In 1966, a vibrant beautiful 17 year girl dove into the Chesapeake Bay and broke her neck. She survived, but without use of her body due to paralysis! Surrounded by other people in similar circumstances, she hated what she had become and wished for death. Today Joni Eareckson Tada is a well-known author and speaker, founder of national ministry of encouragement.
God spoke to her heart, changed her perspective, and from the ashes of her broken life emerged something unimagined in her teenage years. Has her vision and work made it an easy road? Not at all. Joni speaks honestly about the pain, the disappointments, and the hardships that are regular visitors. She, however, knows the voice of the Spirit leading her to God’s purposes. (https://joniandfriends.org/) Do you?
The inspired Word reminds us "Do
not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test
everything. Hold on to the good." (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21, NIV) At the core of those instructions is the truth
that God is speaking, calling each one to His plan, asking us to know and live beyond
mere survival. In our highly secularized
culture we are not taught to ‘see’ or ‘hear’ the Divine.
Even Christians can become captives of reason
to such an extent that they lose the ability to recognize the voice of the
Spirit. But, He is speaking; through the Scripture, through our circumstances, and
through inspiration. Are we open to hear
Him? Are we willing to evaluate our feelings, our sense of His leading, our
dream against the truth of the Scripture and with the help of mature
Christians? If we are, we can be led
into a life that reflects God’s goodness into our corner of the world.
He will not lead most of us to found national ministries or write best-selling Christian books. He will lead everyone who desires to serve to be a light of hope and a person of love.
C. S. Lewis said that “God
whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our
pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” (The Problem of Pain) Vision that sees God’s purpose is frequently born
out of great need and/or deep sorrow. Neither need nor sorrow are things we
willingly experience. In fact, we will go to great lengths to avoid feeling the
pain in life, dulling the pain with noise, distraction, and frenetic
activities. In those things the quiet voice of the Spirit goes unheard, the
vision of the Spirit unseen.
Don't be one of those people who focuses his
dreams on Self: who looks for a way to escape 'real life' with some quick fix,
instant access to money, a new lover, or something equally selfish! That is not
at all what God wants for you. Instead, take the situations of your life - good
and bad, desirable and not so wonderful, 'hopeless' and promising - and lay
them out before God. With faith like that of a little child simply ask Him -
"Lord, what can you do with all of this?"
Are you in a situation that causes you great pain? Or is there some
circumstance that you see, day after day, that breaks your heart? Consider
that from that very soil God may be wanting to grow a vision for transformation
in you! Don’t quench the Spirit! Timothy
was a young pastor attempting to do God’s work in a hard place. Paul, his mentor
in faith, urged him to step up! “I remind you to fan into flames the
spiritual gift God gave you … For God has not given us a spirit of fear and
timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7,
NLT) Blow on the embers in prayerful praise
to God. Ask the Spirit to burst in flame in your life leading you to light!
Every Christian can know God’s
voice, be led by God’s Spirit, and live in God’s purpose. How? Here a few suggestions:
- We must use our faith if we want it to
consume us. If we live timidly, retreating from every challenge,
choosing only ‘safe’ paths, avoiding every calling that might be costly;
faith will cool.
- We must continue to pursue the Truth.
Subtle deception is a constant threat. We open our minds to the Scripture,
we challenge our assumptions, and this adds fuel of Truth to our faith.
- We must commit ourselves to the Body of Christ,
engaging in regular, corporate worship. If a log in my fireplace
tumbles off of the pile, the flame on it goes out, and a lump of charcoal
is left in the morning. We need to be together, our mutual gifts feeding a
passionate faith.
- We must deal with the sinful nature.
When the Spirit speaks, when our conscience aches, we have a choice:
silence the Voice, deaden ourselves by refusing the call; or making
a turn-around, to repentance and confession. These will keep us in
Spirit’s Presence, blazing with holy fire.
- And, finally, we must remember that Glory that draws us on. The fires of faith are fed by keeping the promises of Heaven always in sight.
The word from the Word is one
of my favorite passages. Hear it with joy
today! "I pray that out of his
glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your
inner being … Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16, 20-21, NIV)
(Video of this blog at this link)
____________________
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
(Word of God speak)
I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
Bartt Millard | Pete Kipley
© 2002 Songs From The Indigo Room; Simpleville Music; Curb Wordspring Music
CCLI License # 810055
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