Discipleship Exercises

 

The Edited Version

Most of us realize that when we watch a movie, even a reality show, that what we are watching is an edited version of the original. Time was spent improving the lighting, sound and retaking scenes. In the end we have a reality presented to us that is vastly improved and enhanced.

God offers to all who seek to walk in His ways an edited version of life. Through the power of forgiveness we can take the mistakes of our life and have them removed, even from the memory of God. I know that we, those who made the original mistakes and sins, often cannot let go of them. In this way we disagree with God. God came to give us such a wonderful life, an edited reality that is better than our first take. For the life that is forgiven and made new is real, it is not some repaired life after the mistakes are overlooked. All those who have been forgiven in God have been given a new life. This is our reality.

Are there past sins that you have asked God to forgive, but you still keep them as a part of your reality? Do you think of yourself in a way that is not in agreement with God? Do you say to yourself that your past sins are still a part of your life, a part of who you are?

Take time to seek the influence of the Holy Spirit and reveal to you those things that you maintain in your mind and heart that are not truly a part of your reality. Ask for God’s help to be set free and have a clean conscience. Ask the Lord for the power in your inner man to live this new reality, the edited version of life with grace and truth.

The life of Prayer

At some point in your life you will discover that God is the source of all things. This is true for prayer and intercession. It is like a seed that is planted in the ground. What that seed needs to grow and mature is supplied from the surrounding soil. The way that Jesus said it was that God is the vine and we are the branches.

Many in our day seek to be separated from the vine so that they can prove how good they are to God. They take on the role of creator, so that in themselves they can show God their devotion, strength and ability to be holy. I know this sounds strange, but we do this when we take on the world view that we are responsible to produce within ourselves a life of devotion and purity before God. The truth is that on every level we are dependent upon that which the vine supplies. We need God to move upon us so that we even love God. No one comes to the Father unless the Spirit draws them. No one can approach God in their own strength and righteousness. So why do we have all this rhetoric about our ability to make it happen?

It is like we are back in the garden seeking to eat of the Tree of Knowledge while neglecting the Tree of Life. We want to make the decisions, create the plans, rule. We have a hard time being in relationship with God, He is so ruling. We even make up phrases and saying to justify our not doing what we see the Father doing. Total dependence upon God is not replaced with maturity.

Do you spend time trying to make yourself a better person? What is the difference between being connected to God and receiving from Him new life and striving to have new life apart from Him? Is pride or humility a driving factor in your religion? Do we have the humility to depend on God for devotion, obedience and motivation?

If you have issues of independence from God, what ought you to do about that? How can you depend more on God than you do yourself?

Lessons

Life teaches us lessons, but we do not always learn the right lesson. A child can be learning to ride a bicycle and fall to the ground. They can come away with the lesson that they need to peddle faster or steer differently than they did. An adult learning to ride a bicycle and falling to the ground can come away with the lesson that they are unable to ride, that the bicycle is no good or that the one who instructed them in the fun of biking was wrong. They learned the wrong lesson.

In life we can learn the wrong lesson if we do not depend upon the Lord for guidance. Maybe you are like me and form a decision before the event is entirely over. I like being “quick”. But being quick to pick up on things is good as long as the things we are picking up on are the right things.

What events have happened in your life that you made some major decision on? Where these conclusions correct? Try seeking the counsel of the Lord about the conclusions to your life lessons. First, list out some of the big events that have occurred in your life. Now write down attitudes and actions you have made a part of your life because of those events. Wait on the Lord and see if there are any changes that need to be made about your conclusions.

Worth

Which is more valuable, the chicken that lay’s the egg or the egg? That may depend on if you need eggs for a long time or if you are looking for one big meal? Which is more valuable, a million dollars or a job that will last a lifetime?

Deciding the true value of something can be a little tricky, especially when our immediate needs are in the way. What is the value of a good relationship with Mom or Dad? What is the value of good relationships at work? Is the fulfillment of a project more important? We live in a world where the bottom line motivates us to abuse people. We fire workers to have a better bottom line and in the end our business is less creative. We purchase a large screen TV while the foundation of the house which needs repair, is neglected.

List out where you are spending most of your time and money. Now go to the Lord and ask for His help to discerning their worth. Ask the Lord to reveal to you things and people of value that you are neglecting. Ask the Lord for strategy to value what is valuable and know what is not.