Top 4 Religious Myths
1. “I guess God gave me this because He knew I could handle it.” The fact is, we CAN’T handle it. Every trial and challenge is allowed for us to experience moment-by-moment communion with God. He knows who can effectively “handle it”-Jesus. We don’t understand the power of God until He’s all we have. We can know He’s after so much more here. He wants us to come to the end of ourselves and lean on Him. Then, He can move on our behalf.
2. “God helps those who help themselves”. This is one saying that is actually utterly OPPOSITE. We can’t help ourselves because we cannot save ourselves. Jesus never need die if we could, in fact, help ourselves. If anything, we are helpless. God delights in that moment when we cry out, “God, I can’t do this anymore! I need you to help me!” Then, the Father can activate His power.
3. “God doesn’t listen to my prayers.” Typically, we say this because He’s either saying “No” to something we want or we have given up praying to a God that seems to ignore us. The fact is, He is overwhelmingly aware of us. He loves us, likes us, & wants to direct us. It startles us to think how much better God knows us than we know ourselves. He knew before He invented time that we would be so loved that He would give His only begotten Son. He listens constantly to us and reacts out of love.
4.”God couldn’t use me because I do so much wrong.” Tell yourself the biblical truth-He wants to use you. Because we naturally weigh our sins , we tell ourselves if the sin quota is reached, God’s done with us. Again, this flies in the face of the previous points . God knew that His Son would come to remove sin and transform the broken human to the victorious human. When He made us, He knew He would have to create an utterly new creation out of death. God wants us to embrace our true identity-not based on merit or mistakes-but on the effective blood of Christ. He makes us acceptable to our holy God and then gives us a calling to tell our story to others. When we doubt, we can ask ourselves, “Did Jesus take care of that sin? Is what He did enough to deal with my mess? Is my sin higher than the power of Christ?” No-it’s so much more-you are not only forgiven but commissioned as His representative on earth. May we speak this truth to ourselves, “God only uses the broken.” Like Paul.
How to get over yourself
It’s a huge thing when we face the fact that we are (by nature) self-centered. This delightful malady has infected every person who’s ever existed-except perfect Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:15-20) When we accept this as our reality, we understand ourselves better. In every relationship, our flesh instinctively asks, “What’s in this for me?” When a human is faced with hardship, the human asks “How can I get out of this pain?” An embarrassing revelation of this condition always seems to show itself through photography and our response to pictures. Who do we look for first? Ugh.
Many of us are tired-very tired of being self-absorbed. Self-absorption always promises happiness and delivers nothing. We spend hours on ourselves feeding the flesh and still have no peace. How can we be freed from this? Is it possible?
There is one way-we go to Jesus and say, “I cannot make myself different, but you can!” We give Him our inability and He gives us His ability. Only He can give us a new heart. (Ezekiel 36:26) We all want to be absorbed by things that deliver joy-serving God and serving people. We can be free to love, free to initiate, free to focus on other people, free to experience true peace. Because He is the great Exchanger, Jesus can give us His eyes that look out at others rather than in at ourselves.
A Piece of Peace
Exhausted yet? Everyone is running right now. We are all breathless with school and work as we start to busily make plans for the next months. No matter what the age or stage, we are just a stressed people. What’s the source of our anxiety? (Ugh. No one likes that question!) More importantly, how do we organize our lives in a way that allows God to be God? I have to consistently step back to check my “control gauges”. No matter how we dress it up in spiritual language, our human nature will try to control all dimensions of life . It’s with conscious daily discipline that we sit before God and give Him our plans. I need to breathe, pray and ask myself certain questions.
1. Do I want God in control of my life? Do I truly believe He knows what He’s doing?
2. If my day doesn’t go my way or unforeseen circumstances occur, how long do I let myself struggle before I receive events as God’s hand?
3. Will I choose to stew through decisions or just release them to God? What Scriptures can I read to exchange my stress for His peace?
Here’s some Soul Food:
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
Philippians 4:6-7“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 3:5-8“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil; This will mean health for your flesh and vigor for your bones.
Proverbs 16:2-3 “All one’s ways are pure in one’s own eyes, but the measurer of motives is the Lord. Entrust your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”
What is it about His word that gives us peace? His power is here. He wants to gives us peace for our anxiety, wisdom for our confusion, and humility for our pride. When we lean in to Him, He responds.