The Lord Answers

The last post was pretty transparent, embarrassing in some ways. I hesitated to share at that level, especially since those concerns really don't dominate my life. They are just two out of the hundreds of patterns of thinking that make up how I think. But I wanted to share them because even though they are not dominant thought patterns - their presence is disturbing because they are unhealthy and sinful.

Well, I prayed about them in my quiet time yesterday. The quiet time was going well as I prayed, sang a couple of songs to the Lord, and then read my Bible for a couple of minutes at the end. Well the Lord really spoke to me. I felt compelled to read 1st Corinthians and the words leaped off the page to me around the very issue of not fitting in, feeling different, and feeling excluded. This is good stuff:

1:26-31(NIV) "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

So neat! The Lord was just telling me that if I feel inadequate, foolish, awkward, or even excluded that this is just the kind of people that God is looking for. He will show his glory through them. People who are really self-confident and even arrogant won't be used by God at all, or at least not as much as someone who has to rely on him!

God is so good to so quickly address this concern in my heart, reminding me that he accepts me and also that he will use me and give me victory!

Chapter 1 goes on to talk about those who do prioritize the Lord in their lives and become spiritual people who have God dominant in their lives. Verses 15-16 say, "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."

So, I may feel awkward and not know what to do a lot of times but this goes on to say that if I continue to put the Lord first, spend time with him, seek him, and allow him to transform me into a "spiritual man" that he will give me wisdom and the ability to make right judgments "about all things". That is great and very encouraging.

Thank you Lord!