Skip to main content

“Is there something others have been trying to help you see about yourself that needs to change?”

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe, Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book)

Is there?

Craig says, “Maybe some people have suggested that you play video games way too much. They are concerned that you have more to offer, that you are missing out on more important things in life.

“Perhaps someone has suggested that you drink too much. Or have a problem with pain medication. Or overeating. If more than two trusted friends or family members have suggested this, maybe it’s time to pause and pay attention.

“Maybe you have had a bad run at dating. Your friends continue to remind you that you are always saying yes to the wrong kind of person. Rather than defending your actions, perhaps it’s time to consider changing your patterns.”

He goes on, “In recent years, I finally had to pause and recognize something that was out of whack in my life. Several people suggested that I was a slave to my mobile phone. My wife, Amy, was the loudest and most outspoken. My kids’ sighs and rolled eyes spoke volumes as well.

“Before I took their loving observation seriously, my defenses kicked in. The expert rationalizer emerged. What I’m doing is important. To be a good pastor I have to be available to people. I’m leading a church and my opinion is important. My social media presence can be a good witness. I really need to see how my last Instagram post is performing and check to see if there are any comments needing my attention.

“You would think that hearing from Amy and my kids would be enough. But when a few people from the office mentioned it, my old seminary professor’s advice started to echo in my brain. So I decided to pray, Show me, God. See if there is an offensive way in me. Is this a problem?

“I was at my son’s soccer game when God answered my prayer. I was responding to a text and missed my son’s amazing corner kick that his teammate headed into the goal to take a 1–0 lead against the top-ranked team. Then late in the second half with the game tied 1–1 and a few minutes left to go, I missed my son’s game-winning goal because I was checking on a social media post.

“God showed me clearly: I was settling for a counterfeit reality and missing out on what mattered most. I was missing out on my life, losing precious moments with the people I love most.

He then says, “What about you? Is there something others have been trying to help you see about yourself that needs to change? Proverbs 12:15 says, ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.’ Maybe it’s time to pause and listen. God may speak to you through those who love you most.”

Maybe it is time for you to pause and listen.  Will you? 

Yes, yes!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle?   Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

“God does big things with small deeds.”

A thought by Max Lucado (2011-05-02) from his book, Cure for the Common Life (p. 115). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I don’t know how you feel about what you are doing and how it can make a difference.   You may feel that it is so small and not even worth the effort. Max says, “Begin. Just begin! What seems small to you might be huge to someone else. Just ask Bohn Fawkes. During World War II, he piloted a B-17. On one mission he sustained flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. Even though his gas tanks were hit, the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the plane. “On the morning following the raid, Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell. He wanted to keep a souvenir of his incredible good fortune. The crew chief explained that not just one but eleven shells had been found in the gas tanks, none of which had exploded. “Technicians opened the missiles and found them void of explosive cha...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more