What’s Next God?

Sometimes pursuing direction in your own life means letting go of something. Even if it’s a good thing, even if it’s something you care deeply about and enjoy, even if it’s something that’s making a difference…

-c

Ever feel like you’ve “leveled out” in your spiritual life?  Like you’ve been running hard toward God then all of a sudden you just hit cruise control and start to coast.

I’ve been there for about a week and a  half now and I don’t like it.  I think I’ve figured out why though. Striving to honor God in every aspect of your life is EXAUSTING!  Maybe it’s just me but I feel like I’ve been 12 rounds Tyson.

I believe this is a natural process, it’s ok to take a breather every now and then but it can be too easy to become complacent.  This is a HUGE trap that probably 99% of Christ followers fall into…including me.

I hope you all are finding rhythm in your life, and ever pursuing your spiritual walk…even when you feel beat up.

-c

I had a pretty cool surprise (blessing) come my way today. Makes a person feel pretty good inside….kinda makes me think I need to blessing someone else. Maybe they need to feel good inside too….

-c

⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

When I read this passage a few things really jumped out at me. “⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,” This phrase puzzled me. What is he talking about, doubt what? Doubt my faith? Doubt God?

 Well, I posed this question to a friend of mine on the journey and thought I’d share his response….

  “Doubt that He is God, doubt that He is good and doubt that He can be trusted to give wisdom. Doubt that His answer will be the answer. Doubt that what He says will work. Doubt that it is worth it to ask.”   “I love the picture of being double-minded. I also picture it as a tug-of-war. I think I’ll trust Him and then in the next breath I think I can only trust me. “

This was an interesting response because the other part of this passage that bugs me is, ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

I’ve felt this way a lot in my life, where everything I touch seems to be teetering on the edge of collapsing. It’s one thing to believe that what God gives in wisdom is good and perfect and wise…it’s a whole other thing to believe that it will work and act on it.

Guess I’ve played tug of war long enough…time to cut the rope and run to Jesus.

-c

Well, it’s taking me a while to work through this. I’ve read through James 4 or 5 times now, but keep backing up to certain passages.

Last week it was Chapter 1: Verses 5-8, I’ll blog a little more on those verses later. But to go in order….

This week I’ve been sitting on Chapter 1: Verses 2-4.

^“2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Verses 2-3, I get. Been there done that. I had trouble with verse 4. “ 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

After praying over this, I think I might understand what he means. I think its as simple as, when your called to a place of perserverance…just ride it out. Don’t try to create short cut to get to the other side faster. Don’t  jump ship in the middle of it because its too hard. DON’T TRY TO FIX THE SITUATION!

Just know that “HE is God, HE is good and HE CAN be trusted. ( yes, it’s starting to sink in Tim).

I know for me, I’m the “Shortcut King”. Jumping here or jumping there and never letting God finish what he’s started. Somtimes I think when God is trying to get me to be still, it’s like He’s playing “Wack-A-Mole”…but I seem to duck back underground just in time.

My own personal proclamation…”I will not move from this place until God tells me too”. It’s the ONLY way I will ever be spiritually whole.

Feels pretty good, you should try it.

-c.