Searching for meaning in life

Reading the newspaper can be very depressing. We read about war, violence, crime and corruption on a daily basis. At the same time we see “inspirational” books and articles come out by the hundreds about finding meaning in life, how to be happy and how to be successful. As a Christian, I find this almost as discouraging as the news.

The reason I say that is: people are running to these books and ideas and gurus because they are searching. They’re hungry and even a little desperate. But, they are searching in all the wrong places. As Christians we need to say “enough.”

Positive thinking helps… but it’s not the answer. Organizing our homes and our lives aren’t bad things…but they’re not the answer. Getting good grades, having a successful career are nice…but they’re not the answer.

Everyone has a built in hunger for God. He created us that way – with a little hole inside that can only be filled by Him. We don’t always recognize that, but it’s there. We think it’s something else and go after money, fame, security, material items, power - but nothing fills the void.

One by one everything else fails us. As Christians, as a church, it’s time to start paying close attention to God. It’s time to start being transformed into the image of His son. It’s time to grow our spirituality and share the answer with the people searching.

“Spirituality is an inward relationship with God that fills every part of living with Christ.” It’s a molding process to make us into the people God wants us to be and we want to be.

If we want the world to change – we have to start first with ourselves and then our church. Spirituality enables us to see God at work in everything. Then when we don’t totally understand the why we still believe that God never wastes a relationship or situation in developing our interior life. That’s why we can “always give thanks for everything in the name of Christ Jesus.”

SO – if we decide God’s time IS now – we need to open our hearts, read and digest the scripture. Include Christ in every detail of our lives, examine all we do in the light of what we know He wants from us. Give Him all our excuses and commit to obedience.

If the goal of a Christian is to know and love God and then live with Him forever, then living toward that goal is what makes an abundant and quality life.

When we seek God’s will we need to remember that the “where” and “what” are less important then the “who.” God wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to believe that His Son is who He says He is. And to tell others that every time we get a chance with both our words and our actions.

What Nehemiah can teach us about prayer

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the Persian king, Artaxerxes. This means he was the person who ensured the safety and the quality of the king’s food and drink. It was obviously a much-trusted position.

Nehemiah was a descendent of one of the numerous Jewish families who had chosen to remain in the East when the first exiles went back to Jerusalem.

But, Nehemiah loved his homeland even though he had spent his whole life in Babylon and when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem, the holy city, were in such rubble, the news upset him and he went straight to God. The story of Nehemiah is how he goes to Jerusalem to rebuild those walls and does so in a miraculous 52 days! But, it is also the story of spiritual renewal and rebuilding a people’s dependence on God. When we take our eyes off of God, our lives begin to crumble just like Jerusalem’s walls.

When Nehemiah went to God in prayer, he then looked for ways with God’s help to improve the situation. We are God’s hands and feet on earth. Too often we pray without looking for what God wants us to do. We show God we are serious when we combine prayer with thought, preparation and effort.

Nehemiah’s prayer demonstrated all the elements of effective prayer:
1. He praised God
2. He offered Thanksgiving
3. He offered repentance– not just for himself, but for the whole nation
4. He made a specific request
5. He ended with a commitment

Praying like this helps clarify the problems we are facing. It reminds us of God’s great power to help and it puts into words the job we have to do. By the end of this prayer we can figure out what we need to do. If we pray the right way, difficult decisions fall into proper perspective and then appropriate actions can follow.

Also, Nehemiah prayed not only for help, but also for success. When God’s purposes are at work, we shouldn’t hesitate to ask for success. And lastly, Nehemiah prayed constantly, even when talking to other people, because he knew God is always present and in charge. And he could confidently send up little emergency prayers throughout the day because he had established a relationship with God during times of extended prayer.

God was not caught by surprise

Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief; when He makes Himself an offering for sin, He shall see His offspring, He shall prolong His days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand;”

It was no accident. God was not caught by surprise when His servant was crushed and put to grief. It was God’s eternal plan for the redemption of Israel. There was no hostile intent, only a righteous God, dealing with the transgressions of His people. The emphasis Isaiah makes is, God did it. God is the author, God is in control. Not the Roman soldiers or the Jewish religious leaders. They could accomplish their evil deed only as a sovereign God allowed them. The only adequate answer to the question of why God did it is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

God reached out to us from the beginning. He has always come to us. In the Garden of Eden He came down to walk with Adam and Eve and to teach them. In Exodus He was there in the form of a fire and a cloud leading and guiding the Israelites. Later He dwelled in their most holy of Holies. Much later He came to earth as Jesus. He became one of us and lived on earth. Now, He is inside every believer in the form of the Holy Spirit, where He’s promised to stay until the end of time.

God loves us! He wants to BE with us, have a relationship with us now and for eternity. His plan is that, as many people as can, will be saved. It is totally up to us, whether we are or not.

Calories and Prophets

Back in Old Testament times when God’s prophets were alive and going about His work, they weren’t very well liked. The people didn’t like the prophets because they didn’t welcome the truth. The truth made them uncomfortable. It still makes us uncomfortable today. We prefer lies and illusions that make us feel more secure.

It’s kind of like counting calories.

If you are watching your diet and tracking calories in your mind each day, have you ever counted a piece of cake that you really knew was closer to 500 calories as 400 calories? Just because it MAY have been cut a tiny bit smaller or maybe the cook used skim milk instead of whole (even though you have no idea if they did or not!) Or have you ever taken a piece of candy from a bag and even though the calories were printed on the back, you didn’t turn the bag over to look? You just guessed……low! If you keep doing that you will gain weight.

If you keep lying to yourself about your relationship with God, you won’t have one! So really! What good does it do to kid yourself? It’s much better to face reality then to live a lie. ESPECIALLY when we are talking about things eternal….and calories!