So, I don't like revelations that make me see the ugly parts of me as much as I like revelations that show the wonderfulness of God.
The good thing is He is willing to exchange our ugly for His beauty if we are willing to cooperate.
I have realized lately that I try and "steer" people a lot. Only for their own good, of course. (insert eye-roll here) I am guessing that another label for that could be arrogance. Ugg, I feel like banging my head on the wall just writing that.
I have gotten better, because I used to try and "steer" people into doing what I wanted and now I try and steer them into doing what I think God wants. I have realized He is perfectly capable of guiding His people without my help.
Well, actually, there are times when He does call me to influence but I want to influence under His command, not my own wisdom. My own wisdom does not see the whole picture, only a tiny piece. If He tells me to speak I want to obey, whether it makes sense or not. If I don't feel prompted by Him, I want to keep my mouth shut and my heart pure and trust Him to lead His people however He sees fit.
I am hoping not too many of you are jumping up and down, praising Him for revealing this to me. :)
9 comments:
Oh my word! I just realized I struggle in this area too! Thank you for sharing this with us. It is really hard sometimes to see faults we have within, but at least realizing it is a start....the start of God working. Love you Tawny!
From what I've seen/heard of your influence it is just as you hope it to be: directing people to what God wants at His word to you about it.
Isn't that what 'community' is for?
But yes, I do also realize (and often fall prey to) the danger of overstepping our 'role' to manipulate it all as we think it should be.
I'm often reminded of Jesus' words to Peter when he asked about John, "What is that to you, you follow me." (Jn. 21:22b)
Thanks for the reminder.
Dana
Des, I am so glad you enjoyed this! Yep, the realization is a huge leap in the right direction.
Dana, I have been thinking about that verse in relation to this as well.
Thank you both for being part of my journey...
A hearty amen for my life as well to follow the prompting of God's spirit for speaking or remaining quiet. That is also my prayer lately:0)
Julene, you seem to already have this figured out! Maybe God will have you talk more. :)
Like.
This blog is reminding me of the scripture in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 "But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you brethren, that you increase more and more, THAT YOU ALSO ASPIRE TO LEAD A QUIET LIFE, TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, AND TO WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS, AS WE COMMANDED YOU, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."
Whew, I know that was a mouthfull, but it makes ME remember (although I forget all to often) that if the life I am living is the life HE wants me to live, and I learn to mind my own business and let God do His work in me and others, than it will be by my conduct that others will want to pursue a better quality of life with HIM. Thanks for the reminder Tawny, honestly, I have been forgetting that lately.
Like your Like, Joah,
Andresa, thanks for sharing those verses. I wonder how that ties in with us being a body and being in actuality connected to one another? It must be the state of our hearts. Usually goes back to that...
Well, I think that loving someone requires you to be a part of their life...loving the brethren that is, we love the world in a different way...so I believe "minding your own business" is more of a don't give in to gossip, and don't intrude on someones business unless or until they ask for help...loving them means being a part of their life, even if you don't agree with everything in their life, and even if you can see a much better way for them, you let God be the direction in their life and do your best to live as an example...it kind of goes back to the phrase "more is caught than taught" for me. I DO agree though, as you said, that sometimes you know that you know God is asking for you to be involved on some level, and the bottom line is to be obedient to Him.
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