God looks at the smallest details

Today I’m thinking about the things in my life that are not pleasing to God. Many would say things like, “Oh everyone does that” or “This is not a big deal.” However, since these generally fall into the categories of self-indulgence or doing whatever feels good, that also puts them into the category of sin.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6, italics mine)

Turning to my own way puts me astray from God, no matter how small the turning. This includes stuff like playing a game when I know I should be doing something else or eating more food when I know I’ve already had enough. God does not measure self-indulgence and self-will by degrees but by a line that is crossed.

Tozer’s devotional for today comes from the following passage. It offers several ‘do this instead’ attitudes and actions that can easily replace ‘I’ll do it my way.’

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15–22)

Some of these do not hit me directly, yet all show that my mental and physical activities should not be about my ‘I-wants’ because God has a better to-do list.

Doing good to others is a biggie. I live in a small complex with at least one-third of the residents in needy circumstances. I don’t need to hide behind my own busyness. There are many ways to do good as He says.

Rejoice always. Replace any whining or complaining.

Pray without ceasing. Replace all wandering and fragmented thoughts and talk to God instead.

Give thanks all the time. God wants me to be thankful and has provided a million blessings to make it easy. I’ve no reasons or excuses to grumble or complain.

Do not quench the Spirit. When He gives me a godly idea, run with it rather than throw on the cold water of procrastination or any other excuses, usually that I’m ‘too busy.’

Pay attention to what God is saying through others. Do not dismiss a sermon by applying it to someone else. Also remember it is okay to test or question new or odd ideas, tossing out the false and hanging on to what is good. Don’t fall for everything — I know how to do this part — most of the time.

Abstain from every form of evil. This ranges from downright awful stuff to those ‘little’ things that turn my heart away from God to doing what pleases me (or the demands of others). Pay attention. It is not okay to wander off, either literally or in my mind.

Tozer says, “To appraise things with a heart of love and then to act on the results is an obligation resting upon every Christian in the world.” This means me too. The very next verses from the above passage say:

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, italics mine)

Completely, all of me . . . and the good news is that I’m not asked to do this by myself.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You are convicting me of a lot of seemingly ‘little’ but foolish things that I do, say or just think about. You have said that sin flows out of the heart, so You care about my imagination as well as my actions, my selfish pursuits as well as the things I should be doing instead. Grant me today the ability to meditate as Your Spirit leads and to let You drive the above convictions deeper into my heart and life.

Faith in Jesus changes my life

The deep-seated emotions and thoughts of the heart cannot be hidden; eventually they come out in words and actions. This is true of negatives like anger and hate, jealousy and fear, but it is also true of joy and love. Since these are products of the Holy Spirit, it makes sense that when the Holy Spirit lives in someone, He will make Himself known, just as living by my own strength apart from His input will make itself known.

Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9)

That is, if anyone is a Christian, the Spirit of God dwells in that person. Otherwise, “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.”

He goes on to say that those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit . . . “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God”. (Romans 8:3–8)

Tozer gives me a sharp reminder that the Holy Spirit lives in me and therefore will make Himself known. He cannot help but do that. I can grieve Him, even quench Him, but He cannot be pushed out. His forever home is with God’s people, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to pour the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5), a love that cannot help but be poured out into the lives of others (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Bible says I’m to trust the Lord with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding or be wise in my own eyes (Proverbs 3:5-7). Should I lean on myself, it comes out as pride and fleshy confidence, with love, peace, joy and all other spiritual fruit either gone or greatly diminished.

David wrote many songs. In this one, he demonstrates that he is trusting and filled with the Holy Spirit:

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1–3)

Personally, I have few enemies, but the enemies of the Body of Christ and Christianity in general are many. How can I live so that animosity is either not hurting me, or so it is gone entirely? Since godly living invites persecution, living as David did could actually increase that negativity, but in the power of the Spirit joy can be present, even in dire situations. It depends entirely on what/who controls my life — the flesh or the Spirit of God.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, trusting You makes external changes in my life as well as internal in my heart. I value integrity. Enable me to continually express on the outside what You have done and are doing in me. The needs can be humbling, but the power of God puts my mind on the needs of others, to love and serve them. You are an amazing God.

Thinking fast, thinking slowly . . .

A newsletter from a novelist has a section on time/life management. It is not specific to writers and that section is the biggest reason I subscribe. This week, he outlines helpful tips from a book on procrastination. Since I struggle with that, he caught my attention.

One tip was related to the way we think. Fast thinking is used when in danger. We react spontaneously and without much thought. Then we have slow thinking, the pondering needed when solving a problem or making an important decision. When it comes to procrastination, that happens with fast thinking: “I don’t feel like doing this” so it is set aside. The tip is to take ten minutes and think about the task. Slow down my mind and give some time to consider this task. Do I really need this in my life? What is holding me back? Mere feelings? Or uncertainty about how to do the task? If so, can I do some research and find out?

He says to make that first step ‘ridiculously’ easy because that often creates momentum. Even doing research about the next step can break the pattern of putting things off.

This method works for me. I have a large project that seems to take forever, but procrastinating will not get it finished. Thinking about the importance of completion helps me to ‘do the next thing’ and when I do the next thing, I find myself going on to the next and the next, making good progress.

Today’s devotional verse has me thinking about procrastination and my spiritual life. David directed these words to his son but the principle applies to me too:

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

He had much more advice, but these beginning words are talking about slow thinking. As a child of God, I know that my sinfulness often shows up when my mind jumps into fast mode and I don’t give thought to what I am doing; it just happens. However, if I stop and give it more thorough and longer attention, I can see that giving in to that temptation is not a good idea.

This can work the other way too. God says:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Renewal of the mind means having my fast and sinful thinking changed. It requires slowing down, meditating on the Word of God and letting it permeate my thoughts. As my mind changes and conforms to the mind of God, then my spontaneous thoughts will be godly and come quickly. In many cases, the result will pop out in word or action so easily that I will even say to myself, “Where did that come from?”

Of course this is the work of the Holy Spirit. My ordinary way of quick-thinking works for some things, but usually gets me into trouble. God is teaching me that when He wants a quick response, it can only come from a renewed mind that has learned to listen and respond to the mind of God, not my own. This means that I read the Word of God regularly, think about what I’ve read and meditate on it, and put it into practice. Slow thinking.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, faith in You involves knowing You personally and serving You with a whole heart and a willing mind. You know how I think and the ways my mind needs renewal. Thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit and for the reality that You can change the way I think. Fast or slow, I want all my thoughts to come from You and conform to Your will. Increase my ability to slow down and meditate on You and what You are saying to me.