The Ways of God

The Ways of God

I love the writings of Fenelon, written over 400 years ago, in his devotional, THE SEEKING HEART. This one couldn't have been more timely for me personally:

When God starts to deal with your old nature He heads straight for the center of all you hold most dear. Allow Him to bring you the cross in the very center of who you are. Don't grumble and become agitated when the process starts: Silence and peace will help you much more than being upset.

You will be tempted to speak out in a humble tone of voice to tell others of your problems. Watch out for this! A humility that is still talkative does not run very deep. When you talk too much your self-love relieves its sense of shame a little.

Don't be angry about what people say. As far as people are concerned, you will never be able to satisfy them. Silence, peace, and union with God should comfort you from that people speak against you.

You need to be determined to do the right in your present situation -- but at the same time your quick temper requires checks and balances. Come to God often just to sit in His presence and renew yourself.

Nothing is as important as lowliness of heart, and detachment from your own opinion and will. Stiffness and harshness is not the spirit of Jesus Christ.

You have no idea how much I needed to hear those words. Ouch! The Holy Spirit spoke through Fenelon to hit me on the head with His "two-by-four." -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9; Job 38-40; Acts 16:1-21

Great Quote: God calls us to duty, and the only right answer is obedience. If it can be glad and willing and loving obedience, happy are we; but, in any case, whether we ourselves get enjoyment and blessing from the task or not, the call must be obeyed. The will of God must be done for the sake of God, not for the sake of ourselves. Undertake the duty, and step by step God will provide the disposition. We can at least obey. Ideal obedience includes the whole will and the whole heart. We cannot begin with that. But we can begin with what we have. God calls. It is better to obey blunderingly than not to obey at all. George Hodges