June 25, 2012
Transformational Thought
My oldest daughter, Dominique, told her younger sister, “My life really turned around when I just started following all the advice Dad had given me over the years.” Wow, I am so proud of her, but I didn’t realize she had made this policy decision. She went on, saying “Dad wants me to have more joy, peace, and fulfillment in my life than anyone else does, and I finally realized he knows me better than anyone and has the knowledge to advise me well.”
Wow, these 3 qualities perfectly sum up the ideal advisor: knows us well, wants more for us than we want for ourselves, and has incredible knowledge of us. Who does that remind you of? Our Heavenly Father! Add His power to make it happen.
Having someone who knows you, and I mean really knows you, has significant benefits. But it can also have some big downsides. The fact that God knows your every thought and action can certainly be intimidating, shaming, and embarrassing. But clearly there are many of us who simply don’t make that connection. Do you really think He isn’t watching? Do you really think you can hide from Him? Sometimes we act as if He isn’t looking … or as if He doesn’t care that our wrong actions actually hurt us. Yes, doing the wrong thing hurts others, and it also hurts us deeply … physically, mentally and spiritually.
You see, wrong decisions actually injure brain chemistry (body) and interfere with the development of healthy brain wiring and circuitry. Wrong decisions push psychological development (mind) towards the immature end of the spectrum. And most importantly, wrong decisions hurt your relationship with God (spirit). They knock the Holy Spirit off the throne of your heart where command central for decision-making is housed. (Click “Spiritual Basics” link at left and then click Confession.) When the flesh is on the throne of your heart and in command, you go from the frying pan into the fire where a string of poor decisions can quickly spiral downwards!
God really wants us to avoid the pain, turmoil, frustration, and angst that occurs when we deviate from His plan and His instruction book. Read today’s scripture and then meditate on the fact that God knows every move. Now, this could paralyze us with fear unless we remember that God sees us through eyes full of love, grace, and forgiveness. But He also wants to push us to develop the mind of Christ for His glory and your maximum fulfillment in this life and the next. Blend this with the knowledge of how to live life the way Jesus modeled (and the Bible teaches), and that is exactly what we want from our all-powerful advisor.
Today, evaluate what is not going well in your life. Then identify your advisor in that situation. Seek God’s advice, and follow it. He really wants the best for you and orchestrates your daily events and situations to deliver the best for your ongoing growth and development. So why would you listen to a different advisor? The advisor you follow is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father, I come to You for understanding. You know me so much better than I know myself. I no longer fear Your intimate awareness of my life, for I know from Your word that You see me through eyes of grace and forgiveness. I welcome the light of Your healing presence to shine deeply into my very being, cleansing, healing, refreshing, and renewing me. Send Your healing light into the minds and hearts of the entire Stepping Stones community. I trust You enough to fully accept the total forgiveness You continually offer me. I know that this great gift, which cost You Your life, is mine for all eternity. I know You will never leave or forsake me. I feel such joy when I think about how You understand me completely and love me perfectly. Let Your love overflow in me and through me into the lives of other people. I pray this in the name of the revealer of my heart, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. Psalm 139: 1-4
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:13-16