Being there

So the most important part in being there for someone is, well, being there. 

For some reason, that takes a lot of pressure off of me.  God sent me friends who helped me through some pretty dark times, so I tend to want to be that kind of friend for someone else.  It’s awfully hard to know what to say or do.  The easy thing is to try to do something.  The hard thing is to do nothing, but it’s usually the best thing.

Neil has given me a plan for whenever the next situation arises:  be there, be compassionate (emotionally available to grieve with them), and don’t say much.  I’m on it.

Calling out the good

Have you ever had someone speak something to you that you know came directly from God?  I’m thinking about encouraging words, maybe something somebody noticed about you that perhaps nobody else ever had (maybe even yourself!). 

I can remember a few of those instances – a friend of the family, a teacher, a choir director – someone who called me out for something good, when what I really believed about myself was that I wasn’t worth calling out.  Those people saw potential; they had the eyes of faith to see in me what could be, not what was.  They made me who I am today, and I am so grateful.

It’s with great humility that I read Neil’s words today, because I often find myself focused on correcting my kids, and forget to comment on what they’re doing right.  When I was a kid, there were things I wish I had been noticed for; I want to be the Mommy who notices those things about my kids.  And says so out loud. 

Today, I’m going to look for those opportunities.

How's my hearing?

Yesterday, I wrote that it’s awesome for me when I don’t have to be in charge of something.  Today, I’m thinking along those same lines.

Today’s entry has me thinking that I’m so glad I don’t have to worry about not hearing from God about my life’s direction because I didn’t go to the right revival service, or sit close enough to the front when the speaker was giving personal words. 

Neil says:  False gifts will not consistently promote holiness but often will specify decisions concerning direction in life.  That function is the role of the Holy Spirit alone (Romans 8:14).

On occasion, could He use a word of prophecy to nudge me?  Sure - He can do whatever He wants.  But the main way He speaks to me is what He set up to begin with:  His word and His Spirit. 

So I haven’t missed the boat on that big decision I need to make!  God isn’t hiding from me; He wants to be heard, loud and clear.  I just need to remember to listen in the right places.

The view from the back seat

In my life, I’ve been in charge in a lot of things.  Currently, I’m the boss of three young little ones, and that’s a tall order.  I’ve led week-long class trips for 4^th graders; I’ve coordinated district events at my school when I was a teacher.  I’ve organized and pulled off church-wide events, coordinated weddings, and taught classes.

I’ve come to realize, now, that I enjoy it (immensely) when I don’t have to be in charge of something.  I can just come and participate.  Someone else will come early, unlock and clean up the messes, manage the chaos of the event (whatever it may be), and then stay long afterward to clean it all up and lock up.  I appreciate all that’s involved in leadership, so I appreciate it even more when I get to take a back seat.

I was thinking today as I read Neil’s entry about submission that maybe it’s the same thing.  I’ve never been very good at calling the shots in my own life; it’s a relief to be able to depend on someone else.  And I call myself a control freak! 

If I can get over myself, stay focused on who I am because of what Christ did for me, and live in contentment, submission is not a stretch at all.  It’s the natural outflow of my life as I have things in order. 

Now, if I could just remember that long-term…

Humility and diligence

So, at the end, was Neil saying that everyone with spiritual problems (conflicts, as he puts it) has some type of sexual sin going on?  Or is it that sexual sin almost always leads to spiritual problems? 

Probably he meant the second thing, but I was a little confused.

I also wondered about Neil’s statement:  Sexual lust demands physical expression… 

I’m pondering it because we’ve just spent months covering the fact that once I belong to Christ, because I’m a new being, I have the power to say no to sin.  Maybe he meant that sexual lust pushes towards physical expression - ?  That I would agree with. 

Okay, I don’t want to get all hung up on the wording of today’s entry…  It’s caused me to be reminded of this – I can read about sexual lust and sin and think I’m okay on that score, but in reality I need to maintain humility and be diligent to keep my thoughts pure.  Nobody wakes up one day and says, I’m going to commit sexual sin!  It happens in small degrees.  Today, I’m renewing my resolve, as well as my humility.

Truth changes me

The lies will always be there.  I won’t wake up one day and feel like I’m everything God says I am; the enemy of my soul won’t get tired of throwing defeat and discouragement at me.

The more I choose to believe the truth, the easier that choice becomes, but the point at which I overcome the strategies of darkness is when I make that choice.

I find that as I do, I find contentment.  I don’t have anything to prove; I don’t need to control things in my life.  As I choose truth, my perspective shifts, and my emotions follow suit.  I am changed by the choice I make.

As I wrote yesterday, the truth of God’s word is powerful.  As I choose to believe its truth, I’m not making the change by some act of my will; I’m allowing the Holy Spirit to bring the change He’s wanting to. 

That’s where I want to live today.

Speaking the truth

I was touched by the story of Alyce today.  I know I say that about all Neil’s stories, but the thing that encouraged me especially today was this, from Neil:  The more we talked the more aware I became of Christ’s presence ministering to Alyce.

All Neil did was speak the truth to Alyce, and she was being set free by it! 

I’ve had friends over the years who, at times, have needed to hear truth, and yet as we talked, it felt so futile, as if the words I said had no lasting value.  Can you relate?

I forget that the Word of God is alive and active; I may not see what it’s doing, but it is at work, and it will do exactly what God intends for it to do (Hebrews 4:12).

So I’m encouraged to keep encouraging, to keep speaking the truth.  And I’m going to trust that when I do, Christ’s presence will be there, making an impact, even if I don’t see it.