are you really with Him?

Please consider this...  Do you know God because of what others have told you about Him, or do you know God because you are directly and intimately seeking after Him?   By no means am I suggesting that you cannot learn something about God from others.  Believers are called to go into the world to share and acknowledge the Lord's glory and gospel.  But, beyond what others have said, how do you personally know the King?  How often are you dialoging with Him... without ceasing?  Do you love Him first... with all your heart?  Are you giving Him your best effort to become a focused and prepared scholar of His Law?  Can you truly defend WHO He is and what His relationship means to you in real time? Or is God simply a jolly Sunday school get-out-of-jail-free figure that you claim to believe in, like a childhood belief in Santa Clause or the Tooth Fairy?

I think it is terribly easy to get caught up in the back pew of today's Christianity... the endless supply of warm-fuzzy books, the weekly sermon podcasts, the couples retreats and gender-specific conferences that challenge us, "the church", to feel good about believing in our wide-spread presumed version of a holy God.  But what about the true identity of God?  What do we really know about Him?  In what manner have we independently and wholeheartedly made an effort toward becoming His friend?  Toward becoming His bride?  To gain a personal glimpse of His majesty?   Where does He honestly fit into our new life in Christ?  Most importantly, what does HE have to say to us directly?

You see, when it comes down to it, it is hard to read, take-in, and accept God and His Word.  It takes commitment.  It requires our full attention and the new eyes and aid of Christ's Spirit.  Sadly though, most would rather receive hear-say from others than seek after Him directly.  I think it is because when you really get down to it... sure, God is good... but He is not "a tame lion."  His Ways are much higher than ours.  He cannot be fit into a box or a one hour sitcom that follows a particular feel-good formula.  And that is scary and uncomfortable in our lazy lives.  So, rather than fear the Lord firsthand, we fearfully run to find a softer version of Him... one that makes us feel better about ourselves.   We worship, but only where we feel safe - usually with others needing to feel safe too.  Sure, we talk big.  We looooove God. We pretend we are His greatest fans.  But most of us, simply, honestly, do not know God personally.  We have made no effort.  Instead, we have allowed and supported others to define His Kingdom while missing His truth and the extreme delight in walking close with Him in full humility and awe.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

Please consider this with all your heart...  Do you know God because of what others have told you about Him, or do you know God because you are directly and intimately seeking after Him?  Today, are you really with Him?

A. W. Tozer said that the goal of every Christian should be to "live in a state of unbroken worship."  I whole-heartedly agree.  We cannot be friends with the Lord unless we walk intimately alongside Him - clinging to the cloak of our Shepherd.  We cannot align and be near the King without obediently adhering to His law, unashamedly defending His honor, and faithfully communing with Him about His plans.  Our thoughts, our actions, our motivations, and our life choices are to be influenced solely by Him.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  (Amos 3:3)

So, who influences you today?  Have you allowed others to take God's place in this capacity?  Have you settled for less than His perfect best?

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:4-6)

Blessings!

Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson