LIWD :: day 37 :: Your Assignment: Wait

Naomi told [Ruth] that Boaz was a candidate for being their kinsman-redeemer....  This simply meant that the Mosaic Law allowed Boaz, as the closest kin, to redeem the childless widow and keep the family name alive....

Naomi instructs Ruth to approach Boaz and ask him if he would be their kinsman-redeemer...His willingness was directly related to the character he had noticed in her responses to life and God.

...

Naomi's response to Boaz's willingness may have put a damper on most single women's racing heartbeat.  "Then Naomi said, 'Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens.  For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today'" (Ruth 3:18 NIV).  Who has to wait?  The woman must wait.  Who is the one who will not rest?  The man, Boaz, will not rest.

Wait.  Such an assignment is not to cause suffering, but prevent it.  Woman experience so much needless pain when they run ahead of God's format.  Naomi knew that there may exist an even closer kinsman who would qualify to redeem her and Ruth...Naomi did not want Ruth's heart to race ahead into disappointment in case the cicumstances did not go as assumed.

Wait.  Such an assignment is not to cause suffering, but prevent it.

It's so easy to get ahead of ourselves.  It's so easy to blur the lines between fantasy and reality.  It's so easy to have our hearts broken when we wear our hearts on our sleeves.  It's so easy to blind ourselves from that which we do not wish to perceive.  It's so easy to interpret things in our favor.  It's so easy to jump conclusions.  It's so easy to believe things are the way we wish without actually looking at the facts.  It's so easy. 

I have always been a romantic.  I have always wanted that fairy tale...that happy ending.  I have always dreamed of my prince charming coming and saving me from all that ails me.  I have always let my daydreams get the best of me.  I have always tried to guess what comes next.  I have always imagined what comes next to be amazing and romantic. 

When we try to predict the future, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.  We cannot control someone elses free will.  We cannot know every thought they are having or where their heart is leading them.  I have often gotten way ahead of myself when it comes to relationships.  Things will be going well, or maybe just even okay, and I'll imagine that they are amazing.  I trick myself into believing things are better than they are.  In doing this, I only made it that harder when things didn't work out. 

When I look back at my past relationships, I know that they didn't work out for a reason.  I know that none of those guys were the one God destined for me to be with.  But I didn't always see that at the time.  There was the one I pined over for years...when we only technically were together for 3 days.  It took years for me to take off the rose-colored glasses and see that relationship for what it truly was.  It was hard when I finally accepted that we were not meant to be, that we were not good for eachother, but I'm so glad I did.  I know that if things had 'worked out' between us, we would both be miserable.  I'm so thankful God opened my eyes to that.  But, man, did I struggle to keep those rose-colored glasses.  Everything was just so much prettier with them on.

God already has plans for us.  He knows what's best for us.  It's up to us to use our free will to obtain that.  By listening to Him, and following in His word, we won't need those rose-colored glasses anymore.  Everything won't be perfect, but it will be fulfilling.  Following God is not a fix-all.  It's not a 'snap of the fingers' and everythings grand.  It's a life plan.  It's a way of ensuring that you are becoming all you can be...all God yearns for you to be.  It's a way of praising God by giving Him what He desires of you.

LIWD :: day 36 :: Spiritual Pain

Passion makes it difficult to see that God also set physical limits to protect you spiritually.  Hebrews 13:4 (NIV) very clearly says that "marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."  God judges the sin of immorality.  It feels awful to be separated from your Lord by the guilt of sin.

Actions speak louder than words, and this is especially true regarding premarital sex.  It is difficult to share Christ with one who knows your reputation.  Your actions can also cause weaker brothers and sisters to stumble.  One night of passion can totally destroy a reputation you have built over a lifetime.  "The spiritual side of sex is often overlooked.  Even many Christians are not aware of the profoundly spirtual nature of their sex lives.  A person will feel acute spiritual pain and separation from God when engaging in sex outside of marriage, but may not even realize how spiritually beneficial and unifying sex is within marriage."

God does not intend to deny you pleasure.  He protects you so you might enjoy physical health, emotional stability, relational intimacy, and spiritual blessings.

It feels awful to be separated from your Lord by the guilt of sin.

We all have people that look up to us.  We all have someone who admires us...even when we do not deserve it...even when their admiration is misguided.  It is our responsibility as Christ followers to set the best example we are capable of.

I want to be worthy of admiration.  Not godly amiration, but inspiring admiration.  I want to invoke the love of Christ in others.  I want to shine Gods light.  I don't want people to look at me, at the way I live my life, and say, 'she says she's a christian, but look at what she's doing.'.  I don't want to be all talk.  I want to walk the walk.  I want to live the way God desires me to. 

There's a quote that has always struck a chord with me.  I'm not sure who it's by...it's on the intro to What if I Stumble on the dc Talk album Free at Last. 

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is christians...who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and then walk out the door and get on with a greater lifestyle.  That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

  I don't want to be that kind of christian.  I strongly believe there is an immense different between a believer in Christ, a follower of Christ and a leader for Christ.  I believe they are levels maturity in christianity.  I'm a follower in my walk right now, and I am striving to be a leader.

I want to inspire others to live their lives in Christ...to not only believe in Him and accept Him into their hearts, but to truly live their lives for Him.  To do that, I have to practice what I preach.  I have to lead by example.  So I will speak out of my abstinence.  I will speak out of why I'm abstinence.  And I won't just be all talk.

LIWD :: day 35 :: Don't Sin Against Yourself

Have you ever been dieting but treated yourself to a huge piece of rich chocolate cake with fudge icing to celebrate some special occasion?  Cake is good.  Cake is desirable.  The more cake, the more pleasure.  But cake, in the midst of a strict diet, can really make on sick!  The pleasure of a big, luscious piece of cake depends on the right timing, just as the pleasures of sex do.

God also wants to protect you from the sexually transmitted diseases that could affect not only you, but also your future husband....

God also desires to shield you from an unwanted pregnancy.  Although precautions exist, pregnancy always remains a possibility.  A rushed marriage, adoption, or abortion only complicate the consequences.

God desires to shield you from the negative physical consequences of premarital sex.  He wants to protect you from sinning against your body.  First Corinthians (NIV) says, "Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a [woman] commits are outside [her] body, but [she] who sins sexually sins against [her] own body."

"He wants you to be free from an addiction to premarital sex.  Passionate physical exchange is a short-lived high.  As with drugs, you keep wanting more intense highs."

...cake, in the midst of a strict diet, can really make one sick!

Abstinence is hard.  Abstinence is so hard.  But it's doable and I believe it will be worth it.  I believe that denying myself physical pleasures now will only help me to grow closer to God, stronger in my faith. 

I know that my wedding night will be special.  I know that my wedding night will be romantic.  I know that any indescretions I have can cheapen that.  I also know that any and all indescretions I have had, have been forgiven.  I know that when I turned my life over God and asked Him for forgiveness that He granted me just that.  I know that when I asked God to wash me of my sins He replied that He had already done just that when He sent His Son to die on the cross and rise again 3 days later.  I know that because of the great sacrifice Jesus made for me that I am forgiven and that in Gods eyes I am pure again.

I want to remain pure in His sight.  So I will do my best to remain abstinent.  I will do my best to not have any more indescretions.  I will do my best.  But, if I mess up...if I slip...I know that when I come to Him, on my knees, crying out for forgiveness, that He will cleanse me of my sins and make me pure again.

LIWD :: day 34 :: The Effectual Touch in the Will / Madame Jeanne Guyon

Madame Jeanne Guyon

Madame Jeanne Guyon was born at Montargis, France.  When she was only 15, she married an invalid who was 38 years old.  Unhappy in her marriage, she sought happiness in her devotional life.  She lived in a convent under royal order for a year and then was imprisoned in Vincennes and the Bastille because of her religious beliefs.  Almost 25 years of her life were spent in confinement.  Many of her books were written during that period.

Writing that compels the reader to move into a living experience of Jesus Christ is Madame Guyon's great contribution to devotional literature.  Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (sometimes entitled A Short and Very Easy Method of Prayer) has had a wide influence: Watchman Nee saw that it was translated into Chinese and made available to every new convent in the Little Flock; Francois Fenelon, John Wesley, and Hudson Taylor all highly recommended it to the believers of their day.

The Effectual Touch in the Will

The Soul then receives an effectual Touch in the Will, which invites it to recollection, and instructs it that God is within, and must be sought there; that He is present in the Heart, and must be there enjoyed.

The discovery, in the beginning, is the source of very great joy to the Soul, as it is an intimation or pledge of happiness to come; in its very commencement, the road it is to pursue is opened and is shown to be that of the Inward Life.  This knowledge is the more admirable, as it is the spring of all the felicity of the Soul, and the solid foundation of interior progress; for those Souls who tend toward God merely by the intellect, even though they should enjoy a somehat spiritual contemplation, yet can never enter into Intimate Union, if they do not quit that path and enter this of the Inward Touch, where the whole working is in the Will.

The Soul then receives an effectual Touch in the Will, which invites it to recollection, and instructs it that God is within, and must be sought there; that He is present in the Heart and must be there enjoyed.

How often do we just go through the motions?  With everything in our daily lives, it is so easy to just do what we know to do without really putting much thought or effort into it.  It's just as easy when following Christ.  We can say our daily prayers, tithe to the church, sing our hymns, attend church on sunday...and not put any real effort into it. 

You may appear to be a Christian to an onlooker, but God knows better.  He knows your heart.  He knows your mind.  He knows your intentions.  God wants every piece of you.  He wants you to want to know Him.  He doesn't want a half-hearted try.  He doesn't want you to just go through the motions.  He doesn't want empty actions. 

When you truly desire to know Christ, you thirst for Him...for His love.  You want to be in His word.  You want to do as He commands.  You want to share the Truth with others. 

Relationships aren't one-sided.  It takes two.  Both parties involved need to make an effort to get to know eachother.  A relationship with Christ is no different.  When we take the time to really get to know Him and to spend time with Him, only then will we truly be filled with His holy spirit.

LIWD :: day 33 :: Cleanup Time

If you are to know God intimately, then you must seek Him, not only with a whole heart, but also a clean heart.  When you think of the word bride, you probably first imagine a beautiful, clean, pure woman in white.  No grime or dirt mars the image of purity.  As a Christian you are part of the Bride of Christ.  Any grime or dirt of sin will mar your image before Him. 

The Lord's fiance must have a clean heart.  You must clean up any blot of sin that may arise between you and your heavenly Sweetheart.  Sin...is disgusting to Him; He will not abide with it.  Picture a couple deeply in love.  He loves to be near her -- so near he can breathe the fresh aroma of her sweet breath!...  What do you think she does before she sees him if she has eaten onions?...  Not only does she brush, but she also "Scopes, Close-ups, and Gleems."  She doesn't want to offend her love!...  Sin is far more repulsive to God than even onion breath....  If you want your devotion to God to be complete, don't merely brush at sin lightly.  Get in there and confess it, clean it up, and clear it out.

If you want your devotion to God to be complete, don't merely brush at sin lightly.

Everyone has an achilles heel.  A great temptation.  A repeating sin.  It may be drugs, alcohol, sex, lying, anger, stealing...whatever.  It may be something you downplay.  It may be something that you can't hide.  It is often caused by an underlying issue.  So how do we stop?

How do we resist these temptations in our lives?  How do we stop doing something that has become so habitual to us?  The answer is we can't.  At least not on our own.  That's why we need to call on Jesus.  We need to ask for His help in delving into our hearts, our souls, our minds...and clearing out our sin.

As humans, we find it hard to forgive.  It's a great effort for us.  When someone wrongs us, we want to hold a grudge.  We want them to pay for any hurt they may have caused us.  Luckily, God is not that way.  He created us.  He knows us...whether or not we want Him to.  He forgives us no matter what we do.  All he asks is that we come to Him.  He wants us to fall on our knees before Him and whole-heartedly ask for His forgiveness.  He wants to help us.  He wants to make us pure.  All we have to do is ask.