Day 22
It's Day 22 of 40. I don't know that I've ever been as cognizant of a transformation process happening in my life. I look back at who I was just a few months ago and hardly recognize myself. I'm amazed at my own prayerlessness.
Post-Game
Every once in a while there are verses that just jump out of Scripture that you seem to have never noticed before. That is part of the joy of Scripture--it is always full of new surprises based on different life situations. I like the way Andy Stanley says it. Scripture is equally inspired, but it's not equally applicable!
I Kings 20:11 says, "A warrior still dressing for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won." I love that. I think one of my historical weaknesses has been such a desire to achieve that I like telling people about what I'm going to do before I do it. I think, early on, that came out of my immaturity and insecurity. A few years ago the Lord really convicted me to just let my life speak for itself. Instead of telling people about what you're going to do, just do it. I think this verse speaks to that. I think too often I've been the boasting warrior--but not the one who had already won. I was the one who was still in the locker room getting dressed.
Subtle Shifts
I find subtle shifts in the way I feel and think these days.
This morning I woke up, and it's been this way in recent days, my first thought is praising the Lord. I'm being reordering or realigned or recalibrated so that my life really does revolve around God.
The Old Testament sacrifices were designed to be book ends. The priests were instructed to offer "one in the morning" and "the other in the evening" (Exodus 29:37). I'm more and more conviced that the key to what happens during the day is how you start and end the day!
I also embrace conviction or rebuke because I want to grow. And I am willing to be speak the truth in love and let the chips fall where they may because I feel like I'm right with God. I think it's a confidence that can only come from knowing that you're doing and saying what God wants you to say or do.
I also find myself loving ministry more--the input not the outcome. This is critical. There have been times when I've gotten focused on the end gain or bottom dollar. But that is dangerous. We should never measure based on outcomes. God controls the outcomes. We need to find joy not in how many people come or the response to a message. We need to find joy in doing what God has called us to do--praying and preaching and serving. If we find joy in the front-end, the input, then ministry becomes it's own reward. Anything less or anything else is chasing the mirage! There is nothing like the joy of doing the right thing for the right reasons because it's pleasing to the Lord.
When we get focused on outcomes it is typically an ego issue. There is a freedom when you only worry about doing the right thing. When you're only worried about doing the right thing you don't have to worry about anything else.
Slumps
I like to think of "backsliding" is a spiritual slump. And all of us get into them. They way I got out slumps in basketball was going back to basics. You have to take the pressue off yourself. You need to start having fun again--play for the love of the game.
The same is true spiritually--we need to "return to our first love." And we need to go back to basics. That's what I did in May and the 40 days of Prayer and Fasting. I was in a slump. I hit bottom and didn't bounce. I know the feeling. But I feel like the Lord has brought me through this process to help others get out of spiritual slumps!
Presence
Most people don't want to be in God's presence because of sin in their life. Sin pushes against the feet of the Shekinah.
I find myself anticipating heaven and the Lord's return much more these days. The more I think about him the more I can't wait to see Him face-to-face. It is the one experience that won't disappoint at all. It'll be the most undisappointing experience we've ever had--if that's a word.
Evangelistic Zeal
To my own shame, I had more evangelistic zeal in Elementary School than I do as an adult. But I think I'm recapturing that. I remember sharing Christ in second grade with one of the "misfits" in my class. I remember inviting neighbor friends to a Billy Graham crusade at County Stadium in Milwaukee. I remember sharing Christ with all my friends in the fourth and fifth grade.
I definitely prayed, shared my faith, and invited a close circle of friends in high school to church. My speech in speech class was a presentation of the gospel. And I shared my faith with my entire dorm floor at the University of Chicago.
But ministry can be just an evangelistic vacumn. You're so busy "tending the sheep" that you don't go after the lost sheep. I have a growing awareness of really influencing people for Christ in big and small ways.
Distinction
I think one key to reaching people for Christ is "the distinction." As I read through Exodus I see God promising to make a distinction between "His people" and those who aren't via blessings.
I think it is living a "blessed life" that will attract people to Christ. People ought to be asking, "What makes you different?" People ought to want what we have. But if there is no distinction there is no witness!
Moses said, "If you don't go with us personally, don't let us go up from this place. If you don't go with us, how will anyone ever know that your people and I have found favor with you?"
Post-Game
Every once in a while there are verses that just jump out of Scripture that you seem to have never noticed before. That is part of the joy of Scripture--it is always full of new surprises based on different life situations. I like the way Andy Stanley says it. Scripture is equally inspired, but it's not equally applicable!
I Kings 20:11 says, "A warrior still dressing for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won." I love that. I think one of my historical weaknesses has been such a desire to achieve that I like telling people about what I'm going to do before I do it. I think, early on, that came out of my immaturity and insecurity. A few years ago the Lord really convicted me to just let my life speak for itself. Instead of telling people about what you're going to do, just do it. I think this verse speaks to that. I think too often I've been the boasting warrior--but not the one who had already won. I was the one who was still in the locker room getting dressed.
Subtle Shifts
I find subtle shifts in the way I feel and think these days.
This morning I woke up, and it's been this way in recent days, my first thought is praising the Lord. I'm being reordering or realigned or recalibrated so that my life really does revolve around God.
The Old Testament sacrifices were designed to be book ends. The priests were instructed to offer "one in the morning" and "the other in the evening" (Exodus 29:37). I'm more and more conviced that the key to what happens during the day is how you start and end the day!
I also embrace conviction or rebuke because I want to grow. And I am willing to be speak the truth in love and let the chips fall where they may because I feel like I'm right with God. I think it's a confidence that can only come from knowing that you're doing and saying what God wants you to say or do.
I also find myself loving ministry more--the input not the outcome. This is critical. There have been times when I've gotten focused on the end gain or bottom dollar. But that is dangerous. We should never measure based on outcomes. God controls the outcomes. We need to find joy not in how many people come or the response to a message. We need to find joy in doing what God has called us to do--praying and preaching and serving. If we find joy in the front-end, the input, then ministry becomes it's own reward. Anything less or anything else is chasing the mirage! There is nothing like the joy of doing the right thing for the right reasons because it's pleasing to the Lord.
When we get focused on outcomes it is typically an ego issue. There is a freedom when you only worry about doing the right thing. When you're only worried about doing the right thing you don't have to worry about anything else.
Slumps
I like to think of "backsliding" is a spiritual slump. And all of us get into them. They way I got out slumps in basketball was going back to basics. You have to take the pressue off yourself. You need to start having fun again--play for the love of the game.
The same is true spiritually--we need to "return to our first love." And we need to go back to basics. That's what I did in May and the 40 days of Prayer and Fasting. I was in a slump. I hit bottom and didn't bounce. I know the feeling. But I feel like the Lord has brought me through this process to help others get out of spiritual slumps!
Presence
Most people don't want to be in God's presence because of sin in their life. Sin pushes against the feet of the Shekinah.
I find myself anticipating heaven and the Lord's return much more these days. The more I think about him the more I can't wait to see Him face-to-face. It is the one experience that won't disappoint at all. It'll be the most undisappointing experience we've ever had--if that's a word.
Evangelistic Zeal
To my own shame, I had more evangelistic zeal in Elementary School than I do as an adult. But I think I'm recapturing that. I remember sharing Christ in second grade with one of the "misfits" in my class. I remember inviting neighbor friends to a Billy Graham crusade at County Stadium in Milwaukee. I remember sharing Christ with all my friends in the fourth and fifth grade.
I definitely prayed, shared my faith, and invited a close circle of friends in high school to church. My speech in speech class was a presentation of the gospel. And I shared my faith with my entire dorm floor at the University of Chicago.
But ministry can be just an evangelistic vacumn. You're so busy "tending the sheep" that you don't go after the lost sheep. I have a growing awareness of really influencing people for Christ in big and small ways.
Distinction
I think one key to reaching people for Christ is "the distinction." As I read through Exodus I see God promising to make a distinction between "His people" and those who aren't via blessings.
I think it is living a "blessed life" that will attract people to Christ. People ought to be asking, "What makes you different?" People ought to want what we have. But if there is no distinction there is no witness!
Moses said, "If you don't go with us personally, don't let us go up from this place. If you don't go with us, how will anyone ever know that your people and I have found favor with you?"
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