Outside the box...

I have three thoughts I've jotted down today that I wanted to put on here, however haphazard it may end up:

1. Don't compartmentalize God
2. Quote from Spurgeon about what we take in and think about
3. Don't just long for situations to change

Now I will attempt to put them all together into a somewhat coherent thought.


A quote Pastor Mike shared in a recent Wednesday night sermon I listened to in my car this morning on the way to work:

A person cannot expect to entertain Jesus in the parlor of their hearts with Satan in the cellar. -Charles Spurgeon.


What we allow into our minds day in and day out affects what comes into our heart and out of our mouths during reaction time. I'd heard this before, but lately... it actually means something to me. Surrounding and submersing myself - reading, studying, hearing, playing, and listening - it makes a difference in the thoughts I have throughout the day.

His message dealt with stability - and how stability can only come when we rejoice in the Lord throughout the day - constantly. Only then can we rejoice in Him when the bad times come - instead of asking "why" and "how will I get through this".

We so often only pray when bad things are happening - instead of having an ongoing communication with Him. Continuous conversation - waking up with thanks, asking Him to be with us throughout the day, starting the car and asking Him to help us safely get to work, asking for patience with people throughout the day - asking for constant daily guidance.

Don't compartmentalize God. I know that I do this. Before I got back into church and experienced the changes I had, I wanted everyone around me to compartmentalize God as well. Like he said in the sermon - we try to put God in allotted times - Sunday morning, then maybe Sunday night, maybe even Wednesday night - and maybe even before a meal. Even then, usually not before a meal in a restaurant, or a meal in the breakroom at work.

If we really and truly believe what we say - that God is everywhere all the time - why do we try to only "pay attention" or "talk" to Him at those allotted times?

He is everything - and if we truly believe that we are His creation, created for His glory... then shouldn't every minute be devoted to Him in at least some way?
I have been trying to work on this... waking up before the alarm goes off in the morning, and thanking God upon waking for another day (and for not having to hear that alarm clock).

I am not a cheerful morning person, but as I progress in the stages of waking in the shower, and while getting ready for work - I try to continue my constant dialogue with God:

Give me patience today Lord to deal with the things that will come at me
Give me the strength and courage to share you more with others throughout the day
Keep us all safe on our way to work this morning

I read my daily devotional that Aunt Shirley let me borrow. I tend to rush in the mornings, because the sooner I get in the sooner I get out of work, but I've made myself take the time to read the daily passage in the morning before I leave.

As I get in the car I pray for help with my tendency toward road rage - anger does no one any good, and I experience a lot of impatience when behind the wheel of a car.

I've been listening to some of the Wednesday night sermons this week that I've been missing since I work with the kids on Wednesday nights - and one sermon is usually just enough time for me to pull out of the driveway at home, and into the parking lot at work.
Those give me things to think on while I'm at work. Instead of being frustrated when I'm feeling unmotivated, I try to get into more of a meditative mode and think on the things I've read and heard. Through the day I try to keep up that dialogue.

It's hard to feel alone at any part of the day when you've been constantly talking to God. It's hard to feel like everything is going wrong when you really have faith that He is in control, and that His way and will are best even when our finite human minds can't understand the present. The idea of Providence can really give peace of mind.

We often want to pray for situations to change - we often get frustrated when things don't go our way. I know I do - that's something I've been trying really hard to work on for a while now. Maybe we should instead just pray for a change in our ability to handle those situations, or to change our ability to understand and deal with those situations, and for the ability to hand it all over and trust God.

So many phrases we just say all the time and really lose the meaning of the words.

Trust.

Pronunciation: 'tr&st
Function: noun
1. assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
2. dependence on something future or contingent
3. a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship
4. something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another

You have to have faith that someone is competent of taking care of you in order to trust. Why is it so hard for us to relinquish control to an eternal, all powerful righteous God. Do we really trust ourselves with the problems more?

Faith is what it is all about... our worries, our frustrations, our disappointments.

If we truly have faith, those things can slowly melt away, but for some reason it is very hard for us to give up the negative feelings we think we want to get away from.


Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5