Simple tips on vastly improving your personal relationship with God.

2/5/2004 | jwh_Denver

[jwh_Denver]

It is the deserts that we go through that we learn to worship Him and to draw close to Him. It is in these deserts that we set aside all of our theology, doctrines and religion and place out total dependency upon Him. This is where we learn His mercy, His grace and His total and complete love for us. It is when we allow "self" to end and Him to take over and consume us and our situation(s). It is when we learn to be still and know that He is God. I also believe that this is the place in our spiritual lives where we learn to pray and move upon the heart of God.

Just my .02 :o)

2 cents? Priceless!

[jwh_Denver]

Just a counter-point for folks to keep in mind...the converse can happen. A person can get depraved and sufficiently alienated from G-d that even
the Almighty will draw back and issue "walking papers".

VOA, I'm so glad you pointed this out because I know that God has issued me "walking papers". Would you expound on this? Thank you very much for using Scriptures to make your point.

[VOA]

VOA, I'm so glad you pointed this out because I know that God has issued me "walking papers".
Would you expound on this?

"Walking papers" was just a short-hand term I threw in, talking about C.S. Lewis'
view on the final meaning of "Thy will be done".
As in "Thy will be done" is something that the well-meaning Christian accepts
and trys to help into being on this plane of existence.

Conversely (with Lewis' masterful word play), the unrepentant sinner, when finally
before the throne of justice will be given what s/he apparently wanted...for his/her will
to be done...doing all sorts of evil or not doing good and leaving G-d in the dust.

To sum up:
The repentant sinner understands the term to be "God's Will be done".
The unrepentant sinner will find out that his/her "will" shall be done...
and G-d will let the separation be permanant. They get their walking papers and a final
trip across that gulf that was so well-described in the parable of The Rich Man
and the poor man, Lazarus.

[Texas2step]

Nice work! The additions of continual attitude of praise and worship and the searching and studying of His Word really round out these essay well.

[LurkedLongEnough]

So true. These kinds of little miracles will happen if you just ask God.

I took a taxi from a hotel to a church in the riot-torn part of Los Angeles (1995?). The taxi driver promised to be there to pick me up afterwards, but I had gotten the time wrong and he wasn't there. Hundreds of people were heading home, it was getting dark, and I was stuck, not knowing a soul and without a phone. I asked God for help. Immediately, a man approached me out of the crowd and asked if I was waiting for a taxi. He pointed to the street, and there was my taxi driver. In the back seat were two women who said "Where were you? we've been waiting for you!".

God is always waiting for you. It's up to you to ask him to walk with you.

[malakhi]

Joel Osteen/Easy Believism Alert

What is "easy believism"?

[Texas2step]

What is "easy believism"?

I cannot speak for this poster, but I believe he refers to those who believe in "faith without works", which is not something I believe Joel Osteen ascribes to, but apparently this poster does.

[MissAmericanPie]

Stop blaming God for everything. Stop assuming that if you are not getting special attention that you are not loved. "You" being relative not personal.

[AAABEST]

I like the intention of your post and you sound like a nice person, but I could never in my wildest dreams ask God to help me find my keys. Thanks for the laugh though.

Our main prayer should be that His will be done through us.

God bless you.

[jwh_Denver]

Our main prayer should be that His will be done through us.

Now what happens if God working in you says to go visit so and so and you can't find the keys to your car? You in trouble! LOL!

If God knows the number of hairs on your head, which mine are lessoning everyday: 4023 - 391 = 3632. Oops there goes another 2. And God is our Father wouldn't He care about the littlest detail in our life?

You make a great point in our prayers should be for Him to work in our lives so we do His will.

[BlessedBeGod]

...but I could never in my wildest dreams ask God to help me find my keys.

But what about your guardian angel? ;-)

[AAABEST]

Now what happens if God working in you says to go visit so and so and you can't find the keys to your car?

I don't usually like to try to figure God out, but to answer you question in a very flawed human and pastoral sense; If He wants something done, I doubt that He would require a prayer for the finding of keys to accomplish such.

Really though it's not for me to say, maybe He works this way with you or others. I just would never pray for such things as "keys". Thank you though for this very interesting and comical conversation.

God bless :)

[jwh_Denver]

Thank you though for this very interesting and comical conversation.

Yes it has been fun. Thanks and God Bless!