I know it's been a while since I've done a post. I just haven't felt like I've had anything worthwhile to say. Lately, though, God has been working on my heart, working on many areas of my life. I'll share a couple with you. Apparently, God uses blog posts by various people to show me what I need to change!
Stubbornness
Just before I left for vacation (without technology) I had read a verse that I've read many times before, but never really took stock of what it said. Then one day - BAM! - this verse jumps out at me and smacks me upside the head! "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..." 1 Samuel 15:23
What??? Stubbornness is what? Okay, sure, I knew somewhere in my head that stubbornness must be wrong, but say what now? It's as iniquity and idolatry? That bad? If you know me, you know I'm stubborn! I'm very stubborn, especially when I've been interrupted in mid sentence and told, "Oh, sorry. Go on!" and then I flat out refuse to finish what I was saying. Well, pretty sure as the sun rises in the east, God showed me that part of me has to change!
Daily Devotions
This is something I have struggled with for years. I am not a morning person and it takes time for my brain to get in gear, even with coffee. I would say, "Let me get a cup or 2 into my blood stream to wake up, then I'll read." but something always took precedence over the Word. When we're not in the Word daily or taking time to talk with our Lord, we don't see the sin creeping in. This struck me when I read a blog post from a friend of a friend. This woman had tried to be ahead in the day and got up early to make coffee for husband, but when she went to get the coffee for him, she realized that instead of coffee, she had a sludgy mess. She had forgotten to put a filter in there first.
After cleaning up the mess, she writes, "As I reflected on the minor, but annoying, incident, I saw some similarities to my spiritual life. Sometimes I forget to look closely, and I think that things are just humming along smoothly. I assume that I am bearing fruit for God and He is filling my cup to overflowing. Often, it isn't until telltale specks of sin rise to the surface that I realize there is a problem. When I finally allow God to search my heart, the truth is revealed: neglecting to spend regular time with Him leaves me with a thick layer of spiritual sludge. Instead of overflowing with love, joy, goodness, and grace, I am depleted, and sinful thoughts and attitudes begin to taint the living water that God wants to flow through me. Weak and bitter, I have no refreshment to offer to others. I am as useful to God's kingdom as a ruined cup of would-be coffee was to my tired husband on Monday morning." After reading this, I, too realized that I needed to take stock of my spiritual life. Was I neglecting to put a filter in my heart? Was I letting things get in the way of being able to hear that Still, Small Voice or being able to grow?
Speed Limits
Usually when I'm driving, I'm about 5-10 miles/hour over the posted limit. I get aggravated when people drive under the speed limit (especially on this one stretch of road between Salem & Derry). Every once in a while I'd feel like, you know maybe God would want me to obey the speed limit, it is a law, but eh, I'd just keep driving. I read (another) blog post from a dear friend about cleaning our hearts on the outside but not really taking care of the true sin on the inside. The friend writes, "Isn't that the tendency of Christians? We'll have all this sin and gunk in our lives. And we feel guilty about it. So we start sweeping up our hearts' patios. We make it look better. We point all questioners of our goodness towards the surface we've taken care of. After all, we dress "right." we listen to the "right" music. We say "heck" instead of "hell." And slap bumper stickers with "christian" sayings on our cars, then drive WAY over the speed limit. We put $20 in the offering plate, then spend hundreds of dollars entertaining ourselves. We roll our eyes at those foolish sinners while we're doing the exact same things. Or maybe worse." The bold line in that blog post (I did that) just hit me. God had finally gotten a hold of my heart on that issue.
I'm not perfect by any means. I am just thankful that God continues to work in my heart and show me things that He wants me to change so that I might grow more in His image each day. "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 Being more like Christ is our one priority!
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