"God does not want you to become an expert at using a formula. If there was a formula to hearing from God, you would not seek Him with all your heart." That quote from Henry Blackaby, in the Experiencing God study, almost seems an inappropriate way to start this entry, because it is from a study. And yet, it cuts to the very heart of what I want to learn.
What I want are blinding flashes of insight every time I study the Word. Fresh new perspectives. I want to seek for the treasure. But not for too long. I want every day to be new and exciting, filled with new meaning.
Sometimes the most challenging part of my walk with Jesus is the dailiness of it. The very ordinariness of my tasks. This week, I found out a close family member has cancer. My computer crashed-again. Another divorce in the family. We re-listed the house in a very slow market. An aging parent breaks my heart, as her mind slips away, but her body remains strong. The normal stuff of life.
And yet, God is so good to me. He keeps pursuing me in this quest to know Him more and sit more often at His feet. As I am teaching a study on "Temptation" this week, I am overwhelmed with the privilege--and responsibility--of being a teacher. And from Proverbs, He encouraged me. Proverbs 13:17 says "An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing." In this verse, I heard Him say that if I don't prepare and study His Word, I will stumble into trouble. (Have I ever been caught just ad-libbing, or giving someone else's opinion?) But, if I am a reliable messenger of His Word, I can bring healing, and not confusion to our students. That's what I want to do--not just rely on what I think I know.
Then He exhorted me on how to spend my time with 15:14 "A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash." Am I allowing my mind to feed on trash, or am I pursuing the knowledge and understanding only His Word can give?
I thank Him for all He is showing me along this trail. About relationships and how important they are. About hopes and dreams. Again the Lord showed me that 60 is not too old to dream. In fact, He even put a God-sized one in my heart! I love this ride with Jesus!
I'm thankful that God gives us dreams in the normalness of life. So often I get caught up in one more assignment, one more appointment, one more meeting...the everyday stuff. But even in that, He is there teaching me and loving me and showing me little parts of the plans and dreams he has for me. Thanks for your words, Sharon. Love you!
ReplyDelete