To Be Least
"For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest." (Luke 9:48)Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Spiritual Starvation
We, as followers of Jesus, are most likely to fall when we are at a state of spiritual starvation. However, knowing about this condition and recognizing it are two completely different tasks.
In fact, this kind of starvation often occurs gradually, going unnoticed by the victim. More often than not, it is a result of a busy life. I am talking about those days where your worries and jobs at hand seem to push Christ out of your schedule. That leather Bible that you once gladly read, is sitting on a high shelf, gathering dust. It is neglected and forgotten along with your Savior.
One of those nights, as you finish cleaning up the kitchen and picking up the house, you can feel a sense of guilt slowly creeping up through your body. Each night, as you go to bed, you utter a short and insincere prayer in a futile attempt to atone for your shame. Each day this pattern of digression continues on. And each day you slip further and further away from your God.
Weeks and months pass by. Your fervor for the Lord has died almost completely down, along with the time spent in the Bible and prayer. Your relationship with Jesus threatens to collapse at any moment. Sure, you did not commit any serious sin, but something is not right with God. You feel starved, like a thirsty man in a desert. You are alive, but very weak.
It is during times like this, when you ignore Christ, that you are most vulnerable for attack and defeat. Your once firm foundation in Jesus begins to crack open. As soon as temptations come your way, you are destroyed.
In fact, this kind of starvation often occurs gradually, going unnoticed by the victim. More often than not, it is a result of a busy life. I am talking about those days where your worries and jobs at hand seem to push Christ out of your schedule. That leather Bible that you once gladly read, is sitting on a high shelf, gathering dust. It is neglected and forgotten along with your Savior.
One of those nights, as you finish cleaning up the kitchen and picking up the house, you can feel a sense of guilt slowly creeping up through your body. Each night, as you go to bed, you utter a short and insincere prayer in a futile attempt to atone for your shame. Each day this pattern of digression continues on. And each day you slip further and further away from your God.
Weeks and months pass by. Your fervor for the Lord has died almost completely down, along with the time spent in the Bible and prayer. Your relationship with Jesus threatens to collapse at any moment. Sure, you did not commit any serious sin, but something is not right with God. You feel starved, like a thirsty man in a desert. You are alive, but very weak.
It is during times like this, when you ignore Christ, that you are most vulnerable for attack and defeat. Your once firm foundation in Jesus begins to crack open. As soon as temptations come your way, you are destroyed.
Comments:
<< Home
Michael, you are so right about allowing time to push God and your daily time out of the way, leaving room for Satan and his warriors to come swooping in on you trying to defeat your stance for God. I've just been through some similar things. If you get a chance, go to my site and find the article "When the War Hits Home." (http://BeingGods.blogspot.com) You need to know that you are not alone in your struggles, we have all been through them and will be praying for you.
Jimmy
Jimmy
That is so true. C.S. Lewis once stated, "My dear boy what can be more soul destroying than stagnation."
Thank you so much for posting that. One of my best friends is going through a struggle right now where she feels completely empty and alone and there is no longer any connection with God. I will have her read your post.
God bless, Lysha
God bless, Lysha
Wow! I feel as if you just described my life. This actually makes me think and refocus which is great!
Awesome blog!
Awesome blog!
When my oldest daughter was going through her teenage years, I used to give her 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 as encouragement that God gives us the ability to resist the temptations of daily life.
It reads: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Everything you need to turn back to God is there: your family, the local body and most importantly, the word.
But Paul also gives us a warning: Beware lest you think you can stand on your own. We get so wrapped up in the world, like the Israelites did in the desert (read vs. 1-11), that we ignore God and his ways.
Remember the Israelites fell; we can fall. The answer is found in verse 14: "Therefore, flee from idolatry."
James 4:6-8 says, in part: "'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
My daughter and I still talk about faith and resisting temptation now that she is married and has a young daughter of her own. This is a lesson for all -- self included -- that we can't ignore God.
It reads: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Everything you need to turn back to God is there: your family, the local body and most importantly, the word.
But Paul also gives us a warning: Beware lest you think you can stand on your own. We get so wrapped up in the world, like the Israelites did in the desert (read vs. 1-11), that we ignore God and his ways.
Remember the Israelites fell; we can fall. The answer is found in verse 14: "Therefore, flee from idolatry."
James 4:6-8 says, in part: "'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
My daughter and I still talk about faith and resisting temptation now that she is married and has a young daughter of her own. This is a lesson for all -- self included -- that we can't ignore God.
Hi Micheal,
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I'm glad that you left a link to your blog from your comment. I really like what you're doing here, your post serves as a reminder that one should never be too busy to the point that we should neglect our daily devotion to God.
God bless,
-N-
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I'm glad that you left a link to your blog from your comment. I really like what you're doing here, your post serves as a reminder that one should never be too busy to the point that we should neglect our daily devotion to God.
God bless,
-N-
# posted by 
: 11:33 am
: 11:33 am
Hello, Michael,
Thank you also for paying my blog a visit. I like dropping by yours, too. What you write provide hope. I link to your site with the thought that young internet users, seekers and young believers will find inspiration in what you do and follow after you.
I'm praying for you, Brother. I'm praying and looking forward to more of your posts.
In Christ,
Soldado De Oracion
Thank you also for paying my blog a visit. I like dropping by yours, too. What you write provide hope. I link to your site with the thought that young internet users, seekers and young believers will find inspiration in what you do and follow after you.
I'm praying for you, Brother. I'm praying and looking forward to more of your posts.
In Christ,
Soldado De Oracion
Hi Michael,
A very good post!
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Be blessed and keep on writing and sharing.
Writing for the King,
Paul
:)
A very good post!
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Be blessed and keep on writing and sharing.
Writing for the King,
Paul
:)
Hi Michael...well written and thoughful. Let me just comment on one thing you said: "Your once firm foundation in Jesus begins to crack open. As soon as temptations come your way, you are destroyed."
Once we are Christ's, we are in Him and He is in us, and we can never be destroyed. We can certainly give in to temptation, fall down, bend, we can even break. But we can never be destroyed! If we could be, that would mean that Christ could be. He has won the victory for us once and for all. Evil has been defeated if we are ready to claim that victory. But you're right, we can stagnate, fall away, lose our fervour! But always believe that you can never be destroyed! It's in knowing that truth that we can win the battles! Blessings on you Michael. You're an awesome writer and one smart guy! Becky
Once we are Christ's, we are in Him and He is in us, and we can never be destroyed. We can certainly give in to temptation, fall down, bend, we can even break. But we can never be destroyed! If we could be, that would mean that Christ could be. He has won the victory for us once and for all. Evil has been defeated if we are ready to claim that victory. But you're right, we can stagnate, fall away, lose our fervour! But always believe that you can never be destroyed! It's in knowing that truth that we can win the battles! Blessings on you Michael. You're an awesome writer and one smart guy! Becky
I just wanted to make public note that these blogs read beautifully honest and positively thought-provoking. Please keep up the good, but I am sure it sometimes very difficult, work... for the benefit of others and, most importantly, yourself.
I also wanted to agree with Becky... because NOTHING - absolutely nothing - can separate us from the love of Christ. We may fall over and over again, but He ALWAYS picks us up. And when He does, He isn't mad. He doesn't glare at us with a look of fatherly disappointment. He gently puts our hand in His and pulls us into the most warm and loving embrace that we will ever know. The greatest thing is that He is excited to help us up into Him every time! It is a moment of intimacy that may not have occurred if we didn't fall.
I, too, recommend this letter: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/flltextenglish.html
I also wanted to agree with Becky... because NOTHING - absolutely nothing - can separate us from the love of Christ. We may fall over and over again, but He ALWAYS picks us up. And when He does, He isn't mad. He doesn't glare at us with a look of fatherly disappointment. He gently puts our hand in His and pulls us into the most warm and loving embrace that we will ever know. The greatest thing is that He is excited to help us up into Him every time! It is a moment of intimacy that may not have occurred if we didn't fall.
I, too, recommend this letter: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/flltextenglish.html
# posted by : 2:13 am
: 2:13 am
Right on! You nailed it, we as Christians have to be very careful how we spend our time. Our actions and thoughts affect our growth in Christ. I wrote a post kinda along those lines called "Pray Without Ceasing". Keep it up.
# posted by : 11:42 am
: 11:42 am
You have a lot of spiritual wisdom. I honestly CAN'T WAIT to see what God has for you down the road. What a great post.
YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB ON LYSHA'S TEMPLATE!!! wow O_O. Yeah. Amazingness. I love it.
Nice post too by the way. I love your blog, it's really insightful.
Nice post too by the way. I love your blog, it's really insightful.
"It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out."
-Screwtape
(C.S Lewis the Screwtape Letters)
If you haven't read C.S. Lewis the Screwtape Letters it really is a must read.
Anyways you have a very interesting blog here Michael, it is encouraging to see that not all young people are foolishly following a sheep mentality.
Post a Comment
-Screwtape
(C.S Lewis the Screwtape Letters)
If you haven't read C.S. Lewis the Screwtape Letters it really is a must read.
Anyways you have a very interesting blog here Michael, it is encouraging to see that not all young people are foolishly following a sheep mentality.
# posted by : 11:21 pm
: 11:21 pm<< Home
Archives
December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005
