God-pondering…I hope you noticed from the picture of the Table of Contents the other day from this powerful book that Mr Lucado calls the next section “God-Pondering.” He says, this is HOW we make the shift from the MMI-centered life to the God-centric lives we were always meant to live. This is the Abundant Life, as I call it based on the words of Jesus in John 10:10. A life that is filled with peace and joy, true and lasting contentment, and all that is truly good, and to have all of these regardless of the situations we find ourselves in. Imagine having total peace, even when the chaos of this world strikes? Imagine finding joy, even when things around you are distressing? Imagine knowing with certainty that you are in right standing with God, even though you continue to fall into sin? This is what Jesus offers, and we can only experience it, more consistently, as we make this shift Mr Lucado is talking about. It is as we behold the Immaculate Example that we make the transformation. Yep this is what Sanctification is all about: more of Christ and less of me. (see Jn 3:30) But if we do not spend any time in God’s Word to learn Who He is and how He thinks, speaks and acts, then who are we modeling? Those three enemies, that’s who! The devil, this corrupted world order and that old sinful Jezebel become our influencers… and the Abundant Life is as far away from us as the East is from the West!
When we, on purpose, make and take the time to read God’s Word, we discover His incredible Nature and…and here is the illustration God showed me a long time ago: if I go out and sit in the sun for long periods of time, something will happen to the color of my skin, won’t it? I will begin to bronze…or burn depending on your sensitivity. But either way, you will be able to notice a change in me. This is what it is like when we sit in The Son- S O N. When we read and study Scripture, there will be a change in us. If we follow God’s Word, leaning on the Holy Spirit to remind us and guide us on how to apply Scripture to our current issue, then we will have a beautiful hew about us. But if we get stubborn and refuse to live the way God instructs in the Bible, then we might just get burned by our own bull-headedness!
As I always say, the heart of the matter is always a matter of the heart. If we sincerely want to love God, then we will make that shift from MMI to God. We will desire to spend time in the Bible. And then we will begin to reflect God. We will sense more love, joy and peace. We will act with more patience, kindness and goodness. We will seek to be more faithful, gentle and self-controlled. We will, because the Fruit of the Spirit will grow in us and be revealed through us. Question is: will we make the time to ponder God?
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
May: My Spiritual Mom: “Making Good Habits Breaking Bad Habits” by Joyce Meyer
June: Spiritual Dad: “It’s Not About Me- Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy” by Max Lucado
<>< Peace, Diane
