By Mary Lindow
As I sit here in the outdoors this evening enjoying an
unusually cool and brilliantly moonlit sky, I am stirred to speak openly and
transparently about the things that God is not only dealing with in my personal
journey with him, but also some of the trends and presumptions that occur in
the world of “Christendom” when it appears and feels as if the Father God is
far off and seemingly unresponsive to the cries of those who are desperate for relief and
merciful compassion.
Through his own personal agony, David came to a new
understanding of what it really was that God required from man.
ENMESHED INTO
DECEPTION
God is not
interested in our outward sacrifices or "offerings."
This does not necessarily mean that God never requires
outward forms of worship or expression or observances. Many lines of Scripture
prove that at times he does. But it does mean that these are not the things
that he requires first. If our religious practices contain nothing more than
outward actions and performance, then God takes no pleasure in them.
God always looks underneath what goes on outwardly, and
looks to the motives and the attitude of the heart. What does He look for
there?
David tells us in Psalm
51:16 -17
“For you delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; you find no
pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is
a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin
and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.”
BROKEN AND CONTRITE
These are not common words to our ears these days!
Just what
does it mean when God asks that we have a broken spirit?
Does he want us to be beaten down and humiliated?
I am sure that this is not his plan.
What is
a broken spirit?
It is an “inner self”
that has come totally to the end of itself. It makes no claims, and offers no
arguments. All independence, all self-will, self-promotion, all
self-righteousness have been pruned away.
Such a spirit simply turns and trusts completely upon God,
not trusting in his own skill, merit, popularity, or ability to influence. This
one who has willingly allowed the disciplining of his soul knows that he or she
must only trust in God and his unrelenting mercy.
If we will ALLOW Him
to guide us, HE knows how to produce this brokenness of spirit in each of us.
Just remember, he treats us as individuals. And he would never abuse our
individuality. He uses just the right amount of intensity needed to accomplish
his desires, that we would relinquish our mistrust in his plan and fully step
into total abandonment, willingly accepting his plan.
“For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of
men.” Lamentations 3:33
AFFLICTION ALSO KNOWN
AS - “DISCIPLINE”
If there was ever a man who had to face affliction also
known as “discipline” - it was David. I am amazed that he never became bitter.
He even admitted that it did him good! God allows us to come under
afflictions/discipline, not because he is mad at us, nor because he has
rejected us. It is actually a demonstration of his faithfulness.
When he sees us taking a wrong turn that will lead to our
own harm and damage, he allows difficulty and affliction/discipline to turn us
back to the way that leads to peace and blessing.
When I say affliction, I am not accusing God of bringing
about harsh and devastating blows in order to knock us down and break our arms
in the process. No! No! No!
In Psalm 119:67, 71, 75 it says:
"I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
But now I closely
follow your word.
My suffering was good for me,
For it taught me to pay attention to your
decrees.
I know, O Lord, that your
regulations are fair.
You disciplined me because I needed it.
WHEN WE ARE
"THROWN A CURVEBALL"
How do we respond when we are "thrown a curveball"
and everything we carefully planned out and prepared for suddenly takes a turn
we did not expect?
David did not view afflictions/disciplines as disaster. He
saw it as a form of correction - something to adjust his life. He was saying,
“Before I was afflicted/disciplined I went astray and I suffered for it. Now
I've learned my lesson! It pays to obey your word!”
ARE YOU IN THE MIDDLE
OF DIFFICULTY, LOSS, OR AN ADJUSTMENT?
May I caution you? Don't fight back! And whatever you do, do
not argue with God!
Admit that
God is dealing with you and allowing an affliction/a disciplining,
a difficulty or disappointment, to address major issues of
stubbornness, lazy spirituality, dependence upon others for water from the
word, and more than often - a sour and willful independence that does not like
accountability in every area.
ASK HIM, "WHAT
IS IT THAT YOU ARE DOING?"
“Am I off the pathway
that you have planned and have willfully gone my own way?”
The Lord is seeking, looking, longing for you to turn away
from things that are harmful and to bring you back to things that are in his
purpose and plan.
If we are willing to learn from these
afflictions/disciplines, there will come a time when we will indeed look back
with gratitude for the things we have learned and matured in.
My dear friends, we were not created to serve ourselves or
to meet our own needs.
Whatever we need, the Lord will see to it that we get
it, as we move along the pathway that he has chosen. You may be asking the
question, “Why is it so hard for me to hear from the Lord at first when it comes
to difficult issues and decisions?”
We must understand we cannot instantly “unlearn” what we
have lived our entire life. We must as the Scripture says be "transformed"
from who we are to what we want to be.
We need to understand with our whole heart that we were
intended to be godly in every way. In our relationships with others, and above
all, in our relationship with God the father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
If one is out of order then both will be.
But! As a dear brother in the Lord by the name of Larry
Reese says, “We are not to fear the passing of time or fear that we are wasting
time by spending time with the Lord, searching out his word, and being still in
his presence. You will never lose
anything by doing these things!”
TRENDS, BLOGS, AND
COMMENTS
It's no secret that
social media has become quite a form of communication! One of the problems that
can occur when “listening” to trends, blogs, and commentary from others is that
sources quoted and information gathered might well be skewed to interject
thoughts and opinions into the minds of those who never think for themselves.
Believers in Christ are not to be uninformed, but they are to be wise about what
they “ingest and digest” when it comes to the lifestyle of a Christian.
Do not rely upon the
wisdom of men to help you to ultimately reach the destiny that God himself paid
the price for. He is not an ego- driven maniac looking for his entourage of followers
to validate his importance!
He "paid it forward" so that we would have the
opportunity to walk upon a pathway, although narrow, that leads to purposeful
living and a fruitful reaping of productivity that will only advance us into
further opportunities to speak of hope and a purpose for others.
BEWARE OF FALSE
HUMILITY AND UNDERTONES OF DISDAIN
If there were one thing that sickens the heart of God it
would be underhanded and slippery craftiness oozing from those who resist the
full aspect of allowing God to create in them a clean and contrite heart.
It always amazes me how individuals that need notoriety and
a place of “mystical” influence seem to be able to cunningly discredit good and
godly saints around them who have perhaps lovingly warned them about deceptive
practices or micro-management control issues, knowing that they risk the loss
of relationship when doing so. It is as if these individuals secretly feel
entitled to sidestep the issue of preferring your brother or sister, and humbly
listening to their insights and observances.
Equally amazing, are those who listen to only one side of a
conflict or disagreement, and then spiritualize-away the facts, that harm or
discord has happened.
And so, the Lord allows the
difficulties and afflictions to come and expose the areas of favoritism,
embracing the “new and exciting”…
…Rather than the narrow and at
times - dry pathway to mature godliness.
There will always be
among us, those claiming to have “THE” word of the hour, the “message of the
forefathers”, and on and on the platitudes and justifications are listed to
justify the mocking and putting down of the simple and unique message of
self-abandonment.
LISTEN FOR THE SOUND
OF MERCY
Listen to the “tone” in the voice of those addressing the
crowd, the congregation, or perhaps a small study group. False humility has a
highly "honeyed" pitch of barely restrained condescension, laced with
heavy doses of unsolicited advice and counsel.
Rarely will individuals who have an exaggerated view of
their own importance allow others to warmly and intimately engage in
transparent communication and dialogue regarding the unique and yet equal
calling and gifting of each child of God.
NOW IS THE TIME --
THE TIME IS NOW!
These words have been spoken out from the Lord over the
lives of many who seemingly can hardly lift their heads due to delays,
betrayals, losses, and a deep, deep internal anguish. It seems as if God sees
greater fruitfulness when we are at the bottom of the proverbial
"barrel"!
Those who are forever wishfully proclaiming that the “bad
times are over and good times are ahead” are sadly attempting to override the
ache of the soul when it longs to return to the comfort zone of self
indulgence.
“But
look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless!”
Jeremiah 7:8
Know this. To avoid the chastening and bruising of our souls
is a guarantee that not only will you cause devastating and brutal pain to
others, but also most importantly, you shall grieve the Holy Spirit.
I encourage those of
you reading and listening, to test the fruit
of those who claim to have a special and mystical "in" with
the Lord.
The Lord is not one who neither “excludes” nor leaves the
broken out in the cold, nor does he invite into his inner courts of wisdom and
revelation, those who would use it to their own personal advantage or fame.
IT IS TIME. NOW IS
THE TIME! THE TIME IS NOW!
It is time to face the chastening of the Lord in the light
of the purpose he has behind it. Growing up and maturing finally in the things
he has been dutifully prodding you to do for a long time now.
Procrastination "fellowships" with slothful and sloppy approaches to relationship
with God and with mankind.
For once and for all make the decision to not blame-shift or
deflect onto others what God is dealing with in the wickedness of your own
soul.
Now is the time to be willing to lose your life, to be
afflicted -- yes even to the point of having the Lord remove and expose those
who have become disobedient, self-promoting, and abusive in the circles you
walk within.
“SEE TO IT that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive
philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this
world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
OPEN YOUR EARS
The Lord is speaking! Listen!
He has wisdom to impart to you that may well save and
instruct others who might fall into foolish behavior. It is not about your
comfort, your "wants" nor even your dignity! It’s about a willingness
to be the servant of the Savior, and to emulate His example.
He Is Speaking.
But are we listening?
“The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
To know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
Wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”
Isaiah 50:4
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Copyright © 2014 THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
