Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
How does God use you to serve others? For many people this seems like such a lofty task. Certainly God could find better people – maybe folks that weren’t so flawed or sinful. Well, guess what? All God has to work with are sinful, flawed people. And, He chooses to use us just the way we are. He wants to work through you and me.
This verse puzzled me for a while. Some concepts are thrown together here that just don’t seem to fit. We understand “stewardship,” but that usually has to do with giving financially, not with stewarding God’s grace. That’s a little confusing. Yet, Peter got it right.
I used to think that grace was kind of like rain. Grace just showered down from Heaven on all of us. It was our choice to either accept God’s grace or to reject it. If I wanted to put up an umbrella to avoid the drops of grace, that was my choice. But, God has designated believers as stewards (managers or administrators) of His grace. God has given us His grace. For most of us, we came to Christ through the encouragement of another person, whether a pastor, teacher, parent or friend. Their kindness and encouragement was a way of extending God’s grace to us.
The other interesting, and possibly confusing, combination here is gifts and grace. Grace seems to relate more to sin and salvation, not gifts and serving. Yet, the root word of “spiritual gifts” is “charismata.” This is where we get the word “Charismatic.” “Charismata” literally means “grace gifts.” Spiritual gifts are grace gifts. The Bible tells us that every believer has spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7) and that gifts are given according to God’s grace (Romans 12:6). When we use our spiritual gifts, we are showing good stewardship of God’s grace.
Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? The Bible gives us three lists of spiritual gifts: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. Take a look at these lists and see which gifts might ring true. You can also discover your spiritual gifts and much more about yourself at the PLACE class in BrookwoodU. You will learn more about yourself, and you can also find out how God has uniquely gifted and equipped you for ministry.
God didn’t save us so that we could merely avoid Hell (even though that’s a pretty good motivator). God saved us, so we can bless others and win them to the Kingdom as well. This doesn’t mean that we’re all called to door-to-door evangelism. I’m certainly not, even though I’ve tried it. God calls every believer to a ministry uniquely designed for them. It might take a little trial and error to find the right fit, but once you do, you will never find anything better in life.
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Car Alarm Athiests
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror… But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-23, 25
“If I told my kids to clean their rooms, and they only memorized my words, would that be enough?” asked Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love and The Forgotten God. That’s a pointed question, isn’t it? But, the reality is that we only believe the things that we actually do.
Most of us are car alarm atheists. How many of us ever run to investigate a car alarm in a parking lot? None of us do. We just assume that the shiny new SUV that’s never actually been driven off-road just got a door ding or something. Car alarms don’t call for an emergency, unless it comes from the cars in our driveways. We run outside because we don’t want to disturb the neighbors. We don’t actually think they’re being stolen.
If we truly believed what the Bible has to say, what would our lives look like? How would it affect our outlook and attitudes? What would be the quality of our relationships? Again, I’m not writing these things to make you feel guilty or discouraged. God has a vision for your life. He wants to mold you into the person that He’s designed for you to be. Not some ill-fitting version of what a Christian ought to be, but the person that He has called you to be.
If we truly believed what God’s Word tells us, then we would:
1. Understand that we don’t know better than God does. Even the things that God says about turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and treating others like we’d like to be treated (Matthew 7:12) often don’t make sense in a business setting, God knows better than we do. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), but not in a goodie two shoes sense of things. God created everything and everyone that exists. God has a plan for each of us. God is sovereign over everything (Acts 4:24). Who has a better understanding of things than God?
2. The behavior that comes naturally from us is a result of the Fall. I’m not talking about our gifts, talents or personalities. I’m talking about our impulses and our reactions. What seems right to our natural selves is a result of our fallen nature. It’s the part of us that needs to be redeemed. The Bible says, “They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them” (Jude 19). God certainly has a higher calling for us.
3. God gives us everything that we need to successfully live our lives for Him. In and of ourselves, we become weary in well-doing. We just run out of steam. But, whoever said that it was up to us to provide all of the steam. There are some commands in Scripture that just might seem impossible to achieve. Left to ourselves, that’s probably true. But, for every believer, the Spirit of God lives inside of us (Romans 8:9). The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is available to help us live the lives that God intends (Romans 8:11).
What’s standing in our way? Some of us just don’t believe these things. How do I know? I know by the things that we do. If I believe that God is for me (Romans 8:31), then what do I have to complain about? If I believe that in the end God’s Kingdom is victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57), then why do I get so bent out of shape when ungodly people act in ungodly ways? Isn’t that their job? If I believe that God’s Spirit is working to conform me to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), then why do I so stubbornly resist His nudges?
God wants to give you the life that you’ve dreamed of. I’m not saying that God wants to make you healthy and wealthy. God wants to make you into the person that He’s designed for you to be. It’s up to you to decide how much you want to resist God’s work in your life.
If you would like to learn to study the Bible, there are some great classes at BrookwoodU starting in January. Hermeneutics teaches the art and science of interpreting Scripture. New Testament Survey gives you the background and overview of what the New Testament of the Bible is all about. Register by January 16 at brookwoodchurch.org/brookwooduclasses.
A great place to “try on” the truth of God’s Word is in a small group. Many small groups at Brookwood Church are starting a study of the book of Esther, Perry’s new series, beginning the week of January 16. For a list of Open Small Groups: brookwoodchurch.org/smallgroups.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
“If I told my kids to clean their rooms, and they only memorized my words, would that be enough?” asked Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love and The Forgotten God. That’s a pointed question, isn’t it? But, the reality is that we only believe the things that we actually do.
Most of us are car alarm atheists. How many of us ever run to investigate a car alarm in a parking lot? None of us do. We just assume that the shiny new SUV that’s never actually been driven off-road just got a door ding or something. Car alarms don’t call for an emergency, unless it comes from the cars in our driveways. We run outside because we don’t want to disturb the neighbors. We don’t actually think they’re being stolen.
If we truly believed what the Bible has to say, what would our lives look like? How would it affect our outlook and attitudes? What would be the quality of our relationships? Again, I’m not writing these things to make you feel guilty or discouraged. God has a vision for your life. He wants to mold you into the person that He’s designed for you to be. Not some ill-fitting version of what a Christian ought to be, but the person that He has called you to be.
If we truly believed what God’s Word tells us, then we would:
1. Understand that we don’t know better than God does. Even the things that God says about turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and treating others like we’d like to be treated (Matthew 7:12) often don’t make sense in a business setting, God knows better than we do. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), but not in a goodie two shoes sense of things. God created everything and everyone that exists. God has a plan for each of us. God is sovereign over everything (Acts 4:24). Who has a better understanding of things than God?
2. The behavior that comes naturally from us is a result of the Fall. I’m not talking about our gifts, talents or personalities. I’m talking about our impulses and our reactions. What seems right to our natural selves is a result of our fallen nature. It’s the part of us that needs to be redeemed. The Bible says, “They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them” (Jude 19). God certainly has a higher calling for us.
3. God gives us everything that we need to successfully live our lives for Him. In and of ourselves, we become weary in well-doing. We just run out of steam. But, whoever said that it was up to us to provide all of the steam. There are some commands in Scripture that just might seem impossible to achieve. Left to ourselves, that’s probably true. But, for every believer, the Spirit of God lives inside of us (Romans 8:9). The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is available to help us live the lives that God intends (Romans 8:11).
What’s standing in our way? Some of us just don’t believe these things. How do I know? I know by the things that we do. If I believe that God is for me (Romans 8:31), then what do I have to complain about? If I believe that in the end God’s Kingdom is victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57), then why do I get so bent out of shape when ungodly people act in ungodly ways? Isn’t that their job? If I believe that God’s Spirit is working to conform me to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), then why do I so stubbornly resist His nudges?
God wants to give you the life that you’ve dreamed of. I’m not saying that God wants to make you healthy and wealthy. God wants to make you into the person that He’s designed for you to be. It’s up to you to decide how much you want to resist God’s work in your life.
If you would like to learn to study the Bible, there are some great classes at BrookwoodU starting in January. Hermeneutics teaches the art and science of interpreting Scripture. New Testament Survey gives you the background and overview of what the New Testament of the Bible is all about. Register by January 16 at brookwoodchurch.org/brookwooduclasses.
A great place to “try on” the truth of God’s Word is in a small group. Many small groups at Brookwood Church are starting a study of the book of Esther, Perry’s new series, beginning the week of January 16. For a list of Open Small Groups: brookwoodchurch.org/smallgroups.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Sunday, January 9, 2011
I’m Not Better Than You
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
The world’s version of this verse might read something like this: “Finally, y’all, be independent thinkers, be self-absorbed, use others for your own purposes, expect others to feel sorry for you, and look out for number one.” It’s not likely that those words could have appeared in Scripture. It’s also not likely that any of us are naturally skilled at what this verse actually says. We’d be better at achieving the opposite.
Relationships are hard work. And, relationships are necessary. We cannot grow in the faith by ourselves. In fact, left to ourselves, we tend to get comfortable and arrange our lives to suit ourselves. But, before we start thinking that God is requiring us to do the impossible, remember that the Bible is God’s vision for your life. These qualities that build relationship are what God envisions for you to develop. Don’t be discouraged by these words. This is the kind of person that God is making you to be.
Peter gave us the keys to unity and relationship. First, he said to be “like-minded.” Does that mean that we all watch FoxNews and agree on everything they say? Not necessarily. Some of us watch other news channels and never listen to talk radio.
“Like-minded” isn’t group-think. It’s not a mindless assent to what most Christian people think about a subject. Being like-minded is being agreeable. Even if we don’t understand everything about another person, we can be understanding.
Sympathy and compassion are also key to good relationships. These qualities are expressed differently by different groups of people. Women emote much differently than men (do men emote?) Midwesterners are rather matter-of-fact about things. Just give them the facts. Southerners are far more gracious. Their conversations are flavored with a great deal of emotion. Yankees, well, fagetaboutit. Now, that I have offended the majority of my readers (I am from Kansas, by the way), you get the idea.
For some people showing sympathy is being moved to tears. For others, it’s offering a helping hand. For some, it’s listening intently without interrupting or trying to fix things. Sympathy and compassion look different on different people. But, to another person our time, our attention, and a listening ear are big things.
Love one another. These three simple words really sum it all up. In victory and in failure, our job is to love. If for any other reason, we love, because God loved us first (1 John 4:19).
What makes all of these qualities possible in our lives is humility. I am not better than you, but I’m also not worse than you. Humility is not feeling bad about yourself. Humility is thinking less about yourself. If I’m not better than you, then I can’t judge you (1 Corinthians 4:5). If I’m not better than you, then I can identify with messing up, because I’ve messed up too.
Who do you connect with on a regular basis? How do your relationships reflect these qualities from 1 Peter 3:8? Where could you improve? Don’t become discouraged by this. Ask God to fulfill His vision for your life.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
The world’s version of this verse might read something like this: “Finally, y’all, be independent thinkers, be self-absorbed, use others for your own purposes, expect others to feel sorry for you, and look out for number one.” It’s not likely that those words could have appeared in Scripture. It’s also not likely that any of us are naturally skilled at what this verse actually says. We’d be better at achieving the opposite.
Relationships are hard work. And, relationships are necessary. We cannot grow in the faith by ourselves. In fact, left to ourselves, we tend to get comfortable and arrange our lives to suit ourselves. But, before we start thinking that God is requiring us to do the impossible, remember that the Bible is God’s vision for your life. These qualities that build relationship are what God envisions for you to develop. Don’t be discouraged by these words. This is the kind of person that God is making you to be.
Peter gave us the keys to unity and relationship. First, he said to be “like-minded.” Does that mean that we all watch FoxNews and agree on everything they say? Not necessarily. Some of us watch other news channels and never listen to talk radio.
“Like-minded” isn’t group-think. It’s not a mindless assent to what most Christian people think about a subject. Being like-minded is being agreeable. Even if we don’t understand everything about another person, we can be understanding.
Sympathy and compassion are also key to good relationships. These qualities are expressed differently by different groups of people. Women emote much differently than men (do men emote?) Midwesterners are rather matter-of-fact about things. Just give them the facts. Southerners are far more gracious. Their conversations are flavored with a great deal of emotion. Yankees, well, fagetaboutit. Now, that I have offended the majority of my readers (I am from Kansas, by the way), you get the idea.
For some people showing sympathy is being moved to tears. For others, it’s offering a helping hand. For some, it’s listening intently without interrupting or trying to fix things. Sympathy and compassion look different on different people. But, to another person our time, our attention, and a listening ear are big things.
Love one another. These three simple words really sum it all up. In victory and in failure, our job is to love. If for any other reason, we love, because God loved us first (1 John 4:19).
What makes all of these qualities possible in our lives is humility. I am not better than you, but I’m also not worse than you. Humility is not feeling bad about yourself. Humility is thinking less about yourself. If I’m not better than you, then I can’t judge you (1 Corinthians 4:5). If I’m not better than you, then I can identify with messing up, because I’ve messed up too.
Who do you connect with on a regular basis? How do your relationships reflect these qualities from 1 Peter 3:8? Where could you improve? Don’t become discouraged by this. Ask God to fulfill His vision for your life.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 6, 2011
All Dressed Up and…
God keeps His promise; He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist; at the time you are tempted He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. 1 Cor. 10:13 (GN)
If we choose to persist, God will allow us to sin. If we choose to seek God’s help, He will provide a way out.
When I’ve faced temptation, God has provided a knock on the door or a phone call from a friend. God has provided a picture of what my life would look like if I played the movie forward. What would happen to my family? What would my friends think? What would become of me? But, if I really want to sin, I always can.
A friend in Bible college traveled out of town to be in someone’s wedding. (No, it wasn’t me.) He and another groomsman decided after the wedding that since they were all dressed up, they needed to find some trouble. They wanted to be bad. Dancing, drinking and finding girls that do was their agenda. They headed into a local bar and found a table. While this was taboo in their families and churches, they were out to have a good time.The bar was full of women. They were in luck. There were so many women to choose from. In fact, there were no other men in the bar, and nobody asked them to dance. In their effort to be bad, the two tuxedoed groomsmen had wandered into a lesbian bar. They soon headed back to their hotel. Their plans were foiled. God had provided a way out.
When you are tempted, how do you need God to help you change the channel in your mind? If you ask God for help, He will help. If you ask a friend, he or she will help. If you would rather give in, you can do that too.
Looking for a Small Group? Find one this Sunday, January 9, 5-7 pm at the Small Group Sampler in the concourse at Brookwood Church. This is a casual, open house where you can meet small groups and sign up to try one.Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
If we choose to persist, God will allow us to sin. If we choose to seek God’s help, He will provide a way out.
When I’ve faced temptation, God has provided a knock on the door or a phone call from a friend. God has provided a picture of what my life would look like if I played the movie forward. What would happen to my family? What would my friends think? What would become of me? But, if I really want to sin, I always can.
A friend in Bible college traveled out of town to be in someone’s wedding. (No, it wasn’t me.) He and another groomsman decided after the wedding that since they were all dressed up, they needed to find some trouble. They wanted to be bad. Dancing, drinking and finding girls that do was their agenda. They headed into a local bar and found a table. While this was taboo in their families and churches, they were out to have a good time.The bar was full of women. They were in luck. There were so many women to choose from. In fact, there were no other men in the bar, and nobody asked them to dance. In their effort to be bad, the two tuxedoed groomsmen had wandered into a lesbian bar. They soon headed back to their hotel. Their plans were foiled. God had provided a way out.
When you are tempted, how do you need God to help you change the channel in your mind? If you ask God for help, He will help. If you ask a friend, he or she will help. If you would rather give in, you can do that too.
Looking for a Small Group? Find one this Sunday, January 9, 5-7 pm at the Small Group Sampler in the concourse at Brookwood Church. This is a casual, open house where you can meet small groups and sign up to try one.Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Playing the Victim
A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3
Why is it when we make a mess it’s always God’s fault? Do you think God hates you? He doesn’t. The Bible clearly teaches that God is love (1 John 4:16). Even God’s discipline stems from His love (Hebrews 12:6). It’s not God’s objective to ruin anyone’s life (Jeremiah 29:11).
But, the other side is that God won’t miraculously cause all of our problems to disappear. While I do believe that God does give us faith and does provide miracles, I also know that removing all of the obstacles that we've set up for ourselves doesn’t make us better. It does the opposite. Just like removing a cocoon would only harm the emerging butterfly, removing all of our self-inflicted problems would threaten our survival.
What you and I are going through today is not God’s fault. Say it outloud: “What I am going through is not God’s fault. It’s my fault.” Even if your pain or problems start with another person, what have you done to encourage it or to allow their mistreatment of you? How have you played into the dysfunction? How have you poured fuel on the fire? How do you over-react rather than respond?
Here are two very tough little words: Own It. “I am responsible for my current situation. I am responsible for my attitude about my situation. I am responsible for my life from this point forward regardless of past failures or successes.” But, it was so much easier to blame an unreasonable boss, an unfaithful friend, a critical or unreliable spouse, bratty kids, the economy, the government, and above all a cruel and unloving god.
You and I are not victims of our circumstances. You and I are not facing harder things than other Christians in history have faced. Most of us reading these words are not imprisoned or impoverished. Most are not being persecuted for their faith. Many of us are just big whiners. It’s time to grow up.
The sooner that we realize that God is God, and we’re not, the better off we will be. I cannot control what other people do. I cannot change other people into what I want them to be. The best chance that I have of changing anybody is to commit to changing myself with God’s help.
The Devil wants to keep us incapacitated. The Devil invented the blame game when he introduced sin into the world (Genesis 3:12-14). The Enemy’s battlefield is between our two ears. As long as he can keep us from realizing that we can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13) and that God is still working on us (Philippians 1:6), the enemy has won. Someone once described the devil as being a tiny bug with a big mouth. I think that sums it up.
Considering that the Master and Creator of the universe loves us deeply and is fully capable of producing in us what He has called us to be, what is really standing in our way? For many of us, what is standing in the way is ourselves and our attitudes.
Rather than throwing a pity party, which usually only has one invited guest, pour out the whole thing to God. If you're stuck, pray, “God, what in the world am I supposed to do?” If you're frustrated, pray, “God, I give up trying to change this person or situation. I give it to You for You to work on. I will live obediently to You and let You work on the rest.” If disappointments overwhelm you, pray, “God, I am very disappointed because of how _____________ has turned out. It makes me think that you don’t love me. It makes me think that you won’t or can’t help me. Please show me what to do.”
To quote the great theologian, Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Looking for a Small Group? Find one this Sunday, January 9, 5-7 pm at the Small Group Sampler in the concourse at Brookwood Church. This is a casual, open house where you can meet small groups and sign up to try one.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Why is it when we make a mess it’s always God’s fault? Do you think God hates you? He doesn’t. The Bible clearly teaches that God is love (1 John 4:16). Even God’s discipline stems from His love (Hebrews 12:6). It’s not God’s objective to ruin anyone’s life (Jeremiah 29:11).
But, the other side is that God won’t miraculously cause all of our problems to disappear. While I do believe that God does give us faith and does provide miracles, I also know that removing all of the obstacles that we've set up for ourselves doesn’t make us better. It does the opposite. Just like removing a cocoon would only harm the emerging butterfly, removing all of our self-inflicted problems would threaten our survival.
What you and I are going through today is not God’s fault. Say it outloud: “What I am going through is not God’s fault. It’s my fault.” Even if your pain or problems start with another person, what have you done to encourage it or to allow their mistreatment of you? How have you played into the dysfunction? How have you poured fuel on the fire? How do you over-react rather than respond?
Here are two very tough little words: Own It. “I am responsible for my current situation. I am responsible for my attitude about my situation. I am responsible for my life from this point forward regardless of past failures or successes.” But, it was so much easier to blame an unreasonable boss, an unfaithful friend, a critical or unreliable spouse, bratty kids, the economy, the government, and above all a cruel and unloving god.
You and I are not victims of our circumstances. You and I are not facing harder things than other Christians in history have faced. Most of us reading these words are not imprisoned or impoverished. Most are not being persecuted for their faith. Many of us are just big whiners. It’s time to grow up.
The sooner that we realize that God is God, and we’re not, the better off we will be. I cannot control what other people do. I cannot change other people into what I want them to be. The best chance that I have of changing anybody is to commit to changing myself with God’s help.
The Devil wants to keep us incapacitated. The Devil invented the blame game when he introduced sin into the world (Genesis 3:12-14). The Enemy’s battlefield is between our two ears. As long as he can keep us from realizing that we can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13) and that God is still working on us (Philippians 1:6), the enemy has won. Someone once described the devil as being a tiny bug with a big mouth. I think that sums it up.
Considering that the Master and Creator of the universe loves us deeply and is fully capable of producing in us what He has called us to be, what is really standing in our way? For many of us, what is standing in the way is ourselves and our attitudes.
Rather than throwing a pity party, which usually only has one invited guest, pour out the whole thing to God. If you're stuck, pray, “God, what in the world am I supposed to do?” If you're frustrated, pray, “God, I give up trying to change this person or situation. I give it to You for You to work on. I will live obediently to You and let You work on the rest.” If disappointments overwhelm you, pray, “God, I am very disappointed because of how _____________ has turned out. It makes me think that you don’t love me. It makes me think that you won’t or can’t help me. Please show me what to do.”
To quote the great theologian, Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Looking for a Small Group? Find one this Sunday, January 9, 5-7 pm at the Small Group Sampler in the concourse at Brookwood Church. This is a casual, open house where you can meet small groups and sign up to try one.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Ready for a Self-Test?
Let us examine our ways and test them and return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40 (GN)
Insanity is commonly defined as repeating the same actions and expecting a different result. It’s crazy, but it’s what we do. The reality is that our system is perfectly designed to achieve the result that we are getting. Unless we are honest about the nature and cause of our problems, then we won’t do anything about it, except blame everybody else. As they say, “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”
The Bible says to “examine our ways and test them.” This isn’t a test to see if our way of doing things is perfect. This is simply an evaluation of “if I do A, then I get B.” We can’t really evaluate ourselves in one sitting. This is where journaling comes in handy. Simply write down what is happening, why it happened, and how you feel about it. You don’t need a high-dollar, leather-bound journal. You can just use a notebook from the dollar store. Personally, I don’t like to write with a pen, so I set up an email address for God. When I’m in the thick of it, I send God an email. (No I’m not giving out the email address. You’ll need to set up your own.)
After you’ve journaled for weeks to months, look over your journal. Do any patterns appear? What are the causes behind your circumstances? What have you tried to do differently? How has that worked? You should start seeing some things very clearly.
If you want the Reader’s Digest version (and you’re very brave), then sit down with a friend or your spouse and ask them where you could improve or what they see that’s getting in your way. Your first question probably needs to be “Do you think I have a thick skin?” If the answer is “No,” then go back to the journaling.
You can’t become the person you want to be, if you don’t take into account the person that you already are. If you are attempting to improve the better version of yourself that only exists in your own head, you are simply writing fiction. But, here’s the good news: God knows exactly who you are, where you are, and what He wants you to become.
How are you living in disobedience to God? Ask Him. He will bring it to your mind very quickly. Then, ask God for help. He’s always ready to help us.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
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Insanity is commonly defined as repeating the same actions and expecting a different result. It’s crazy, but it’s what we do. The reality is that our system is perfectly designed to achieve the result that we are getting. Unless we are honest about the nature and cause of our problems, then we won’t do anything about it, except blame everybody else. As they say, “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”
The Bible says to “examine our ways and test them.” This isn’t a test to see if our way of doing things is perfect. This is simply an evaluation of “if I do A, then I get B.” We can’t really evaluate ourselves in one sitting. This is where journaling comes in handy. Simply write down what is happening, why it happened, and how you feel about it. You don’t need a high-dollar, leather-bound journal. You can just use a notebook from the dollar store. Personally, I don’t like to write with a pen, so I set up an email address for God. When I’m in the thick of it, I send God an email. (No I’m not giving out the email address. You’ll need to set up your own.)
After you’ve journaled for weeks to months, look over your journal. Do any patterns appear? What are the causes behind your circumstances? What have you tried to do differently? How has that worked? You should start seeing some things very clearly.
If you want the Reader’s Digest version (and you’re very brave), then sit down with a friend or your spouse and ask them where you could improve or what they see that’s getting in your way. Your first question probably needs to be “Do you think I have a thick skin?” If the answer is “No,” then go back to the journaling.
You can’t become the person you want to be, if you don’t take into account the person that you already are. If you are attempting to improve the better version of yourself that only exists in your own head, you are simply writing fiction. But, here’s the good news: God knows exactly who you are, where you are, and what He wants you to become.
How are you living in disobedience to God? Ask Him. He will bring it to your mind very quickly. Then, ask God for help. He’s always ready to help us.
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Monday, January 3, 2011
Please Continue to Hold...
If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done! Ecclesiastes 11:4 (LB)
If I just had a new Bible or a Bible on Kindle or a Kindle, I would read the whole Bible this year. If I just got a raise, we could have another baby. If I just had a Bowflex, I could have rock hard abs. If I had a better boss, I would be a better employee. If I had nicer co-workers, then I would be more positive at work. If I had well-behaved children, I would be sane.
If we’re waiting for perfect conditions before we choose to make progress, then the message is simple: “Please continue to hold.” We are setting ourselves up for a lesson in patience that we are destined to fail.
Conditions have never been perfect. Conditions aren’t perfect now. Conditions will never be perfect. So, let’s stop making excuses. Think about this: God orchestrates His perfect plan through imperfect human beings. Even our perfect God doesn't wait for perfect conditions.
What is holding you back from taking the next step in your life? What is the obstacle that is standing in your way? Maybe you cannot make progress at the rate you would prefer, but what progress can you make? “But, if I work that slowly, it might take years.” Okay, do you plan to live for years? Then, what difference does it make how long it takes?
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If I just had a new Bible or a Bible on Kindle or a Kindle, I would read the whole Bible this year. If I just got a raise, we could have another baby. If I just had a Bowflex, I could have rock hard abs. If I had a better boss, I would be a better employee. If I had nicer co-workers, then I would be more positive at work. If I had well-behaved children, I would be sane.
If we’re waiting for perfect conditions before we choose to make progress, then the message is simple: “Please continue to hold.” We are setting ourselves up for a lesson in patience that we are destined to fail.
Conditions have never been perfect. Conditions aren’t perfect now. Conditions will never be perfect. So, let’s stop making excuses. Think about this: God orchestrates His perfect plan through imperfect human beings. Even our perfect God doesn't wait for perfect conditions.
What is holding you back from taking the next step in your life? What is the obstacle that is standing in your way? Maybe you cannot make progress at the rate you would prefer, but what progress can you make? “But, if I work that slowly, it might take years.” Okay, do you plan to live for years? Then, what difference does it make how long it takes?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
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