"What do you think?" After months of hardship and struggling... I had just finished pouring my heart out to a friend only to find that the release I had been expecting did not appear. Why do hard and painful things happen to those who love and follow the Lord?
2 Timothy 2:3 - Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
One of the biggest misconceptions in the Christian world is that when we choose to follow Christ, we will have a pain and carefree life full of nothing but good. If that were the case.. Then why did God tell us that as a good soldier of Jesus... We will suffer hardship? The reason so many Christians get burned so much is because we do not realize that we ARE soldiers. We are in the midst of the biggest battle (the war over our souls.) On Sunday I had the pleasure of hearing an evangelist preach. I never thought the word would hit me this hard. Its amazing how the word always seems to clearly show our stupidity. We think we have it all right! While hardships happen.. People have grown accustomed to going to God and asking Him to take those hardships away. Many of us seem to not understand that the Lord HAS A PLAN and wants to DO A WORK in us. There is purpose to all He does.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way' (Ps 37:23)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths (Pro 3:5)
This is where the title of this blog comes into play. God's word is so simple! But we make it so complicated. We try to develop formulas that will lessen our hardship in this life..We lean upon our own understanding. But if we would stop and acknowledge the Lord in every area of our life, we would see the direction of the Lord.. and we would see His plan. Instead.. When we experience any level or amount of confusion or pain.. We run to our brothers and sisters in the Lord for advice before seeking the counsel and direction from the one who has led us to that very place to begin with! Why is it so hard for us to trust the Lord? Don't get me wrong.. It is good to seek counsel and advice from our brothers and sisters in the Lord. But when we go through hardships... Isn't it true that the one who will understand and know the best is the Lord? He is the one that is directing and guiding our steps.. That is, if we have been acknowledging Him in all of our ways. I can look back at so many instances in my life where I have asked the Lord why something has happened.. And have gotten no answer. Now I see in hindsight that it was my failure to acknowledge the Lord in everything.
Practical Christianity! The word of God is so good.. It is so true. We make so much more hardships for ourself when we fail to DO the word practically in this life. How can God direct our steps if we haven't even been acknowledging Him in all of our ways?
ALL OF OUR WAYS.
Not just in the area of what career to Pursue. Not just in the area of what to say on Sunday morning. IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
When we start acknowledging the Lord in everything.. Only then can the Lord use us in a mighty way. So when you experience hardship in this life.. Look to the Lord and trust. Know that He has a plan and allow Him to do a work in you because God will use anything that appears bad for the good of those that love the Lord.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Selfish Christianity
I've been thinking about the spiritual state of America. Please bear with me though.. Because I know I'm not the most eloquent person when it comes to writing. And I don't always feel like i have important things to say. But I know this is important. I know because it was layed upon my heart... So hard that I literally almost cried. It struck me today how I'm so much more concerned with the details of my own life that I don't see the pain around me. Don't get me wrong. Its not living in America that makes me selfish.. Its just that we've taken all of our blessings for granted.. and the majority of America has picked the curse over the blessing.
While I pop out my 80g ipod and listen to music.. Or sit down at the laptop browsing on the internet.. Or sitting at the dinner table eating food... With my family. I forget that there are people with no homes. There are families breaking their backs so that their children can have food to keep them alive. There are even little children who are afraid to come home from school.. Because their dad will assault them sexually or abusively. It makes me so angry how arrogant the people in this country are. It makes me even more upset to look at my own heart and see how I have taken for granted almost all the things the Lord has blessed me with. How selfish are we? But of course.. Its easy to say that this world is in grave sin.. And we are all in need of a savior.. But does that mean we forget about everyone elses pain but our own?
I've been taking a real look at my life. I've been thinking about what profession to pursue.. Where God wants me. How He will use me. Before... It was. What am I interested in? What career would I love to do? Make alot of money?
But thats the problem with the main mentality of America. What will make ME happy? What will give ME the most money? Its centered upon I. Its so self-centered. Why would the Lord bless you with all these things... To have you use it for yourself? What happened to our hearts guys? Ask the Lord to open your eyes up to the pain that is going on around you. Those who do not have the Lord have no hope. These are the people Jesus reached out to. What are we doing with this life? Maybe that isn't the question we should ask ourself. The real question is.. What aren't we doing?
I'm so tired of living for me. I've waisted so many years.. So many chances to show someone Christ; to show someone that there is HOPE. I have it so easy. I have a family that loves me.. A job. A body of believers who continually encourage and support me. But what am I doing to show someone Christ?
Christians don't forget your calling!
Don't stop praying. Don't stop sharing.
Stop being selfish, start really loving people.
How much does the Lord's heart break over America alone?
Think about it.
While I pop out my 80g ipod and listen to music.. Or sit down at the laptop browsing on the internet.. Or sitting at the dinner table eating food... With my family. I forget that there are people with no homes. There are families breaking their backs so that their children can have food to keep them alive. There are even little children who are afraid to come home from school.. Because their dad will assault them sexually or abusively. It makes me so angry how arrogant the people in this country are. It makes me even more upset to look at my own heart and see how I have taken for granted almost all the things the Lord has blessed me with. How selfish are we? But of course.. Its easy to say that this world is in grave sin.. And we are all in need of a savior.. But does that mean we forget about everyone elses pain but our own?
I've been taking a real look at my life. I've been thinking about what profession to pursue.. Where God wants me. How He will use me. Before... It was. What am I interested in? What career would I love to do? Make alot of money?
But thats the problem with the main mentality of America. What will make ME happy? What will give ME the most money? Its centered upon I. Its so self-centered. Why would the Lord bless you with all these things... To have you use it for yourself? What happened to our hearts guys? Ask the Lord to open your eyes up to the pain that is going on around you. Those who do not have the Lord have no hope. These are the people Jesus reached out to. What are we doing with this life? Maybe that isn't the question we should ask ourself. The real question is.. What aren't we doing?
I'm so tired of living for me. I've waisted so many years.. So many chances to show someone Christ; to show someone that there is HOPE. I have it so easy. I have a family that loves me.. A job. A body of believers who continually encourage and support me. But what am I doing to show someone Christ?
Christians don't forget your calling!
Don't stop praying. Don't stop sharing.
Stop being selfish, start really loving people.
How much does the Lord's heart break over America alone?
Think about it.
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