Last night, for the first time in many years, I felt the full impact of the analogy, "The Christian walk is not a sprint- it's a marathon."
Alone, underneath a gorgeous evening sky, I broke down before my God and my Maker, unable to understand why He had made me this way, and why I struggled to worship completely such a magnificent Lord.
The sheer massivity of my sin, the hopelessness I felt regarding change, and the unworthiness as to why God would save me came crashing down upon me. I felt as though I had trudged through the same thing for so many years that surely, surely God's patience had worn out. Why had He saved me?
But, by the grace of my all-knowing Lord, I was reminded of something I had recently decided to do: actively claim the promises of scripture in my prayers. To "remind" God of what He had said He would do...
Dearest Lord,
I don't know what to do. I lack even the desire to try. I can't. I don't feel. I don't move. I'm so tired. I'm so fallen. But Lord, you said that though "the righteous cry the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." So deliver me. Rescue me from this pit of despair for I am "weary and heavy laden." Teach me, show me how your "yoke is easy and [your] burden is light." Give "strength to the weary" and though I "lack might" please increases my power. Allow my desires, my passions, to be satisfied in you alone- help me to "hunger and thirst for your righteousness" for then in you I "shall be satisfied." Teach me the full appreciation of your sacrifice, that "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Restore unto me, the joy of my salvation. Make my joy complete in trusting you- "For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name." Lord, give me the strength, the joy, the contentment, to continue in my service to you, for I know that "the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him." Help me to long, without waning passion, for my God and His glory.
Amen.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Quote of the Week:
Bad choices that are not recognized and corrected become part of who we are. (Pastor Steve Viars)
Proverbs 26:11
Proverbs 26:11
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Trust...
"We're just trusting God knows best..."
"It was the providence of God!"
"Well, you know, God is sovereign, so..."
How often do you, as a Christian throw around vocabulary such as "sovereign," "providence," or "trust"? But what are you saying when you glibly spout, or desperately cling to those truths? Are you saying that you trust God now, in this momentous calamity? Are you saying that you see His providence- but only in the good things? Do we only say, "God is sovereign" to those who are hurting- lightly believing a truth when pain affects others, but not ourselves.
I often trust God to fulfill His end goal in my life (to conform me to the likeness of His Son). But I rarely trust God to intervene on a daily, personal, minute level to establish the little steps that are needed to help me reach that end. I view God as intervening on the big ticket issues, but even those, I only like to give Him credit for the really good things.
"Isn't God good because He..."
"I got a promotion/good grade/new friend- look at God's providence!"
But God is not inserting Himself merely at the cataclysmic moments of my life. His presence, His sovereignty, His orchestration is there constantly- working in tandem with mine (and other's) free will, to slowly shape me into the person who is best designed for His glory. His path and thoughts are not mine, so I cannot fully understand how He is working even through the seemingly helpless, pointless, black moments of my life (Rom. 11:33, Isa. 55:9). But I know He is doing this- conforming me not only to the likeness of His Son, but also to the person who can best glorify Him here on this earth. (Rom. 8:29, Eph. 2:10)
"We either unconsciously or deliberately imply that God intervenes at specific points in our lives, but is largely only a spectator most of the time... God's providence is His constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of his people."
**************
Notes:
- Material drawn from "Trusting God- Even when life hurts" (Jerry Bridges)
Additional Scripture
- Psalm 31:15
- Psalm 147:8-9
- Acts 17:24-28
- II Corinthians 9:10
"It was the providence of God!"
"Well, you know, God is sovereign, so..."
How often do you, as a Christian throw around vocabulary such as "sovereign," "providence," or "trust"? But what are you saying when you glibly spout, or desperately cling to those truths? Are you saying that you trust God now, in this momentous calamity? Are you saying that you see His providence- but only in the good things? Do we only say, "God is sovereign" to those who are hurting- lightly believing a truth when pain affects others, but not ourselves.
I often trust God to fulfill His end goal in my life (to conform me to the likeness of His Son). But I rarely trust God to intervene on a daily, personal, minute level to establish the little steps that are needed to help me reach that end. I view God as intervening on the big ticket issues, but even those, I only like to give Him credit for the really good things.
"Isn't God good because He..."
"I got a promotion/good grade/new friend- look at God's providence!"
But God is not inserting Himself merely at the cataclysmic moments of my life. His presence, His sovereignty, His orchestration is there constantly- working in tandem with mine (and other's) free will, to slowly shape me into the person who is best designed for His glory. His path and thoughts are not mine, so I cannot fully understand how He is working even through the seemingly helpless, pointless, black moments of my life (Rom. 11:33, Isa. 55:9). But I know He is doing this- conforming me not only to the likeness of His Son, but also to the person who can best glorify Him here on this earth. (Rom. 8:29, Eph. 2:10)
"We either unconsciously or deliberately imply that God intervenes at specific points in our lives, but is largely only a spectator most of the time... God's providence is His constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of his people."
**************
Notes:
- Material drawn from "Trusting God- Even when life hurts" (Jerry Bridges)
Additional Scripture
- Psalm 31:15
- Psalm 147:8-9
- Acts 17:24-28
- II Corinthians 9:10
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