The best tactic

"Our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in "muchness" and "manyness," he will rest satisfied."- Richard J. Foster

What do you make of this quote?

How often have these 3 things played a role in drawing us away from a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Christ? 

• Noise? 
• Hurry?
• Crowds?

If the enemy's tactic is to bombard us with these 3 things, would you say he is succeeding or not?

Psalm 23:2 - "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters."

Living in Grace

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Expectancy

"Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience. If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship." - Richard Foster

There is a big difference in going to church because we feel that we need to 'tick the box', and worshipping with a great expectancy that the Spirit wants to commune with us. Developing an attitude of holy expectancy is the starting point of this transformation - once we arrive for worship with this expectancy, then we are more open for God to speak to us. Obedience is then our sincere response to 'hearing' from the Spirit during our times of worship. 

What are your thoughts on this? What is hard about this? 

"But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." - 1 Samuel 15:22

Living in Grace

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No short cuts and quick fixes

We have embarked upon a new preaching series called: "A path to Spiritual growth" and it is based on the book Celebration of Discipline, which was authored by Richard Foster. In preparing for these messages, I have been struck again by this hard truth: There are no short cuts or quick fixes in choosing to be a disciple of Jesus. We have to be willing to sign up for the long-haul. 

In this book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society, Eugene Peterson shares around this similar theme, reminding me that my growth may be a little slower than I truly hope for, but I must be willing to submit to this long obedience in the same direction. 

 “And yet I decide, every day, to set aside what I can do best and attempt what I do very clumsily--open myself to the frustrations and failures of loving, daring to believe that failing in love is better than succeeding in pride.”

“There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness.”

2 John 1:6 - "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."

Living in Grace

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The discovery of God

"The discovery of God lies in the daily and the ordinary, not in the spectacular and the heroic. If we cannot find God in the routines of home and shop, then we will not find Him at all." - Richard J. Foster

Thank you for being patient with me as I took a week to be with my family. It was a much needed break. 

These words from Foster reminded me today that too often we seek God only in the spectular and so we miss out encountering God in the ordinary things of life. I believe that God is present with me always, but it is my choice to open my eyes to see his splendour.

1 Chronicles 16:7 -  Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

Living in Grace

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Be still ... rest... Shalom

In his wonderful work Prayer, Richard Foster shares a lovely story of how God spoke to him during a Retreat he went on. He had gone away expecting to be busy preparing and working, but he felt the Spirit giving him a different agenda. He sensed that God wanted to teach him a new Sabbath Prayer.

As he drew closer to the Lord, he heard these words:
"Be still...
Rest...
Shalom."

And so he embraced these 3 thoughts and they were LIFE-GIVING. It is may prayer that they would offer you and I the same gift today. In the stress of your life, pray these words:

"Be still... Rest....Shalom."

Hebrews 4:9 - "A sabbath rest still remains for the people of God."

Living in Grace
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Better moments

Dear Lord Jesus,
In my better moments I want nothing more than to be like you.
But there are other moments ...
Help me to see how good conformity to your way really is.
In my seeking for you may I be found by you.
I love you, Lord.
Amen." - Richard Foster

I enjoy Foster's take on having 'Better moments' and 'other moments' in our faith. I guess the essence of true Christianity is faithfully walking with Jesus in between the high and low moments of our lives. Holding God's hand in the ordinary things of life.

Living in Grace
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Conform to what?

Richard Foster recounts how his prayer life changed dramatically when he learned to pray "so that my experience conformed to the words of Jesus rather than trying to make his words conform to my impoverished experience."

This is very true. How often do I try and get Jesus to change in order to fit into my will and purposes instead of allowing His truth, love, mercy and will change my life?

Matthew 6:9-13 - “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.

Living in Grace
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