Tim Speer's Blog - Posts Tagged "god-s-will"
God's will
One of the themes in my book, Return to Paradise, is learning to follow God's will. This is something I have been working on personally for some time. The writing of this book is one of the times I have chosen to follow what I felt God, through the Holy Spirit, was calling me yo do. In doing so I have been taken in directions I did not expect it to lead, and found my own spiritual life has grown.
Although the specific events and circumstances are greatly different, David, the main character in Return to Paradise, goes through a similar journey as he too learns to follow God's will.
Although the specific events and circumstances are greatly different, David, the main character in Return to Paradise, goes through a similar journey as he too learns to follow God's will.
God's will
One of the themes in my book, Return to Paradise, is learning to follow God's will. This is something I have been working on personally for some time. The writing of this book is one of the times I have chosen to follow what I felt God, through the Holy Spirit, was calling me yo do. In doing so I have been taken in directions I did not expect it to lead, and found my own spiritual life has grown.
Although the specific events and circumstances are greatly different, David, the main character in Return to Paradise, goes through a similar journey as he too learns to follow God's will.
Although the specific events and circumstances are greatly different, David, the main character in Return to Paradise, goes through a similar journey as he too learns to follow God's will.
Devine Intervention
I've recently started a correspondence with a gentleman who is starting up a new Web site: kickbackinstyle.menu
He is an avowed atheist, but open to discussing religious topics. We are currently thinking about starting a blog where we discuss religious issues. As a starter he asked the following question, which I am posting along with my response.
Question :
what point do I stop waiting for divine intervention or a big company to tell me what to do, and just have faith in myself?"
My answer:
As to your question on waiting for Devine intervention, or some big company to come and give you everything you need, I would have to ask first, on what basis do you expect this. People tend to want to look at God as some big gift horse that will give them everything they need. Well, God is a gift horse, he gave us everything we have. If you have a talent, it's because God gave that talent to you. Sure, we have to cultivate it and hone it, that's what God expects. Think about it, if you have, or were to have children, would you automatically give them everything they want? Would you do everything for them, dress them and tie their shoes for them, even when they're in high school? Would you do all of their homework for them while they watch TV or play video games? If you did, how would you expect them to turn out? Yet this is what we often expect God to do. Bottom line, nothing is going to happen automatically of you just sit around waiting for it. You already have had Devine intervention, God gave you life, he gave you talents, he gave you a good brain. So trust in God and use what he has given you. That's the first step. The second is to find out what God really wants you to do, and to follow it. This may sound easy to some, but it is probably the most difficult thing you will ever do.
He is an avowed atheist, but open to discussing religious topics. We are currently thinking about starting a blog where we discuss religious issues. As a starter he asked the following question, which I am posting along with my response.
Question :
what point do I stop waiting for divine intervention or a big company to tell me what to do, and just have faith in myself?"
My answer:
As to your question on waiting for Devine intervention, or some big company to come and give you everything you need, I would have to ask first, on what basis do you expect this. People tend to want to look at God as some big gift horse that will give them everything they need. Well, God is a gift horse, he gave us everything we have. If you have a talent, it's because God gave that talent to you. Sure, we have to cultivate it and hone it, that's what God expects. Think about it, if you have, or were to have children, would you automatically give them everything they want? Would you do everything for them, dress them and tie their shoes for them, even when they're in high school? Would you do all of their homework for them while they watch TV or play video games? If you did, how would you expect them to turn out? Yet this is what we often expect God to do. Bottom line, nothing is going to happen automatically of you just sit around waiting for it. You already have had Devine intervention, God gave you life, he gave you talents, he gave you a good brain. So trust in God and use what he has given you. That's the first step. The second is to find out what God really wants you to do, and to follow it. This may sound easy to some, but it is probably the most difficult thing you will ever do.
Pride and Humility
Pride and humility are two opposite forces that most of us are confronted with on a daily basis. Humility is, or should be one of our ultimate goals. It is through humility that we are able to submit ourselves to God's will. We are able to realize that what we have comes from God, not from ourselves. We learn to put the needs of others before ourselves. All of these things require humility.
Pride is what keeps us from submitting to God's will, and in turn receiving the fullness of his love. Pride tells us that we are more important than others. It tells us that what we have is all due to our own efforts. We start to put ourselves first, and God and others last. It leads us to be selfish and self centered. Pride leads to arrogance and, although we may not realize it, pride often makes us extremely foolish.
How foolish can we become. Just look at the example of Satan. He let pride take over, and lost his eternal salvation. He lost all that he had. How foolish can it make one look? Satan didn't stop there. He tried to "temp" Jesus in the desert, in the end offering him all the kingdoms of the world. Hello, news flash Satan, Jesus already was king of all the world. It is here that Jesus finally has enough of Satan's foolishness and tells him to leave. Was Jesus really "tempted" by Satan's offers? I really don't think so. I believe the biggest temptation Jesus had to overcome was the temptation to laugh at Satan in front of his face.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have Jesus as the ultimate example of humility. Jesus had the humility to lower himself to our level and become man, and even to serve man. Ultimately, he had the humility to be sacrificed, and even ridiculed, at human hands for our sake. And yes, he even had the humility not to laugh in Satan's face.
Pride is what keeps us from submitting to God's will, and in turn receiving the fullness of his love. Pride tells us that we are more important than others. It tells us that what we have is all due to our own efforts. We start to put ourselves first, and God and others last. It leads us to be selfish and self centered. Pride leads to arrogance and, although we may not realize it, pride often makes us extremely foolish.
How foolish can we become. Just look at the example of Satan. He let pride take over, and lost his eternal salvation. He lost all that he had. How foolish can it make one look? Satan didn't stop there. He tried to "temp" Jesus in the desert, in the end offering him all the kingdoms of the world. Hello, news flash Satan, Jesus already was king of all the world. It is here that Jesus finally has enough of Satan's foolishness and tells him to leave. Was Jesus really "tempted" by Satan's offers? I really don't think so. I believe the biggest temptation Jesus had to overcome was the temptation to laugh at Satan in front of his face.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have Jesus as the ultimate example of humility. Jesus had the humility to lower himself to our level and become man, and even to serve man. Ultimately, he had the humility to be sacrificed, and even ridiculed, at human hands for our sake. And yes, he even had the humility not to laugh in Satan's face.
