“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)
Approximately fifty years old with gray hair. A white, collared shirt with black pants and boots. Dark eyes and a friendly smile. A tragic situation, needing help. What could I give a man who had just this day lost his father and had learned his mother was hit by a car? The desperation was looming on his face, and I knew I had the capability of giving him what he wanted: fifty-six dollars.
Of course, my immediate reaction was to help; I had seen my husband offer assistance to many. However, I also felt a “tug” at my heart as if God was speaking to me. After the man mentioned my husband’s name and claimed he knew what we had been going through, I quickly felt as though I was supposed to know this person standing in front of me. Standing in the church parking lot for our fundraising yard sale, I wrote a check to the church clerk for cash, and then, without hesitation, I handed the man $56 to assist with his travel expenses. I told him I would be praying for him and to please contact Brian when he learned of his mother’s condition.
It is fair to say that I will never hear from this stranger again. After his black truck left the church parking lot, my phone rang. Brian was calling from Israel, and I jumped right into questioning him about this “familiar” character. To my disgust, Brian informed me that he did not know the old man, that he had never talked to him before, and that it sounded as if I had been fooled. I cried as I hung up the phone, without even realizing why, but my heart grieved within me.
Driving away with tears in my eyes, I could not understand why a person would do such a thing to someone, especially one at church! Many of us would look at the deceitful old man as a fool (and we may be right), but personally, I cannot blame anyone without looking at myself first.
Upon questioning my actions, a small thought came to me; it was clear that I had played the part of the fool that day. You may be wondering, “How?” Let me explain, it seems at times when, at our weakest, the devil Himself can creep into our lives. This time was mine. I was:
· Hungry (from not eating lunch),
· Angry (that I was forced into an uncomfortable situation),
· Lonely (with Brian away in Israel), and
· Tired (having not slept well).
It is in moments like these, we always need to HALT. It was a perfect day for the devil to have his way. Without prayerfully considering what to do, I reacted hurriedly, thus the reasoning behind the outcome I faced. Proverbs states, “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding… For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:2, 6).” Had I simply stopped and realized that my heart was grieved because God was speaking the truth over the situation, I would have “HALTed” and asked the Lord for wisdom.
What areas in your life are you playing the fool? How often do you find yourself looking back wondering how you could have done things differently? It is sometimes challenging for us when put in situations to ask of and use God’s wisdom because we are fools. It is through the knowledge of the Lord that we are made wise. Make certain you HALT; let God provide you with His wisdom.
Working on Spiritual Wisdom,
Jenna R. Johnson
Jennarjohnson@yahoo.com and http://jennarjohnson.blogspot.com/
Visit Words of Encouragement on the Web.
P.S. – Brian and the group will be returning from Israel on Saturday, June 7th. Please remember them in prayer as they travel home. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!
Showing posts with label Spiritual Discernment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Discernment. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Silence!
“Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” (Psalm 4:4)
The clock had already passed ten. My car was not yet in the driveway. It was parked among other teenagers’ cars as we all blatantly skipped curfew. We sat and talked for hours and the laughter and discussions we had are still fresh in my mind. That thrill of staying out late was something I longed for, but the fear that overwhelmed me on the ride home vanquished the fun I just had.
From the road, I could see that the lights were turned off in the house. As I drove up the driveway, the gravel beneath the tires seemed as loud as thunder. I quickly dimmed the lights and quietly turned the lock in the back door where I heard no sound. I rounded the corner towards the stairs, and there he was, sitting in the dark in the chair beside the steps.
The silence in the room was frightening, and his voice was stern as he prompted me to get in bed. The walk up the staircase was difficult; my knees were weak and my heart was pounding. As anxious as one could be, I rolled into bed in the clothes I had been wearing so as to not keep him up any longer… Neither of us would get any sleep. The shrill of laughter and chatter was gone, and I was forced to listen to the silence. It was the last thing I wanted to hear, so I would turn on the radio until he, right below me on the first floor, said to turn it off. My father wanted me to think about my actions in the deafening stillness.
Our Heavenly Father can silence us as well, whether we have earned it or not. My mind wanders to when Jesus was on the cross of Calvary. Luke 23:35-37 says, “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.” Not once did Jesus reply to their loud attempts to ridicule him. He was silent. His thoughts were on doing the Father’s will (Luke 23:34).
Why is it so hard for me to be quiet, to simply stop doing, and start listening? Here I am in a season of complete silence, no Kindergarteners screaming or whistles blowing, and yet I cannot sit still. As Brian prepared to leave for Israel, he wrote me a letter which I opened today as his flight took off. It was evident to me that my Father wants me to hear Him as I read what Brian had written, “…Please use this quiet time to get closer to the Lord rather than running around aimlessly…” Above the noise, the daily rush, and my constant need to be going, God spoke loud and clear, and now, here I sit, in a quiet house, waiting for what He might do next.
Hushed and humbled,
Jenna Johnson
Jennarjohnson@yahoo.com
P.S. – Please continue to cover Brian and the group in prayer as they embark on a 12 day tour of Israel. I will be filling in for him while he is away. He is to return on June 7th. Contact me with any questions or concerns.
The clock had already passed ten. My car was not yet in the driveway. It was parked among other teenagers’ cars as we all blatantly skipped curfew. We sat and talked for hours and the laughter and discussions we had are still fresh in my mind. That thrill of staying out late was something I longed for, but the fear that overwhelmed me on the ride home vanquished the fun I just had.
From the road, I could see that the lights were turned off in the house. As I drove up the driveway, the gravel beneath the tires seemed as loud as thunder. I quickly dimmed the lights and quietly turned the lock in the back door where I heard no sound. I rounded the corner towards the stairs, and there he was, sitting in the dark in the chair beside the steps.
The silence in the room was frightening, and his voice was stern as he prompted me to get in bed. The walk up the staircase was difficult; my knees were weak and my heart was pounding. As anxious as one could be, I rolled into bed in the clothes I had been wearing so as to not keep him up any longer… Neither of us would get any sleep. The shrill of laughter and chatter was gone, and I was forced to listen to the silence. It was the last thing I wanted to hear, so I would turn on the radio until he, right below me on the first floor, said to turn it off. My father wanted me to think about my actions in the deafening stillness.
Our Heavenly Father can silence us as well, whether we have earned it or not. My mind wanders to when Jesus was on the cross of Calvary. Luke 23:35-37 says, “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.” Not once did Jesus reply to their loud attempts to ridicule him. He was silent. His thoughts were on doing the Father’s will (Luke 23:34).
Why is it so hard for me to be quiet, to simply stop doing, and start listening? Here I am in a season of complete silence, no Kindergarteners screaming or whistles blowing, and yet I cannot sit still. As Brian prepared to leave for Israel, he wrote me a letter which I opened today as his flight took off. It was evident to me that my Father wants me to hear Him as I read what Brian had written, “…Please use this quiet time to get closer to the Lord rather than running around aimlessly…” Above the noise, the daily rush, and my constant need to be going, God spoke loud and clear, and now, here I sit, in a quiet house, waiting for what He might do next.
Hushed and humbled,
Jenna Johnson
Jennarjohnson@yahoo.com
P.S. – Please continue to cover Brian and the group in prayer as they embark on a 12 day tour of Israel. I will be filling in for him while he is away. He is to return on June 7th. Contact me with any questions or concerns.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Real Thing
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John 5:20
How easy is it to distinguish between the real thing and an imitation? We have spent most of our lives learning how to discern the genuine versus the fake. Do you remember growing up as a child and going to the grocery store with your parents and being able to choose your canned drinks for the week? I can’t remember the brand, but I do know they were about 20-25 cents per can. Out of the orange, grape, and ginger ale, my sister and I would normally have a few colas mixed in. At the time, I didn’t know the difference between cola or Coca-Cola. I can also remember the few times that my dad would make sure that he purchased Velveeta instead of Easy Cheese. Some generic items were OK for a family on a fixed budget, but some choices had to be made for the real deal.
Have you ever thought about the real thing and imitation in your choices of a church home or even in your own spiritual life? I can tell you by experience that it is much better trying to be the real thing than pretending to walk with God. I have written often of the 13 years that I professed to be a Christian, because I walked the church aisle and was baptized. I was only a pretender and faked my way through church services and a Christian university, yet God saw my heart and His message of truth cut me like a knife and has changed my life forever. There is no comparison to the past 5 years of my life since Jesus Christ has rescued me from my sin, hell and one day will deliver me through death. Glory be to God! Even though I know I have eternal life in Christ Jesus based completely on His grace, do you? Are you that confident that you are the real thing—born of God’s Spirit with a new heart, fresh eyes and a desire to see God glorified in all of your life?
The other day I was visiting a local school and was involved in a conversation with a man who said that he put his time in on Sunday but left Wednesday night for backsliders and others more interested in the Christian faith. Most of what he said was in jest, but I have learned that many things people say jokingly reveal the true nature of their heart. This is not just one instance. You could ask ten people today what they think of Jesus Christ, and you would probably get 8 different answers. Hopefully, two or three out of the ten are true disciples who cling to Christ for their very life, strength, support and reason for living. He is not the icing on the cake to my happy and comfortable American Christian life. He is the substance, source and superlative Savior of my soul. What message is being sent through your relationship with the Almighty God through Jesus Christ?
People are confused today about what it means to be a Christian. Primetime television dismisses the reality of a Holy God by portraying beautiful pictures of every immorality that God abhors. God’s name is slung through the mud and is even allowed to be mention as long as Jesus Christ is not honored and glorified as God’s Son. Christian television even portrays Christ as being something we should add to our health, wealth and prosperity. We are living in dangerous and superficial times. How can we discern truth from error or the real and genuine from the false and fake? We need spiritual discernment. As children, we were able to tell the difference between generic cola and Coca-Cola or Velveeta cheese or Easy Cheese. In the same way as children of God, we can’t replace heart-felt times of prayer with 30 seconds of saying grace before meals, diligent Bible Study for 3 hours on the X-Box, and fellowship with the saints for hours at the social club of your choice. Either Christ is everything or He is nothing at all! Even children can tell the difference.
How easy is it to distinguish between the real thing and an imitation? We have spent most of our lives learning how to discern the genuine versus the fake. Do you remember growing up as a child and going to the grocery store with your parents and being able to choose your canned drinks for the week? I can’t remember the brand, but I do know they were about 20-25 cents per can. Out of the orange, grape, and ginger ale, my sister and I would normally have a few colas mixed in. At the time, I didn’t know the difference between cola or Coca-Cola. I can also remember the few times that my dad would make sure that he purchased Velveeta instead of Easy Cheese. Some generic items were OK for a family on a fixed budget, but some choices had to be made for the real deal.
Have you ever thought about the real thing and imitation in your choices of a church home or even in your own spiritual life? I can tell you by experience that it is much better trying to be the real thing than pretending to walk with God. I have written often of the 13 years that I professed to be a Christian, because I walked the church aisle and was baptized. I was only a pretender and faked my way through church services and a Christian university, yet God saw my heart and His message of truth cut me like a knife and has changed my life forever. There is no comparison to the past 5 years of my life since Jesus Christ has rescued me from my sin, hell and one day will deliver me through death. Glory be to God! Even though I know I have eternal life in Christ Jesus based completely on His grace, do you? Are you that confident that you are the real thing—born of God’s Spirit with a new heart, fresh eyes and a desire to see God glorified in all of your life?
The other day I was visiting a local school and was involved in a conversation with a man who said that he put his time in on Sunday but left Wednesday night for backsliders and others more interested in the Christian faith. Most of what he said was in jest, but I have learned that many things people say jokingly reveal the true nature of their heart. This is not just one instance. You could ask ten people today what they think of Jesus Christ, and you would probably get 8 different answers. Hopefully, two or three out of the ten are true disciples who cling to Christ for their very life, strength, support and reason for living. He is not the icing on the cake to my happy and comfortable American Christian life. He is the substance, source and superlative Savior of my soul. What message is being sent through your relationship with the Almighty God through Jesus Christ?
People are confused today about what it means to be a Christian. Primetime television dismisses the reality of a Holy God by portraying beautiful pictures of every immorality that God abhors. God’s name is slung through the mud and is even allowed to be mention as long as Jesus Christ is not honored and glorified as God’s Son. Christian television even portrays Christ as being something we should add to our health, wealth and prosperity. We are living in dangerous and superficial times. How can we discern truth from error or the real and genuine from the false and fake? We need spiritual discernment. As children, we were able to tell the difference between generic cola and Coca-Cola or Velveeta cheese or Easy Cheese. In the same way as children of God, we can’t replace heart-felt times of prayer with 30 seconds of saying grace before meals, diligent Bible Study for 3 hours on the X-Box, and fellowship with the saints for hours at the social club of your choice. Either Christ is everything or He is nothing at all! Even children can tell the difference.
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