Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

Originally written February 11, 2019

“Maybe God is trying to tell me something.”

Do you ever have that thought?

If so, do you find that thought occurring after a series of unfortunate events or a series of wins?

I’m pretty sure I know the answer to that question.

The truth of the matter is that God is ALWAYS trying to tell us something. The problem is that we are far too often so self-absorbed that we are not listening.

May I tell you one of the things that keeps us self-absorbed?

Grudges.

Holding onto hurts distorts our view of the world, so that we see through a lens of grievance rather than grace.

But it seems so natural and normal to take that approach.

Indeed.

So, I would suggest that what we need most is a new normal, intentionally driven by a new nature.

If we are in Christ—having chosen, by faith, to align ourselves with His nature—the new nature has been given to us as a gift of His grace.

So part of the equation has been accomplished.

But here’s our part: will we intentionally lean into a new normal or will we allow the old normal to be our default reaction?

Our new nature makes the new normal POSSIBLE, but it doesn’t make it AUTOMATIC.

Jesus told us that grudges do not go away by themselves, we have to release them—“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25)

In Ted Dekker’s book, “The Way of Love,” he reminds us that we have the ability to choose the lens through which we view the world—“We can see with the eyes of love instead of the eyes of grievance and be set free from the blindness that has caused us so much suffering. Our earthen vessel may object because it finds its identity in being a victim, but we journey out of victimhood to complete freedom in Christ.”

Sounds good, right?

But how do we make that journey?

In “My Utmost for His Highest” Oswald Chambers says, “If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now … Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him … Remember whose you are and whom you serve.”

All of these quotes came from my devotional reading in my time with the Father this morning.

Maybe He’s trying to tell me something?

Question: Though what lens are you viewing the world today—grievance or grace? Are you satisfied with simply adopting everyone else’s normal?

Our lives matter so much to God that He wants us to discover our amazing new normal.

Be amazing today, my friend.