Normally, I may write about my own Christianity with flowery descriptives and I make following Christ look like an easy and trouble-free path, clear of potholes and detours. I think it’s fair to say that flowery and beautiful is quite accurate but the path does have potholes and detours. It’s our job, with God’s help, to avoid the missteps and breakdowns.
Today, I suppose I’m battling with God a bit. I don’t think He minds us coming to Him and just asking for Him to give us a hand. Are you trying to teach me something? Are you prompting me to change my direction? Are you asking me to be more obedient or less stringent? My conversation with God on this day is why He has placed me here at this stage of my life and how long He’d like me to stay. I feel like I’m missing His prompts and it’s frustrating.
Specifically, I’m unclear as to why He has made me so offended by what offends Him and yet puts me in the midst of offenders.
Why, God, have you changed my heart to be so sensitive to these things?
prejudice
profanity
immorality
excuses
rudeness
grudges
egos
immaturity
gossip
ignorance
lack of control
quick tempers
obscenity
inauthenticity
I struggle with the fact that I’m less tolerant only because it seems to present itself as a problem to some people who knew me “when”.
….and then I remind myself that tolerance of things that are not of God, like some of the things I listed and a host of others, is simply sinful.
Fooling myself into thinking I never react to a situation in an immature or childish way is nonsense. Gossip finds its way into my conversation from time to time and I’ve been known to sit through a suggestive movie or two so I am not above reproach.
This isn’t about being self-righteous. This is about being less tolerant of sin or plain old poor behavior than I used to be.
Again, I am revisited by God’s word regarding this situation….
Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” -Matthew 16:23
God accepted me as I was, but He will not leave me as I am.
That’s part of being a Christian. That’s a gift.
I believe that when one is truly saved, then one isn’t even able to continue living the same life that they did before. God will work on your heart to bring you to a place of spiritual maturity. So, if you want to become a Christian, expect your life to change. Expect that you will end up with different friends and be prepared to find that many of your old habits and desires will also change. And you will have decisions to make…who to allow in, who to weed out…and it will suck. Sorry; no other word really fits here.
Sometimes, following His plan is a whole lot tougher than we thought it would be the moment we became saved. The feeling of being in love with Christ and what He is doing in your life is often replaced with sadness and second guesses as things familiar now have no place or people we love now seem like distant strangers.
How do we combat this?? Prayer. Getting in the Word. Fellowship with like minded people who can fuel your love for Christ and keep you accountable. Asking others to pray on your behalf.
Or we can choose to settle for what the world is offering; egos, gossip, obscenities, and inauthenticity….because that will fulfill us and make us happy, right? Well, I’ve been there and done that with very little happiness and no joy so I can attest that the worldly option isn’t the right choice for me. I thank God for that realization and I ask God for His continued grace as I struggle with adapting to my lack of tolerance for things that offend Him. This is not always an easy road.
YOU’RE RIGHT! It is the road less traveled and it’s never going to be easy. We must surround ourselves with like minded Christians, that encourage and pick us up when we hit the pot holes!
What powerful truth you speak Amy! Powerful. He is still faithful to continue to do a new work in me, in us. Those potholes, some have nearly taken me out. I too, have found myself in many of those situations. I am thankful for His grace to deliver and restore.
YOU’RE RIGHT! It is the road less traveled and it’s never going to be easy. We must surround ourselves with like minded Christians, that encourage and pick us up when we hit the pot holes!
What powerful truth you speak Amy! Powerful. He is still faithful to continue to do a new work in me, in us. Those potholes, some have nearly taken me out. I too, have found myself in many of those situations. I am thankful for His grace to deliver and restore.