Wednesday, June 26, 2013

God Loves the Man in Sweatpants and Loafers

I had a revelation today:  Blanket prayers probably aren't what God is interested in.  Hear me out.

Like with diet and exercise, sometimes we get this all or nothing mentality.  When we don't succeed with the all, we get down on ourselves and eat an entire pizza.  What's the point in trying, I'm just going to fail, right?  Maybe you eat cake or peanut M&Ms, whatever, but I bet you know what I'm talking about.  Why would we think our prayer life and Christian walk would be any different.  Let me use one that I know I'm guilty of: 'God please help me to see when I'm being judgmental and help me to stop being judgmental.  Judging isn't my job, you will do a much better job than I ever could.  Besides, who am I to cast a stone?'  Then I'm gung hoe... until the next time I see someone doing something I'm not sure they should do and the judgment kicks in, then the guilt, then the shame, then I give up because I failed.  Sound familiar?  What if, just like a healthy lifestyle, we take it in steps.  Maybe start with 'God, I know it's not my place to judge, You instruct us to love, not to judge.  Please help me to stop trying to judge people for the way they dress (or the way the speak, or the way they handle situations, etc).  Help me to love people for who they are, even if they are wearing their ragged jeans to Sunday morning service.  Help me to lovingly guide them to You though my testimony.'

Start with the thing I know I'm doing right now that He doesn't approve of , work on one thing at a time.  Eventually I'll be closer to living the life Jesus would want me to be living, right?  One step at a time.  One day at a time.  I know our days are numbered and we don't know the day or the hour when Jesus will return for us or when our time on this Earth will end.  If we spend what time we have trying to build a better relationship with God and loving His people, it will all be for the good and not wasted.  God loves His people and since he knew each of us while we were in our mother's wombs and even before, we are ALL His people.

Sin is sin is sin and God hates it all.  He doesn't hate the sinner, but he does hate the sin.  He says that over and over in the Bible.  It doesn't matter if it's murder, adultery, a lie, a lustful thought, judgement, hatefulness, or any other sin out there (trust me, we are all guilty of many every.single.day).  Each sin is equal in God's eyes and He hates them all equally.  We will never be perfect, but thankfully, we don't have to be.  God's Love and God's Mercy are good.  We are forgiven because Jesus died for us and we are washed clean.  We only have to ask forgiveness and it is given.  This is Good News!  We Christians should be sharing this with everyone we meet!  It is selfish of us to not share.  I know we are probably concerned about what people will think about us, we will be those crazy Jesus Freaks.  What we should be concerned about is what does God think?!  He is the one we should live for.  Any souls we win for God are just that, for His glory  We need to tell them the Truth.  What they do with it is up to them, but we HAVE to share it.

I'm writing this for myself more than anyone.  God has been trying to talk to me for a while.  I answer with 'God, please tell me what it is I need to know' followed by 'Oh, I better get to that thing I am supposed to do'.  I rarely stop and just be still and wait for an answer.  Always to busy doing the next thing I need to get done and never leaving time for God.  I am going to dedicate the next couple weeks of my life to getting closer to God.  I cut off the satellite television in my house (husband isn't crazy about that one).  Husband and Princess will both be gone during the week and I'll have quite time to just reflect and sit quietly with God.  I don't post as much in this blog as I should anyway, but don't be surprised if I'm M.I.A. for a little while or if I post more of my revelations with you.  This could go either way, be patient with me.  Maybe God will tell me something you need to hear too...


Side note with for this post:  1) The punctuation ?! is called an interrobang.  Now ya know.  

Inspirational advice I heard recently:  If you don't know what God wants from you, go back and do the last thing He told you to do.

What has God done in your life lately?