photo credit: ManojVasanth
Interesting title? Well basically this post is going to be about all of those things, so it’s quite fitting actually.
This morning I woke up and had some time to think before it was my turn to get in the shower. Lately I’ve been seeking God to speak to me like he used to. Well, actually, I asked to hear Him like I used used to. I know He’s always there, but I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t slowed down long enough to listen. So, I’m going to work on that! I miss God! I miss hearing His still small voice and feeling His presence. I know He’s always around, always waiting for us to get out of our own way so He can move, so that’s what I need to work on.
Anyway, my thoughts this morning were on the ways of this world and where this world is heading. The way I see it, people are getting farther and farther away from God’s way of doing things and from obeying God’s Word. Why do I think this? Well, think about it. How many of us who call ourselves Christians really live according to God’s Word today? According to Pastor’s message this morning (coincidence? I don’t think so!) about 10% of those who call themselves Christians live according to the commands laid out in the bible. Many Christians live how they see fit or by their own standards instead of God’s. Many Christians think “it’s the way society is today” or “it’s acceptable now in today’s society”. So, instead of heeding the commandments God has given us in His word, we do what we want because “it’s the way things are now”.
A perfect example of this attitude is that of Bristol Palin. Professing to be a Christian, she clearly stated that teenagers today are going to have sex. So in other words, she was saying it’s okay that she had sex, got pregnant and had a baby out of wedlock because “it’s the way things are today”. This kind of attitude is prevalent amongst many Christians today. No wonder we are seeing a decline in the morals of our nation and the world. People think we’re supposed to live for ourselves and have the attitude “if it feels good, do it”.
But that’s not what the bible says. That’s not what God, the one who created us, the world and the universe wants for us. Why? Because we are imperfect and make mistakes. When we live our lives according to our own agenda, our own plan, we walk right down the path of destruction. That’s exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve decided to live for themselves instead of obeying God, which led them, and consequently us, right down the path of destruction. And the same moral decline continues today.
However, those of us who choose to live for God, though we make mistakes because we are sinners, we walk toward life – a life of hope and eternity in Heaven. I’m not talking about those who simply call themselves Christians and continue to live for themselves instead of God, I’m talking about Christians who have truly surrendered their lives over to God and live according to His Word.
As I stated above in the opening paragraph, I haven’t making time for God like I should and want to. So, am I living for God? Truly? While I haven’t gone out and started partying or anything like that, I have allowed my business to consume my life. I’ve been feeling dry in my relationship with God and I know it’s because I haven’t spent time with Him in prayer or in the Word. Yes, I go to church every Sunday, and I’m a leader in the youth ministry, but my personal time with God has been very lacking.
Well, it’s time to change all that. Like I said, I miss God. I miss hearing His voice, miss feeling His presence and miss relying on Him daily. Though I still talk to Him on a daily basis, I haven’t spent any good quality time with Him, alone. A relationship with God takes work like any relationship. If you’re not communicating (both ways) your relationship can’t grow and will soon fade away and die out. The only difference is, God forgives us for not making time with Him and He is always there waiting for us to come to Him. He will never turn us away and His love for us never dies. ( Hebrews 13:5) He created us because He loves us! Which is also why it’s important to live our lives His way. He knows what’s best for us. Just like parents. If you’re a parent you know what it’s like to love your child so much that you want to do what’s best for them. That’s why we discipline them, give them nice gifts and try to help them out as much as we can…as much as they’ll allow us. It’s the same with God. He loves us even MORE than we love our children! The depth of God’s love is hard to fathom because He IS Love! Everything God does is because He IS love.
God doesn’t NEED us. He created us because He wanted to – because He loves us. (1 John 4:16)
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How inspirational! I too have to slow down and hear God- it is so easy to not listen that it begins to be a norm. Thank you for reminding me!!!
I think this is something most Christians struggle with – slowing down and listening. I know I am guilty of it. Thanks for the reminder
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Im really glad you posted this. When on a leadership retreat a few weekends ago this is something I finally grasped, slowing down and listeing to god and spending my own time with him rather then just fellowship whole time with him. It’s hard to admit to myself that the god I love so much im not spending enough time with. Its something im working on as well. Im praying for you. Love you thanks for always sharing, I dont know where I would be without you.
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Great eye opening post! You are so right, your pastor is so right. So many profess to be Christians and don’t really live for God. There are so many distractions in life today and I think the devil purposely makes it that way so we forget about the importance of keeping a strong relationship with God. Sometimes we don’t even realize how we are going astray.
I pray that God would constantly remind me and that I would never become so desensitized or complacent that I don’t hear his still small voice calling me back. He is the one thing that has given me life in more ways than one. I don’t ever want to be like the Isrealites who SAW God’s miracles and provision, yet got worn and tired and started to complain because things weren’t going there way.
I thank God for people like you who can openly and honestly share your heart through blogging. I believe this is a ministry for us to reach souls for Him.
Thankyou so much for the inspiration. I pray that through this He would be glorified and that you would once again feel His awesome presence in and through your life.
God bless you, DAWN
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