Pursuit of the Holy- Chapter 3/Part 1

Forgive my tardiness. Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

The title of Chapter 3 is titled "The Battleground." I love the uniformity of God's Word. From the Word of God, this book and two other books I'm reading, the battleground of the mind has been consistently discussed by the authors in the same spirit- God's Holy Spirit. The mind is the battleground where the shaky foundation of a double-minded man is produced (James 1:6-8). It is the place where the enemy has been and continues to inject his doubts and lies about our God and our true identity in Him (Genesis 3:4-5). It is the place where we superficially store information ABOUT God but then limit Him with our limited knowledge and can't fully ENCOUNTER Him.

Below are a few chosen quotes from part 1 of chapter 3:

* "The number one hindrance to knowing God is knowing about God. It's more poisonous than we could ever imagine. When we think we know God, we become settled in a false complacency" (38).
* "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) This is the battleground: what we truly believe in our hearts about God. This is where the enemy stages his greatest warfare. If the enemy wins here, he wins everywhere in our lives. And as the church goes, so goes the world" (38).
* "Most of us struggle with false ideas about God's heart for us and lies that question His ability to deliver us" (38).
* "I think we secretly believe that God relates to us in the same way that people relate to one another" (39). ~PAUSE!!!~

A few days before reading this statement, I was talking with Faith and allowing her to bring me to a place of accountability in my faith walk. After telling her some things, she rebuked and encouraged me (that is how it has to go) and revealed to me God's grace and mercy in a new way. She explained that many times, we view God and what He can do for us like we view other people in our lives- whether it is how they treated us or who we treat them. Whether it's from past/present situations, we limit God's ability to deliver or relate to us because of our "emotional" references to earthly situations. We compare how God treats us to how man treats each other, even us. Yet, we have to TRULY hear AND believe God and His Word: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isa. 55:9-10). We cannot even begin to think that God can't do this or that or relate to us this way or that way. Our knowledge of Him is limited when viewed through our personal experiences- all derived from the ways of man. At this revelation, I began to thank God for His forgiveness and mercy in not seeing or dealing with me as I deal with others and even Him. Now, for me, I HAVE to step it up and ask myself, am I REALLY being Jesus Christ-like? Wow.

~PLAY~
* "Our spiritual lives are weakened and can eventually crumble if they are not built on the foundational truths about God. We have reduced God to whatever idea of Him suits our current mood and have boxed Him in to fit our agenda. We have made a god in our own image" (39). WOWOWOWOW
* "If we don't get back to the Bible and encounter the God of the Bible, we will not view the Word who became flesh with the appropriate reverence" (39).

Aaaah! Praise God for obedience! I honestly believe God has given His people the ability to write to not only share what He reveals to them through His Spirit, but to write down what He's done for us to remind us of just who He is! Reflective writing, despite what any complacent person says, challenges you to see where you were, think about where you are at, and plan, with God, where you need to be.

I challenge you- whenever you read your Bible and have that personal time with Him, journal those things that He reveals to you, especially those things that reveal rebukes dealing with the REAL you. Not just that, but reflect on what you've written. As Pastor Wilkins once told me, "What's the point of taking notes if you don't go back and review them?" What are you really learning?

Even to those who, right now, don't "feel" like they are in good graces with the Father and hence, don't spend time with Him... there is no daughter or son who is too far from His outstretched arms. Don't view God as you may view people in your lives who have rejected or hurt you. If you are willing and wanting to commune with the Father- to encounter Him and let Him embrace you, just ask. Regardless of how you've been treated on earth, or even how you've treated others, the Heavenly Father has promised to supercede those situations and reveal Himself to you.

Just Ask.

If you would like me to talk with you or pray with you, just leave me a note.