What Does God Want

“Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3 NIV)

What does God want from you and me? Why are we here? What is our purpose?

We may not yet know who we are meant to be. We may spend most of our lifetime figuring this out. We can pray for revelation.

Most of all, God longs for relationship. Many of us are like the prodigal son who leaves home and never calls or visits. We want to prove that we can make it on our own. We feel restricted and burdened by all the obligations and expectations that come with being part of a family. These notions are based on our human relationships. God wants to connect with us, to enjoy our companionship. He does not expect us to meet His needs or go visit Him every Sunday like a dutiful child.

God shaped our identities. He created each of us as unique individuals who are capable of expressing a part of His glorious nature. He made us to be extensions of Himself. We are meant to channel His creative energy, purity, and love. Our purpose is to enjoy a glorious, intimate relationship with God.  He delights in us. We are refreshed by Him.

Shortcuts

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.” (Matthew 7:13-14 MSG)

According to Oswald Chambers, temptations often come to us in the form of shortcuts. We rarely do things we know to be wrong or evil. However, if we can justify our choices, if we can think of them as moral compromises that are necessary to achieve our goals--then we may be lured into all sorts of transgressions.

In order to recognize the bait, we have to be aware of our secret desires. Do you have a fondness for admiration, comfort, security, or validation? Or maybe you want to avoid guilt, fear, or humiliation. Every day, we are presented with opportunities to take shortcuts to meet these personal goals. When we approach them, we don’t see them as falling into temptation or giving in to weakness.

Many of us desire to be close to God. Every day, we are presented with shortcuts to this goal--formulaic religion that guarantees a better life in this world and the next; a part-time commitment to God that brings full benefits; popular methods and easy access to the Divine.  Do not fall for these temptations--these shortcuts will lead you astray.

Commitment to God is not a side trip that you can take on your way to reaching your own goals. The path of faith is long and requires total devotion, discipline, and attentiveness. It necessitates surrender. It demands humility. It is contingent on Grace.  

Wandering Eyes

“Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger.” (Matthew 26:40-41 MSG)

Do you or your partner have a wandering eye? Do either of you ‘check out’ other attractive people instead of focusing on your mate? This type of behavior is often seen as harmless, but, in reality, it is inconsiderate and insensitive.

When you pray, are you focused on God? Or does your mind wander?

I must confess that I am frequently unfaithful to Jesus. I get bored, so I seek out diversions. My mind wanders to all the other worthy things I could be doing instead of spending time with God. The temptation to follow my own interests takes over, and I ignore the One who is always with me.

Lord, may our minds stay focused on you. Protect us from temptations. Help us to be faithful.

Putting Off Your Calling

“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:7-8 NLT)

We procrastinate about stuff that we feel compelled to do: exercise, work, chores, unpleasant tasks, obligatory interactions--basically anything which makes us feel uncomfortable, incompetent, or fearful. We know we should get to these things--sometimes we even convince ourselves that we want to do these things...just not right now.

Have you ever felt like running away from everything? This sometimes happens when there is prolonged disharmony between our spirit and our persona. Years and years of societal expectations have seeped into our conscious making it difficult to delineate between our true identity and our fabricated one. When we put off being the person whom we are called to be, and, instead, pretend to be the person whom everyone expects us to be, we become disconnected from our soul. We are all meant for more than this muck-filled existence of human vanity. We are called to be “believers cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life.” (1 Corinthians 1:2 MSG)

Prayer and Healing

“Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out.” (James 5:15 MSG)

Hundreds of people have been praying for my friend who has been fighting cancer for the last four years. We have joined together, in one accord, devoting ourselves to constant prayer for her. She is still sick. How do we make sense of this? No one would say that she is still suffering because of a lack of faith or devoted prayer, nor because of a sinful nature.

Jesus prayed. He was faithful. He was blameless. He still suffered and died. Yet, Jesus was also healed and whole--inside and out. He was raised up, on His feet, in union with the Father.

Physical healing is sometimes part of God’s plan. And, these miracles often enlarge our faith. However, while we pray about short-term issues of earthly magnitude, God concerns Himself with long-term matters. We pray for physical healing, while God is focused on the soul. He repairs the schism between our spirit and His Spirit.  God cares more about healing our brokenness, making us whole, and preparing us to join Him eternally.

Walk by Faith

“Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1 GWT)

Most mornings, I wake up before sunrise. I keep the lights off so as not to disturb my husband. I feel my way through the darkness, maneuvering around the familiar layout of our bedroom. However, this early morning walkabout is much more difficult when we stay in hotels. I tend  to stub my toes or trip over things while I attempt to move about in the unfamiliar surroundings.  

When we are in the dark, we often try to navigate by feelings, emotions, and instincts. This method may work in certain situations, but it is just a matter of time before we stumble. There is a better way. We can learn to walk by faith and not be feeling. Faith is like a candle that lights the next step in front of us. God is present in all circumstances, even though we often fail to notice Him. Faith enlightens us, helping us discern God’s presence even in darkness.

Rumblings

“Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves;” (Genesis 11:4 NIV)

Tokyo, San Francisco, and Istanbul are populated city centers. Many of the inhabitants live and work in lofty high-rises. Unfortunately, these cities happen to also be prone to earthquakes. Those who live in these areas learn to get out of buildings as soon as they sense even minor tremors. They head outside into wide-open spaces--away from humanly-constructed structures.

Most of our days are lived out in man-made towers of lofty ambitions and self-made plans. Each year we construct taller goals and engineer ways of climbing higher up the rungs of societal expectations. However, when we sense rumblings of trouble, we know that none of these is dependable.

Anxiety is a sign of instability and uncertainty. When I am agitated, I know it is time to get out of my self-constructed shelters.  I run into the wide-open arms of God, knowing that He alone is dependable. Even when dreams collapse and well-laid plans come crumbling down, I rest, knowing that I am safe.