheep) might be thinking that the shepherd is quite cruel and unloving
to do such a harsh thing. However, the shepherd does this in order to
help discipline the sheep. Once the sheep has a broken leg, it can’t go
far from the shepherd. This means that whether it likes the shepherd or
not, it can’t but help but hear the shepherd’s voice all the time. Some
sheep feel as though they just can’t get away from Him no matter how
hard they try. Others finally learn that there is safety near His voice
and learn to trust it. Then when they run into sheep who follow other
shepherd’s, they learn to listen for the voice that is familiar and
then they follow it regardless of what direction the other sheep are
going.
this point in time, that sheep (and maybe the friends/family of the
sheep) might be thinking that the shepherd is quite cruel and unloving
to do such a harsh thing. However, the shepherd does this in order to
help discipline the sheep. Once the sheep has a broken leg, it can’t go
far from the shepherd. This means that whether it likes the shepherd or
not, it can’t but help but hear the shepherd’s voice all the time. Some
sheep feel as though they just can’t get away from Him no matter how
hard they try. Others finally learn that there is safety near His voice
and learn to trust it. Then when they run into sheep who follow other
shepherd’s, they learn to listen for the voice that is familiar and
then they follow it regardless of what direction the other sheep are
going.
Do
not be offended when God answers your prayers by giving you the
circumstances you need to learn the things you desire. Do not grow
weary of following even when you are broken, for you soon shall heal
and know the comfort of resting in His presence. Though you may be
going through a storm, know that “it came to pass…” In life you will
win some and lose some, but don’t take it personally because it happens
to us all. We serve an offensive God…He will offend our minds to reveal
our hearts…When there is peace in your mind and in your heart, know
that it is good to follow and God is good all the time…
not be offended when God answers your prayers by giving you the
circumstances you need to learn the things you desire. Do not grow
weary of following even when you are broken, for you soon shall heal
and know the comfort of resting in His presence. Though you may be
going through a storm, know that “it came to pass…” In life you will
win some and lose some, but don’t take it personally because it happens
to us all. We serve an offensive God…He will offend our minds to reveal
our hearts…When there is peace in your mind and in your heart, know
that it is good to follow and God is good all the time…
