There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God”
I still see too much of my sinful nature...I'm taking an awful long time to be changed into his likeness. Sometimes I get so frustrated about it.
How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself.
Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
I had to underline that because it exactly what I want to be...but I'm not. I still worry about things and money and this and that. I don't seem to be changing. It reminds me of what I decided today about something else in my life...that I feel I need to change. I always bumble around during job interviews because I get so nervous. I kept thinking that in time, the change would happen naturally the more I interviewed...but it hasn't. Instead, I have to work at it to get it to change. I have to take active steps. So I am getting together with someone who has been in the field for 30+ years to practice.
One other thing I have decided to change is my prayer life. Simply put: I don't like to pray. I know...I can hear you all just gasping in shock. "What? She doesn't like to pray? And she calls herself a Christian?!!!??" So I have joined a small group about prayer. I have also signed up to come to my church on election night and pray for one hour for our country. I need to...practice...what else? I know I need to grow in the area of prayer. I've heard that it can change you so that you hear God more. I know that Oswald has said that prayer is getting to know God...or something to that affect. The truth is that I don't like to pray. I can't hear God and I struggle to trust Him. It's the ugly truth about myself.
Photo by Vincent Lock. "Practice" Creative Commons Flickr
Saint John of the Cross wrote about "The Dark Night of the Soul". This is a period of desolation where we feel separate from God, and our prayers are met with silence and aridity. This is not a punishment but a way that the Holy Spirit purifies us for further growth. When met with desolation we have to remember that consolation follows, and so we continue to pray in faith and hope. When we feel consolation, we have to remember that desolation follows, and so we build up this treasure to last us in dryness. The thing to do continue to pray, and I like that you're trying different things to maintain your spiritual life. Your perseverance is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so know that God is still at work within you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, rjlorenz. Good encouragement.
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