This morning I am wrestling that something that is very hard for me.
I want to begin with saying that the power of the Holy Spirit is indescribable. Waking up this morning, I knew that I was going to be able to get to Starbucks, and spend some time reading the word and then blogging. I had know idea what I was going to blog about. I had brought some sermon notes with me from Sunday's message that I really enjoyed and I was going to expand on that, but God had different plans. The different plans that God had then turned into different plans that God had.
I actually got today off which was nice and I wanted to start this Friday off right so I worked out with one of my buddies this morning at 6:15 and then got smoothies with Jen and her mother. It was such a fun time together.
- pause -
"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your eye." (Matthew 7:3)
For those of you who know me very well, I don't ever like to be put into bad situations or environments that I am not used to at all. I struggle with that a ton. During the spiritual growth I have had the past year, I have become very aware of the situations I am in and the people that I am around and if it's a place or group of people I should not be around. I am not bragging or boasting all. I have tried to be extremely obedient to God in everything I say, I do and think. Now I never think of myself above anyone because I know I am not, that has never been me.
I believe that I have dug myself into a hole.
Now this hole I have dug myself into is both good and bad. It's good because I have distanced myself from the things that I shouldn't be around. Its more bad than good. I was just convicted of this. I dug myself into a bad hole. I have dug myself into a place where I could hardly be seen and have no effect.
When I am told about a get together, or somewhere that I am uncomfortable with I immediately assume the worst. Growing up in the town that I grew up in and the friends that I hung out with, and the college I chose, I have always been around the right people for most of the time. I am not used to people with world views, drinking, etc. I am learning every day that there are many things about this world that I am learning every single day as I grow up. I have also seen too many movies about situations and the movies have honestly led to assumptions.
I was so wrong. I was not being obedient to the one commandment that is the most important. "Love your neighbor as yourself." In the bible it talks about how if you are loving one another that you are doing well. I thought I was, but I wasn't doing well.
This morning, my complete attitude and mindset about people who are different than I am has changed to: "Pray. Pray. Pray." Instead of assuming like I have been doing for so long, I need to pray. That is a sign of love and that is what pleases God. Such a heavy weight has been lifted off of my chest this morning and I could not feel any better.
I was too busy looking at the specs in other peoples eyes to notice that I had a log in my eye. The log is out of my eye and I can see! For me it goes deeper than the visualization. My heart, my gut, and my mind all feel better as well. This morning I felt like I had a pike of bricks in my stomach and once I was convicted but the Holy Spirit and Jen, the bricks (logs) turned into feathers and I feel so much better. Without the power of the Holy Spirit and the honesty of Jen I would still have that log in my eye.
I want to encourage you as far as the honesty part goes as well. When you have someone in your life who will be completely honest with you through every situation, it will work. I had asked Jen an honest question about if I was being selfish and was wrong about the views I had and she encouraged me, was honest and straightforward and told me how it was.
I believe that in life, we sometimes hide from the difficult conversations because we are afraid of conflict. Most people view conflict as something you either win or lose. Conflict isn't that way. You don't get a winner and a loser. Conflict leads to solutions. If you ask me, solutions are wins. I could have easily not asked her to be honest with me and I would still have the log in my eyes and the bricks in my stomach. I was honest, I asked her, we were both honest and everything is talked out. Never run from honesty. Run towards it!
I was honest because it was the right thing to do and that is what God wants. When we are obedient to the Holy Spirit, what happens is amazing every single time. I assume you have all had that feeling before...it's like your conscience. You feel like you should do something and you get really nervous about it because you're worried about what other people might think. I believe that more often than not we aren't obedient to the Holy Spirit. I know I don't do the greatest job with it, but when I do, what happens is amazing. The last two times I have been obedient, the reward has been a feeling I cannot put into words.
Here is a quick story about obedience and the Holy Spirit from Sunday:
I stopped at a Starbucks the other night and it was packed. There was only one girl who was working and she was going a great job and had an amazing attitude despite being the only worker that was there. While I was in line I got that feeling. The Holy Spirit was telling me to give her all the money I had in my wallet. (which wasn't that much) I gave it to her and she was so happy and thankful that I had given it to her. As I was sitting and waiting for my drink, I noticed that the lady behind me in line had also given her a generous tip. As I was walking back to my car trying to find my keys, I was reaching in all of my pockets trying to find them. While I was searching in all of my pockets, I felt my back pocket and it felt like there was some money in there. Which was weird because I did not have anything in my back pocket before I went into Starbucks. I reached into my back pocket and there was money in there. Coincidence? I think not...
Obedience has lead to two pretty cool things this past week. I have to remind you. I am not obedient so that God rewards me right on the spot. I am obedient to God because of the reward in heaven.
There was a lot that was packed into this post and I believe there was a lot that you can take away from it. My prayer is that you are encouraged by something in this post.
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