Giving God His rightful place

[Storico]

I've noticed, since coming back to Christ, that I've seen little discernible difference between my ideas/opinions prior to coming back to Him and now. I've determined that the problem isn't at all with GOD -- He took me back and helps me daily see what salvation means. The issue's with me, and it's this: living a God centered life. To follow Christ is what I want to do more than anything, and I'm making the mistake of saying "I'm saved! I can keep going!"

It seems to me that some change is needed, so when people see me, they see Him. I need to really start centering my life around Christ. Rather than just relying on His resurrection, relying also on His word and on FOLLOWING HIM, even if it's painful to me.

All good pruning is, no doubt, a bit painful.

Right now I have issues and views I feel so strongly about that I can't imagine God changing my mind on them -- and yet, if it means giving up what I think to follow what Christ instructs, I wish I could find a way to surrender. I'm a stubborn person, but I'm also a hopeful person. I hope for more of Christ; not for my personality to be annihilated as it is, but for Christ to direct it.

What I need to do is at the heart of Biblical ethics: how do Christians break down the walls and give themselves over to God? How do we give God His rightful place when we've been used to doing things and thinking things on our own terms for much of our lives? Giving it over to God... It's a worthwhile pursuit, and I suspect it's ongoing throughout one's life... but it's HARD! :yes:

Any comments? Experiences?

[Amazing Rando]

If I were you, I'd start with the red letters! Go straight to the heart of the Bible and learn what the Lord himself has to say about how to live your life. In many churches that use the lectionary, they read an OT passage, a psalm, a NT epistle, and a gospel reading each week- and can you guess which one they stand up to hear?

Meditate on the words of the Bible and particularly on the gospels- don't read quickly, but prayerfully, slowly, for understanding, and invite the Lord to speak his Word for you through the Scriptures. I'd suggest reading with the big question of practical application constantly in the back of your mind- "In light of what I've just read, how does God want me to live my life?" That sort of thing.

To give you an example of the sorts of things you'll find in the gospels that might challenge you and even keep you up all night pondering the implications for "real life," check out these from Mark:


4Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

:dizzy: Oy!

Christian ethics is not something you can figure out in one sitting or after reading one book; it's a lifetime occupation- becoming a "slave of all," denying oneself, and taking up the cross of suffering love Christ calls us each to bear. The reward of this pursuit however, is the crown of eternal life.

[mossrose]

Half the battle is in realizing that you feel the way you do, that your ideas and thinking don't always match up with what Jesus would have you do and think. That is the first step. It means that the Holy Spirit is working in you, to bring to your attention the things that do need changing.

Rando is right. It is a life-long process, and you are right, it is hard. And sometimes you can only deal with one thing at a time. And God deals with different aspects in different people's lives at different times. The walk that He requires of you at this point in time may not be same that He requires of someone else who is newly come to Him.

Take it one step at a time, and let Him urge you. Keep listening to the Spirit, read the Word, and ask advice of those who are more mature and grounded in their faith, and you will be fine. And realize that, like all of us, you will fall down once in a while. Get up again, and carry on.

:thumb:

:hug:

[themuzicman]

I've often said that the Christian needs to make God the context of their lives. He is the background against which I do everything that I do. He defines my priorities, oversees my actions, and based upon those two things, I live my life. If God has a direction for me, then my decisions should reflect that direction. If God wants me to change my behavior or beliefs, then we take the necessary decisions in God to make those things happen.

I think the key is to realize that God IS always there and IS always wanting us to make right decisions, but we have to be aware of Him and His presence in order to make the right choices.

Obviously reading the bible and praying are a big part of keeping us aware of God around us.

Michael

[Storico]

Thanks, you three. :smile:

What you've suggested helps me.

Rando, thanks for pointing me to "the red letters" and to the Gospel of Mark. Christian ethics IS a lifelong pursuit, and it's worth it, I know. Just one day at a time with my eyes on Him...

Mossy, thanks for backing up what Rando said. Half the battle IS realizing that change needs to happen... and the other half of the battle, from here on out, is letting go of me and letting God in more and more each day.

Muz, thanks for the reminder about priorities and making God the context of our lives. Being aware of God in my life, that He IS there, that His word DOES matter and that it is NOT flexible, but firm and life changing... working on that is something needed in my life.

In reflection (not directed at anyone in particular, but please comment if you want to).... For me, the changes needed are really in my thinking... not so much my living, but my thinking itself (which is even harder to change than daily actions; it's more ingrained).

For one thing, I need to learn to TRUST God. I trust Him for my salvation, but that's just the beginning. I want to be able to trust Him fully and completely with my LIVING, day to day.

I need to learn how to get past the past, and get my eyes on the future. I'm getting better at this, but only because of the knowledge that Christ took my past, present and future sins to the cross with Him.

I need to learn, most of all, that man's ways aren't usually God's ways. What we love or find alright isn't usually what God loves and finds alright, so I need to learn how to obey God in practical ways. Even if I don't always like it.

I need to learn how to forgive, and how to grow, as a Christian. As a daughter of God. This is really linked with my comment about the past, though -- God's got me now. But in growing, it can't just be about me. I can't stay in a hole and worry about how I alone am coming along in my understanding of God. A friend of mine once told me "I think God gave us two hands so we could take a friend in each hand and take them with us as we approach Christ's throne of grace" -- and although that was symbolic, I really DO want to do that, and be the witness God would have me be.

The past is a tricky thing to think about sometimes. I enjoy the present, and I look forward to the future, but my past without Christ has caused damage that'll come up in the future. I can only thank Him for taking me and setting me on my feet, on His path, scuffs, scrapes, mistakes and all.

[sirhemlock]

Quote (Storico): "How do we give God His rightful place when we've been used to doing things and thinking things on our own terms for much of our lives? Giving it over to God... It's a worthwhile pursuit, and I suspect it's ongoing throughout one's life... but it's HARD!"

Jesus leads those who truly follow to one place, the place where He Himself went: a cross. The Bible speaks of two crosses: His and ours. Bonhoeffer had it right: "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die" (Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship; if you haven't read this classic work there are few is any better on the subject, especially considering Bonhoeffer died willingly for what he believed). If self-crucifixion, is easy thing, perhaps we are deceiving ourselves about the "cross" we are taking up. Yet once the nails have gone through, we often find of that which seemed so hard that his burden is light. And in the final analysis all things God require boil down to love... Is it too much to ask of us that we learn how to truly love?

[Storico]

Jesus leads those who truly follow to one place, the place where He Himself went: a cross. The Bible speaks of two crosses: His and ours. Bonhoeffer had it right: "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die" (Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship; if you haven't read this classic work there are few is any better on the subject, especially considering Bonhoeffer died willingly for what he believed). If self-crucifixion, is easy thing, perhaps we are deceiving ourselves about the "cross" we are taking up. Yet once the nails have gone through, we often find of that which seemed so hard that his burden is light. And in the final analysis all things God require boil down to love... Is it too much to ask of us that we learn how to truly love?

Thanks for your input! *nods* It's very true. One thing I'm finding, with every day that goes past, is that it is NOT easy giving myself over to God but it is increasingly showing me how worth it it is! Christ's love, the learning of it, and the trusting in it... are really, really precious.

[Nang]

Thanks for your input! *nods* It's very true. One thing I'm finding, with every day that goes past, is that it is NOT easy giving myself over to God but it is increasingly showing me how worth it it is! Christ's love, the learning of it, and the trusting in it... are really, really precious.

Hi Storico,

Such an important post! For after all, it is submitting our wills to the will of God that defines Christianity.

Jesus Christ is our example, (not that we can ever emulate His works), by putting aside His own glory to live a life of submission and obedience to the Father. "Not My will, but Thine be done." Those are the words of God come in the flesh, speaking to God in heaven during His most difficult hours . . . and it is the same attitude that marks the believer, too.

I believe because you have this desire, the Holy Spirit is preparing you to conform more and more to the image of Christ. And such conformance comes with great promise and blessing.

" . . . Ye shall live!

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God." Romans 8:13b&14


Since this is a Bible Study forum, I direct you to the passage that most encourages me in this regard:

Romans 8:4-14

IOWs, submission is not natural to the flesh, but it can be and will be achieved and enjoyed through the presence and workings of God's Holy Spirit who abides in the children born again from above.

Nang

[God_is_personal]

Hi, Storico . . .

"'With my soul I have desired you in the night,
Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
For when Your judgments are in the earth,
The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.'"

This is Isaiah 26:9.

Seek Him with your spirit . . . not just with our thinking.

If we are sensing at each moment for how He deals with us, this can get us away from our set ways . . . paying attention to Him, instead of to whatever we're being stubborn about.

Nice to see you . . . Bill