escapism.
We all crave it, all long for it, all desire it. Call it what you will, downtime, "me" time, personal time - we are all trying to get away from the problems and pressures of the real world and away from ourselves. Whether it's road trips, camping, international travel, movies, music, video games, fantasy football, reading, working out, bar hopping - we are all searching for something more because we are desperately hoping that true meaning and purpose to life doesn't terminate on ourselves. Most of us are probably too caught up in a "me" driven society to realize that's what's driving the underlying current of discontent, but when you stop filling your day and your mind with a never-ending stream of media, and think about what's really there, what's left of your life when you strip away all the superficiality and menial daily tasks, don't you hope and pray to God that there's still something left? Something there worthwhile, life-changing, world-changing, miracle inducing?
Still not you, you say? You long for nothing? Think of the millions of Americans who run everyday - yes, it's great exercise, but yes, anyone who runs will tell you what a great escape it is, what a thrilling feeling it is to leave the rest of the world behind for just a little while and pound out the pavement, or better yet, a nature trail. We are running from the shallow meaninglessness of the consumer-driven life, running to get back to nature and our natural selves. Anyone seen Avatar? Pocahontas? any movie ever where people are running barefoot through the woods? There's something in us that knows there's something wrong with the world, we are in a broken, fallen state; there is a disconnect from the natural state where we came from, and we crave to return to that perfect, blissful, unashamed nakedness and harmonious serenity.
The whole food and organic movement, and even those silly looking five-finger shoes are proof of man's desire to return to a more natural, healthy state of being - we've tried doing life the processed, packaged, factory brand, sterile lifestyle, and guess what? It didn't work. We ended up with a morbidly obese nation with more psychological disorders and issues than the rest of the world. We are depressed - not because we don't have enough, but because we have too much; too many options, and too much stuff. We are stuffing ourselves with too much food, internet, toys, and information, instead of embracing the peacefulness of simple living and investing in the lives and community around us. We don't even know our neighbors, but we could narrate every episode of Lost or Grey's Anatomy. What's wrong with this picture? Mankind was meant to connect with each other and with God - maybe it's time to switch of the tv or computer, and get real - whether it's having an actual conversation with your neighbor, or hitting your knees and getting real with God.
What will you choose? To perpetuate the endless, monotonous, unsatisfying cycle, or to break out of the quiet desperation of your heart and begin to live authentically?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
the sweetness of God
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." ~Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
I feel like this verse has been the theme of my entire year.
The list of things to be worried or anxious about is seemingly endless: the future, career direction, current job (or job search), current circumstances, health, finances, friends, family, relationships, what field to study or enter, what path to choose...
In our fallen nature, it is so easy to default to needless worrying, to take our eyes of the sovereign God above us and to focus on our own insignificant problems until they become so big they swallow us whole. Yet God commands us to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6). Then He promises that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7).
We are mere wisps of breath within the grand scope of eternity. And yet we think our problems are too big for God to handle, the almighty Creator of the universe who spoke the light and winds and waves into being without lifting a finger. The same God who planned every facet of your being, the subtleties of your personality and characteristics, your every circumstance and life stage, He knew every thought that will ever enter your head and every struggle you will ever face before eternity even began!
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
~Psalm 139:13-16
Don't you think that that God is big enough to take care of you? How unfathomable is His grace that He constantly pursues our corrupt, undeserving hearts and puts every struggle in our path in order to draw us closer to Him, to break our obstinate wills so that we will recognize our desperate need of Him. Not so that He can play puppet with us, but because He desires intimate relationship with us, He desires reciprocal affection and voluntary love from us; our joy is the delight of His heart! Nothing is sweeter than the constant fellowship of a daily dependence on God. It absolutely blows my mind that this all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God cares for me, and the condition of my heart so much that He will do whatever it takes to purge every impurity from the desires of my heart. Just let that truth sink in.
In Matthew 6:25-34, God tells us "do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Though He loves every part of creation, we are the crown of creation, and He will certainly always take care of us. Deuteronomy 10:14 says that the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. Why should I ever worry about food or clothing or money, when all of it belongs to God? Matthew 7:7-11 says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
God already knows exactly what we need, and He promises to provide for us. We may not always get what we think we want or need, but that is because our Heavenly Father knows what we need best and what will be good for us in the long run; you don't give a kid ice cream or candy every time he asks for it, because it's not good for him. Our minds are too small to comprehend the goodness of discipline while we're in it, but sometimes God allows us to see why He says no or not yet after the fact. Yet He actually commands us to ask Him for things - I think we're often afraid to ask God for things, because we think if He doesn't follow through right away, it negates the power or the existence or the goodness of our God, or means that our faith is too small. If our motives are right, perhaps He's calling us to be persistent in prayer, to persevere for His higher purposes.
"He may delay because it would not be safe to give us at once what we ask: we are not ready for it. To give ere we could truly receive, would be to destroy the very heart and hope of prayer, to cease to be our Father. The delay itself may work to bring us nearer to our help, to increase the desire, perfect the prayer, and ripen the receptive condition." ~George MacDonald
We don't know the grand scheme of things, we can't see the bigger picture, so we don't know God's reasons for everything. However, we can trust and rest in the knowledge that He is above and beyond all things, and that He is Good. God's timing is perfect.
One more thought; if you are frustrated or confused about unmet or unfulfilled desires of your heart, know this:
"God doesn't mock us with His promises to answer prayer. C.H. Spurgeon said,
'I cannot imagine any one of you tantalizing your child by exciting in him a desire that you did not intend to gratify. It were a very ungenerous thing to offer alms to the poor, and then when they hold out their hand for it, to mock their poverty with denial. It were a cruel addition to the miseries of the sick if they were taken to the hospital and there left to die unattended and uncared for. Where God leads you to pray, He means you to receive.'"
(Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life)
If you have felt in your heart a God-given desire for marriage or children or missions or being a successful artist, musician, writer, photographer, actor, filmmaker, businessman, whatever - know that He doesn't intend to frustrate us; He intends to grow us to the fullest of our potential, by the best means possible, for our joy and His ultimate glory, in His absolute perfect timing. We want to be perfect and accomplished now, but as a friend said to me yesterday, life is about the process, not the product. Be patient, you'll get there. Life is a journey, not a destination.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," ~Ephesians 1:3. He has given us every spiritual blessing for our rich enjoyment, and He has blessed us to be a blessing to others. In John 10:10, Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." God wants us to live our lives to the fullest, so cherish and relish each day, and make the most of every opportunity! (Eph. 5:16)
Be encouraged!
Much <3,
Cindy
I feel like this verse has been the theme of my entire year.
The list of things to be worried or anxious about is seemingly endless: the future, career direction, current job (or job search), current circumstances, health, finances, friends, family, relationships, what field to study or enter, what path to choose...
In our fallen nature, it is so easy to default to needless worrying, to take our eyes of the sovereign God above us and to focus on our own insignificant problems until they become so big they swallow us whole. Yet God commands us to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6). Then He promises that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7).
We are mere wisps of breath within the grand scope of eternity. And yet we think our problems are too big for God to handle, the almighty Creator of the universe who spoke the light and winds and waves into being without lifting a finger. The same God who planned every facet of your being, the subtleties of your personality and characteristics, your every circumstance and life stage, He knew every thought that will ever enter your head and every struggle you will ever face before eternity even began!
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
~Psalm 139:13-16
Don't you think that that God is big enough to take care of you? How unfathomable is His grace that He constantly pursues our corrupt, undeserving hearts and puts every struggle in our path in order to draw us closer to Him, to break our obstinate wills so that we will recognize our desperate need of Him. Not so that He can play puppet with us, but because He desires intimate relationship with us, He desires reciprocal affection and voluntary love from us; our joy is the delight of His heart! Nothing is sweeter than the constant fellowship of a daily dependence on God. It absolutely blows my mind that this all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God cares for me, and the condition of my heart so much that He will do whatever it takes to purge every impurity from the desires of my heart. Just let that truth sink in.
In Matthew 6:25-34, God tells us "do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Though He loves every part of creation, we are the crown of creation, and He will certainly always take care of us. Deuteronomy 10:14 says that the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. Why should I ever worry about food or clothing or money, when all of it belongs to God? Matthew 7:7-11 says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
God already knows exactly what we need, and He promises to provide for us. We may not always get what we think we want or need, but that is because our Heavenly Father knows what we need best and what will be good for us in the long run; you don't give a kid ice cream or candy every time he asks for it, because it's not good for him. Our minds are too small to comprehend the goodness of discipline while we're in it, but sometimes God allows us to see why He says no or not yet after the fact. Yet He actually commands us to ask Him for things - I think we're often afraid to ask God for things, because we think if He doesn't follow through right away, it negates the power or the existence or the goodness of our God, or means that our faith is too small. If our motives are right, perhaps He's calling us to be persistent in prayer, to persevere for His higher purposes.
"He may delay because it would not be safe to give us at once what we ask: we are not ready for it. To give ere we could truly receive, would be to destroy the very heart and hope of prayer, to cease to be our Father. The delay itself may work to bring us nearer to our help, to increase the desire, perfect the prayer, and ripen the receptive condition." ~George MacDonald
We don't know the grand scheme of things, we can't see the bigger picture, so we don't know God's reasons for everything. However, we can trust and rest in the knowledge that He is above and beyond all things, and that He is Good. God's timing is perfect.
One more thought; if you are frustrated or confused about unmet or unfulfilled desires of your heart, know this:
"God doesn't mock us with His promises to answer prayer. C.H. Spurgeon said,
'I cannot imagine any one of you tantalizing your child by exciting in him a desire that you did not intend to gratify. It were a very ungenerous thing to offer alms to the poor, and then when they hold out their hand for it, to mock their poverty with denial. It were a cruel addition to the miseries of the sick if they were taken to the hospital and there left to die unattended and uncared for. Where God leads you to pray, He means you to receive.'"
(Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life)
If you have felt in your heart a God-given desire for marriage or children or missions or being a successful artist, musician, writer, photographer, actor, filmmaker, businessman, whatever - know that He doesn't intend to frustrate us; He intends to grow us to the fullest of our potential, by the best means possible, for our joy and His ultimate glory, in His absolute perfect timing. We want to be perfect and accomplished now, but as a friend said to me yesterday, life is about the process, not the product. Be patient, you'll get there. Life is a journey, not a destination.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," ~Ephesians 1:3. He has given us every spiritual blessing for our rich enjoyment, and He has blessed us to be a blessing to others. In John 10:10, Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." God wants us to live our lives to the fullest, so cherish and relish each day, and make the most of every opportunity! (Eph. 5:16)
Be encouraged!
Much <3,
Cindy
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