Honesty

Being able to see the long-term consequences of honesty.  That is a spiritual development which is rare.

 

Make someone feel better with an untruth, a "white" lie, when what they really need to hear will set them up for future success.

 

"I'm sorry my love, but you are not gifted in that area.  I think you should try something else and then come back to it in a year or two if you still feel that is where you are called."

 

"That's great.  You certainly put a lot of effort in..."  Setting them up for years of lost time and loss of perspective of their own worth in this area... 

 

I know which I would rather hear.  God's people will thrive in the truth, and through this they will glorify Him.  That is a worthy motive for honesty that hurts.

 

Prayer versus Vain Repetition

Like everything we do, our minds should be engaged in prayer.  More in prayer because we are speaking to the God who created the entire universe.  The God who holds the power of life and death, salvation and damnation.

 

Would you waste the time of an earthly ruler?  How much more should you consider your words to be pleasing to God who puts those rulers in their position.

 

He already knows every thought you ever had, so why do you even need to use a lot of fancy words?  If you are troubled, pray for help and let your heart cry out with the great emotion you feel which is beyond verbal expression.

 

Guard your mouth and let the words you speak, to others or in prayer, be pleasing to God.

 

 

 

 

Loving your enemies

Mercy is one thing, but can you find it in yourself to actively love someone who hates you or wants to hurt you?

 

Jesus was clear about this.  He has given us a command to love our enemies.  

 

The Spirit gives God's people the strength to love when love seems impossible.  It even seems as though God deliberately uses such foolishness to save sinners.

 

You can read accounts of those who loved their enemies while being killed for Christ in Fox's Book of Martyrs.

 

Creation

In a sense, there is nothing natural about the "natural" world.

 

The universe wouldn't exist if it was left up to nature to bring it into existence.  This would be like the universe causing itself to exist before it had existed...

 

The "super-natural" hand of God was required.  He spoke, and then all of creation was brought into existence.  Within creation you can find much to move you to praise and worship.

 

The sky: vast, clear, powder-blue, stretching into infinity on a cool, crisp winter morning.  That's what stirs in me an awareness of the holiness and awesomeness of God.  Do you hear His glory declared in this?

 

 

Submission

What happens in your mind, in your heart, when the authority of God's Word is challenged?

 

Evolution versus the Genesis account of creation, abortion versus pro-life, homosexual "marriage", miracles, etc...

 

While doubting is normal, long-term spiritual growth sees an enduring confidence in God that cannot be shaken.  Submitting to His Word when seeking truth, trusting that what He has said is true.  

 

Trusting that our understanding of His Word, or our understanding of the evidence against it, is what is lacking.  Trusting that diligent study will eventually reveal the truth, that your faith is not misplaced, that the reasons He has previously given to trust Him are not made void.

 

Submission in this way takes years.  Be prepared.

 

 

Comfort

As years pass we return again to the same lessons and kick ourselves for forgetting.

 

When times are low, and it feels like sin is overwhelming once again; it sometimes takes a while to remember to seek comfort in the words from God, His promises to us.  

 

We finally remember to open the Bible, or submit in prayer, searching for peace.  Then we realise just how wonderful these words of wisdom or hope are.  Then we wonder how we could ever forget.

 

As new challenges in life are faced, we must apply ourselves to the basics of The Faith once again.  Hopefully it takes less and less time to realise where our assurance can be found.

 

Mercy

A display of mercy can be a spiritual thing.  Even something as simple as forgiving that driver who cut you off in their car.

 

Wisdom says that you have, or will, make mistakes of a similar kind.  But you should forgive because you have been forgiven.

 

Can you control your temper?  Can you take a deep breath and forgive?  Can you learn to make forgiveness a habit?