Ok, so I was studying Daniel with Beth Moore (not literally "with" her, but doing the workbook study that she wrote) and it hit me as I finished up a whole week of study in one sitting that I have a spiritual eating disorder. I can go 2-3 days without reading my Bible and then gorge myself so that I don't retain much, if any, of it...sounds to me like biblical bulimia. I realize that's not a healthy way to grow spiritually strong. So, by way of confession, I'm taking the first step (though I don't think there are 12 in this case). I'm admitting I have a problem...I need more daily discipline and a healthier spiritual diet. Can anyone else out there relate? I have a feeling I'm probably not alone in this one.
Step 2 (not that I really know the steps) is doing something about it, so I'm committing to make some changes to my daily activities and ensure that God gets priority in my day. That means making some sacrifies. For me, it means less computer and tv time (since all I watch is the Astros, I guess they aren't really making that sacrifice too difficult on me with they way they've been playing). It means maybe getting up earlier and making sure I don't dawdle away my morning. All I know for sure is that no pure and sincere sacrifice for God ever goes unrewarded. In fact He's promised to multiply the rewards (see Matthew 19:29).
Do you have a spiritual eating disorder? What is it that is getting the time God deserves each day? What are you going to do about it?
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Waiting, but not worrying
This morning's devotional (as well as yesterday's, which I just got around to this morning) was about worry. The Scripture passage was the one where Jesus is telling the crowds not to worry about stuff like what you're going to eat and wear, etc. But I was hit by the fact that though I don't have to worry about those two things, I do worry about other stuff and worry is a sin. Flat out, Jesus said, "don't," but I do.
The writer of the devo book I was reading made a point that when we conjure up scenarios or desired outcomes to our life situations (like, I want that missionary job in Costa Rica) and insist that God make them turn out how we want them to, essentially, we are worrying that God can't handle our business and we need to do the thinking part for Him and just let Him make it happen. I'm not saying that praying for what you want is wrong, we're told to petition God for things, but to do so with thanksgiving, of course. What I mean is that when we worry and fret over life's circumstances, we demonstrate a lack of faith not only in God's power to take care of us, but in His desire to do so-thus doubting His goodness and His love for us.
This shows a misunderstanding of the character of God. We are told over and over in Scripture that God works out everything for our good, that He knows the plans He has for us and that they're good plans, that Jesus came to give us abundant lives, that He wants His joy to be in us and our joy to be full...all those sound like pretty good promises. So, why do we worry? Why do we act like God never promised us any of those things? Why do we only see the negative, feel the lack? I think it's because we hate waiting.
We're so used to instant everything that when God's timing to fulfill a promise isn't up to speed with our timing, we assume those promises of joy and fulfillment and good stuff are for someone else, not us. Not only that, but we forget about all the things He has blessed us with when we are focusing on the one thing He hasn't. How do we know, but that that one thing we think we must have to be happy would not turn out to be the worst thing for us right now? How do we know that the things we think we want are really what would fulfill us? And lest we forget, nothing on this earth is as satisfying as being in right relationship with God Himself. We've been promised so much, but we look at the temporary stuff as the source of happiness rather than realizing that outside of relationship with God, that stuff won't make us happy. Stuff without God is just stuff and rather disappointing stuff at that.
We're told to wait. We're told not to worry. Next time you find yourself worried and impatient, ask for God's help to reverse your thinking and give you the patience to wait in peace. While you're at it, start thinking about the many blessings in your life and try thanking God for them.
This morning's devotional (as well as yesterday's, which I just got around to this morning) was about worry. The Scripture passage was the one where Jesus is telling the crowds not to worry about stuff like what you're going to eat and wear, etc. But I was hit by the fact that though I don't have to worry about those two things, I do worry about other stuff and worry is a sin. Flat out, Jesus said, "don't," but I do.
The writer of the devo book I was reading made a point that when we conjure up scenarios or desired outcomes to our life situations (like, I want that missionary job in Costa Rica) and insist that God make them turn out how we want them to, essentially, we are worrying that God can't handle our business and we need to do the thinking part for Him and just let Him make it happen. I'm not saying that praying for what you want is wrong, we're told to petition God for things, but to do so with thanksgiving, of course. What I mean is that when we worry and fret over life's circumstances, we demonstrate a lack of faith not only in God's power to take care of us, but in His desire to do so-thus doubting His goodness and His love for us.
This shows a misunderstanding of the character of God. We are told over and over in Scripture that God works out everything for our good, that He knows the plans He has for us and that they're good plans, that Jesus came to give us abundant lives, that He wants His joy to be in us and our joy to be full...all those sound like pretty good promises. So, why do we worry? Why do we act like God never promised us any of those things? Why do we only see the negative, feel the lack? I think it's because we hate waiting.
We're so used to instant everything that when God's timing to fulfill a promise isn't up to speed with our timing, we assume those promises of joy and fulfillment and good stuff are for someone else, not us. Not only that, but we forget about all the things He has blessed us with when we are focusing on the one thing He hasn't. How do we know, but that that one thing we think we must have to be happy would not turn out to be the worst thing for us right now? How do we know that the things we think we want are really what would fulfill us? And lest we forget, nothing on this earth is as satisfying as being in right relationship with God Himself. We've been promised so much, but we look at the temporary stuff as the source of happiness rather than realizing that outside of relationship with God, that stuff won't make us happy. Stuff without God is just stuff and rather disappointing stuff at that.
We're told to wait. We're told not to worry. Next time you find yourself worried and impatient, ask for God's help to reverse your thinking and give you the patience to wait in peace. While you're at it, start thinking about the many blessings in your life and try thanking God for them.
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