On Monday, Carl got up, went to work, came home, ate dinner, watched the game and went to bed. This was his daily routine. On Tuesday, Carl did the same thing. On Wednesday Carl got up and as he was getting ready for work he decided he needed a little something extra. He asked God to help him with his evaluation review. He did the talking. It went fine. Keep chugging on. Thursday and Friday was normal. Like usual. One Saturday, Carl got the news that his roof needed replacing. $15K. He told God that he needed to do a better job watching out for him.
On Sunday, Carl couldn't quite get into worship. The praying. The message. The singing. The fellowship. It was all just flat. Carl had words with God on that one. The next week was more of the same. And Sundays came and went. God must not be on Carl's side.
Or was he?
So often we go through the motions of life, taking God for granted as if he is a genie in a bottle to be requested of and reprimanded when things aren't going as we desire. We don't really get close to him, because he's there just to ask things of and vent to. We pray. We read our Bible. We go to church. But God is at arms length. We blame him for not being near.
But he is not to blame. We are. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8).
Draw close to him. Wake up and ask him how he is today. Don't read the Bible just for knowledge. Ask him through the day to challenge you on applying it. Follow him where HE is going today. Not just where you are planning on going. Talk with him through the day. Whatever you do, consider how it brings glory to him. Use your break to praise him and thank him for his constant presence. Go to sleep wishing him a good night. Draw close to him.
If Carl draws near to him, he will draw near to Carl. Then Sunday won't be flat for Carl. Then Carl will see that God was always on his side. The same goes for us.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott
On Sunday, Carl couldn't quite get into worship. The praying. The message. The singing. The fellowship. It was all just flat. Carl had words with God on that one. The next week was more of the same. And Sundays came and went. God must not be on Carl's side.
Or was he?
So often we go through the motions of life, taking God for granted as if he is a genie in a bottle to be requested of and reprimanded when things aren't going as we desire. We don't really get close to him, because he's there just to ask things of and vent to. We pray. We read our Bible. We go to church. But God is at arms length. We blame him for not being near.
But he is not to blame. We are. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8).
Draw close to him. Wake up and ask him how he is today. Don't read the Bible just for knowledge. Ask him through the day to challenge you on applying it. Follow him where HE is going today. Not just where you are planning on going. Talk with him through the day. Whatever you do, consider how it brings glory to him. Use your break to praise him and thank him for his constant presence. Go to sleep wishing him a good night. Draw close to him.
If Carl draws near to him, he will draw near to Carl. Then Sunday won't be flat for Carl. Then Carl will see that God was always on his side. The same goes for us.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott