To know And To Do

But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Tim 4:7-8

 

I’ve always loved to learn but my idea of knowledge was challenged and changed when, in a previous job, I learned to develop training materials. I learned that knowledge itself is simply not enough because what isn’t practiced gets buried beneath the stuff that is, and ultimately lost. And I remember the practice aspect being the hardest to develop because it required a lot of strategic thinking. I was challenged outside my comfort zone, having to work harder with knowledge, instead of just soaking it all in. That was a true bubble buster of a lesson for me. 

 

Scripture mentions the importance of training more than just once. It encourages us to do more than just read it, but to practice it and use it in our lives. Training pushes us to go deeper than information consumption to turn mere head knowledge into new habits and character changes. 

In terms of training, spiritual training is of top priority, and because our natural focus is on what is tangible and fleshly, it requires that we work outside our comfort zones. It focuses on the spiritual man, therefore, it’s not so appealing to the flesh. We won’t always understand it and it won’t come natural without twice the dedication and practice. But it is the only kind of training that has eternal benefits. It disciplines the flesh to seek God, awakening our spiritual senses to recognize just how much we need Him. And since we cannot see the spiritual realm, we need God’s constant presence and guidance even more. We have to trust Him to be our light in the darkness, guiding our every step. We also have to learn to hear Him.

 

Thankfully, God  provides us with many training opportunities in life. He uses our circumstances and relationships as training ground that will grow and stretch us. And it’s okay when we mess up because God’s grace provides us with plenty of “second chances.” His strength is enough to cover all our weaknesses. 

You see, training opportunities aren't there just for practice, but they’re also invitations to keep following Jesus and trusting Him when He calls us out of our comfort zone. The invitation is to draw near and focus on God. This training ground is also proof that God really does make things work for our benefit…even the really tough things.

 

Don’t let what you’re learning become mere head knowledge. Make the most of the gift in the lesson by training until it becomes second nature. And remember, the journey will seem overwhelming and the enemy will try to persuade you that you've gone far enough already. But Jesus is also speaking. He is whispering the truth gently and repeatedly, “Beloved child, take my hand and get back up. You aren’t finished yet. I still have plans for you.”

Where The Mind Goes

I was standing in the kitchen waiting on my tea to steep. I had 9 minutes before I needed to leave to make plenty of time to drive on the icy roads. I felt God whisper, "Get your Bible. I have something to show you." I grabbed it, opened to my next reading in I Timothy 6 and began reading. Of course the book is full of meat and it all connects to other things. There are warnings of what not to do, what we can easily become as believers if we aren't paying attention to what's inside our hearts. 

If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain But godliness with contentment is a great gain.(Vs 3-6)

And then verse 9 goes on to say: But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

I began drawing arrows and making notes in clusters as I brainstormed the meaning of these words. In the end, I got this: Stay in tune to what you are craving. What do you hunger for most of all? Is it honoring to God? Is it self-serving? Is it pure and does it lead to more closeness to the Lord?

As I began to verbalize these things, I realized that all this time I have been beating myself up because I don't have as much time in the Word in the mornings as I used to. But in my hunger to stay close and my focus having me in knots, God recently led me to turning on worship music in the morning, even though I am half asleep. It has had a deep impact because it tunes my mind in on Him and changes my focus from all the things I have to do to my refuge and place of peace and rest. It reinforces that what we focus on makes us who we are. Eventually what we focus on will either build us up or destroy us.

Isn't it just like God to consistently bring messages of freedom to us? He takes all the condemnation and pressure and sets us free with truth and grace. When we give our focus to Him, He takes us off the road to destruction and stands us firmly bacl onto His path. I am amazed at His involvement and attention to detail in my life as He is making me freer day-by-day. I am amazed that He is so incredibly gentle with me, offering me daily invitations to get back up, keep trying, walk with Him and find refuge in who He is instead of life's uncertainties.

He will never change. He isn't going anywhere. He is the most certain person and aspect of life. And knowing that, being refocused on it just made me freer. I hope this message blesses you as it did me.God bless!

Big Little Lies

The coming of the lawless one, is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of truth in order to be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, so that all will be condemned -- those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness. 

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Unrighteousness in scripture refers to unbelief, a lack of faith- refusing to believe God. We often think we do not have a say so in our faith, but we do. Faith is part choice, part gift and it requires the participation of both sides of the relationship- you and God. Without both party's active and ongoing participation, it's null and void. Faith is a journey, a constant crossroads of choosing to believe God or someone/something else. We don't get to believe God one and done; we have to practice believing Him all throughout life. 

The mindsets we hold and and the stuff we're being taught provide continuous opportunities for us to practice faith because God's holiness will inevitably challenge the ways and beliefs that are contradictory for those who want to be close to Him. Darkness cannot hide in His light. 

We don't do so well with this as a church. We tend to be hung up on lies and many of our lives are reflective of the lies we cling to. Maybe it's because the lies enable us to stay the way we are, whereas the truth presents strong conviction in our hearts to change. And change is hard.

It's a serious thing, to hold onto lies, and this scripture reminds us of that. Whether it is the belief you aren't loved, the idea that your sins aren't as bad as someone else's or lies that keep you from loving others, lies have serious consequences- even for Christians. It reveals the lack of substance to our faith and, in the end, when everything is tested, the lies will not pass. They will reveal what we really put our faith in. 

Verse 12 offers a pretty strong heed to us: Watch that you don't get comfortable in unbelief to ANY extent. One little lump of unbelief turns into a mound of unrighteousness. That heed is not just for non-Christians. It's for all of us, in every moment of life. 

Unconditional Love

Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law but under God’s grace. 

Romans 6:14

You aren't bound to sin if you're a follower of Jesus. You are free to live out what He has called you to. But that doesn't make you perfect. Even as you have been set free, you struggle and battle your old nature and the enemy. But His grace is sufficient for the journey.

Our development, as believers, takes a lifetime. We constantly face our own human nature and somehow seemed shocked at the sight of it. I have many moments of seeing myself and all my flaws, leading me to whisper, "Lord, you see me better than I do. How can you love me like you do?" 

But those moments aren't wasted. They are precious gifts in that they reveal my need for God and His mercy towards me. In more than one of those conversations, He has taken me back to the flaws of the prophets and the kings, reminding me of their flaws. He said, "I love these men, despite their flaws. And I love you, despite yours." Elijah sounded like a prideful, crazy old man at times. Moses admitted to being slow and a poor speaker. David committed murder and adultery. But God loved and gifted them. Does that mean He approved of everything they did? No. It means they welcomed Him into their hearts and lives as King and He embraced that invitation.

God knows our limitations. Nothing we struggle with or do surprises Him. He doesn't expect perfection, just our hearts. Our performance is nothing in comparison to letting Him be Lord over our hearts, where He can ensure we live out our purposes with His help and guidance. Even our messiness isn't wasted when we let God reveal himself through it.

How to Communicate Like God

Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another... 

Colossians 3:13-13

Child of God, notice how Paul reminds you who you are, first and foremost. Then he proceeds to instruct you on how to show others who you are. Paul, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is demonstrating for us God's communication style by speaking into the aspect of who we are that he wants to shine. He calls the good in us forward and then tells tells us how use it.

We humans tend to rise or fall to whatever is spoken to us. When we're insulted or criticized, we are often negatively impacted as those things rise up in us even if they weren't there before. When we are encouraged with genuine and kind words, those good traits rise to the surface. We find empowerment or destruction in words. Words have power and power isn't neutral. Everything we say affects someone somehow. 

I'm not saying that we shouldn't address problems and destructive tendencies. It's scriptural to address sin and pain, but the same scriptures tell us to do so with wisdom and caution. Blurting out what's on the tip of our tongue is dangerous. Relationships and hearts are at stake. On the other hand, saying the right things the right way is very hard. It takes courage and wisdom-- and I will venture to say that it can only be done under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 

We need to follow God's lead. We need to adopt His communication style in our everyday language if we're going to be effective for the kingdom or even in our relationships. But in order to do so, we've got to keep the ears of our heart open.