So, I think sometimes we get so caught up in the commands in scripture that we lose sight of God's heart. How often do we stop ask, "Why did God give this command?" God's commands come from the flow of His heart. They were not a list of commands that one day He sat down and wrote. His commands are actually eternal. They have always existed because of His attributes, because of the very essence of God.
Sometimes I think we use God's commands to pursue happiness for ourselves. We just are "using" him as a means to happiness. While it is true that if we obey his commands we will have blessing, we actually miss out on something bigger and better. But when we are obeying His commands because we are seeking His heart we will begin experiencing a relationship with Him.
If it seems like following God's commands just isn't working, perhaps a close exam of my heart will be needed. IT could be, like I posted about before, that I haven't started with that brokness of heart and my motivation for following his commands may be pretty much my perspective--I see his commands just as a list of rules to obey to make me happy. I could just be viewing it as a checklist of sorts that I am checking off and totally ignoring what He really wants me to be doing.
My motivation could also be because I am trying to meet the approval of men. This motivation can eventually lead us to a life feeling like we are failure and we can never do it right or meet up to the standards. But if our focus is on God's Heart then we will see His patience when we fail, His forgiveness when we need it, and His grace to pick us up and go again. If my focus is on the commands then I will just frustrate myself. I will always feel like I can't measure up.
I think that if we truly are seeking His heart we will be in the Word and be prayerful, but we will also be thinking submissively, "Why did God give this command?" "How can I obey the heart of it?" "How can I serve the heart of God today?"
Di
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Broken and Contrite
I read the funniest but very effective illustration today in a book called, "I'll Fly Away" by Garcia Burnham. The cracker was being used to illustrate our hearts. Imagine a person crushing that cracker...you know, like for chili or to use as a topping on a casserole. Anyway, the crushed cracker represents all the trials that the Lord uses us to get us to a place we are "crushed".
So many of us are seeking our true identity and purpose in life. We believe that our identity and purpose our found in pursuing a state of happiness and self esteem. Yet, scripture tells us the starting block to knowing our true identity and purpose are a broken and contrite heart.
Maybe if we pursue brokenness for our sins and sorrow that leads to repentance we will find what we are truly looking for. I don't believe it is in esteeming ourselves. Actually, it's the opposite, at least that is the starting place.
Perhaps we have found ourselves working really hard to the "things" that please God. And just feel like we don't measure up. Maybe the problem isn't, "I just can't do it." Maybe we haven't actually started in the right place. Maybe we need to go back and seek a broken and contrite heart. Realizing we can't do it. Then submitting ourselves to Him. Being willing to obey Him.
Many times when I am this place where I feel like I am just running circles, I can trace my steps back to a place where I said, "no" to God, I won't submit. Then what happens next is I start focusing in all the things I want to do (as good as they may be), it's not what God wants me to do, He wanted me to do something else and I said, "no". To make myself feel better I start pursuing the "godly" things that will improve my life and make me happy.
But I don't begin with a broken and contrite heart. My motives are about what makes me happy and esteems me.
Today, I believe the best prayer I can pray is, "Search me O Lord, know my heart, show me any wicked way in me, lead me into everlasting life."
Having a broken and contrite heart leads to a submitted heart/attitude to the Lord.
So many of us are seeking our true identity and purpose in life. We believe that our identity and purpose our found in pursuing a state of happiness and self esteem. Yet, scripture tells us the starting block to knowing our true identity and purpose are a broken and contrite heart.
Maybe if we pursue brokenness for our sins and sorrow that leads to repentance we will find what we are truly looking for. I don't believe it is in esteeming ourselves. Actually, it's the opposite, at least that is the starting place.
Perhaps we have found ourselves working really hard to the "things" that please God. And just feel like we don't measure up. Maybe the problem isn't, "I just can't do it." Maybe we haven't actually started in the right place. Maybe we need to go back and seek a broken and contrite heart. Realizing we can't do it. Then submitting ourselves to Him. Being willing to obey Him.
Many times when I am this place where I feel like I am just running circles, I can trace my steps back to a place where I said, "no" to God, I won't submit. Then what happens next is I start focusing in all the things I want to do (as good as they may be), it's not what God wants me to do, He wanted me to do something else and I said, "no". To make myself feel better I start pursuing the "godly" things that will improve my life and make me happy.
But I don't begin with a broken and contrite heart. My motives are about what makes me happy and esteems me.
Today, I believe the best prayer I can pray is, "Search me O Lord, know my heart, show me any wicked way in me, lead me into everlasting life."
Having a broken and contrite heart leads to a submitted heart/attitude to the Lord.
Friday, July 20, 2007
God's Truth
My friend "L" posted something today that is causing me to think even more about this now. Whenever a friend, such as my sweet husband, confronts a sin in my life, do I act as if it is him giving me the truth or God? You know what I mean? All truth really is God's truth. AND God is sovereign. So putting those two things together make me think that God is the one delivering the truth to my heart, he just might be using you, or my husband, or even my kids to deliver the message. For some reason God has chosen to use imperfect messengers to deliver His truth and we can't allow that to overshadow His truth. So, I am thinking I have to get past the imperfections of the messenger and even perhaps the harshness of how it is delivered sometimes and just hear God's truth.
Just a side note about this...have you ever been talking to your child or someone else, teaching them some truth from scripture or giving some piece of advice only to have it hit you in the middle of it all that you yourself need to hear just those very words?! That happened to me last nite with regard to what I posted above.
It just kind of stops you in your tracks, and renders you a bit speechless.
Di
Just a side note about this...have you ever been talking to your child or someone else, teaching them some truth from scripture or giving some piece of advice only to have it hit you in the middle of it all that you yourself need to hear just those very words?! That happened to me last nite with regard to what I posted above.
It just kind of stops you in your tracks, and renders you a bit speechless.
Di
Seriously seeking scripture.
*Warning: my next several posts will probably have alot to do with counseling as I read through some different books on biblical counseling. I will appreciate any comments/concerns about what I post. Thanks!
Over the past year I was challenged so much that scripture is so very relevant for EVERYTHING in my life. I spent this year reading through the Bible. As I read I looked for evidence of God's sovereignity (someone told me once that God's sovereignity is the best source of comfort through trials, especially death--they have been right); I have also been looking for commands for me and also things I should be teaching my kids as their mom. A while back after reading only two chapters in I Corinthians I was awe struck with the thought that in those two short chapters so many questions could be answered, so many directions given in my life, so many words of encouragement. I felt so full after reading it. I have a very difficult time even reading one chapter a day...gives me so many thoughts to chew on.
So, how can we say we need more than that to answer life?
I have been reading this book about Biblical Counseling. One of the things that the author points out is how the "other" camps bring in so many of their own methods and philosphy. She listed several different types of therapies and philosphies that they use. I had no idea. She points out the premis for each. None of those methods begin with the premis of "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . ." Instead it starts with either the evolutionary theory or that man is only a material being, no real spiritual side, more like a machine that is a product of his/her environment.
Over the past year I was challenged so much that scripture is so very relevant for EVERYTHING in my life. I spent this year reading through the Bible. As I read I looked for evidence of God's sovereignity (someone told me once that God's sovereignity is the best source of comfort through trials, especially death--they have been right); I have also been looking for commands for me and also things I should be teaching my kids as their mom. A while back after reading only two chapters in I Corinthians I was awe struck with the thought that in those two short chapters so many questions could be answered, so many directions given in my life, so many words of encouragement. I felt so full after reading it. I have a very difficult time even reading one chapter a day...gives me so many thoughts to chew on.
So, how can we say we need more than that to answer life?
I have been reading this book about Biblical Counseling. One of the things that the author points out is how the "other" camps bring in so many of their own methods and philosphy. She listed several different types of therapies and philosphies that they use. I had no idea. She points out the premis for each. None of those methods begin with the premis of "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . ." Instead it starts with either the evolutionary theory or that man is only a material being, no real spiritual side, more like a machine that is a product of his/her environment.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Fear of God
A biblical fear of God is one that produces awe, trembling, and reverence. It is the type of fear that drives us to the arms of God not away from Him. This fear does invoke a fear of consequences and intervention for our sins...but it recognizes that God is also a loving and forgiving God. It causes us to recognize our need for Him in our lives and for His sovereign control.
So...if I am not abiding in Him, walking close with Him, or turning to Him through His Word and prayer, maybe I am not fearing Him as I should. If I continue in sin as though I have not been redeemed then I also lack fear of Him. If I have no fear of God then I will have no wisdom, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
To call myself a Christian and have no fear of God is to be a "practical athiest"--to believe there is a God but not live like it.
So...if I am not abiding in Him, walking close with Him, or turning to Him through His Word and prayer, maybe I am not fearing Him as I should. If I continue in sin as though I have not been redeemed then I also lack fear of Him. If I have no fear of God then I will have no wisdom, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
To call myself a Christian and have no fear of God is to be a "practical athiest"--to believe there is a God but not live like it.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
More about idols. . .
Idols--setting ones heart desire on something above God. So, usually we think of idols as something pretty tangible, but the older I get the more I see myself setting my desires on the less tangible. So, the other day I posted about "Parental Idols". So here on some "Spousal Idols" that I read in the book, "Excellent Wife", by Martha Peace:
1. Good health
2. Physical Appearance
3. Being treated fairly
4. Having a hurt free pain free life
5. Having a Christian Marriage
6. Worldly pleasures (drugs, alcohol, sex)
7. A child or children
8. Another person
9. A material thing
10. An ideal (pro-life, peace movement, etc)
11. Money
12. Success
13. Other's approval
14. Being in control
15. Having your needs met
As long as everything is going alright in the areas I have my heart set on I usually will feel "alright", but as soon as it is removed, or slightly so, I freak out. Maybe even to the point of desperation. I find myself willing to do anything to gain it all back, I might even be willing to sin. Currently, as I type this the Lord has revealed to me that I have an idol that I was not aware of. I realized it yesterday...when something/someone moved my idol and I was willing to sin to regain that idol. So sad.
The things listed above are kind of settle type idols we can have because in and of themselves they are not wrong. But when my heart is set on them above my devotion to God they become an idol. My deepest affection and longing should be for the Lord...but some of the things above tend to replace the Lord at times.
I know that they are not idols when they are removed and I am okay with it and still have a heart devoted to God and what he desires for me.
One last thought by Elyse Fitzpatrick:
"What are you longing for? If you long for earthly security or pleasure, then fear will win over faith. If your riches are here on earth, then they are subject to destruction or loss, and that possibility will make you fearful. But if your treasure really is in heaven, you'll be able to act in faith because you don't have anything to lose."
1. Good health
2. Physical Appearance
3. Being treated fairly
4. Having a hurt free pain free life
5. Having a Christian Marriage
6. Worldly pleasures (drugs, alcohol, sex)
7. A child or children
8. Another person
9. A material thing
10. An ideal (pro-life, peace movement, etc)
11. Money
12. Success
13. Other's approval
14. Being in control
15. Having your needs met
As long as everything is going alright in the areas I have my heart set on I usually will feel "alright", but as soon as it is removed, or slightly so, I freak out. Maybe even to the point of desperation. I find myself willing to do anything to gain it all back, I might even be willing to sin. Currently, as I type this the Lord has revealed to me that I have an idol that I was not aware of. I realized it yesterday...when something/someone moved my idol and I was willing to sin to regain that idol. So sad.
The things listed above are kind of settle type idols we can have because in and of themselves they are not wrong. But when my heart is set on them above my devotion to God they become an idol. My deepest affection and longing should be for the Lord...but some of the things above tend to replace the Lord at times.
I know that they are not idols when they are removed and I am okay with it and still have a heart devoted to God and what he desires for me.
One last thought by Elyse Fitzpatrick:
"What are you longing for? If you long for earthly security or pleasure, then fear will win over faith. If your riches are here on earth, then they are subject to destruction or loss, and that possibility will make you fearful. But if your treasure really is in heaven, you'll be able to act in faith because you don't have anything to lose."
Why Do I have Idols?
Yesterday I was remembering to remember the faithfulness of God. In the OT I have several verses that God says the children of Israel turned away from Him to idols because they did not remember all the things He had done for them.
We have been having a lot of discussion in our house about idols of our hearts and how they get there...and this whole thing about forgetting God or neglecting to remember Him and what he has done keeps coming up.
Perhaps one of the most convicting and "scary" passages to me is I Corinthians 10. Such a strong warning for us to flee idoltary, for idolatry is drinking the cup of demons...and we cannot drink both the cup of Christ and the cup of demons.
So, what are idols anyway? In this passage specifically the people were worshipping images that were hand made...they turned to those images to deliver them. They gave of their time, money, thoughts, hearts, desires, etc to those images. I don't have any graven images in my house that I am aware of, but there are some in my heart that the Lord has been revealing to me. In this passage God points out the sins that come out of an idoltarious person...revelry, scheming/evil plans toward others and living, sexual impurity, and grumbling. Hmmmm....grumbling....me thinks I feel very convicted. I keep thinking about how often the Israelites complained against the Lord and against the authority/leaders that God placed over them. I do that.
I'm beginning to think that complaining about anything or anybody is the first sure sign that my heart has set up idols...that my heart has forgotten God's faithfulness to me.
So many connections here in this one passage. I am going to continue in it for awhile. I am also finding out how very important it is to be studying scripture during the times my heart is "hearing" and seeing my sin. I have been praying that God would search my heart and show me the wicked ways...but it is so important that as sin is being revealed I have the eyes and mind of God...it would be so very overwhelming to me to see my sin through earthly human eyes. Makes me feel like there is so much to work on that I just throw in the towel and don't even try anymore. Don't even know where to begin. But if I continue to examine my sin through the lens of scripture and prayer I can see all the sin with eternity in mind. My perspective is just so very different.
Di
We have been having a lot of discussion in our house about idols of our hearts and how they get there...and this whole thing about forgetting God or neglecting to remember Him and what he has done keeps coming up.
Perhaps one of the most convicting and "scary" passages to me is I Corinthians 10. Such a strong warning for us to flee idoltary, for idolatry is drinking the cup of demons...and we cannot drink both the cup of Christ and the cup of demons.
So, what are idols anyway? In this passage specifically the people were worshipping images that were hand made...they turned to those images to deliver them. They gave of their time, money, thoughts, hearts, desires, etc to those images. I don't have any graven images in my house that I am aware of, but there are some in my heart that the Lord has been revealing to me. In this passage God points out the sins that come out of an idoltarious person...revelry, scheming/evil plans toward others and living, sexual impurity, and grumbling. Hmmmm....grumbling....me thinks I feel very convicted. I keep thinking about how often the Israelites complained against the Lord and against the authority/leaders that God placed over them. I do that.
I'm beginning to think that complaining about anything or anybody is the first sure sign that my heart has set up idols...that my heart has forgotten God's faithfulness to me.
So many connections here in this one passage. I am going to continue in it for awhile. I am also finding out how very important it is to be studying scripture during the times my heart is "hearing" and seeing my sin. I have been praying that God would search my heart and show me the wicked ways...but it is so important that as sin is being revealed I have the eyes and mind of God...it would be so very overwhelming to me to see my sin through earthly human eyes. Makes me feel like there is so much to work on that I just throw in the towel and don't even try anymore. Don't even know where to begin. But if I continue to examine my sin through the lens of scripture and prayer I can see all the sin with eternity in mind. My perspective is just so very different.
Di
Monday, July 16, 2007
Remembering to forget
I have been challenged lately to notice how often God says, "Remember..." in the Old Testament. Actually that word is in the NT as well. It was the "not remembering" that turned the children of Israel away from God. They forgot God's faithfulness to them.
Many times I find it easy to remember the things I should forget and forget the things I should remember. Often we are commanded in scripture to forget or lay aside sinful things, including the wrongs done to us.
I wonder what would happen to me during trials if I was better at remembering God's faithfulness in the past? What would that do to me in the present? How would this change my response to trials?
How would it change the way I even shared my testimony? Instead of setting up my regrets from the past as a shrine, perhaps my focus in my testimony would turn towards God's faithfulness to me?
Perhaps my trials of today would be overshadowed by God's faithfulness in the past? Maybe a focus on God's faithfulness would make today's worries seem like only momentary bumps in the roads.
Many times I find it easy to remember the things I should forget and forget the things I should remember. Often we are commanded in scripture to forget or lay aside sinful things, including the wrongs done to us.
I wonder what would happen to me during trials if I was better at remembering God's faithfulness in the past? What would that do to me in the present? How would this change my response to trials?
How would it change the way I even shared my testimony? Instead of setting up my regrets from the past as a shrine, perhaps my focus in my testimony would turn towards God's faithfulness to me?
Perhaps my trials of today would be overshadowed by God's faithfulness in the past? Maybe a focus on God's faithfulness would make today's worries seem like only momentary bumps in the roads.
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