y times we hear, "just pray about it." But the older I get the more I realize that I have used prayer to tell God what I want, to ask Him to bless what I want, to push my will on Him, to vent my frustrations, to worry and complain, and to avoid what I know He already wants me to do. We really misuse prayer sometimes. And perhaps the most commonly misuse is for the purpose of stalling. We already know what God wants us to do and we stall for more time all in the name of "I need to pray some more about that." It's sort of like reading a command in scripture, turning around and saying, "well, I need to pray about that and ask God if he really meant for me to obey." Nothing wrong with praying that GOd would give me strength to obey...but it shouldn't be a stall tactic. Came across a quote today:
Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his teaching of John's first epistle. He writes:
In a situation of crisis, the New Testament does not immediately say, "Let us pray." It always says first, "Let us think, let us understand the truth, let us take a firm hold of the doctrine." Prayer may be quite useless and quite void. . . . Prayer is sometimes an excuse for not thinking, an excuse for avoiding a problem or a situation. Have we not all known something of this in our personal experience? We have often been in difficulty and we have prayed to God to deliver us, but in the meantime we have not put something right in our lives as we should have done. Instead of facing the trouble, and doing what we knew we should be doing, we have prayed. I suggest that at a point like that, our duty is not to pray but to face the truth, to face the doctrine and to apply it. Then we are entitled to pray, and not until then.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Big Story Perspective
Okay...so often I get this idea in my mind that this life, this story, every drama, every trial, every blessing that goes on in my life is all about "MY story" and I am the key character in my drama. But you know, there is such a bigger picture to everything that happens to each of us. We are just embedded in a bigger story: GOD'S story. I am just a very very small part...I mean very small. I think the toughest time for me to remember this is when someone sins against me. I think that it is a sin against me and me only. I think that since I believe this I can deal with it according to how it will help me. Perhaps pragmatically, I will decide to obey scripture about dealing with conflict, just when it is in MY best interest. I also tend to let that sin against me get me all bent out of shape--especially if I am lacking an eternal perspective about the crisis/conflict. I suppose an eternal perspective will keep me from falling apart or responding in an out of control manner. Sometimes, when a person offends us we can think that that is what life is all about...MY disappointments, MY hurts, MY offenses, and so forth. When we think this way it can cause us to be consumed by these disappointments...and I think that is where we will find much unhappiness, lack of joy, and discontentment. Perhaps it is like letting our joy and contentment rest on what others do. But if I can grasp that bigger picture, that eternal picture and find my rest in that eternal hope, then maybe disappointments from others won't be such a zinger that knocks me down.
I can't help but think about Joseph and his response to his brother's who had sold him to slavery: "You intended to harm me, but God meant it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)
It is very evident in his response that he had a "bigger" picture of life. He didn't see himself as the key character or his life as the main story line. He saw his life as a very small part in a bigger picture. That picture is God's redemption story. We are all embedded in this "redemption story." So in reality, there is only one story. Not millions and billions. Just one. GOD'S. And it's a story about redeeming love. And the cool thing is, Jesus' name is whispered in every part of the story...in your part and mine. His name is whispered in the part about Noah and the flood; Adam and Eve; Jonah and the whale; Daniel and the lions; and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abindego in the fiery furnace. Jesus is the main character. His demonstration of the greatest love: dying on the cross for our sins is the main story line.
I guess I really need to get to a place where I see myself as a small part in a bigger story. One story of all time. Not many different stories. Maybe this perspective will help me learn to respond to being sinned against in a graceful way.
So the next time someone sins against me I need to remember:
1. Turn to the Lord--not away from Him. Our sinful responses and focus can cause us to turn away from the Lord in these difficult situations. I need to continue to meditate on Him and His goodness, His beauty, His love, His forgiveness, His faithfulness, and all other attributes that we see in this Larger Story of the main character: Jesus. It's easy to dwell on all the mean and nasty things people say and do to us. We can become consumed by the hurt others cause us. But letting my mind consider and meditate on the Lord and His character is a better replacement and will keep my focus on that Bigger Picture and the Main Character.
2. Remember your place. Your life no longer belongs to you. Your story is no longer just your story. You now are part of a kingdom of another and your life is part of the plan and purposes of that kingdom. Don't allow yourself to begin to think that you're in the center of your universe. Remember, you've been chosen to live for the glory of another, and when you do, you'll reach levels of personal contentment and joy that aren't possible any other way.
3. Be wise: learn your lessons. Let the trials, the hurt of others strengthen your character. God has you in the painful moment, not simply to reveal himself to you, but to grow and change you through it as well. He's chosen to keep you in this fallen world because he has a bigger purpose than your happiness. He also isn't done refining you. Sure, you long for the grace of release and the grace of relief, and sometimes you do experience these, but primarily this moment is a moment of refinement. The heat of interpersonal difficulty is meant to purify us, something that each of us continues to need. We should never be surprised when life hurts and is hard. And don't be too quick to find away out of the heat. The heat is what is refining us.
4. Reflect his light. Point others to Him. In our trials, in these hurtful times, God is not only calling you to submit to his will, but to actively give yourself to the values and work of his kingdom. He calls you to reflect the light of HIS character. Remember you have died to self. You are now alive to Him, for Him. He calls you to suffer in ways that can only be explained by his presence and power in your life. Jesus said it this way, "that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
5. Don't be selfish--Be selfless. Since conflicts, trials, and difficulties are not all about you and me, think about how you can minister to others. What will help them and build them up--not what will be easiest or less painful for you. It may call for you to do something really hard. Really drastic to help and encourage them. It may call for you to confront them in love. It may call for you to put aside your own interests and look to theirs. It may require a sacrifice of time or money. It may call for you to allow them to experience pain.
6. Be a servant. Be willing to wash the feet of those God places in your life. Look for ways to serve others. Remember, we are here to serve, not to be served. Don't be about setting your life up for yourself. Don't be looking for ways others can serve you and make you happy and comfortable.
So, we are part of a bigger story. A story of redemption and love. WOW! How awesome to know this and to have the privilege of being a part of that. I am honored that the Lord allows me to be a part of His redemption plan. I mean, it's just amazing! I can't help but think about all my weaknesses and sins. And yet He works through those to make His story happen.
Di
I can't help but think about Joseph and his response to his brother's who had sold him to slavery: "You intended to harm me, but God meant it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)
It is very evident in his response that he had a "bigger" picture of life. He didn't see himself as the key character or his life as the main story line. He saw his life as a very small part in a bigger picture. That picture is God's redemption story. We are all embedded in this "redemption story." So in reality, there is only one story. Not millions and billions. Just one. GOD'S. And it's a story about redeeming love. And the cool thing is, Jesus' name is whispered in every part of the story...in your part and mine. His name is whispered in the part about Noah and the flood; Adam and Eve; Jonah and the whale; Daniel and the lions; and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abindego in the fiery furnace. Jesus is the main character. His demonstration of the greatest love: dying on the cross for our sins is the main story line.
I guess I really need to get to a place where I see myself as a small part in a bigger story. One story of all time. Not many different stories. Maybe this perspective will help me learn to respond to being sinned against in a graceful way.
So the next time someone sins against me I need to remember:
1. Turn to the Lord--not away from Him. Our sinful responses and focus can cause us to turn away from the Lord in these difficult situations. I need to continue to meditate on Him and His goodness, His beauty, His love, His forgiveness, His faithfulness, and all other attributes that we see in this Larger Story of the main character: Jesus. It's easy to dwell on all the mean and nasty things people say and do to us. We can become consumed by the hurt others cause us. But letting my mind consider and meditate on the Lord and His character is a better replacement and will keep my focus on that Bigger Picture and the Main Character.
2. Remember your place. Your life no longer belongs to you. Your story is no longer just your story. You now are part of a kingdom of another and your life is part of the plan and purposes of that kingdom. Don't allow yourself to begin to think that you're in the center of your universe. Remember, you've been chosen to live for the glory of another, and when you do, you'll reach levels of personal contentment and joy that aren't possible any other way.
3. Be wise: learn your lessons. Let the trials, the hurt of others strengthen your character. God has you in the painful moment, not simply to reveal himself to you, but to grow and change you through it as well. He's chosen to keep you in this fallen world because he has a bigger purpose than your happiness. He also isn't done refining you. Sure, you long for the grace of release and the grace of relief, and sometimes you do experience these, but primarily this moment is a moment of refinement. The heat of interpersonal difficulty is meant to purify us, something that each of us continues to need. We should never be surprised when life hurts and is hard. And don't be too quick to find away out of the heat. The heat is what is refining us.
4. Reflect his light. Point others to Him. In our trials, in these hurtful times, God is not only calling you to submit to his will, but to actively give yourself to the values and work of his kingdom. He calls you to reflect the light of HIS character. Remember you have died to self. You are now alive to Him, for Him. He calls you to suffer in ways that can only be explained by his presence and power in your life. Jesus said it this way, "that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
5. Don't be selfish--Be selfless. Since conflicts, trials, and difficulties are not all about you and me, think about how you can minister to others. What will help them and build them up--not what will be easiest or less painful for you. It may call for you to do something really hard. Really drastic to help and encourage them. It may call for you to confront them in love. It may call for you to put aside your own interests and look to theirs. It may require a sacrifice of time or money. It may call for you to allow them to experience pain.
6. Be a servant. Be willing to wash the feet of those God places in your life. Look for ways to serve others. Remember, we are here to serve, not to be served. Don't be about setting your life up for yourself. Don't be looking for ways others can serve you and make you happy and comfortable.
So, we are part of a bigger story. A story of redemption and love. WOW! How awesome to know this and to have the privilege of being a part of that. I am honored that the Lord allows me to be a part of His redemption plan. I mean, it's just amazing! I can't help but think about all my weaknesses and sins. And yet He works through those to make His story happen.
Di
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