Another Attitude Adjustment

I’ve learned that when God gives me a thought to share on Prayerfully Penned, it is always best for me to sit and share it immediately. My thoughts are so fleeting these days, between the several tasks that are at hand. I’m sure anyone reading this can relate. It seems to be the order of the day every day – so much to do, so little time! But today He gave me a little attitude adjustment that I felt compelled to share.

How easy it is to recognize when we have fallen short. How easy it is to recognize when God is teaching us yet another lesson to learn. And how easy it is to let that get us down, rather than lift us up! It’s all about perspective.

Every day we are likely convicted with sin at some point, or should be, for we are imperfect humans. Although we may not intentionally choose a pattern of sin in our life, and live for the most part righteous lives, we will never be perfect and are continually being refined by God for the day of Christ. As we are refined, God shows us areas that need, shall we say, “tweaking,” or “reteaching” (to borrow a term from my days in public education.) For me, this is a daily happening! He is continually showing me my imperfect attitudes, motives, and responses. And although I know that I am continually forgiven, it can be easy for these revelations of imperfection to get me down.

It is right for me to recognize and repent of my imperfections as I pray; but at the same time, I can choose to rejoice! Why? Because God loves me enough to continue to speak to me and teach me the way in which I should go. Hallelujah! He could have, and rightly so, given up on me long ago. But thanks to Jesus He didn’t! As such, every time the Spirit convicts me of sin, even “tweaking” me through the sometimes painful consequences that follow, I can rejoice knowing that He loves me, and that no amount of necessary reteaching will ever separate me from His love. How blessed I am that the Father in Heaven looks down to earth and considers it worth His time to keep working on me!

I’m sharing my attitude adjustment with you today, in hope that it might encourage you to not let Satan trick you into viewing God’s refining process through the wrong lens. Rejoice that He cares enough to refine! Don’t focus on the need for reteaching. Focus on the gracious gift of the Teacher.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” Ps. 32:8, 11

Father, Friend and Fire!

This morning, I awoke with three words on my heart: Father, Friend and Fire. How awesome it is that we can enjoy the presence of God in three persons! God is our Father, the Father of all life, the Creator and Sustainer, Provider and Protector. Jesus is our Friend if we have entered into a personal relationship with Him. I’ll never forget the day when I “got this.” As a youth, I recall longing to “connect” with God, but not being sure how. In God’s timing, I came to fully understand who Jesus is - that He came to earth as the “God-man,” God in the flesh, a human given to earth as the Father’s one perfect son to be made a sacrifice for sin, a person through whom the world could experience the love and the plan of the Father in heaven, a Friend to those who would accept His faithful friendship. “What a friend we have in Jesus!” My grandmother used to play and sing this old hymn with such profound enthusiasm, such obvious belief in her connection to God through the Friend of Jesus. But how could such a friendship be, with one who was no longer on earth? Where did this enthusiasm come from? Her enthusiasm was the Fire that lived inside her, the Holy Spirit of God, whom our Father lovingly provides to us so that we can live in the fullness of His joy! What an awesome gift! Not only did He provide His Son as a gift so that we could be with Him one day in Heaven, He also provides Himself in the form of Spirit to live in us, walk beside us, and ignite within us a passion for Him while we are on earth. The gift of His Fire within is the ultimate testimony to the believing heart of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. For Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17) This Fire is what I saw on the face of my grandmother, and heard in her voice, as she sang, “Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!” How incredible to think that our God is the one true, everlasting God – who makes Himself available to each of us forever as our Father, Friend and Fire!

Postscript: If you haven’t ever experienced the “Friend” part of our Father, or the “Fire” part, please consider visiting my recommended website below: Christianity is a Choice, Not an Inherited Trait!