Ha! Yeah right! I really hate it when people say stuff like this. There are no simple steps to feeling your spiritual best. It's like there are a ton of Christian "Self-Help" gurus out there. No two people are the same. I can't figure out why they think that these "simple steps" are going to be the answers to everyone's problems.
It's the same thing with popular Christian studies. You've seen it. 'The Prayer of Jabez', the current 'The Purpose Driven Life' craze. The women are all siked about Beth Moore right now. I'm not trying to bash these things. I know God uses them, but I have a really hard time doing studies just because they are popular. I go in with a pretty raunchy attitude, and that means I have to work really hard at being open to what God wants to teach me.
It also frustrates me when sermons have these cute little outlines where all the words start with "p" or something. Man, that's annoying. Anyway, that was way off subject.
For the last couple of months in my spiritual walk with God, I've felt sort of... distant. Stagnant. Sickly. I think I've figured out why.
I believe my spiritual gift is serving. I love to serve. I love to spend my time helping out at church or working for people. I'm usually one of the first to show up, and I'm almost always the last one to leave. When the church is having a work day I'm there. When we are doing preparation for an upcoming event I'm there. I just love to fill that gap.
One of the reasons I love to serve so much is because it's one of the places that I feel a definite connection with God. When I'm by myself cleaning toilets or the fridge, God is with me. I can't always figure out what He's saying, and sometimes I don't think He really says anything, I can just feel His presence. Even though it's not exactly the most comfortable thing in the world to be cleaning out urinals in the men's bathroom, (Oh gross. I don't think those things should ever have been invented) it's definitely comforting to feel Him there.
Well, for the last couple of months I haven't done much serving at all. Part of this is because we haven't had a whole lot going on at the church that I was aware of, but that is not an excuse. I ought to seek opportunities out, not wait around for them to move into my path.
I haven't been using the gift that God gave me to further His kingdom. I'm not pulling my share of weight. I'm just sitting here taking and taking. I'm not giving anything back.
I think this is why I have felt so spiritually unhealthy. You know how you feel if haven't done any exercize whatsoever all week? Just like a healthy diet isn't the only factor in maintaining a healthy body, there are quite a few factors in maintaining your spiritual health.
I think I've been doing well as far as my "diet". I've been reading my Bible faithfully, I have been doing a lot of praying, but I haven't been getting any exercize. I haven't been using my gift.
So no, this is not a 6 month plan about how to deepen your relationship with God, an 8 step guide to easy living in the Church, it's just something that I've been thinking about this morning. I'm not a self-help guru, just a 17 year old girl who struggles in her walk constantly.
Did any of that make sense at all?
Anna
2 comments:
So...I guess it bugs you when every part of Dean's sermon starts with the same letter? :)
HAHA!!! Yes, as a matter of fact it does! I mean, I still learn stuff, but it distracts me. I sit there thinking, "How long did he sit there, trying to think of 5 things that have to do with this subject, all starting with the letter _ ?" But oh well.
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