Preconceived Notions

We need to beware of the way we think.
The way we perceive things must be come suspect.
We must understand that our own expectations and desires
color how we view things around us
as well as things to come.

As spiritual people we've been introduced to the reality
that what will come has a significance for us.
The future has been predetermined.
Christ will come.
Good triumphs over evil.

But on the way there our thoughts and hearts are exposed.
Our motives purified.
The fire burns.
Our outlook redeemed.
Redeemed from an idolatrous way of looking at things.
Even things to come.
Even things that have been promised.

Called to ministry, as a young Christian,
I yearned for ministry.I longed to be used.
God's plan was to use me.
I was given glimpses.

But my focus began to see 'ministry'
as the answer to all my problems.
I thought that as I entered more fully into ministry
I would be more spiritual-feel more of a sense of responsibility
towards spiritual things. Be what God wanted me to be.

As I approached the few opportunities to minister
that did come I got 'real spiritual'.
I abstained from fleshly things like never before.
And friends I talked to did the same thing.

And then it was like God was saying,
'You do all this spiritual stuff in preparation
to appearing before man, why not do the same
when the only one to appear before is me
and that which I call you to do daily?

'I began to see the idolatry of my own heart
and for me what had become the ' idolatry of ministry'.

That began a liberating journey
of learning to appear before God and to minister unto him.
Nothing else matters.
Nothing else compares.

That which seems so confining
becomes a large place indeed.
Priorities are properly arranged.

My own understanding and viewpoint is dealt with
as my expectation is from him
who continually shares from his riches in glory-

what my eye has not seen

nor my ear heard

nor has ever before entered into my heart.

A life of preconceived ideas is shattered
as my heart becomes a childlike one
of beholding and expectant wonder.

From Confusion to Double

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Philippians 4.7

In our spiritual lives we often find ourselves in situations
that are perplexing to say the least.
There is that within us which tries to understand.
We seek God for answers and very often the answer
comes to us in the form of that "peace that passeth all understanding."

It is God ministering to us and saying in effect,
"I hear you and I have it in control.
Here is my peace that attests to that."
But understanding is not given.

He ministers the answer to the realm of faith
not our fleshly lust to know all the details
of how and when.

Herein the words of our Lord ring most truewhere he proclaims:
"Except ye be converted and become as little children,ye shall not enter
into the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 18.3

Did you ever notice how little children can accept alot of things
without needing to understand. You can tell a child we're going to get ice cream and he smiles and jumps for joy.
He doesn't start asking questions about how you are going to get there.
He just climbs in the car and trusts you know what you are doing
and that the object of desire will be forthcoming.
All the details: the cost, the time, the way,
are not even in his realm of concern.

There is a painful process wherein we are humbled
and learn not to lean so much on our own understanding.
Much of the pain is in the realm of confusion.
The Psalmist cried:"My confusion is continually before me..." Psalm 44.15

In listening for the Lordand waiting upon the moving of his spirit;
in knowing when we should act and when we should be still;
in discerning the voice of the Lord in the midst of so many other voices;
in such things and others our situation can be very confusing.

In a life where faith has surely brought
some rock solid sureness to our hearts
in so many ways, there also comes some real perplexing questionings.



I'll never forget the word of a Pastor who once said,
"The mountains just keep getting bigger!"
We are over and over again faced with situations that are
greater than we are-beyond our ability to comprehend.
But they are not bigger than our Lord
who would have us ever learn
to look to him and grow in grace and faith.

But herein, in our befuddlement,
in this inevitable by-product of our seeking to live a life led by the spirit,God has a precious promise for us as we continue in this way:
For confusion... they shall possess the double.
Isaiah 61.7

What Mary Found

And she had a sister called Mary,
which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luke 10.39

As she sat before him his words washed over her
like a gentle rain
like dew on the morning grass

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear,
O earth, the words of my mouth.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain,
my speech shall distil as the dew,
as the small rain upon the tender herb,
and as the showers upon the grass.
Deuteronomy 32.1,2

Her heart became enraptured by the glory of his countenance

One thing have I desired that will I seek after
that i might dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to enquire in his temple.
Psalm 27.4

Her eyes are fixed upon him
drinking in of his essence

I said,"Behold me..."
Isaiah 65.1

As she sat there a peace came over her and a rest
as she ceased from her own activities and thoughts
while her sister busily and worriedly
moved about the room

For he that is entered into his rest,
he also hath ceased from his own works,
as God did from his.
Hebrews 4.10

As his words entered into her
she felt a uniting of her heart
towards one purpose and one desire
like she had never known before

And I will give them one heart, and one way,
that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them...
Jeremiah 32.39

Her heart swelling with love in his presence
you could even sense something special going on in the room
even see a heart which like a flower opened
and sending forth its fragrance

While the king sitteth at his table,
my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
Song of Songs 1.12

It followed that she said within herself
'This shepherd
I will follow all of my days'

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23.6