For several months now I have been trying to grasp the difficulty of the fight between desiring to fulfill my goals and grow in my relationship with Christ - and - the temptation to give in to what my body is telling me. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell about the time when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His betrayal and the disciples were asked to watch out for him and pray.....but although they wanted to be obedient, their flesh was tired and weak and they fell asleep. In Mark's passage verse 38 it says, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Then later on in verse 41 it says, "And He came the third time and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough, the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."
This passage came to mind with a struggle I was having. It was my desire to spend my personal devotional time with God every morning before work; rather than occasional mornings, or evenings, or lunch breaks which were not consistent or regular. In the morning I would always have a reason as to why I needed that extra sleep instead of getting up early. I rationed that I was up late the night before, or I have a long day ahead of me. If I rest more today then I will better be able to get up early tomorrow, etc. This went on for months and I began to feel frustrated that I could not do what I really wanted to do.
In a moment of God given wisdom, I realized I should ask God for His help! I prayed that if He would wake me up, and have the spirit nudge me out of bed, I would get up and spend time with Him. Guess what happened! One morning, God woke me up! I sat straight up in bed, turned off my alarm, felt the spirit nudging me.......and I shamefully chose to go back to sleep. How could I?! I just prayed for this, God answered my prayer, and I basically said "no" to Him! Would I verbally say that sleep is more important to me than my relationship with God? No. However, my actions and choices that morning were reflecting that attitude. I will say that I felt a sense of guilt all day that I had made that choice. I felt like I had missed out on something. I was sad that I had made the choice I had, knowing what it meant to me, but I also felt comfort knowing that God's love is unconditional and He would be ready to spend time with me the next time I took the opportunity. That healthy dose of guilt led me to a place of humility that motivated me to have my actions in this situation reflect that which my heart desired. I no longer wanted to sleep instead of spending my mornings with my Father. It is pure joy to begin my day with Him! Life is short, and in preparation for Christ's return I need to prioritize my relationship with Him! That is most important! It was time for me to decide that I had had enough of my choices, the season had come and I was ready, willing, and motivated to put God first in my life!
Lord, as I am changed by your grace, may these changes be lasting and honest and may my husband and others close to me be able to witness that my commitment is real. May these changes and the resulting attitudes and actions in my life overflow to the lives of those around me...may they desire more of you as well!
What is an area of your life that you would like to experience growth in?
Would you be willing to ask God to help you experience that growth?
If He answers that prayer, would you hear Him?
Are you ready and willing to participate?
Make Every Moment Count!
3.21.2011
3.01.2011
Am I Ready? Am I Willing?
I am reading a book written by Anne Graham Lotz called The Magnificent Obsession. The first chapter is about Genesis 12:1 - 13:4 and covers Abraham's choice to leave what is familiar to him and follow God to where He wanted to take him. Would you take a moment to read this passage and consider the decision that Abraham made so quickly to follow God to a place he had never been before!
What is familiar to me is having people around me that extend grace to me, people who love me and have time for me, people who want to challenge me and help me learn more about God and desire to see me grow in my relationship with Christ. I enjoy choosing the foods that I eat, I don't have to encounter animals I fear, I am comfortable in my home and my husband and I are able to pay our bills each month. This all sounds nice, but where should I be? I should be at a place that what I instead would describe as familiar to me is that I am 100% emotionally and physically dependent on God. I should not rely on what I think is right, or what I have been taught is right....I should have a first impulse to read scripture - to look to the word of God that we have been given as a gift when seeking direction and answers! I am surrounded by a quiet, careful, convenient culture; not a culture that would give everything away and leave family and friends easily. My mind feels the pressure of the expectations to succeed; an expectation that I have assumed for myself or felt others had of me. I push myself for success out of pride and an ingrained need to perform and I look for the same dedication in others toward what is valuable to them in their lives. I would like to say that I desire any success I am allowed in life to be with God, BUT, really what I need to work on is pushing for God to reign successfully in my life. Then possibly, if I am allowed any success in my life, I may not even realize it because my focus would be on Christ and Him receiving the glory!
Lord, help me to learn this well!
Growing up the impression I had of Christians was that we were to be good, be kind, participate in church activities and no one will question you. I think this is a very dangerous place to be!
Shane Claiborne once said this bit in a video interview I watched of him. "And then I met Jesus and He wrecked my life..."
Do you feel like following what you know God is asking you to do will wreck your life?
When I ponder this thought I realize that I am stopping halfway with my desire to follow Christ. Am I willing to respond to God's direction in my life as Abraham did? Currently I am compromising my relationship with my Savior due to my chosen schedule, my desire for more sleep and my desire to keep my house clean and in order - but do these things have any eternal significance? Am I willing and am I ready to let God "wreck" the life that I am building for myself in exchange for a life of following Christ? Am I ready to surrender my schedule and trust God with my time, with my need for rest, and can I be okay with a house that isn't always clean and orderly? Am I ready to experience the freedom that Abraham enjoyed in his obedient following of God to leave what was familiar to him and trust God with everything?
Lord, please stretch my faith and teach me to no longer compromise my relationship with You!
Are you ready? Are you willing?
_
What is familiar to me is having people around me that extend grace to me, people who love me and have time for me, people who want to challenge me and help me learn more about God and desire to see me grow in my relationship with Christ. I enjoy choosing the foods that I eat, I don't have to encounter animals I fear, I am comfortable in my home and my husband and I are able to pay our bills each month. This all sounds nice, but where should I be? I should be at a place that what I instead would describe as familiar to me is that I am 100% emotionally and physically dependent on God. I should not rely on what I think is right, or what I have been taught is right....I should have a first impulse to read scripture - to look to the word of God that we have been given as a gift when seeking direction and answers! I am surrounded by a quiet, careful, convenient culture; not a culture that would give everything away and leave family and friends easily. My mind feels the pressure of the expectations to succeed; an expectation that I have assumed for myself or felt others had of me. I push myself for success out of pride and an ingrained need to perform and I look for the same dedication in others toward what is valuable to them in their lives. I would like to say that I desire any success I am allowed in life to be with God, BUT, really what I need to work on is pushing for God to reign successfully in my life. Then possibly, if I am allowed any success in my life, I may not even realize it because my focus would be on Christ and Him receiving the glory!
Lord, help me to learn this well!
Growing up the impression I had of Christians was that we were to be good, be kind, participate in church activities and no one will question you. I think this is a very dangerous place to be!
Shane Claiborne once said this bit in a video interview I watched of him. "And then I met Jesus and He wrecked my life..."
Do you feel like following what you know God is asking you to do will wreck your life?
When I ponder this thought I realize that I am stopping halfway with my desire to follow Christ. Am I willing to respond to God's direction in my life as Abraham did? Currently I am compromising my relationship with my Savior due to my chosen schedule, my desire for more sleep and my desire to keep my house clean and in order - but do these things have any eternal significance? Am I willing and am I ready to let God "wreck" the life that I am building for myself in exchange for a life of following Christ? Am I ready to surrender my schedule and trust God with my time, with my need for rest, and can I be okay with a house that isn't always clean and orderly? Am I ready to experience the freedom that Abraham enjoyed in his obedient following of God to leave what was familiar to him and trust God with everything?
Lord, please stretch my faith and teach me to no longer compromise my relationship with You!
Are you ready? Are you willing?
_
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