Yearly Archives: 2015

Are you “out of step”?

Galatians 5: 25 charges us: “Since we live by the Sprit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” But sometimes, even when we are seeking God, it’s possible to get “out of step”. Earlier in the same chapter, we are told that the fruit of walking by the Spirit are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” I have had these memorized for possibly 20 years but somehow memorizing them doesn’t make them easier to live, or easier to “keep in step”.  

I notice that I am “out of step” when I start losing my patience with my family or with co-workers; when I am not gentle with those who are hurting because they are keeping me from being about my agenda; and when my peace is easily rocked by challenges or last-minute issues around the office. It usually doesn’t start with a big flood of this; it starts as a little trickle. But I have seen repeatedly that if I don’t address it when I see it, it grows. 

Usually when I go back to identify where I got “out of step”, it triggers from a sin decision or just a sheer amount of allowing myself to be working too much and spending too little time seeking God in prayer and the study of His Word. Both of these things hinder my ability to continue living the life that God has called me to, the life that is “in step” with him.

How do I get back? First, I have to repent of the thing that got me off in the first place. If it was sin, I have to ask for forgiveness from God and from the individual, if any, who was hurt by the sin. If it was working too much in my own strength (this is sin too!), I have to apologize to the Lord and recommit myself to dependence on Him and His strength and capacity. Then I have to commit FOCUSED TIME to getting back in His presence in prayer and worship, and digging into His Word. It means a schedule change, setting aside my agenda to get on His, but that is really what this is about anyway. 

How about you? Are you “out of step”? Can you make time today to fix that?

God’s Response to Our Desires

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

I have heard two understandings of the verse above. One sounds potentially like “God’s a genie in a bottle ready to give me my wishes”, while the other has a risk of sounding like God is in the business of controlling His children. I believe both understandings of this are accurate but have to be avoided in the extreme.

The first understanding of this which I’ve heard is that if we focus on God, seek the things which are on His heart, then He will shape our minds and hearts to desire things which are consistent with that. So He literally gives us our desires versus the things we desire. This understanding rings true for me in my experience, but in my opinion it is only one side.

The other understanding is that God cares about the things that we desire and He will give us those things. It’s easy to take this to an extreme and give Christians a bad reputation by talking like whatever our selfish hearts want, God is going to give it to us. I don’t believe that’s a fair representation of God however.

I believe the truth lies in a balance of these two ideas. God does know the things which are special to us and wants to bless us even as we would do for our own children. He also adjusts our desires from time to time to line up with His, especially in areas where we may not fully comprehend His will.

Whether you’re patiently waiting for Him to fulfill your desires OR questioning if He might be planning to adjust them instead, it’s safe to trust God with the honest feelings of your heart. He knows them anyway, so be honest with Him; you might be surprised how he responds.