Seems to me that we have become quite comfortable with requesting signs of God's presence or power before we can place our faith in Him. Well that is simply not faith at all. At least not faith in the Almighty God. In essence we are desiring faith in something WE can see.. something WE can experience.. prior to acknowledging the Creator of the universe.
Oswald Chambers brought more clarity to this subject for me today. Check out the post from today (December 6th, 2014).
I believe that he brings this idea home much better than I ever could:
"Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief. It means that I have no faith in Him. I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that. But God won’t do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man must go beyond the physical body and feelings in his covenant with God, just as God goes beyond Himself in reaching out with His covenant to man. It is a question of faith in God— a very rare thing. We only have faith in our feelings. I don’t believe God until He puts something tangible in my hand, so that I know I have it. Then I say, “Now I believe.” There is no faith exhibited in that. God says, “Look to Me, and be saved…” (Isaiah 45:22)."
Ask yourself what you are demanding of the Lord. I find that I am constantly asking Him to validate my feelings.. validate His leading so that I can feel more comfortable in following Him. What a splash of cold water to face! My job is not to demand of God, but to trust IN Him and ON Him to lead me.
Until next time..
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Some Musings..
"God does not lead His children around hardship, but leads them straight through hardship. But He leads! And amidst the hardship, He is nearer to them than ever before." (Otto Dibelius)
With the Christmas season upon us, I know that it can be the most difficult time of year for some. While everyone around you is smiling and beaming with the joy of the season, all you feel is pain. I have been there. Does not matter what is causing the pain. A break-up, family conflict, new town, same ole town, loss of a loved one, bad report from the doctor... doesn't really matter what the cause, the pain can be suffocating.
A few years ago, I went through the most painful time in my life. I had recently found out that my husband of two years was having an affair with a woman (child) 12 years his younger. Even after I found out, it did not end. For reasons that I can only really understand now, I felt that I could not leave my marriage. I had to stay with my husband no matter how ugly or painful the relationship had become. By Christmastime, we were 7 months into this crazy cycle. While we were still living under the same roof, we were miles apart. I do not proclaim to be perfect. I was in physical, emotional and psychological pain each and every day. I lost over 30 lbs in a few short months. My friends and family were worried about me, and consistently encouraged me to walk away from my marriage. Something that would seem sensible and logical to most. But sense and logic were not my guides. It took my entire world falling apart to finally stop and follow the only True Guide. I could not clearly explain why I felt the Lord leading me in this way, but I knew it as well as I knew my name.
Time has dulled the pain. My husband and I are now completely reconciled and in a mentor counseling relationship with a godly older couple. But the pain of those long months where I could not see the path and could not feel His presence are still fresh on my mind. At this time of year, I am reminded of all that I have to be thankful for.
The quote above may seem simple and of little comfort at first glance. Take a deeper look. Allow your heart to feel the comfort therein. He, the Creator of all things... the great I AM... cares deeply about our pain. Even when we cannot feel Him, He is right there. We need only take a moment to stop and listen for His voice. Stretch out our hand in faith to grasp His sure grip. He will never fail us. He will never lead us astray. He will never take us through what we cannot bear. He will give us the strength to bear it.
Hardship may be all around us. Even now, God is leading me through some difficult times with painful lessons. But He leads!! A passage comes to mind that has been of great comfort to me:
" Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2-4, NLT)
Spend some time reading from the Word today. It is truly the only possession on this earth that can change your life and infuse you with true hope from our Loving Father. Until next time..
With the Christmas season upon us, I know that it can be the most difficult time of year for some. While everyone around you is smiling and beaming with the joy of the season, all you feel is pain. I have been there. Does not matter what is causing the pain. A break-up, family conflict, new town, same ole town, loss of a loved one, bad report from the doctor... doesn't really matter what the cause, the pain can be suffocating.
A few years ago, I went through the most painful time in my life. I had recently found out that my husband of two years was having an affair with a woman (child) 12 years his younger. Even after I found out, it did not end. For reasons that I can only really understand now, I felt that I could not leave my marriage. I had to stay with my husband no matter how ugly or painful the relationship had become. By Christmastime, we were 7 months into this crazy cycle. While we were still living under the same roof, we were miles apart. I do not proclaim to be perfect. I was in physical, emotional and psychological pain each and every day. I lost over 30 lbs in a few short months. My friends and family were worried about me, and consistently encouraged me to walk away from my marriage. Something that would seem sensible and logical to most. But sense and logic were not my guides. It took my entire world falling apart to finally stop and follow the only True Guide. I could not clearly explain why I felt the Lord leading me in this way, but I knew it as well as I knew my name.
Time has dulled the pain. My husband and I are now completely reconciled and in a mentor counseling relationship with a godly older couple. But the pain of those long months where I could not see the path and could not feel His presence are still fresh on my mind. At this time of year, I am reminded of all that I have to be thankful for.
The quote above may seem simple and of little comfort at first glance. Take a deeper look. Allow your heart to feel the comfort therein. He, the Creator of all things... the great I AM... cares deeply about our pain. Even when we cannot feel Him, He is right there. We need only take a moment to stop and listen for His voice. Stretch out our hand in faith to grasp His sure grip. He will never fail us. He will never lead us astray. He will never take us through what we cannot bear. He will give us the strength to bear it.
Hardship may be all around us. Even now, God is leading me through some difficult times with painful lessons. But He leads!! A passage comes to mind that has been of great comfort to me:
" Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2-4, NLT)
Spend some time reading from the Word today. It is truly the only possession on this earth that can change your life and infuse you with true hope from our Loving Father. Until next time..
Friday, November 28, 2014
Remember
Remember. When the storm rages on, and you can't see the way. Remember. He Who rescued you and set your feet upon dry ground has not moved or changed. This, He will never do. No matter your guilt, station or heart, He does not your side abandon. In the dry season or the time of less, look to the Great Provider for your sustenance. He does not leave you hungry still. Upon the mountain of prosperity and peace, forget not your Savior and Portion. For when friends are many and trials so few, our hearts forge the chill of night and the pain of hunger. Lord, teach me to be practiced in thankfulness. To be mindful of Your hand over my life. For my state is beyond my power - good or bad - the Lord allows all. Remind me. Cause me to remember.
The First
I am a twenty-something female who grew up in a Christian home, attended a private Christian school and graduated from a Christian university. Sound vanilla to you? While those are nice things to mention in a Bible study group or introduction, they lack the full spectrum of all that embodied my formative years. Despite the environments that surrounded me during my formative years, I grew up never knowing the truth of lordship or understanding the vast power of grace.
If you find yourself relating on any level, I will be happy to share my journey from Christian atheist to humble Christ follower.
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