A New Way of Thinking . . .
God has been working in my life lately and I felt led to share some of my experiences with you. I pray that my testimony would challenge you to a deeper walk with your heavenly Father. That He would become the ultimate resource in your life. Only He can provide all we need. As Matthew 19:26 says, "With God ALL things are possible." But that is only if we are willing to ask (remember, "ASK and it will be given to you, SEEK and you will find, KNOCK and the door will be opened to you").
Since arriving in Israel and the children started going to school, I have found I have a little more time to spend in His Word. I had ASKED for this time and guess what, I am now receiving! I am enjoying this aspect of my life because as most of us know, time is so precious and spending time with Him usually takes last priority. However, I have found in this time, He is opening my eyes to new things and some days it is a challenge to understand.
I continually ASK my Father throughout the day, what is it you want to teach me. The last week or so it has been impressed on my heart that He wants to give me a new way of thinking. And I must be honest, my flesh has been fighting this. Then, a couple days ago we received an invitation to attend a meeting in Tiberius, right on the Sea of Galilee. It was for that evening, so God had a little work to do. We were supposed to have guests for dinner and if we could switch that than we needed a babysitter. God took care of both issues and Todd and I had a night out for the first time since arriving in Israel without children. And we were able to spend it with fellow believers and close friends.
I was a little on the cautious side of attending this meeting. The speaker is a well known speaker throughout the world and I must admit, not high on my list of favorites. In fact, I have questioned some of his ways of teaching. But I really felt God impressing on my heart to go. Todd and another friend who went with us felt the same way.
God did His work, just like He always does. And I soon learned why He wanted me there. It was all part of teaching me a new way of thinking! We arrived early to secure seats and as I looked to my right, I saw a couple that I felt drawn to talk too. I finally gave in and went over to introduce myself and we ended up having a wonderful conversation. This couple is from New York (Lake Ontario area) and God is teaching them a new way of thinking also!
Then the meeting started and the worship was wonderful. There were over 1,700 people there, and these people were from 35 different countries! All praising the Lord and giving Him glory right next to the Sea of Galilee. When the speaker began to talk God began to soften my heart. I saw the man as God wanted me to see him. I saw his heart and knew that he was a man of God.
When he began to preach his message, everything he said resonated with what God has been teaching Todd and I. He spoke about being set apart and that sometimes when God calls you, you are lonely. No one wants to go with you. No one believes you, but you must obey God. He said that God is a jealous God and wants ALL of our being. He doesn't want us to love our children more. He doesn't want us to hang on to things of the past. God wants to take us to deeper places. He wants us to get out of the shallow water and walk in the deep. Just as the disciples were called to leave everything, God asks us to leave everything.
We had been told that the meeting would probably be over by 9 pm. At 9 pm he seemed to just be starting and God began to stretch me a little. I began to worry about the children. I got "ants in my pants" and began to squirm. Being pregnant, the chair was getting a little uncomfortable. I began to question why I was there and got frustrated in my spirit. I believe I missed out on some of the joy the last part of the service because I allowed myself to slip into my flesh. The "new way of thinking" that God was trying to teach me went by the wayside. By the time we left around 11:30 I was tired and a little grumpy.
Since the time that evening, God has been dealing with me. He told me, "Remember - I am more important than your children. I will take care of them if you remember to put Me first." Wow, oops, oh no! These are all words that have been running around in my head. Wondering how I could have missed the mark.
And then this morning, as I was cleaning the house, God spoke to me again and said, "Remember, you are a learning a new way of thinking. I am causing you to stretch and grow. It won't always be easy, but listen to Me and follow." I was reminded that the disciples were stretched in their way of thinking. As I read the Gospels and the typical Bible stories we teach young children, I realize over and over that Jesus taught a new way of thinking. He wants us to always think outside the box. Sometimes what we think is not the "right way" to do something may really be how God chooses to work at that moment.
If I had chosen to stay home that night because I didn't think I liked the speaker and that He was a little too flashy and way out there for my liking, I would have missed what God wanted to teach me. Even when my flesh took over, there was a lesson for me to learn. And now, next time, hopefully I won't be quite as caught in the moment and I will let God do His work - giving Him first place.
I tell you this story in hopes of challenging you to not give up. If you feel lonely, it's God's way of working in your life right now. Draw CLOSE to Him and give Him first place. If God tells you to go somewhere and you just don't think it is the "norm" for you and might make you uncomfortable, GO. It is His way of stretching you and He will bless the time. He wants to take you deeper. He wants to feed you meat and get you off the milk. Be willing to do ALL He asks even if it is a new way of thinking. Be willing to listen to a new speaker because God may use that person to teach you something special.
He is drawing ALL men to Himself. Let Him take you to a deeper place in Him.
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