Too often we followers of Christ overuse the “God told me” line. As someone who has been a part of leading a faith community, I hear church leaders and attendees alike misappropriate the “God told me” card. I’ve always tried to be careful with it … but I’m sure I’ve played it hastily before. Still, for what it is worth, I do believe God “tells” me stuff and for what it’s worth, here’s how He speaks to me most clearly: through peace. A peace that goes deep. I’ll explain:
I wish I could say I always seek God with earnestness, but the sad truth is that I can let weeks or months pass without getting deep enough with God. But, in a season of change like I am in now, God has always faithfully spoken to me. For instance, when we moved to Phoenix four years ago I had a couple of job opportunities and I remember thinking, “how are we ever going to know what to do?” A week later, God gave me clarity through His peace. During that time, we also prayed a lot about whether to buy a house here in Phoenix. God NEVER game me peace. We bought anyway. Anyone know what happened to the real estate market in Phoenix? C.R.A.S.H.
So, over the past few weeks, we’ve faced tremendous amounts of change. Time to seek that peace….God proved Himself faithful once again. While I wanted to have plans right away for the next chapter of life, God clearly said, “Wait.” He said it by not giving me deep peace about any potential options. Then, He confirmed it through the voice of my wife and close friends. He has pressed pause and I listened. Had I not listened I would have found myself in an awkward place and it could have potentially hurt others. I’m glad I listened. Now, I eagerly anticipate the peace He will bring when it is time to take the next step. The peace of God isn’t comfort, safety, or a self-serving idea, it is stillness deep inside that whispers to you. And, when you speak in concert with that peace, the power of God comes alive inside of you. When we stop and listen, God is faithful to speak. Can you hear Him?
When I was in college I dabbled in the “sport” of body building. Yes, I did just admit that. I trained like crazy for a “show.” I lifted 6 days a week and ran 4-5 days per week to “get ripped,” as they say. Yes, I even painted a tan on for this “show” and wore a Speedo. Yikes, yes, I did do that and I just admitted to everyone. Anyway, the biggest part of the whole thing wasn’t the working out, it was the eating. Ten egg whites for bfast, chicken breast at 10 am, protein shake at 2 pm, 2 cans of tuna at 5 pm and another shake at 8 pm. No cheese, no butter, no bread, no fun. I learned quickly that body building was a lifestyle, not an activity that occurred a few hours a week…hmmmm….reminds me of the Christian life. Too often it is treated as a activity and something we do but being a Christian is ultimately about who we ARE not just an activity we participate in a couple hours a week. A Christ-follower doesn’t just show up to work out a few times a week…a Christian is a Christian every second of every day. There is no “off-time.” I pray we all live the life and run the race that God has set before us with the utmost integrity, every day. That is the Christian life. Grab your Speedo….
Brilliant insight here. Be who YOU are and be where YOU are. As a good friend of mine, Scott Williams says, “do you…it is a statement, not a question.”
I read a book a year or so ago titled, Rediscovering the Scandal of the Cross. It wasn’t a popular book and you won’t find it at Barnes and Nobel or Borders. In it the author reminds the reader that the Cross of Christ wasn’t pretty…it was a brutal, physically disgusting and very very painful place. If you are a believer in the Way, you already knew that…but do we really understand what that means.
Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, meaning that His teaching is simple. You didn’t (and don’t) have to be an expert in the Torah (or Old Testament) to get it. But, what Jesus didn’t mean was that His Way would be “comfortable to live out.” Jesus said to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Cross. Follow. Him. That means we will (or should) suffer for His sake. Why are we so pathetically afraid to suffer for Him? No, I’m not really talking about physically suffering but rather “suffering” that comes when we lay down our “rights” and rest knowing that our identity is in Christ and in Him alone. What am I talking about? How about not defending ourselves when we think we’ve been wronged? Do we always have to be heard? Or, maybe instead of just “being real” and blurting out everything that we think, we should be more willing to think about what we are going to say and then…get this…not say anything. Perhaps you can be misunderstood and take a bullet when the bullet wasn’t really warranted. Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? In my experience, 90% of all interpersonal conflict comes from us having to be heard or being unwilling to take a bullet for someone else….without telling anyone we are taking the bullet! The world won’t end if we have to take our disappointment and frustration to the Cross instead of releasing it on those around us.
Perhaps this post is just for me…I’m ready to “suffer” a little and take a bullet that wasn’t mine to take. Jesus is full of bullet holes that should have been mine…the least I can do is to take one now and then for the glory of the work that He has begun in me.
…so, to put it bluntly, it is time for me to “shut up and suffer” a little for His name’s sake.
a husband, dad, and follower of Jesus who is passionate about teaching and leading well. i love the church, urban culture and espresso. downtown phoenix arizona is my ‘hood. [more]
insane day started with an early group study with some local attys & just left a meeting with a group of church leaders.full, productive day 15 hrs ago
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When I was in college I dabbled in the “sport” of body building. Yes, I did just admit that. I trained like crazy for a “show.” I lifted 6 days a week and ran 4-5 days per week to “get ripped,” as they say. Yes, I even painted a tan on for this “show” and wore a Speedo. Yikes, yes, I did do that and I just admitted to everyone. Anyway, the biggest part of the whole thing wasn’t the working out, it was the eating. Ten egg whites for bfast, chicken breast at 10 am, protein shake at 2 pm, 2 cans of tuna at 5 pm and another shake at 8 pm. No cheese, no butter, no bread, no fun. I learned quickly that body building was a lifestyle, not an activity that occurred a few hours a week…hmmmm….reminds me of the Christian life. Too often it is treated as a activity and something we do but being a Christian is ultimately about who we ARE not just an activity we participate in a couple hours a week. A Christ-follower doesn’t just show up to work out a few times a week…a Christian is a Christian every second of every day. There is no “off-time.” I pray we all live the life and run the race that God has set before us with the utmost integrity, every day. That is the Christian life. Grab your Speedo….
a husband, dad, and follower of Jesus who is passionate about teaching and leading well. i love the church, urban culture and espresso. downtown phoenix arizona is my ‘hood. 
