Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by John Ortberg from his book, What Is God's Will for My Life ? (p. 94). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) John says, “He won’t say: ‘Be anxious’; or ‘Think only about yourself’; or ‘You might as well give up in despair.’”  He won't say that. And if you have spent time with him, reading his word and meditating on it you will know that he says the complete opposite. But as John says, “I might be tempted to say those things to myself. But if I hear those thoughts, I can be confident they are not from God.” He goes on, “Developing the ability to be guided by God is more about consistent obedience than about spectacular discernment. “But I must cultivate the habit of listening. This means making the time and space for reflection. It requires that I stop talking every now and again and get away from noise and screens and stimulation. It means silence. In George Bernard Shaw’...

A thought by John Ortberg from his book, What Is God's Will for My Life? (p. 70). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) The matter of making a choice is really tough before you make it but many times it is tough after you make it.   Have you found that true? John says, “Often in life when we make a choice, we’re tempted to obsess over the question of whether we chose the best option. Often this will happen most when it helps the least—when we’re frustrated or depressed with our decision.” He goes on, “We compare the best-imagined aspects of choice B with the most exaggerated difficulties of the choice we’ve made: how friendly the people at place B would have been, or how much better a fit job B would have been, or what a better spouse B would have been. “We don’t recognize that there is no script for how things would have gone with plan B, just as there’s no script for how things will g...

A thought by John Ortberg (2016-05-01) from his book, What Is God's Will for My Life?   (p. 45). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. ( Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) So what does that mean?   Don’t difficulties demand despair or frustration?   That is how we handle difficulties a lot of the time, isn’t it? John starts with James 1:5 in the New Testament which says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.”    John says, “It’s significant that in this passage James talks about how we develop as persons — how difficulties can help us grow stronger character.”   He then says, “Difficulties always require decision. James does not counsel us to try to off-load the decision. He encourages us to ask not for directions but for wisdom. Prayer is the single most important discipline for growth in this area because it allows us to share the burd...

A thought by John Ortberg (2016-05-01) from his book, What Is God's Will for My Life? (p. 49). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. ( Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) It is true in any relationship, there is more to it than what I want out of it.   John says, “A full relationship with God will include intimacy, confession, worship, gratitude, learning, receiving encouragement, and surrender. ” He goes on, “These are all elements needed for me to become the kind of person God can use to achieve his good and great will. The critical question when it comes to guidance is not ‘Is God willing to give guidance?’ It’s ‘Am I becoming the kind of person it makes sense for God to give guidance to?’ When I am selfish or greedy or resentful, any knowledge I might gain about the future would simply enable me to do more harm.”  That makes sense doesn't it? Earlier he said, “It’s a wonderful gift to be able to ask God for guidanc...