Form Letters to God

Not long ago, I received the following message, written by Jon Walker (one of my favorite devotional writers). It was very impacting and I must admit...convicting.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NASB)

There’s an amusing story of a business executive who, at the end of a long day of travel, climbs into bed at a hotel. As he begins to nod off, he feels something crawling up his legs.

Leaping up and fumbling with the light, he throws back the sheets to discover the bed is full of bugs. Changing rooms was not enough to satisfy the man’s disgust. When he got home, he wrote a letter of complaint to the hotel’s corporate headquarters.

Weeks later, he received a reply directly from the president of the company:

“We are absolutely appalled that a man of your position and reputation should have had such an experience in one of our hotels. We are deeply, deeply embarrassed, and we assure you that we are working diligently to correct this problem. It will never happen again.”

As he read the reply, the businessman felt great! The hotel management had heard him; they’d committed to making a change; and now every customer would benefit from the businessman’s initiative.

As he folded the letter, a small Post-it® note floated to the floor. Picking it up, the man saw, in a hand-written scrawl, “Send this guy the bug letter.”

Have you been sending “bug letters” to God? Form letters that cover any concerns and commitments between you and the Father; standardized responses to God’s commands, directions, or promptings; a file full of templates that allow you to walk by sight and not by faith?

It’s easy to say you’ll be a more supportive husband and a more attentive father. Will you allow God to lead your transformation, or will you send him a form letter?

It’s easy to say you’ll be a more loving mother and a more encouraging wife. Will you allow God to lead your transformation, or will you reach into the file cabinet for another form letter? Don’t waste God’s grace, my friend. Let him transform you. Let him teach you to walk by faith and not by form letters or ritual reactions.

· God is not surprised – He knows the intent of your heart and the truth of your priorities. He knows when you’ve sent him a form letter. His desire is not to condemn you, but to grow you. What form letter to God will you tear up today?

· Be authentic – Speak to God from the depths of your heart. Tell him about your fears, your hurts, your dark places, your sins – and allow him to be your Heavenly Father.

· Jesus is personal – Jesus doesn’t keep you at a distance, thinking of you as just another standard, typical, “templated” believer. He lives in you and guides you, and you access his power through faith: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NASB)

Lord, may I not waste your grace by sending "form letter prayers." The price you paid was far too high that I should treat you as I often have. I want so much to walk by faith, to be changed. Do a work in my heart, Father. I want to always show you the love, reverence and respect you so deserve. May it be so, Lord Jesus...Amen.

See yourself in this story? Consider this...

The Potter & the Clay

…We are the clay, and You our potter;
and all we are the work of Your hand.
~ Isaiah 64:8

Have you ever watched a potter work? He takes a dense mass of clay and first pounds and shapes it into a ball. He then places it firmly in the center of the potter’s wheel and begins the slow process of shaping. Initially, the clay is quite rigid and unyielding, so he continuously uses water to keep it workable. The potter’s job requires much patience. As the wheel spins, he continuously changes the position of his hands and fingers as he shapes the clay into what he wants it to be. More pressure here, a more delicate touch there, literally even squeezing in some places. He might even change the speed at which the wheel is turning. Once the clay takes on its initial shape, he begins using tools that trim away excess and further refine it into the desired form. By now, the piece looks finished, but must be placed in the kiln and subjected to intense heat before it is fully strengthened and usable to its fullest potential.

I’ve been thinking about our message yesterday which brought this question…
“How are you responding to God’s attempts to mold and shape your life?"

More specifically…
Have you first offered yourself to Him for use?
Are you allowing Him to pound, press, apply pressure and even squeeze where needed?
Are you soaking in the water of his Word in order that you might remain workable?
Have you given Him the ability to trim away those excess things in your life keeping you from a closer walk with Him?
Are you willing to be subjected to intense heat so that in the end you’ll be fully strengthened and more perfected?

Or…
Are you resisting being used at all?
Are you fighting his attempts to pound, press, apply pressure and even squeeze where needed?
Have you neglected soaking in the water from God’s Word and in doing so, become resistant, rigid and unyielding to change?
Are you trying to avoid (or asking God to take away) painful situations, rather than endure the work of His refining tools?
Do you give up in the midst of intense heat, before ever realizing the full strength you could gain in Him through the process?

In the end, I don't want to be a vessel whose shape bears no resemblance to the Potter's design; one that represents defiance and resistance to His workings. Instead, I want my final shape to be that which He lovingly intended and purposefully created because I surrendered to His hands. More than anything...I want to be a creation He can look upon with great joy.

Lord, I want to be used by you. Help me to allow you full access to every part of me. Do what is needed to shape me into who you want me to be. Help me stay saturated in your Word so that my heart is tender and workable. Take away those things that keep me from a closer walk with you. When I find myself in the midst of extreme discomfort, Lord remind me those trials are from you, specifically designed for me, that I may become fully strengthened and perfected in you. May it be so Lord Jesus…

I invite you to take a moment to listen to this beautiful prayer offered by Darlene Zschech & Hillsong.

A New Revelation

I've been pondering. (This can sometimes be a dangerous thing.) I've been itching to write all week, but this has been my first opportunity to get it all down! I read a phrase on Beth Moore's Good Friday blog http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2008/03/for-lives-like-ours.html that I can’t seem to get out of my mind. She wrote “Every single ounce of power expended on the Cross is yours in Jesus’ Name.…” Just let that settle in for a moment. This thought has been swirling around my head like crazy. It’s as if I’ve never fully grasped the kind of power that is available to me through Christ. I’ve known since becoming a Christian (way back when) that I have the power of Christ living in me through the Holy Spirit, but that much power?! The more I considered this new revelation, it struck me that when I think about many of my favorite scriptures, they also speak of God’s power…

Romans: 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

2 Corinthians 12:9: Each time he said, “my grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Colossians 1:10-12: We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.

Ironically, or maybe not…; )…the chapter I’m now working on in my Bible study (He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer) is giving substantial attention to the incomparable, overcoming and superhuman nature of God’s power. (As if God’s trying to drive home a point with me!) So knowing all such things, how can there be any room in my heart for doubt? Why have I often settled for mediocre dreams? Why do I allow my own fears to overshadow the mighty power of God in my life? Why am I so easily discouraged at times? How is it that I can actually doubt God’s ability to change certain situations? Why have I never fully grasped just how much power is available to me through Christ? Beth Moore's blog entry went on to suggest we possibly live in defeat because we’ve never allowed ourselves to feel the full and free forgiveness of the Cross. Is that you? Is that me? While I’ve always thought of myself as a blessed, humbled and contented believer, a part of me had to answer yes to this question. So often in my walk I’ve allowed fears and feelings of unworthiness to hinder me in what I can do for Christ. I want to surrender that to him TODAY. Lord, I so desire to embrace the full and free forgiveness of Your cross. I want, like never before, to claim every ounce of that power in my life. To believe like never before in its sufficiency, and in your willingness to provide it to those who ask...may it be so, Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 3:16-21: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church in and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.