What comes into your mind when you think about God?

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Let us live life “without murmuring and arguing, so that we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, that we may shine like stars in the world.” Philippians 1:15

Can you make a difference “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation?” A recent poll revealed that 72% of Americans feel the country is headed in the wrong direction. If we answer the question based on the poll, then the answer might be no. We can easily become discouraged and feel hopeless trying to make a difference in moving the moral compass.

William Wilberforce probably felt the same way as he battled the beastly horrors of the slave trade industry. Mother Teresa probably felt the same way as she walked the filthy streets of Calcutta caring for the outcasts of society. Missionary Lottie Moon probably felt the same way as she sought to show the love of Jesus in her adopted country of China. Billy Graham probably felt the same way as he stood inviting those to come who wanted to know the freedom that Jesus offered.

A.W. Tozer asked a previous generation a penetrating question that I find still relevant today. Tozer wrote, “were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” We might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man. Were we able to know exactly what our most influential religious leaders think of God today, we might be able with some precision to foretell where the church will stand tomorrow.”

“What comes into your mind when you think about God?” This question helps define the reality of how to make a difference in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Jesus said in Matthew, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart comes evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.” (15:18-19)

Unfortunately, we see the results of Jesus’ words in our culture today. Followers of Jesus seek to impact the world’s culture. How you answer the question helps determine the impact you have on others. Jesus’ words are powerful and true.  In our daily lives, life actions could be life-giving instead of life-taking if time had been taken to answer this simple yet profound question “What comes into your mind when you think about God?”

God your deeds are extraordinary! Who is a protector besides our God? God the deliverer. The great, mighty, and awesome God. He is not the God of the dead but of the living. Sanctified by God’s word and by prayer. For nothing will be impossible with God. I thirst for God. God is our defender forever. For the LORD is a great God. God reigns over the nations. Confidence in God. Be imitators of God. (various scripture verses)

How we answer the question defines much of the course of our spiritual life as well as our natural life. It is heartbreaking when many answers that God is irrelevant or non-existent. How could a good God let this happen? If God is real, why doesn’t He answer my prayers?

Satan has been planting seeds of doubt since the beginning of time. In the book of Job, we read how Job was slandered by the accusation that Job’s thoughts about God were for what he could get for himself.  Satan even challenges God when he says, “Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (Job 1: 10) Satan goes to confront God and that if He would only, “stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has,” then the reaction of Job about God will be “he will curse you to your face.” (1:11)

However, Job didn’t curse God since he had spent time through the years thinking about God. He didn’t particularly like what was happening to him in life but “in all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.” –Job1:22

What comes to mind when we think about God? The answer will come from what we have allowed being planted in our hearts and souls. “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” –Psalm 1:1-3

Farmers and gardeners work in the blazing sun planting seeds. At the end of the day when they look out over the cultivated field it might feel like the day was wasted with nothing to show for the hard work. Yet the seeds planted will eventually sprout into a bountiful harvest. The same will be for you as you spend time thinking through your answer to the question.

Peter planted seeds knowing that God is Savior with the declaration, “The Messiah of God.” (Luke 9:18).

Paul planted seeds that revealed the weakness of any culture “for the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”—I Corinthians 1:18

John planted seeds knowing, “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them. I John 4:16

James planted seeds resulting in, “every act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights”—James 1:17

I planted these life-defining seed verses:  God is merciful and gracious…abounding in steadfast love, –Psalm 86:15 Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me—Psalm 69:6 Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great.” –Psalm 70:4 Love the LORD God with all of heart, soul, mind—Matt 22:36-40 The LORD is in your midst…singing over you Zeph 3:17

“From the beginning, God’s desire was that we would exist in an everlasting relationship with him. Sin gets in the way of that relationship, especially laziness that sidelines praise and prayer. May we never be too busy for both.” –Brennan Manning

How will you answer, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” What seeds are you planting to help you think about God?

Father, I confess my often-lazy attitude of being with you, letting sin harbor thoughts that prevent fellowship with you. Restore the joy of prayer and praise that will permeate every fiber of my heart, mind and soul for you that I may shine like stars in the world.

God is great,

 

 

Ask for the Ancient Paths

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Thus says the LORD: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.” Jeremiah 6:16

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about taking a few dirt roads in life. One finds that when driving on dirt roads there are a lot of crossroads. Now, if you are familiar with the upcoming crossroad, you will know which way to turn. However, since very few of the crossroads on dirt roads have sign markers, unfamiliar roads can create some anxiety. You question what direction to go, knowing if you take the wrong turn, you could end up lost.

Imagine you are approaching a spiritual crossroad; not a crossroad about a decision on which job to take, where to live, or any other life question. You find yourself burned out, weary and overwhelmed, needing to care for yourself. Does this crossroad turn toward God or the other direction that will take you far from Him?

If you “ask for the ancient paths” as Jeremiah wrote, you will find yourself on God’s way. This path will go through green pastures as well as dark valleys. On the ancient paths, you will always be assured of God’s companionship for the journey. The other turn is what the world offers. Yes, it can look very attractive and inviting at first but it ends with emptiness and hopelessness. It is a road that may take you where you never intended to go.

Soul care may be a concept new to many but it is as old as the ancient paths. Jesus recognized everyone will eventually get to some crossroads where life is difficult and you find yourself attempting to try this method or that technique simply to find hope, encouragement and rest. What is Soul Care? The best definition I have found is “an adventure of learning to care for your soul for the sake of others.”

Foundationally your soul is all of you; your identity, passions and oneness with God.  David Hansen has a great illustration of the soul. He writes, “the soul is more like a river than a street, more like a forest than a city, more like a wild trout than a laboratory rat.” Hansen’s definition is the imagery of freedom and joy.

So then, what is a person worth? Normally you think in terms of your bank accounts, the size of your home, the type of car you drive, or career accomplishments. However, if you define value in physical terms, 99% of a human being is composed of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus – valued at about $100, depending upon inflation. All of this is worthless unless you remember that the body is simply an address for the soul to reside.

Jesus redefined dignity to those he encountered. The dignity of the soul is found because you are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27), valued to the point of every hair being counted (Matthew 10:30) and so loved that he gave up His only Son (John 3:16).

“When human beings are devalued, everything in society turns sour. Women are humiliated and children despised. The sick are regarded as a nuisance and the elderly as a burden. Ethnic minorities are discriminated against. The poor are oppressed and denied social justice…labor is exploited in the mines and factories. There is no freedom, no dignity, no carefree joy. Human life seems not worth living because it is scarcely human any longer…people matter…because every man, woman, and child has worth and significance as a human being made in God’s image and likeness.” –John Stott

To care for your soul for the sake of others requires time-space–community. Jesus knew the need for time-space-community and lived it. He took time to be with the Father daily, found time to be silent, and got away from the crowd in solitude.

Jesus understood the foundations needed for life when facing a spiritual crossroad. Jesus gave us the priority in which to live. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” — Matthew 22:37-39

Soul care doesn’t happen overnight. It will require time with God where you can be alone and listening. Soul care will require setting aside a place that becomes your sacred place of worship and reflection. We need the same passion for God that Brother Lawrence wrote about in The Practice of the Presence of God, “It helps little to pray if I do not know the God to whom I pray.”

As you care for your soul, it allows you to care for others, nurture others, become a trusted listener and pray deeply. Soul care is a rhythm where “as we comfort and teach and encourage, we will be comforted, taught and encouraged in turn.” (unknown author)

As you care for yourself and others, you will begin to impact a messy and out-of-control world. “Learn this great lesson: as the sun on a cold day shines on us and imparts its warmth, believe that the living God will work in you with His love and almighty power. God will reveal Himself as life and light and joy and strength to the soul who waits upon Him.”—Andrew Murray

Jesus offers an invitation to you to walk the ancient paths. Care for your soul, for the sake of others. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” –Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

God is great,

Walking Dirt Roads

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Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen strange things today.” Luke 5:26

Have you booked your flight yet?  Virgin Galactic (www.virgingalactic.com) is taking reservations for future spaceflights. The flight will take off from Spaceport America in New Mexico and will last about 90 minutes. This amazing out-of-the-world experience will only cost you $450,000.

Unless they take frequent flyer miles, I may not get to experience this out-of-the-world adventure. Though I may not get to see the earth from outer space, I have experienced some amazing adventures on dirt roads.

My childhood home in rural Oklahoma was next to a dusty dirt road. Growing up in poverty, I only dreamed of adventures beyond the dirt road. Grateful for an amazing church and city library that allowed me to read about places and people around the world, placing myself in their stories and experiences. Unbelievably, that dirt road would someday lead to a dirt road in Africa.

Maybe God has a great sense of humor since Connie and I found ourselves in Bophuthatswana with a house facing a dirt road. Similar to the Oklahoma dirt road, you knew someone was coming long before they got to the house by simply seeing the cloud of dust.

Dirt roads have been a path of adventure for us. Dirt roads that have brought us to places and people that we would never have encountered otherwise. Places and people filled us with awe as we walked these roads.

We drove on dirt roads that led to small church buildings in the middle of nowhere, yet where you experienced the very presence of God.  We walked on dirt roads that led to medical clinics where the physical needs of people were met and their souls found encouragement in God’s love. Dirt roads that ended up at majestic mountain ranges, breathtaking canyons, thundering waterfalls and beautiful thatched hut villages.

Dirt road driving in America is now mostly confined to weekend warriors with their dirt bikes or 4-wheel drive pickups. We simply take for granted that our driving will be on paved highways. However, through most of history, dirt roads were the normal surface for transportation. These dirty, dangerous roads would connect one community with another.  Jesus’ main method of traveling was by foot on dirt roads. Roads that brought him within reach of people that needed hope, healing and a Savior. Dirt road walking leaves you ready for the unexpected.

Jesus used the dust from the roads in Luke 7 to confront Simon, a Pharisee and leader in the community, about his lack of forgiveness and humility. A nameless woman, broken and scared from her sins, finds her way to the house where Jesus will be eating. Uninvited by the host, she makes her way to Jesus, washes his feet with her tears and then anoints his feet with the bottle of perfume in her hand. Instead of grace, Simon offers condemnation to the woman. Instead of condemnation, Jesus gives forgiveness to the woman, “your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Jesus used the dust from the road writing forgiveness and grace for a woman caught in adultery in John 8. A woman, mocked and humiliated by the religious leaders, after being caught in the act of adultery was thrown into the dirt at Jesus’ feet. A woman, condemned as an outcast by society, finds forgiveness and redemption in the dust at Jesus’ feet.  No longer would she have to listen to the voices of shame, now she would only hear Jesus’ voice of love and acceptance.

I bought a plaque in a North Georgia gift shop that says it well. “Of all the roads you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” I never dreamed where that dirt road in Oklahoma would lead. I have learned dirt road walking does lead to some amazing adventures. I hope you find yourself on some amazing dirt roads in the years to come.  As you journey the roads ahead of you, may this portion of prayer by Benedict of Norcia encourage you:

LORD, be with us to guide us,

within us to strengthen us,

without us to protect us,

above us to raise us,

beneath us to uphold us,

before us to lead us,

behind us to guard us,

ever about us,

this day and evermore;

this day and evermore.

Amen.

 

God is great,