My Heart

We’ve lost all reverence; we’ve lost all awe for our most holy Lord. How few are those who tremble at His word, those who dare to desire His presence. We are so comfortable- so stagnant. So filled with this idea of ‘grace’ that leads not to repentance but only to increased debauchery. The first reactions of those confronted by God were fear, dread, utter desperation as they were faced with their own humanity and imperfection. We flee from Him. We want God close enough to help us when we call, but far enough that we can continue to live as though He isn’t here. And we call ourselves Christians, Christ-followers. I am ashamed. Our brand of Christianity accepts everyone and expects no change. We feel that God will adapt to meet our needs. I think of Paul’s words in Galatians 3:1, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” And in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?”

This doesn’t sit well with our feel-good, everyone’s okay brand of Christianity, but this is the truth. As long as we continue to identify ourselves with Christ and continue to live as though he doesn’t exist, we are guilty of high treason. We are ambassadors grossly misrepresenting our King- turning people away from Him with our self-righteous antics! It is only by His grace that we are not consumed. Let us then, in view of that grace, come before Him and offer ourselves wholly to Him. Let us change our way of thinking- and thereby change our way of being. Let us leave behind us our old ways and live in light of our Lord, in light of eternity. 

-Joy

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.

My dad says I’m slow… and maybe I am. But here’s the deal: how can you love someone you don’t truly know? And how can you know someone without spending long hours delving into the depths of their soul? How can you know someone without giving them time to face a crisis and watch them handle it? True character is revealed when life doesn’t turn out as planned. The more I get to know people, the more I am able to love them. The same is true with Christ, but different. 

Perhaps my relationship with Christ has been going on for so long that I just take it for granted. I’ve yet to have a human relationship (in a falling in love sense) that has lasted long enough for that. Or maybe it’s the fact that I can’t physically see or feel Christ that makes me shaky. It probably is a combination; regardless, it’s ridiculous. 

The more I get to know God and his love, the more in love with him I fall. But it’s so easy to fall away. It’s so easy to get distracted, to let “amores pasajeros” sway me from his arms. Why? When I know that Christ is everything, when he’s proven himself time and time again, why do I falter? It’s so sad. John Ortberg suggests that we should stop praying for more faith and instead pray that we can know God better. He says that the more we know God, the more our faith will grow, because God is just that awesome. How small is my understanding of God, then?! Pathetically so… 

I am waiting for the day when I shall know him fully, even as I am fully known. Until that day, slowly but surely, my knowledge will grow; my love will follow. :)