John 11:45-12:11
Do you have an agenda? The Pharisees and chief priests are focused. They have a preconceived notion about religion, a plan of how they think it should be, they're convinced it's right and they are determined to stick with it--period. Problem is, they were completely wrong and never even knew it or considered otherwise. That's scary. But here's the thing, it's exactly how you and I can get too if we let some idea or thing that's not from God consume us and become our agenda.
So how can we guard our hearts against an agenda that's not from God? I know this is a hard one, but it's important. Think about it and send me your thoughts. Tami W.
When I am aware that I want something ... I now try to stop and pray and ASK, saying "God, your will not mine. If this is what YOU want for me, then let it be, but if not, then let me accept the alternative with a humble heart and move on." It is hard sometimes. We "get our life planned out" the way we want it or think it should be and don't always, ASK or LISTEN. But I also have found that when I have gone my own way with my own agenda -- there always come a roadblock (sooner or later) to stop me and turn me back to Him. God is GOOD ... all the time.
Everyone has a personal bias. We use it to look at the scriptures to support what we already believe or what we want to believe. This is the main reason cults use the Bible when talking to people. It is the main reason Christians war over doctrines. I try to ask myself, "If what I believe is not true, do I want to know?". Sometimes the answer is, "I'd rather not"(especially if I've been believing something that was untrue for a long time). As much as I can, I also avoid topical Bible studies which are often guilty of taking a verse here and another one there to support the author's main point. I don't think these contribute very much to a person's overall understanding of the Bible and can give people the false security that they do. Bible teacher's have a bias too.
In the early church, they got together and read the entire letter sent to them by an apostle and then discussed it together. They would never have gathered to listen to one man read several sentences and then spend the next 30-40 minutes explaining those sentences to them. In a lot of cases it takes less time to read a letter from Paul or John then to sit through a sermon. But we don't think we can understand it or we think it takes too long. These are also biases. I pray for clear vision and a correctable spirit as I read God's word. I am overcoming old biases myself and trying hard not to pass them down to my children.
Prayer and an open and honest heart before the Lord are absolutely essential. We have no wisdom or discernment of our own. I am so thankful that God is so faithfully committed to us and that we can hope in His word that says that it is Him who is working in us to will and to do according to His good purpose. I often ask in my prayer time that God, would reveal any false way in me...to please deliver me from any and all deception or anything that I'm not recognizing that I'm putting my trust in that is faulty. I only know what God has been pleased to reveal to me. I have no right to ASSUME wisdom just because He has given it to me in the past. His word does say that He will give it without measure, but that is something to apply faith and hope to, not assume possession of or take it for granted. It is a daily reliance and listening for His guidance. It's usually right after a period of impatience and frustration and me throwing my hands in the air that I see that the Lord is indeed keeping beat to even the small things in my life that don't seem to have eternal significance. I'm thinking that if we really have a revelation of grace...everything I am is by the grace of God and everything I'm not is by the grace of God...there will be a humility that helps to guard against a forceful agenda. When I say agenda, I'm referring to anything from a spiritual approach to buying a new car. God bless you all today.
When we find humility in ourselves, we have lost it. But humility needs to be a key ingrediant in our prayers if we want them to be successful. But through faith, "and that not of our own", we can remain open to our Lord in all our prayer and petition, every time we approach Him. This then is our protection, when we trust in the Lord, He is faithful and will help us to stay on track. He will guard our hearts and help keep our motives pure. But if we should stumble, He is there to help us up through the ministering of the Spirit of Truth and through other members of The Body of Christ. If the Lord is for us......