Posts Tagged ‘God’

Where is your Heart Committed?

Posted: December 29, 2023 in Something to think about
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Well, we find ourselves again on the doorstep of another New Year…only this time 2024. If you are like me, you are wondering, where did this year go? When I was a younger man, I never could grasp old folks telling me that as you age, time accelerates…now I get that.

I found myself at the end of this year reading in the Old Testament, specifically the books of 1&2 Kings and 1&2 Chronicles, which were stories about David, his son Solomon, and all of the Kings that came after. Honestly, what the Bible shares about these people is either good, bad, or ugly. Frankly, I wonder how God had the patience to deal with so much failure due to rampant idolatry amongst his people. There is one thing that stood out to me which is why I decided to finish Ironman-Strength 2023 writing a blog today rolling into 2024. Here is just a short story for you to think about.

I want to introduce you to a guy by the name of Asa. Asa was one of the many Kings of Judah who reigned starting in 910 BC and his throne lasted close to 40 years. Like many of these Kings, Asa started off going down the right road. The Bible tells us that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of God” 2 Chronicles 14:2. He went about destroying all of the idols that were in his kingdom with the intent of turning the people back towards the Lord. 

The Bible also tells us that Asa did a good job and because of his relationship with Him, God blessed him and his people.

Unfortunately, as Asa grew old, he changed his focus. He decided that he could run his own life without God’s help. Worse yet, Asa went in the opposite direction and gave himself over to Satan ultimately turning into a brutal oppressor of his people. Asa learned through his transition from good to bad that “the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9. Asa’s choices caused devastation to himself and God’s people.

All God asked Asa to do was to make a choice and then stick with it. Serving God your entire life, through the good and the difficult times is tough. When you can’t see Christ or worse yet, you can’t feel Him, your first thought is you are alone. In Asa’s case, he listened to Satan. I want to remind you that even now Satan is in a wrestling match with God over YOUR life. God seeks to refine you as you navigate painful situations whereas Satan’s sole intent for you is destruction. If you choose the enemy, your condition might improve for a time, but in the end, with Satan as your pilot, death is coming.

Guys, I hope you don’t find me harsh to end this year with a strong message like this one but I speak the truth and it is critical to hear because, in my mind, it is all about where you plan to spend eternity.

God distinguishes between those of us whose hearts are completely HIS and those whose hearts are divided between HIM and this world. Where is your heart committed?

Until Next Time Guys – Happy New Year-

Holy Spirit 102

Posted: August 20, 2023 in Knowledge
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Recently, I posted a blog about the Holy Spirit that I found interesting. To summarize, there is a great deal of Creation that would NOT be around had it not been for the Holy Spirit on this earth, including you and me. Secondly, the Holy Spirit thinks, feels, and He even wills things, meaning He determines the best course in a situation…My recommendation is to find that post, Holy Spirit 101, and read it for yourselves.

Also, before I get too far, I wanted to share that there is a HUGE amount of material about how the Holy Spirit was active during the Old Testament, so…, if I can get my act together and get that organized, I will work to post that portion also.

Today, I have some more meat for you, meaning, some fundamental details about what the Holy Spirit is doing right now that I think you will find very relevant to you and your family. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just float around in ether all day, He is actively working on God’s plan for earth, which translated, means God’s plan for you and me. 

Finally, I have elected to provide this information to you in outline format with scripture references and some commentary to make it easier for you to consume.

So back to the question, What is the Holy Spirit doing right now?

He is the Envoy of Salvation

  1. He convicts us of guilt – John 16:7-8
  2. He reveals the truth to you and me about Jesus Christ – John 14:16, 26
  3. He gives us new birth. John 3:3-6 – Please note, this is a fundamental element about Christ saving us. Christ refers to this as being reborn or born again. This is the Holy Spirit at work in us.
  4. He incorporates you and me into the body of Christ – 1 Cor 12:13

When we accept Christ into our hearts at our conversion, we receive the Holy Spirit – John 3:3-6, John 20:22. When this happens, you and I become participants in the Divine Nature of Christ – 2 Peter 1:4

This last point is HUGE because when we are part of His Divine Nature, we can escape the corruption in this world that is caused by evil desires.

Guys, this is not rocket science, we need help navigating all of the garbage that the enemy is or will throw at us while we are in this world. I have written a great deal about this in previous blogs. TRUTH STATEMENT: the Holy Spirit is what helps you and who guides you when all of the bad stuff happens. Please remember: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

He is the Envoy of Sanctification

Please don’t stop reading at this point. I know that “Sanctification” is a $50 theological word that most people don’t understand but it is very simple. It means you are set apart, you have been made different, you are purified – Romans 8:9, 1 Cor 6:19

Because He lives in us, look at what He does:

  1. He cleanses us and motivates us toward living a Holy life
  2. He constantly delivers you and me from the bondage of sin – Romans 8:2-4, Galatians 5:16-7, 2 Thes 2:13. And believe me, we need to be delivered from those shackles.
  3. He reminds us that we are children of God – Romans 8:16
  4. He helps us worship God and helps with our prayer life – Acts 10:46
  5. He intercedes when we cry out to God –  Romans 8:26-27

This list is far longer and more comprehensive to provide and I don’t want to lose you from reading on.

He is the Envoy of Service

  1. He empowers us to service and to be His witnesses. The actual work of the Holy Spirit is related to the Baptism in the Spirit or also the fullness of the Spirit. When we are baptized, we recipe power to carry the message of Christ forward – Acts 1:8

Again, there is a HUGE amount of material about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that if you have any interest, I highly encourage you to investigate further or leave me a note and I can send it to you.

He is the Envoy who incorporates all of us (believers) into the body of Christ, together – 1 Cor 12:13

The Church is the cornerstone of the ministry of Christ on Earth and the Holy Spirit moving is at the center of this.

  1. He lives inside the Church – 1 Cor 3:16
  2. He actively builds the Church – Ephesians 2:22
  3. He actively inspires the worship of the Church – Philippians 3:3
  4. He actively directs the mission of the Church – Acts 13:2,4
  5. He actively appoints the workers in the Church – Acts 20:28
  6. He actively appoints the Pastors for the Church – Acts 2:4, 1 Cor 2:4

I think it can be very fair to say that without the moving of the Holy Spirit in a church, the church is dead. I realize those are very strong words to use about a church but I believe they are spoken in truth. It is required by you and me to seek a church where the Spirit is active and alive in the ministry so we can be fed each week. 

The hard part about writing a blog on this topic is the fact that I have to leave out so much information just so the blog doesn’t become a book. That is where I rely on you, the reader, to take the next step of at least, looking up the scripture references simply because the Bible clearly states HIS Word will NOT return void.

Drop me a line in the comments section-

Until next time Guys…

Breakfast for Dinner

Posted: June 27, 2023 in Inspirational
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I came across this simple story recently and couldn’t help but think how this could apply to all of us men out there… we all can agree…sometimes life doesn’t go the way we want it to but our reaction can be the key to how the ones we care about think about us… 

I have no idea who wrote this and would love to give the credit to who did but we can all still enjoy it just the same…

And so the story goes…

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make “breakfast for dinner” every now and then and we were ok with that for us. I remember one night in particular though when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my Dad and I remember waiting to see if anyone would notice.

Instead of reacting, my Dad simply reached for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit and he ate every bit of that thing…never making a face or uttering a word. 

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my Father for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said, “Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then.” 
 
Later that night, I went to hug my Dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. I remember him wrapping me in his arms and saying, “Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she’s very tired, and besides…a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone”…

As I’ve grown older, I’ve often thought about that night because I have found that life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I’m not the best at many things; I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else but what I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept one another’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and long-lasting relationship…or family. 

 That is my prayer for you today…that you will learn to look at life differently by taking the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and laying them at the feet of God. Because frankly, in the end, Jesus is the only one who can give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn’t a deal-breaker…

“Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket – keep it in your own.”

So, please pass me a biscuit, and yeah, the burned one will be just fine.

Until next time guys…

Undercover Christians

Posted: March 19, 2023 in Something to think about
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Do you remember the movie “Gods Not Dead” from a few years back? The plot was about a bitter college professor who tried to push all of his freshman students into proclaiming that God is dead before his class began each semester. He asked each of them to write, “God is dead” on a sheet of paper, then sign it, and turn it into him. In the story, one of his incoming freshman students could not do this because of his faith, which prompted this angry professor to challenge him to prove the existence of God. 

From a Christian perspective, the apologetics were very powerful in the movie. Honestly, to think that this was a movie released to the masses in secular theaters was very exciting to see. 

But if you know me and have read this blog, you know that something stood out above all else when I watched this film…and that was the verses quoted below from Matthew 10:32-33 in which Christ said,

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

Guys, this one hit me like a brick in the head because I know, like you, I am surrounded by Hidden Christians who never say anything about their faith. For those of you who are Salt and Light in this world, this post isn’t for you. This one is for the rest of us Christian men who exist in silence before one another and before God. I am speaking to those who go about their days focused on their “busyness” with the light that is supposedly inside of them, hidden deep inside where no one can see.

My point is that our God is real, no matter how you and I feel about Him, and in my mind, I believe that as each day passes, is one more day we will never get back again. 

For Christians, God continually places opportunities in front of us to share and be an influence for Him…no matter where we are…These are chances just for us for you and me. They can be opportunities to just say an encouraging word or something more…

Guys…God never intended for you to be undercover. You are not a spy for Christ in this world; you are one of His disciples and it’s time for you to be a voice for Him rather than silent. I am NOT trying to guilt you or scare you but Christ’s words are very clear in the verse above… 

…But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Please think about these words. They are for you and for me…Do not find yourself in that position someday…

Until next time Guys…

Is Ignorance Really Bliss…?

Posted: March 11, 2023 in Something to think about
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Did you know that God keeps a record of our sorrows and He records our tears? 

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll, are they not in your record?  Psalm 56:8  

Did you know that God keeps a record of those who fear him and honor his name? 

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. Malachi 3:16 

Did you know that God judges our secrets?

On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16

Did you know that God knows the number of hairs on your head?

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

OK…so maybe I went a bit overboard with scriptures on this post but only because these verses hit home more than most because some of us are just going about our lives living in our own bliss right? 

If you actually think you can skate under God’s radar because you think you are a good guy and never really get into trouble… Then I have some bad news for you…More scripture…

For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all of his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. 

Proverbs 5: 21-23

Guys…Ignorance is not bliss… and just because you don’t spend time thinking about God doesn’t mean He isn’t thinking about you. He pays attention to everything you do, everything you think, and everything you say, and for anyone to think otherwise is foolish…

He made you in His image and because He is God, He is completely in touch and connected to everything about you…EVEN IF YOU DON’T THINK SO. 

Your secrets are NOT secrets to God. 

You are NOT the only one who knows your deep personal thoughts. God knows them too…

My point is this: because there is a God out there who actually cares to number the hairs on your head, or who pays attention to just you, or keeps a record of your tears…Honestly, that is the kind of God you should follow.

Where else on earth would anyone care like that? Short answer…nowhere. No one on this earth can know as much about YOU as He does…

Please don’t ignore what I am telling you today. 

My simple recommendation…instead of living in denial that He doesn’t know anything about you or that all of the verses I quoted above don’t apply to you…

Instead…try calling upon His name, Jesus Christ, in order to change your direction. 

Trust me on this.

In the end, Ignorance of God and His ways will NOT be bliss…

Until next time guys…

What is your 500-year plan?

Posted: March 6, 2023 in Something to think about
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This is a short post to bring a quick “something for you to think about”. I heard a very interesting perspective from the pulpit this past Sunday of my local church and I could not help but appreciate the reality this Pastor shared with us. 

He asked a question that I wanted to ask you; What is your 500-year plan?

I wasn’t completely clear on what he meant. I’m the guy who is just trying to figure out how I am going to put my kids through college and hopefully still have enough left over to retire. That is my 10-20 year plan at best…let alone 500. Does that sound familiar to you? Now, I am sure many of you are far better than I am about saving for your future retirement, and kudos to you for creating a solid plan for your “what’s next”. But for the rest of us, the future is a genuine concern. How in the world can anyone save enough to make the next stage of our lives really work?

Then I heard this point; we get so focused on planning for our earthly futures which includes our Investments, Life Insurance, Home Equity, IRAs, 401Ks, and the list goes on that we forget the real reason why we are here. Which is…?

This is why I am asking you the same question again…

What is your 500-year plan? Do you know where you will be in 500 years? I know this sounds like a dumb question but the Bible is clear when it tells us to lay up our treasures in Heaven which moth cannot destroy.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Matthew 6:19-21

Life is short so Moses wrote in Psalms 90 the following verse:

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.   Psalm 90:10

SO…AFTER FURTHER REVIEW…WHAT IS MY 500-YEAR PLAN?

To build a relationship with my Creator, navigate this earthly journey with Him all the while dealing with the adversity that comes with that so that when I ultimately pass on, I get to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. 

So, with that in mind… what have you done today to plan for your next 500 years? That is why I write this to you today. 

But…Before I end this post I want to ensure that you don’t misconstrue my message. I am NOT saying don’t plan for your future…not in the least. All I am saying is don’t be so myopic about your earthly future that you forget to plan for your heavenly one. Needless to say but I will say it anyway…one of these futures is going to be slightly longer than the other. You get to choose which one.

My encouragement for you today is to make real a deposit into your eternal account…as soon as you can.

Just something to think about-

Until next time guys-

Can I Really have all that I need?

Posted: March 5, 2023 in Inspirational
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The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need. Psalms 23:1

I have read the 23rd Psalm thousands of times throughout my life and can even recite it from memory. It is so burned into my brain from so many years of reading and hearing it over and over that, I almost don’t hear it anymore…if that makes sense.

Repetition and too much of any one thing can do that to you, right? Well, that isn’t supposed to happen to scripture. But it had until today…and all it took was a version change. A different perspective that seemed to change the angle just slightly…or…just enough to wack me over the head.

As I said, I have heard the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” my whole life. That is the verse. Period. Until today. When I heard it very loud and very clear, again for the first time.

How about this one; The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need.

I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED. 

I can honestly say I have never said that because I never believed those words applied to me. WHY? Because I don’t think I DO have all I need. Does anyone really ever have all they need? But that is precisely what David meant when he wrote those words. He truly had All that he needed. He was content.

So what did he mean?

Here is what I can tell you. David was not referring to his stuff. Things like cars, houses, and vacations. He was talking about his contentment with his God. Let me reword it again:

BECAUSE THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I DO NOT NEED ANYTHING

David recognized that in this state of humility with God, our God, it was and IS possible to not need anything. Can you imagine that? You see because we Christians are so immersed in a society where people believe they can never get enough…that honestly, it is very easy to drift over to that way of thinking. Over time, we become what we do not want to…which is believing we don’t HAVE what we THINK we need…or as reworded below:

EVEN THOUGH THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, HE CAN’T GET ME WHAT I NEED

It is important to recognize this condition above for what it is: That it is NOT from God but rather from the Enemy. Our job then is to resist and to work to become content in our circumstances no matter what they are. It is not easy. Frankly, it is crazy hard…especially if you are not happy with where you are in your life.

The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Let me put it another way:

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1 Timothy 6:6

Although it is a very true statement, “You can’t take it with you” the Bible implores you and me to lay up our treasures in Heaven so that your time spent here on this earth can be more like what David said…where you have all you need.

Simply put, if you are focused on the “stuff” you don’t have, then you are not focused on Him.

My intent today with this short post is to remind you that if you seek Him, you will find Him which leads you to a place where you can be content in your life, right where you are. Then you can say with conviction…that you really do have all that you need.

Until next time guys-

The Story of Satan – part 5

Posted: January 27, 2022 in Something to think about
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So a quick recap from part 4 is that we learned what Satan is doing right now. And trust me, he is NOT sitting on his hands. He is an active general conducting a war with you and me…Please don’t forget that. Moreover, we learned what you and I should be doing to protect ourselves while we are going through this journey. Most importantly though, we cannot be complacent about this unseen war Satan is conducting and we certainly can’t pretend it isn’t happening. So let’s jump right back into this again.

Let me start with this statement…

Jesus Christ came to earth to destroy the works of Satan. Did you catch that? Not mediate, compromise or even legislate what Satan is doing…but destroy. As I previously mentioned, Satan prowls around this earth with the sole intent of devouring you and me. Jesus’ plan is simply the opposite; Instead of destruction, He wants you to have eternal life with Him and what stands in both our ways are the plans of the enemy.

Jesus Christ is the adversary of Satan.

Read this;

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.  1John 3:8 ESV 

Christ also came to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God and most importantly, deliver us, you and me, from the dominion of Satan. In case you missed this from previous blog episodes, while we are here on earth, all of us are enslaved to Satan unless we accept the offer of Christ so we can be redeemed…but I am getting ahead of myself.

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Mat 12:28 ESV – Christ Speaking

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed – Luk 4:18 ESV – Christ speaking

And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:16 ESV – Christ Speaking

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Act 26:18 ESV

For those of you who did not already know, when Jesus came to this earth, it was an invasion into Satan’s Kingdom and it rocked his world. So…right before Jesus began His earthly ministry, Satan confronted him in the desert with a series of temptations and he offered Jesus anything he wanted ON THIS EARTH…the only thing Christ had to do was bow down to him. 

(Matthew 4:1-11) Here are a few of these scriptures below:

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'” Mat 4:8-10 ESV 

When you read these verses, you will notice that Jesus systematically refused Satan’s temptations by only using scripture as a response to his questions. Why? Because according to the Bible, the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword and that was all that was sufficient to defeat the prince of this world.

Let me remind you of Martin Luther’s words from many years ago when he said,

The devil is God’s devil. We have forgotten that only when we know who God is can we know who the devil is. Blessed are those who are convinced that the prince of this world has become a slave to the Prince of Peace.

SIDE NOTE: It is HUGELY important that you understand this quote. Satan, although he is the prince of this world, is still under the control of Christ which means YOU can tap into that power and be victorious over this enemy. It is very important that you read this and know you have access to this. You are not alone.

We pick up this next section by telling you that when Christ was crucified on the cross…and then died, ALL of Satan’s Kingdom rejoiced. They TRULY believed they had won the war because Jesus was dead. But God had a very different plan in mind and if you know your Bible, you will know that is why we celebrate Easter…because Jesus rose from the dead.

Read this quote from Erwin Lutzer in his book, God’s Devil, who says;

Though he could never have predicted it, at the cross Lucifer would be defeated spiritually, for there Christ was guaranteeing that at least part of fallen humanity would be purchased out from the kingdom of darkness to share in the Kingdom of Light.

You can imagine, the demon hordes went from celebrating to all-out panic. Literally from one extreme to another. The resurrection of Christ initiated the defeat of Satan and thereby ensured God’s ultimate victory over him. 

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil  Heb 2:14 ESV

So, guys, we have reached a very important mile marker in this 6 part series about Satan. Why? because in the next episode, we talk about Satan’s future. I think it is critical to share with you what happens to him and I want you to know what the Bible tells us about the end of our enemy.

This is NOT an easy topic to tackle but we cannot look at the whole story of Satan without looking at the end, scripturally. My goal is to present this detail in a readable and hopefully understandable way so it makes sense to you.

Part 6 is next and it is the last one…

Until next time guys-

God is NOT like me

Posted: November 25, 2018 in Something to think about
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God and me

I am sure that most people, whether Christian or non-Christian, would agree with me when I say that I do not understand why God does or doesn’t anything about what happens on this Earth. God is, and continues to be, a God who doesn’t behave like I would if I were Him…and that my friends, is the main point of this post.

Now, I would not consider myself a big theological guy like my friend, @JeremyRiley, but yet when it comes to God and how we think about Him or how He thinks about us, it might just take some real theology to get the answer we seek.

Let me explain; what I am saying here isn’t really a new revelation but it’s critical to understand this point about God; which is simply that all of us are bound by our “humanness”. What I mean is, because we are human we act accordingly, which means we act…well…like humans…and as a result, how we think about God is affected by our capacity to understand Him. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard friends or acquaintances exclaim, “why did God do that?” or “NOT do that?” and in my mind, I am saying, “what was God thinking?” Yet the answer is actually in scripture and is enlightening if you have never thought like this before…

God was thinking like God and NOT like us…Read this verse from Psalms:

These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you…Psalms 50:21

The only reason our natural inclination is to think that God would be like us is because what else would He be like? All we have ever been exposed to on this Earth is each other. Moreover, we know that He created us in His own image because the Bible tells us this fact in Genesis so it is reasonable to assume that God is like us right?

Wrong.

Let’s just start there. He clearly states this in the scripture above, ”YOU THOUGHT I WAS ALTOGETHER LIKE YOU”.

Well, He isn’t. God can only be HIMSELF. He is bound by His holiness to be who He is.

I think one of the biggest misconceptions that we have here on earth is that WE think God should behave as we do. Think about that for a second. I have seen people get very angry because they were truly upset that God didn’t intervene or fix a situation that in their minds, God could have taken care of in an instant…but He didn’t.

When this happens, it creates a huge gap between what we THINK we see God doing VERSUS what God is REALLY doing. Read this verse below from Isaiah to help me illustrate my point:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

For some of us, it may take some humility for us to recognize this very simple fact; that Gods ways are higher and better than our own but again, starting right there with how we think about God.

It is critical for us to recognize our place changes everything for us in how we approach and ultimately come to grips with who He is.

Have you ever heard the expression that “God is God and I am not”? Well, that is a reality check for those of us who just assumed that He might act as we wanted Him too.

But I do have some good news for those who feel this information above might have been a reality check for you;

Gods plan was never about God becoming who we wanted Him to be…but rather it was always about mankind, meaning you and me, becoming more like Him. Take a look at this verse in Romans that illustrates this;

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

Think about this verse guys…

You can conform your heart and mind to be more like God’s and I can tell you that when this happens, it truly changes the way you think. Do you remember at the beginning of this post when I mentioned about being frustrated with God because He isn’t fixing or doing something as you think He should?…now you can see that when we think differently about God because of a renewal of our minds, suddenly, there is an understanding there that wasn’t there before.

Keep in mind that God is just being God and carrying out His plan for our lives and we just need to listen…

Until next time guys…

What does Discernment look like?

Posted: December 29, 2016 in Something to think about
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discernment-1

Would it make any difference to you if you could have background knowledge of events before they happened so that you would “know what to do” when the time came? Do you think that just having that understanding might give you more of a sense of confidence in this world because you knew what was going to happen?

I think the easy answer is yes to these questions because understanding is so important when events are happening around us. To possess the knowledge of maybe when to go, or when to stay, or when to speak, or when not to can be the difference between success and failure no matter what our situation.

Many people call what I am describing here discernment. Webster defines discerning as: to perceive by the sight or some other sense or to recognize as distinct or different.

Can you imagine the capability to discern what the intent was in any situation? Can you imagine having the ability to discern what was going on right now, in this age? To actually recognize something you and I see for what it is, and even more importantly, know what you should do about it?

I found an example of this very idea in the Bible that caused me to think about this topic and how this might apply to you and me. It is a very short verse but nonetheless, very powerful in its meaning:

…men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do-200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; 1 Chronicles 12:32

In the research I have done on the Men of Issachar, I have learned that whole books and sermons have been written and preached over just these few words.

The set up for this verse is that the Philistines have killed Saul and David has been anointed King over Israel. He has been living in Hebron prior to him taking back Jerusalem as his kingdom however during his time in Hebron, warriors came from all over to join his army and as the writer of Chronicles tells us in verse 22, Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God. One of these groups joining him were the men of Issachar, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. I think it is important to point out here in scripture, they receive special mention because of out of all the tribes; they discerned what God was doing by bringing David to the throne and as a result, they understood the specific circumstances as God revealed to them through discernment.

These men had received from God the gift of discernment and used it in the way He wanted them to. In this instance, they recognized that this was a crucial time – the 11 tribes of Israel were without a leader, without guidance, and a model to follow. This was a time for special understanding. It was a time for real discernment.

But to me, the most compelling part of this verse is; they knew what Israel should do.

 I come back to one of my original questions from the beginning:

Can you imagine knowing what to do and the right time you should do it?

If you said yes, then join the club because who wouldn’t want that ability?

But the reality is guys is that any of us can have this ability and all we have to do is ask. But understand up front from me that Spiritual discernment is far more than a skill, but rather it is a gift from God. Moreover, God can only give it to you if you do the following:

One who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (I John 4:8)

Guys, God wants you plugged into Him for the answers you need everyday and if you can do that, if you will seek Him constantly, daily, all the time, He will give you the discernment necessary to make the right decisions for you and your family.

I will not lie to you. This process takes effort from you. You have to do the heavy lifting by getting on your knees and talking to Him about your life, your family and all the difficult stuff. Your relationship with God is just like muscle, if you don’t physically exercise, your muscles get atrophied and soft. On the other hand, when you do exercise, your muscles stay strong and can bear a tremendous amount of stuff this world will throw at you.

If you exercise your relationship with God, I can guarantee you a different result when you ask for discernment.

There…you now have the answers to the test.

The question is…what are you going to do about it?

 

Until next time guys-

Happy New Year from IronmanStrength!

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