Just when I thought I couldn’t hear God’s voice, I’m hearing it in bits and bytes from all directions.. in messages from church, in podcasts, in testimonies shared by friends, in blog posts…
Perhaps it has something to do with a 60 degree day after record-breaking cold has crippled much of the country, but I feel like today is a much clearer day than I’ve had in a long, long time.. at least for me….
At lunchtime, I tuned in to my YourMove AP to catch the latest from the weekend (my dog slept all night on Saturday – YAY!). I expected Andy to be onto another series since last week was part 3 of a series, but as it turns out, this week was part 4.
Over and over again in this series, Andy has reiterated that a lot of times what we think we want (immediately) is not what we really want (eternally).
I’ve been praying for clarity, and I’ve been bombarded with images of scriptures (from Facebook feed, devotionals, etc) about TRUSTING GOD, knowing His plan, obeying is will. Truly God is everywhere, and speaking to us, but often times we have not tuned our ears to hear him. The problem most definitely lies with us, not with Him. I know this is true in my case, and I’m asking Him to help me focus clearly on Him.
Listening to Andy Stanley today – Your Move Thinking it Through…the scripture verse was Romans 12: :1-2
A Living Sacrifice
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-… “present yourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord.” surrender your life to God without question… actually as irrational as it sounds. “this, putting yourself on the altar, this is your true and proper worship…” interpretation… surrendering yourself to God, being a living sacrifice to God is actually the most logical thing you can do in light of God’s Mercy – for a God who is FOR YOU is to be everything for God – this is the response that is the most rational thing we can do… actually refusing to surrender is the least rational thing to do.. “and do not conform any longer (italics for some translations, which, for me is an important distinction – this verse is telling me to STOP doing something I’ve been doing, and it gives me the freedom to change without being condemned for what I’ve done – this is God’s grace) to the pattern of this world”.. don’t be pressed into the mold of the world – God has a plan for you that is much much bigger than that… “be transformed by the renewing of your minds”… metamorphosis, there is a process.. if you will engage in the process of being transformed… over time, he will perfect his plan in you… This is the whole thing… Renew your minds to begin to think more like God… see what God sees … in people…. your spouse, your friend, your children, yourself… and you have a different perspective..
Paul knows we can’t just go out and change our behavior… he knows we are too weak to do this… (I can attest to that!) so he tells us to focus on the way we think, not on our behavior…. when we see things as God sees them, we are more likely to do as God says to do…. this is why church is so frustrating for so many of us… because church tells us how to behave.. don’t ask questions… Paul says, “ask questions”…
“as you begin to renew your mind and see as God sees, it will be far easier for you to discern what God’s will is… his good, his pleasing, and perfect will” … it’s ultimately what you want.. fulfilling for you…
this is how you will discover what you’re made for…
To hear the whole podcast:
Be blessed, my friends,
SB
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