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Re: Are You Willing? » rayww

Posted by Dena on September 30, 2003, at 21:28:27

In reply to Re: Are You Willing?, posted by rayww on September 28, 2003, at 9:53:06

Hi Rayww -

Thanks for asking for clarification - it helps me to probe my own beliefs when someone asks questions. I'll respond to what you wrote:

> Some of us speak a different Christian language than others, and have difficulty with the terms. I would like a greater clarification of what this actually means. Like, what part of you did this touch---your feelings, your intellect, your compassion, your spirit? I read but I'm not exactly sure what it is asking because it doesn't touch my feelings or my intellect, or my spirit.

I'm not sure which part of me the meditation touched - I tend to think of myself holistically - with all parts of myself intertwined. But let me probe a bit. It definitely touched my spirit - I can always tell a spirit-led word when the part of my that's most true, most pure, most internal, stands to attention & responds hungrily. This meditation "rang true" within me - it resonated through me. I experienced it's truthfulness within me.

It also touched my mind, because anything worth pondering involves my mind - & if my spirit is at attention, my mind usually wants to get in on it as well. Though there are times when my spirit is touched & my mind hasn't the foggiest idea of what's going on.

It touched my emotions as well - first, my guilt, because this meditation forced me to face my own weakness... more often than not, I must be painfully honest, I must answer God's question, "Are you willing?" with a hesitation - a sense of fear, "Can I truly trust you, God? Will you let me down the way so many humans have?" And a reluctance to let go of my own agenda in order cooperate with God's way for me. Then, I felt hope, because whenever God shows me my shortcomings, it's not because He wants to condemn me, it's because He wants me to "come up higher" & let Him do a deeper work in me - if I let Him. Condemnation comes from the enemy (satan); God calls me "home", to Him & to my better self.

> Rather to me it suggests kind of an all or nothing approach to Christianity. And that's not quite how I interpret Christianity. I would like to ask the readers how they define Christianity - - not just what it means, but what it is.

In a way, I do approach Christianity as an all or nothing proposition. I believe that Jesus is God, or I don't. I accept Him as my Savior, or I don't. I let Him have the reigns of my life, or I don't. I give Him my all (& accept His all), or I give Him nothing, & receive nothing from Him. He lets me choose. And I get the consequences of my choice, either way.

> I think God accepts us exactly as we are at the moment that we accept Him, and then begins His work with us, one baby step at a time, molding, forming, staying beside as we take one baby step forward, and then 10 giant steps back. He does not expect it all at once. He accepts us where we are, but once connected, we have choice to either fly or take our time.

Yes! I agree completely! God does accept us exactly where we are. We don't have to clean up our act, or quit bad habits, or improve ourselves before He accepts us. He accepted us before we were even born, because He made us! He's crazy about us! He died for us! It's up to us to accept or reject Him. He loves us exactly as we are, but loves us too much to leave us where we are. He has this perfect plan for each of us, & knowing the future, knows exactly what step we should make each day. He knows what will bless us beyond belief, He knows exactly what will tickle us pink, & He delights to give us that which will bless us most. I agree that I can partake in this perfect plan to the degree to which I submit to His authority in my life. If I allow Him to be in charge, I reap the benefits. If I insist on having my own way, I'm limited to my own wisdom.

>Rather than us saying, "I accept you Lord" isn't Christianity more of a "You accept me Lord?" and then "You accept me Lord!"
>
Yes, & if I truly understand that the Creator of the universe, the author of life, the almighty, invincible God accepts & loves ME... then what other response could I have, but to say, "Thank you - I accept You & Your plan for me!"?

> I would like it if you could explain this passage more clearly in your own words. For instance, what does it mean to rely on another image of yourself?

The author of the meditation referred to the Prodigal Son, who demanded his inheritence from his father, while his father was still alive (a huge insult to his father) & then wasted his money on prostitutes, alcohol, etc. When his fortune ran out, so did his "friends". He found himself working for a pig farmer (the worst possible job for a Jewish man), & could only eat from the scraps fed to the pigs. Here he found himself, penniless, friendless, forsaken & destitute, in the worst of living conditions. He could have given up on himself, decided that he was worthless. Instead, he decided to humble himself, & return to his father, offering his services to his father as a hired servant - he no longer saw himself as a son worthy of his father's relationship (of course, the father represents God in this parable). While he was still a long way off, his father RAN to him (most undignified for that culture) & embraced him, welcoming him home with a party.

To rely on another image of myself, I would have to be willing to lift up my vision from me with all of my shortcomings, all of my sins, all of my faults, & seek to see myself through my Father's eyes. Not limited by my own failures, but with limitless potential that God has invested in me. But I can only reach my full potential if I let Him live through me - on my own, I'm limited by my own understanding. With Him in charge, all things are possible!

I was touched by this meditation, because I want to live a willing life. I want to live saying "Yes!" to God at every turn - in forsaking myself, I will find my life.

Shalom, Dena


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poster:Dena thread:263735
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/264599.html