Gavin, my 5 year old grandson, was frantic this morning. "Help me, Poppa. I have to find it." We looked around and finally uncovered the object- a 10 cent string of plastic beads that he claimed was 'very special' because a good friend gave it to him. It was just a trinket to me, but to him it was a treasure! I enjoy learning about what others treasure. My new friend, Anthony, loves to collect old Bibles. He has built a beautiful cabinet in his office where he displays dozens of big, old Bibles. My Dad treasures kids, and not just those to whom he is a parent. Mom and Dad adopted 10 after raising their own offspring, but over the years they have shared their home with too many kids to count (no exaggeration in that statement). Jake enjoys collecting guitars. Some collect stamps, others collect coins, still others buy up fine art!
Is it right for a Believer to own and enjoy things?
There has always been tension among Christians about this. Philip Yancey observes (Christianity Today, Nov. 2007) that the Church has sang both "This Is My Father's World" and "This World is Not My Home" with equal fervor through the years! He describes his recent tour of England while reading John Wesley's journals. Wesley had little time for culture, art, or even flower gardens as he saw this present world as being of so little worth compared with his home in Heaven. If any person was not ready to take a vow of poverty in the name of Christ, Wesley felt the sincerity of that person's devotion was in question! Yet, other Believers through the centuries to this present time, have deeply loved God while creating beautiful gardens, buildings, music, and art.
Jesus helps us with this by reminding us that no earthly treasure can be allowed to become our master. God, alone, must hold the central place in our life. Old Bibles, guitars, and art are great as a hobby, even as something to enjoy with pleasure, but they are poor gods to serve. That is why the Lord says, "Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." (Matthew 6:19-21, The Message) The core issue is learning the difference between enjoyment and worship, between making something the source of the meaning of life and enjoying it in proper priority.
Because we are so very different, the level at which we should enjoy the things of this world will vary. A man once came to Jesus to inquire about becoming his disciple and finding eternal life. He was very moral, claiming to have observed the Commandments scrupulously. Jesus did not question the truthfulness of that claim, but knowing his heart, he challenged the young nobleman to go and sell everything he owned and then he said, "come, follow me." "But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions." (Matthew 19:22, NLT) His true treasure was revealed in that last line - he would not let go of what he loved most - his wealth! For many of us raised in a wealthy land, consumers to the core, a call similar to the one issued to that rich young man may be in order! The only cure for our materialism may well be radical surgery!
For others, the discipline of proportionate giving, the tithe (10%), is what reminds them of the Lord's ownership of all. They have learned to hold loosely the things that are in their lives, loving God more than anything in this world. To each of us, Jesus puts the question that He put to Peter as He pointed to the fishing boats, the familiar life of Capernaum - "Do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15, NLT)
Here's a word from the Word to ponder today.
"True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:6-10, NLT)
___________________
Modern times have brought us many comforts.
People live in wealth and luxury.
But the Master still asks this question,
"Lovest thou Me, lovest thou MeMore than these?"
"Lovest thou Me,More than these, My child?
"What will your answer be?O precious Lord,
I love Thee more than all of these,
More than fame, more than wealth,
More than the world.
I love Thee more than this old world can offer,
All sinful follies I deny for Thee,
My love, my life, my all
I pledge Thee,I love Thee Lord,
I love Thee Lord,
More than these.
Lovest Thou Me
© 1962, 1989 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, November 02, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Tender-hearted, quick to forgive?
Today's thought comes from my reflection over the work that I have been doing with a few who have become offended. Some will surely read this TFTD and take offense! In writing it, I risk that, but I'm sending anyway, with the prayer that these words will promote unity, not build walls! Take God's wisdom to heart. He says, "Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!" (Proverbs 17:9, The Message)
_______________________
Got a 'chip on your shoulder?' Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.
When someone is abused or manipulated or suffers a financial loss, I can empathize with their loss and understand their anger. But, when people get angry, hurt, and deeply offended over perceived slights or repeated rumors that bear little resemblance to actual events, I am mystified by depth of wounds that develop, wounds that fester with the worst of human traits. Why do we choose the pain and heartbreak of being offended, when we can forgive a matter, release the offender from obligation, and find ourselves free of resentment, sorrow, and anger? The question that I raise is this - is the thing so important to require that relationships be broken, churches divided, or leaders criticized?
Things that set us off are often obscure, even inscrutable, to others. When my brother, Andre', was little, about age 6, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' Of course, being 5 years older, I took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! Call him a 'green pig' today and he'll laugh and wonder if you're crazy. Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress?
Offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! We are much more likely to be offended when we are not walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. When we are quick to take everything to Him in prayer, we receive healing for our wounds and the issue quickly dies. But, if we hold onto our pain, the Evil One seizes the opportunity to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin good organizations, that can cause close groups to disintegrate. The Devil spotlights the failure, the lack of simple courtesy, or even the intentional digs that we deal with and we become convinced that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we generally are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)
There are two choices I try to make when I am feeling hurt, when I know that I am vulnerable to becoming offended. They help me to step over my pride, my sense of dignity, and preserve rather than destroy.
1. I secure my heart in the Love of God! He loves me despite knowing my worst faults, my most carefully concealed sin, and the gaps in my character. He gave His love to me while I was rejecting Him, turning my attention to lesser gods! When I allow His Word convince me how much I matter to Him, I am able to choose to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- 'you're not being treated with the respect you deserve,' - I can silence his chatter in a moment by remembering - "absolutely ...nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:38-39, The Message) If I am loved I can forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this I please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God.
2. I remind myself of the 'big picture.' When I see the greater goals, I find it much easier to step over lesser issues. For example, I cherish my marriage, the joy of having a strong relationship with my wife, so on those days when she is less than pleasant, or when she is pre-occupied with her own interests, I work to refuse the temptation to descend into petty insistence on getting what I want and stirring up anger. Most things in life are more important than my feelings!
If you're offended, I appeal to you to be tender-hearted and quick to forgive. If you're happy and satisfied, store these words in your memory for that time when you are tempted by offense, a time that will surely come, sooner or later.
And here's a word from the Word to take with you today - "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)
_______________________
Got a 'chip on your shoulder?' Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.
When someone is abused or manipulated or suffers a financial loss, I can empathize with their loss and understand their anger. But, when people get angry, hurt, and deeply offended over perceived slights or repeated rumors that bear little resemblance to actual events, I am mystified by depth of wounds that develop, wounds that fester with the worst of human traits. Why do we choose the pain and heartbreak of being offended, when we can forgive a matter, release the offender from obligation, and find ourselves free of resentment, sorrow, and anger? The question that I raise is this - is the thing so important to require that relationships be broken, churches divided, or leaders criticized?
Things that set us off are often obscure, even inscrutable, to others. When my brother, Andre', was little, about age 6, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' Of course, being 5 years older, I took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! Call him a 'green pig' today and he'll laugh and wonder if you're crazy. Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress?
Offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! We are much more likely to be offended when we are not walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. When we are quick to take everything to Him in prayer, we receive healing for our wounds and the issue quickly dies. But, if we hold onto our pain, the Evil One seizes the opportunity to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin good organizations, that can cause close groups to disintegrate. The Devil spotlights the failure, the lack of simple courtesy, or even the intentional digs that we deal with and we become convinced that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we generally are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)
There are two choices I try to make when I am feeling hurt, when I know that I am vulnerable to becoming offended. They help me to step over my pride, my sense of dignity, and preserve rather than destroy.
1. I secure my heart in the Love of God! He loves me despite knowing my worst faults, my most carefully concealed sin, and the gaps in my character. He gave His love to me while I was rejecting Him, turning my attention to lesser gods! When I allow His Word convince me how much I matter to Him, I am able to choose to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- 'you're not being treated with the respect you deserve,' - I can silence his chatter in a moment by remembering - "absolutely ...nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:38-39, The Message) If I am loved I can forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this I please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God.
2. I remind myself of the 'big picture.' When I see the greater goals, I find it much easier to step over lesser issues. For example, I cherish my marriage, the joy of having a strong relationship with my wife, so on those days when she is less than pleasant, or when she is pre-occupied with her own interests, I work to refuse the temptation to descend into petty insistence on getting what I want and stirring up anger. Most things in life are more important than my feelings!
If you're offended, I appeal to you to be tender-hearted and quick to forgive. If you're happy and satisfied, store these words in your memory for that time when you are tempted by offense, a time that will surely come, sooner or later.
And here's a word from the Word to take with you today - "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
One small leap to a wrong assumption
I was glad the friend from church stopped by my office yesterday. She had misunderstood a simple thing I had recently done in a service. She was tempted to assume that I was acting to control a situation. But, being a gracious and mature Believer, realized that she had to talk with me about what seemed, on the surface, to be as plain as day. In our conversation my action was set in context and she realized that I had no hidden motive. If I were guilty of anything, it was being insensitive to the moment because I was unaware of what was going on. What if she had not taken the time to come by and talk to me for 15 minutes? What kind of fertile ground might the Enemy of God and good found in which to grow seeds of suspicion and/or alienation?
Ever made the leap to a conclusion because you just knew the obvious? I can say that I have been there, done that, and lived to regret it. What actually happens; what a person intends to happen; and what we think we saw happen; are often three unrelated tales. Our state of mind influences the information taken in by our senses, doesn't it? If we are fatigued, discouraged, or angry - an innocuous comment can sound like a thunderous criticism. If we have a preconceived idea of what we want to happen, we may too quickly assume that everybody knows what we're trying to do and fail to bring them up to speed on our background thinking that gives context to our present decision.
Even our worldview can be faulty and cause us to misinterpret the facts, so that we come to the wrong conclusion, misjudge another, or even blame God! Jesus disciples had been trained by their religious leaders, wrongly, to think that if someone was suffering, there was a direct line of cause and effect. Suffering indicated sin and judgment, or so they thought. The truth was very different, as they learned from the Master.
" As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.
"Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?"
"It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." (John 9:1-5, NLT)
So many troubles and problems within the church would be eliminated if we would just be courageous enough to talk to one another and to the Lord!
"Why did you do that?"
"What did you mean?"
"Are you angry with me?"
These are simple questions, left unasked and therefore, unanswered, too often. In both our relationships one another and in our love for God, we must have faith. Peter says, "Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything." (1 Peter 4:8, The Message)
" Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. " (1 Peter 4:12-13, The Message)
The Devil's strategy of 'divide and conquer' is defeated when we keep our heart and mind open, when we quickly take our concerns to one another, when we trust God to care for us - even in the most difficult situations. Think today about this... Have I misjudged another? Have I allowed myself to make an assumption about God's purposes without praying to know them? Am I making one small leap to a wrong assumption?
Ever made the leap to a conclusion because you just knew the obvious? I can say that I have been there, done that, and lived to regret it. What actually happens; what a person intends to happen; and what we think we saw happen; are often three unrelated tales. Our state of mind influences the information taken in by our senses, doesn't it? If we are fatigued, discouraged, or angry - an innocuous comment can sound like a thunderous criticism. If we have a preconceived idea of what we want to happen, we may too quickly assume that everybody knows what we're trying to do and fail to bring them up to speed on our background thinking that gives context to our present decision.
Even our worldview can be faulty and cause us to misinterpret the facts, so that we come to the wrong conclusion, misjudge another, or even blame God! Jesus disciples had been trained by their religious leaders, wrongly, to think that if someone was suffering, there was a direct line of cause and effect. Suffering indicated sin and judgment, or so they thought. The truth was very different, as they learned from the Master.
" As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.
"Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?"
"It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." (John 9:1-5, NLT)
So many troubles and problems within the church would be eliminated if we would just be courageous enough to talk to one another and to the Lord!
"Why did you do that?"
"What did you mean?"
"Are you angry with me?"
These are simple questions, left unasked and therefore, unanswered, too often. In both our relationships one another and in our love for God, we must have faith. Peter says, "Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything." (1 Peter 4:8, The Message)
" Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. " (1 Peter 4:12-13, The Message)
The Devil's strategy of 'divide and conquer' is defeated when we keep our heart and mind open, when we quickly take our concerns to one another, when we trust God to care for us - even in the most difficult situations. Think today about this... Have I misjudged another? Have I allowed myself to make an assumption about God's purposes without praying to know them? Am I making one small leap to a wrong assumption?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
I can't wear your armor!
As Believers we oppose and face opposition from three sources- the World (the systems that are not submitted to God and His ways), the Sinful Nature (the inward desire to live contrary to God's ways), and the Devil! If we belong to Christ, we are living in a 'state of war!' Sometimes it rages externally, and we are under spiritual attack that requires a defensive posture . And, sometimes, we advance for God, destroying some place where evil has a stronghold. We call this - 'spiritual warfare!' Many books are written on the subject some solidly Biblical and others nothing more than sensationalism and superstitious formulations. Often books about spiritual warfare are encouraging stories of the experiences of someone in a unique situation. Such stories can encourage us, but we must not try to replicate the experiences. Why? Because, if we wage war basing our strategy on the experiences or stories of another, and expect the same results, it is a little like attempting to go to battle while wearing another's armor.
There is a humorous story from the early life of David. Jesse sent his youngest son to the battle front with provisions for his brothers who were serving in the Israeli army. When David got to the warfront, he found the army dug in. Each morning, they suited up and went out to the ridge to yell their battle cries, but they didn't advance! In response, the Philistines would send out their hero, a giant of a man named Goliath. He would hurl insults at the Israelis and their God, making them shake in terror. When David saw this happening he asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT) News of the courage of this young man reached King Saul who calls him into the royal tent. Hearing his stories of God's empowerment and seeing his courage, Saul decides to send David into battle with Goliath. Here's where it gets hilarious if you have a good imagination!
"Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, "I can't even move with all this stuff on me. I'm not used to this." And he took it all off. Then David took his shepherd's staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath." (1 Samuel 17:38-40, The Message) Can you picture this shepherd lad, trying to wear the king's armor? It didn't fit. He didn't even know how to move under its weight. So, David took off Saul's armor and took up what God had given him: a stick worn smooth to his hands during his sheep-herding days and a slingshot he'd used thousands of times while passing days watching over his flocks.You know the rest of this story! David prevailed by God's power, using the 'armor' that fit. At the end of the day, Goliath lay at the feet of the lad holding a stick and a sling.
In a paragraph rich in imagery, the Bible urges each one of us to suit up for battle!
"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ... put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, ... Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV)
God, the Armorer of His soldier-saints, has protection that is uniquely designed for you, that equips you in a way that is custom designed to meet the particular demands of the battles you will wage given your circumstances, your personality, and demonic assaults. Have you 'put on' what He has made for you so that you can advance the front line of the Kingdom? Then, go and fight the battles for truth and righteousness with assurance, 'thoroughly equipped for every good work.'
Spend time with the Master - in His Word, waiting on Him in prayer, letting Him teach you the way that you can stand secure against every assault - from every foe.
And remember this, mature Believer, don't try to make another wear your armor. The amazing wonder of our Christian faith is that God knows us personally and He equips us individually to live for Him. Praise Him!
____________________________________
There is a humorous story from the early life of David. Jesse sent his youngest son to the battle front with provisions for his brothers who were serving in the Israeli army. When David got to the warfront, he found the army dug in. Each morning, they suited up and went out to the ridge to yell their battle cries, but they didn't advance! In response, the Philistines would send out their hero, a giant of a man named Goliath. He would hurl insults at the Israelis and their God, making them shake in terror. When David saw this happening he asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT) News of the courage of this young man reached King Saul who calls him into the royal tent. Hearing his stories of God's empowerment and seeing his courage, Saul decides to send David into battle with Goliath. Here's where it gets hilarious if you have a good imagination!
"Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, "I can't even move with all this stuff on me. I'm not used to this." And he took it all off. Then David took his shepherd's staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath." (1 Samuel 17:38-40, The Message) Can you picture this shepherd lad, trying to wear the king's armor? It didn't fit. He didn't even know how to move under its weight. So, David took off Saul's armor and took up what God had given him: a stick worn smooth to his hands during his sheep-herding days and a slingshot he'd used thousands of times while passing days watching over his flocks.You know the rest of this story! David prevailed by God's power, using the 'armor' that fit. At the end of the day, Goliath lay at the feet of the lad holding a stick and a sling.
In a paragraph rich in imagery, the Bible urges each one of us to suit up for battle!
"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ... put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, ... Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV)
God, the Armorer of His soldier-saints, has protection that is uniquely designed for you, that equips you in a way that is custom designed to meet the particular demands of the battles you will wage given your circumstances, your personality, and demonic assaults. Have you 'put on' what He has made for you so that you can advance the front line of the Kingdom? Then, go and fight the battles for truth and righteousness with assurance, 'thoroughly equipped for every good work.'
Spend time with the Master - in His Word, waiting on Him in prayer, letting Him teach you the way that you can stand secure against every assault - from every foe.
And remember this, mature Believer, don't try to make another wear your armor. The amazing wonder of our Christian faith is that God knows us personally and He equips us individually to live for Him. Praise Him!
____________________________________
Monday, October 29, 2007
A response, not a reaction!
Yesterday brought me some disappointment. The development (I cannot write about details because of issues of pastoral confidentiality) is painful for me both personally and professionally and creates a set of leadership challenges for me to deal with in our congregation. I wrestled with the problem for most of the day. I am determined that I will not allow the actions of someone else to determine my reaction. A long time ago I learned that while I cannot control others, God has given me freedom to choose not to engage in the self-defeating behaviors of a victim when I am handed a set-back. What are they? They take many forms, but almost all involve making short term choices for comfort that lead to long-term negative consequences.
I could become vindictive and attack those who have disappointed me. It might feel good in the moment that I gave vent to my anger, but that would just stir up another set of problems which I would then have to solve!
I could sink into self-pity and sulk, making it all about my feelings. "How could they do this to me?" That would only cause me to delay dealing with the real issues involved which are much bigger than my feelings.
I could indulge myself with a shopping spree, or too much food, or some other distraction, but there are many downsides in those choices that are obvious to me!
I could look for a scapegoat, someone to focus my anger on or to blame for the situation. Nothing is accomplished by this except to create a wider circle of problems.
When life goes wrong for you, do you allow yourself to engage in self-defeating behavior or lock into self-defeating thought patterns? We will all experience disappointment as a result of the actions of other people and we will all fail someone, sometime, and somewhere! We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We have an Enemy who exploits every situation as much as he can to break relationships, to make us feel helpless or alone, to tempt us to the choices of a victim. Christ Jesus, whose Spirit lives in those who are His, offers us a different way to live. Take a look. "Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you... My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God’s Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children." (Romans 8:10, 12-14, CEV)
I am not a victim of circumstances because my Lord Jesus Christ lifts me above them! Because am no longer in the grip of an old sinful nature, I can choose to respond, to solve the problem instead of magnifying it. Take a look at this empowering promise God gives to us. "The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. " (Romans 8:2, The Message) "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored. But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about." (Romans 8:6-9, The Message)
Choosing to live as a mature spiritual person instead of a self-indulgent child, isn't natural, nor is it ever easy, but it is always right!
So what do we do when disappointment and/or disillusionment comes our way?
First, take it to the Lord in prayer! Seek His wisdom, insight, and the gift of courage to deal with it.
Second, seek a solution. Let God lead you - by the Spirit, with the wisdom of the Word, and through the counsel of trusted friends - to change what needs to change, to reconcile what needs to be reconciled.
Third, learn to accept those things beyond your control with grace. We can spend more time than necessary or helpful trying to make the world around us fit into our expectations. Or, we can realize when it time to move forward leaving things we cannot change in the hands of God, trusting His promise to ultimately use all things to work for our good!
Reinhold Neibuhr penned a prayer that has come to be called the Serenity Prayer. It circulates in various forms, rewritten and reworked because he never sought a copy right for this work. I use it frequently when dealing with disappointing circumstances and encourage you to pray it - sincerely - often, too.
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
I could become vindictive and attack those who have disappointed me. It might feel good in the moment that I gave vent to my anger, but that would just stir up another set of problems which I would then have to solve!
I could sink into self-pity and sulk, making it all about my feelings. "How could they do this to me?" That would only cause me to delay dealing with the real issues involved which are much bigger than my feelings.
I could indulge myself with a shopping spree, or too much food, or some other distraction, but there are many downsides in those choices that are obvious to me!
I could look for a scapegoat, someone to focus my anger on or to blame for the situation. Nothing is accomplished by this except to create a wider circle of problems.
When life goes wrong for you, do you allow yourself to engage in self-defeating behavior or lock into self-defeating thought patterns? We will all experience disappointment as a result of the actions of other people and we will all fail someone, sometime, and somewhere! We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We have an Enemy who exploits every situation as much as he can to break relationships, to make us feel helpless or alone, to tempt us to the choices of a victim. Christ Jesus, whose Spirit lives in those who are His, offers us a different way to live. Take a look. "Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you... My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God’s Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children." (Romans 8:10, 12-14, CEV)
I am not a victim of circumstances because my Lord Jesus Christ lifts me above them! Because am no longer in the grip of an old sinful nature, I can choose to respond, to solve the problem instead of magnifying it. Take a look at this empowering promise God gives to us. "The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. " (Romans 8:2, The Message) "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored. But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about." (Romans 8:6-9, The Message)
Choosing to live as a mature spiritual person instead of a self-indulgent child, isn't natural, nor is it ever easy, but it is always right!
So what do we do when disappointment and/or disillusionment comes our way?
First, take it to the Lord in prayer! Seek His wisdom, insight, and the gift of courage to deal with it.
Second, seek a solution. Let God lead you - by the Spirit, with the wisdom of the Word, and through the counsel of trusted friends - to change what needs to change, to reconcile what needs to be reconciled.
Third, learn to accept those things beyond your control with grace. We can spend more time than necessary or helpful trying to make the world around us fit into our expectations. Or, we can realize when it time to move forward leaving things we cannot change in the hands of God, trusting His promise to ultimately use all things to work for our good!
Reinhold Neibuhr penned a prayer that has come to be called the Serenity Prayer. It circulates in various forms, rewritten and reworked because he never sought a copy right for this work. I use it frequently when dealing with disappointing circumstances and encourage you to pray it - sincerely - often, too.
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
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