Listening for God’s Direction can be a time-saver

One of my goals in the past couple of years is to declutter my house. Progress is being made, but there are pockets of resistance! These involve areas that I simply don’t know what to do — toss or keep. Sometimes I’ve had a measure of success by hitting those spots when I’m in the “throw it out” mode, such as my closet. In that mood, I can fill a box and know will not miss any of what goes to charity.

Yet the frustration of not knowing what to do next had me in the library yesterday. I found a book about shedding not only the stuff that is collected over the years, but the hang-ups and attitudes that go with that habit. 

Instead of focusing on clutter in the closets, first couple of chapters challenged me to think about words that characterize what I have felt like about life and how I want to feel instead. This was helpful. I put one word to the biggest reason I do not accomplish as much as I could: procrastination. 

I’ve other problem areas, but from that word, I came up with a phrase for change. It is not new to me, but could assist me in this whole business of getting rid of those things that are not needed. The words are: Do the next thing. This phrase is from Elizabeth Elliot, Christian missionary, author and speaker. She said it in reply to a person who asked her secrets for time management. She added, “You always know what the next thing is.”

As I read this book about shedding my hang-ups, I thought how true that phrase is, and yet how often I procrastinate over doing what I know I should be doing. I’ve written “Just do it” in my task manager software, on notes to myself, and in other reminders, but still find myself doing something other than the next thing, usually a meaningless activity that wastes time and I later regret. How silly.

I’ve not read the next step from that book, but from the introduction I am guessing what it will say; I need to eliminate from my life all those time-wasters and any clutter associated with them. This could be the television set, the two games left on my laptop, and the habit of borrowing stacks of quilting books from the library for inspiration when I have stacks of books just like them on my own shelves. 

Another thought came from reading this book. While it is not about spiritual matters, yet I know I must consult the Lord, not only about “the next thing” and the wherewithal to get at it, but also what He has to say about my bad habits and how to solve them. In this whole process of trying to manage my time well and trying to get rid of excess stuff, I need His wisdom. My own ideas are flawed, and too often my actions are prone to my moods and whims.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. (Psalm 62:5)

The reading that goes with this verse for today says I need to listen more than I talk. Some people never hear God’s answer to their prayers because they have not been listening. I can be like that too. I become so busy with service, work, my to-do list, and even with my praying, that I don’t stop my own asking long enough to hear God’s response.

He speaks with a “still small voice” that requires me to be passive and quiet. To hear Him, I must do nothing, say nothing, and in some sense think nothing. While procrastination is a hindrance to progress, this is one arena where I need to put off what I have in mind and be “distracted” or more accurately, be receptive and wait for God’s quiet voice. 

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While the book I’m reading does not mention You Lord, You are speaking through it anyway. From what I’ve read so far, and in combination with this verse, I’m hearing You say that I need to slow down and listen to You more than I do now. This is particularly needed as I try to get things done and find myself hindering my own progress. You want to supply what I need, but instead of listening and receiving Your grace and wisdom, I hurry into things or let myself be distracted by “busy work” that takes me nowhere. My prayer time may double if I take more time to listen as I pray, but from what I already know about the way You do things, that will become a gain, not a loss.

The Light in my life

People with Seasonal Affected Disorder will not enjoy today. The skies are dull as they gently drizzle the first spring rain. Dry and dusty streets perk up and the yard eagerly drinks, but I’m turning on lights that would not be needed on normal days. 

SAD has never bothered me, but even if it did, there is another kind of darkness that is much worse, but a darkness from which I have also been delivered. This darkness is spiritual, a darkness describing as the condition of those who do not know or walk with Jesus Christ who declared Himself the Light of the world.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life… (John 8:12) I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)

I didn’t get out of this darkness myself, but I do remember the day it happened. I was sitting in my living room reading a book. This book had a verse from the Bible in it, and as I read that verse, the room seemed to be filled with light. At that moment, Jesus Christ came into my life. I know this is not the way everyone becomes a Christian, but for me, being turned from darkness to light was a vivid experience.

(God) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

At that moment, Christ delivered me from “darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” and I received “forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith” in Christ. (Acts 26:17–18) This powerful event showed me the reality of God’s power. Even as a candle in a dark room forces darkness to dissipate, the light of God drives the darkness of sin from the human heart. As John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) For me, this light changed my life forever.

Now, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I am responsible to walk in the light God has given me. Scripture associates lies from Satan and any sin in response to those lies as “the works of darkness” and tells me to not go there. Instead I am to expose all darkness with His light.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6–14)

I cannot be in right relationship to God and at the same time walk in darkness. However, since He has given me the Light of life in Jesus Christ, I am no longer overcome by darkness. What an amazing wonder that Jesus shines on me! This is a powerful truth, one that others need to hear.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5–7)

Just as SAD makes some people sad and depressed, darkness also robs people of joy and the freedom they could know by having light in their lives. This light is available, not by trying to turn it on ourselves, but by receiving it from God as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ, a gift God is eager to give to anyone who desires it.

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Lord, what joy You give to those who are in Your Light. Even on dull and dreary days or even in the midst of trials and struggles, You shine in my heart and give me glimpses of Your glory. That is all I need to remain joyful, no matter what might be going on in my world. Thank You. Thank You also for the rain and the promise that green grass, tulips, leaf buds and other new growth will soon follow.

Working out my salvation involves working with others

Christians have tried living in monasteries or remote places so as to avoid sin and focus on God. It is also my tendency to think that I can more easily be a good Christian by myself, without the temptations that come through interaction with the world and dealing with people. However, this is not what God has in mind.

The Bible tells me to take care of my own interests, but also look to the interests of others. It says that I must have the mind of Christ Jesus, be humble and obedient, and develop my spiritual life.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

However, as today’s reading says, this development is not about studying how to be a good person. It is learning how to “come into the midst of the purposes of God and have the unspeakable privilege in these few years of doing something of His work” (Phillips Brooks). 

Serving God involves work and involves doing His work. This work starts with having Jesus Christ in my heart, but to be like Him is not a mere self-improvement project. Even though I’m not perfect and need to pay attention to my own spiritual life, the more I do that, the more I realize how imperfect I am. I will never reach that goal in this lifetime. I can keep the goal in mind, but His work is about doing. The next verses describe something of what He has in mind for my spiritual development.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:14–18)

Do all things. I’m as prone to grumbling and being disagreeable as anyone else, but even these forbidden attitudes are associated with an involvement with people. They do not happen in a vacuum. This blameless innocence and the Godlikeness God wants from me are likewise “in the midst” of my generation, not merely in the privacy of my own devotional life. 

Here at my desk, and in my home, I might run or labor, but the pronouns in this passage place its author with others. The “yous” are all plural. God’s intention is that my spiritual life and its development happen in community, involved with other Christians and involved with the world where I am to shine as His light.

All of this reminds me of the few times I’ve put gasoline in my car and overflowed the tank. Modern nozzles prevent that now, but in those days, that overflow was a total waste. The tank is meant to be filled with gas, then use that gas before filling it again. 

This same principle applies to the feeding of my soul. God intends that the truth He gives me changes and energizes my life, but unless I put it to work, it is spilled and wasted. Truth and light from God is intended to make me shine, not for my sake, but that I might give light to a crooked and twisted generation. 

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Lord, Phillips Brooks is right; serving You is an unspeakable privilege. Being invited to and allowed to do any part of Your work staggers my mind. All that You teach me is to make me more like Jesus, but this is not a passive thing. Jesus was glad and rejoiced with You, yet continually spent the resources You gave Him in the service of others. He was poured out in an offering of Himself to Your will. May I remember that the next time I’m tempted to stay holed up in my house to worship by myself, or to grumble about the work of serving others.

Need love? Try loving others!

The biblical definition of love that results in doing good things for others means that these are selfless actions. However, they also have positive results in the lives of those who love this way.
 

For one thing, doing good to my enemies changes my attitude toward them. While this has not been tested to the extreme (I haven’t many enemies), I cannot remain upset with someone that I am praying for or acting in ways that bless them.

I’m also to love other Christian and help them with their burdens. Normally, this is easy to do, but what if I am burdened myself? How can loving others be anything but an added burden? This passage in Galatians hints at God’s amazing wisdom in asking me to love others, no matter what.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (Galatians 6:1–5)

Caring about the needs of someone else keeps me on my toes. That is, I cannot help anyone if I am not walking rightly with the Lord myself. From this passage, that includes being a “spiritual” person who is gentle and who “watches” myself so I am not tempted. That cannot be done without humility and self-awareness. Also, I am to examine my own self lest I think I am better than others. All these are beneficial to my own life.

The last line seems a contradiction from the first part. I can see how bearing one another’s burdens is part of loving my neighbor as myself (the law of Christ), but what about bearing my own load? What if I am weighed down and no one steps up to help me?

Today’s comments on this passage of Scripture are helpful. They explain the reasons why God might ask me to do this.

However perplexed you may at any hour become about some question of truth, one refuge and resource is always at hand: you can do something for someone besides yourself. At the times when you cannot see God, there is still open to you this sacred possibility, to show God: for it is the love and kindness of human hearts through which the divine reality comes home to men, whether they name it or not. Let this thought, then, stay with you: there may be times when you cannot find help, but there is no time when you cannot give help. (George Merriam)

If my problems and perplexities cause me to turn inward and focus only on my own needs, not caring about anyone else, then walking in love toward others is impossible. To turn this around, confession is necessary, but so is the power of God and obedience to His commandments. He cares about my needs, but I must also care about doing what He asks, no matter what is happening in my life.

At this point, I must make a distinction between what this means and what sometimes happens to people who tend to hide their own needs and burdens. Some will wear a perpetual Pollyanna smile to cover any sign of weakness or personal problems. A person that I know well was doing this for years. Eventually, he had a full breakdown and wound up in the hospital.

His “I’m fine all the time” attitude is not what this passage means by bearing your own burden. A spiritual person is also a transparent person. Having a spirit of gentleness is real, never a cover for anything else. Needing to watch myself concerning temptation is real too, because pride and self-deception go hand-in-hand. I cannot project any sort of “I’m fine” when I’m not fine because in those efforts to “look good” I easily can become out of touch with reality, as happened to my friend.

How can I bear my own load and at the same time bear the burdens of others? Only by taking all burdens to the Lord. He invites me to do that, particularly when the “one another’s” is not happening.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)

If I, with burdens that I cannot bear, come to Jesus, He gives me rest for my soul. That is, my inner person is no longer concerned about the weight of that burden. He may not remove it, but He does want to exchange it. In love, He releases me to carry a different load, His burden. Simply put, it is the burden of loving His people, and that burden is light.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)

Doing something for others because of the love of Christ and regardless of my own situation becomes an opportunity to be yoked with Christ. I can be a channel for His love. The weight of my own burden may remain, but it loses its ability to control me. 

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Lord, Your ways are certainly not like our human ways. We either ignore our own needs to help others, or cannot help others because our own needs are too overwhelming. You did neither. You went to the cross asking that the cup be removed (God, fix My need), but said, “Nevertheless, Thy will be done (But if You don’t, I will obey You anyway). By that great humility, Your love went to work in the midst of Your own pain, making eternal life possible for a dying world. In these verses, I hear You asking for that same attitude in me. I’m to bear the burdens of others, even when I have a burden of my own, for in showing Your love to them, they will be able to see You.