Biblical Success - Pushing Through the "Blahs" Sample

I began to think about writing this study when some friends asked me about having a season of “dry times” or times when "God seems distant," and if I ever have them? Of course I do, but I sympathized that they had to ask. I wondered if they should not understand the reality of struggle and spiritual warfare, that it is to live a consistent life in our Lord, or the sovereignty of God and His purpose in our trials and tests. So, I set off to write what turned out to be this study. 

You know I don’t think the devil wants us to get this. I think he wants us to just feel guilty that we don’t have a “perfect” Christian life as the 'prosperity gospel' promises but never delivers. What I mean is, the concept that God just wants us to be happy and if we come to church every time the door is open, read our Bibles every day, give tithes and offerings, and go on numerous mission trips, He will give us the desires of OUR heart and then everything will be perfect. The fact is that God wants us to be set apart and holy and not constantly happy. He wants us to seek the desire of His heart for us, not ours from Him.This pervasive prosperity thinking allows us to build our hopes on a false premise, and that ultimately leads to disappointment and often despair. 

I don’t want to debate theology but I will say that I have been seriously walking with Jesus for 47 years and if there is a perfect life available to a serious believer I don’t have it and neither does anyone else that I have ever known. If you know someone who claims they do I can tell you something about that person; they will lie about other things too! So if you don’t either it’s ok! Life in heaven will be perfect, life on earth is not, and can never be. (Genesis Chapter 3) Good yes, yes indeed, life in Jesus IS good. But perfect, no.

Life in Jesus is good indeed! Far better than we deserve and infinitely better than any alternative. Abundant and filled with hope, even seasons of joy and peace. But perfect and without tests and trials? Nope, not happening. Living in Jesus allows us to rise above the tests and trials and to grow through them, but not without them. 

Briefly, my hope is to live as close to Jesus during dry dusty challenging times as I do in the sweetest moments life on this planet can bring, and there are many. I don’t like pain and suffering or struggling against the world, my flesh, and the devil. I would never ask for any of them but they have and will come until THAT DAY! I want to praise and thank Him in sorrow and mourning as passionately as I do in peace and delight. Nurturing that hope for me, has been found in a daily habit of reading His Word with His Spirit, counting my blessings, and keeping a journal of my thoughts, questions, and insights. I actually write a letter to God every day. For 12,093 days, actually. (I have missed a handful.)

For the last 30+ years I have spent the first hour of every day this way. It is the best part of every day and I’m convinced that it is the foundation of all that I have accomplished of any real value. I’m living in my eternal sweet-spot and I know it. You can learn the keys to having your own Most Important Hour, by clicking www.themostimportanthour.com or getting the book at the www.c12group.com web site store. Share your thoughts as we close this study. Thank you.