Do Not Conform…REST in Him
Sally Clarkson, is a mom with heart. The more I read her blog, her books and learn about her choices, even though we are very different, I admire how she was intentional. She was convicted about her priorities: God, Marriage, Children, Home, Ministry… she stayed focused on how God shaped her heart and her priorities; in spite of others opinions.
It wasn’t without difficulty or criticism but she developed much COURAGE. It was bolder than the disCOURAGEment in this world. This combination of diligent REST and LISTENING for His WILL for her life is what has lead to JOY. It requires retreat, being still… yes even a few moments a day with preschoolers… listening for HIS still small voice in our loud world. It is God who KNOWS me BEST and LOVES us MOST; often times better than I know myself, thank you Jesus!!
1 Kings 19:11-13 always reminds me of how God speaks, although I didn’t picture God speaking to me this way… until becoming a mom and doing some soulful excavation did I realize this. To be honest, I had always envisioned more of a lecture, like an upset parent in my mind; it kept me from coming to God, the Father.
It’s quite countercultural…to draw near, experience a gentle, whisper, but when the Lord spoke to Elijah it exemplifies, God as our perfect, patient, parent:
The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not the fire…but HE was a gentle whisper. And I really don’t think it’s any different today, then back then. If anything it’s LOUDER and we have a HARDER time being STILL…so if you choose anything for 2012 it’s to REST in Him.
And Romans 12: 1-2 Is about the “renewing of our mind”…therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Read Sally Clarkson's full blog post at I Take Joy here: Do Not Conform
It wasn’t without difficulty or criticism but she developed much COURAGE. It was bolder than the disCOURAGEment in this world. This combination of diligent REST and LISTENING for His WILL for her life is what has lead to JOY. It requires retreat, being still… yes even a few moments a day with preschoolers… listening for HIS still small voice in our loud world. It is God who KNOWS me BEST and LOVES us MOST; often times better than I know myself, thank you Jesus!!
1 Kings 19:11-13 always reminds me of how God speaks, although I didn’t picture God speaking to me this way… until becoming a mom and doing some soulful excavation did I realize this. To be honest, I had always envisioned more of a lecture, like an upset parent in my mind; it kept me from coming to God, the Father.
It’s quite countercultural…to draw near, experience a gentle, whisper, but when the Lord spoke to Elijah it exemplifies, God as our perfect, patient, parent:
The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not the fire…but HE was a gentle whisper. And I really don’t think it’s any different today, then back then. If anything it’s LOUDER and we have a HARDER time being STILL…so if you choose anything for 2012 it’s to REST in Him.
And Romans 12: 1-2 Is about the “renewing of our mind”…therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
As Sally explains: The only place we can find peace and joy is in God’s will, so if we try to find it, to conform, we will not find His blessing or rest, peace and joy.
Ugly Duckling...
No comments:
Post a Comment