The "Bring me my order" God
Posted by Aarti on April 27th, 2009 . Filed under: Uncategorized .
Feeling kinda pensive this morning, perhaps because the marine layer has returned (thank Goodness!) so it is grey outside. Lots of thoughts tumbling around the noggin.
Yesterday at church, Brad was preaching about faith (in Christ), love (for others) and hope (in God) as being the bastions of a liberated spirituality. But that wasn’t the part of the sermon that hit me. It was when he talked about how living our lives in line with God’s will doesn’t mean that He furnishes us with a map… rather that He gives us a compass to help us choose which direction God would want us to go in. Therefore, God doesn’t really care as much about us attaining successful careers, as He is about us attaining successful (honorable, loving, selfless) characters.
Hmph. No likey.
I would much rather have the map thank you very much Father.
It’s not like that’s the first time I’ve heard that. But I suppose that I had moulded it in my mind to mean that if I kept trying to do good work, in terms of being a good ambassador of Christ’s love to all those around me, then somehow the dreams I have about my career would come true too. That sounds like I thought it was a barter process — I didn’t. But I certainly didn’t consider that God may not care one bit about my career dreams… that I’m kind of on my own in that respect. Could that be true?
And then this morning, my assigned Bible reading was Psalm 49, and this verse struck me:
16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.
It’s not that I envy those who are prosperous. It’s just that I assume that I’ll be there one day — that I’ll have the ability to take care of those I love, to have and properly school my kids, to live a comfortable life in a house that isn’t falling apart or surrounded by gangs and police choppers.
I mean, don’t we all? Isn’t that part of the programming of the society we live in? Isn’t that part of the heartache of getting older, somehow not being in alignment with what this earthly kingdom says we should have attained by now? A husband, a house, a kid… on the outside, looking as if you’ve figured it all out, yet on the inside struggling with the same mess (if not worse) you’ve had since you were a kid.
I’m not sure. I know He gave me the talents I have, and that I should be putting them to good use, not wasting them. People often quote that verse about how He will give us the “desires of your heart”. But I understand that to mean that He will put those desires in my heart… not that, like a genie or heck, like a waiter, He’ll bring me my order.
And yet, Jesus, after uttering the famous Ask and you will receive, talked about how God would no more refuse our requests than a father would give his son a stone when asked for a piece of bread.
So, I suppose that He is somewhere between the two: the “bring me my order” God and the “take this stone because you’re asking for the wrong thing” God. Perhaps He wants me to focus on His will and desire for my life (to be His servant first and foremost) so much that my desires for my life appear faded, and almost disappear, in comparison. Harder to put into practice though.
And so, I am repeating a verse that my friend Amy found today, that I am so very happy she shared. From 2 Chron, Verse 12:
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
-x-
aarti
April 27th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
So much good stuff to ponder & pray with God over here, Aarth. Thanks for posting this.
That 2 Chronicles quote is great. I'm going to look that one up! Have you ever taken a scripture & then looked at the commentary from Matthew Henry on that verse. It's AWESOME! I usually use http://www.blueletterbible.com
(((Aarti)))
April 27th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
By the way, it's II Chronicles 20:12
Here's what Matthew Henry has to say about it:
In all dangers, public or personal, our first business should be to seek help from God. Hence the advantage of days for national fasting and prayer. From the first to the last of our seeking the Lord, we must approach him with humiliation for our sins, trusting only in His mercy and power. Jehoshaphat acknowledges the sovereign dominion of the Divine Providence. Lord, exert it on our behalf. Whom should we seek to, whom should we trust to for relief, but the God we have chosen and served. Those that use what they have for God, may comfortably hope He will secure it to them. Every true believer is a son of Abraham, a friend of God; with such the everlasting covenant is established, to such every promise belongs. We are assured of God's love, by His dwelling in human nature in the person of the Saviour. Jehoshaphat mentions the temple, as a token of God's favourable presence. He pleads the injustice of his enemies. We may well appeal to God against those that render us evil for good. Though he had a great army, he said, We have no might without Thee; we rely upon Thee.
<3
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 am
Thank you,
very interesting article
December 6th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Nicely article
August 8th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Aartie,
I love your blog. I found you as a result of food network and I am totally smitten with your blog! I am a follower of Christ as well and I adore how transparent you have been about your faith. I love seeing believers who live out their faith in a real way in the real world and don’t just spout trite platitudes. I have read backward in your blog to this point and feel like you are an old friend who lives across the street and you tell me what is going on in your life. Your post are so winsome and refreshing. I love how you are the blog and the blog is you (if that makes sense)! You have a great way of making your food and your faith so accessible. I have a long list of your recipes to try. I love new food adventures!
I have been praying for you in this new adventure of being on the Food Network. I know that as the show draws to a close you will be increasingly in the public eye. I know that the show is finished and it is all decided, but irregardless of the outcome you are in the collective consciousness of our country. You have expressed your reticence about being good enough and feeling confident and I am praying that God will wrap you in His love and strength. I have prayed that you will be calm and at peace. You are in a position to be an ambassador for the transformative power of Jesus like no other right now. I am a firm believer that the sole force that keeps me standing upright and moving forward is the power of prayer, so I don’t take this lightly. This morning during church I felt like God was telling me to give you these 2 verses that were in the sermon this morning. I promise I am not some kind of weird, wack-a-doodle stalker (that is probably what all the weirdos say), just a sister who is asking, seeking and knocking. I have never posted scripture on someone’s comment field before, but I try not to back talk the God of the universe. (FYI: I am a 40 year old wife and stay at home mamma of 2 who lives in Perry, (North Central) Oklahoma.)
So, without further ado, here is Psalms 16:8 and Zephaniah 3:17 from the New Living translation: “Psalm 16:8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” And “Zephaniah 3:17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” I hope the Lord uses this to gird up your heart and mind. In Him- Dulcie Summers
August 8th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Wow! Aarti! Thank you, so much for sharing that with me. I know it’s been a long time since you posted this, but I have been watching and routing for you on Food Network Star. So, I was just telling my mom (again), I betcha that Aarti’s christian. There’s just something about her, and she’s so gracious, sweet, & humble.
Aarti, I take it that you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and I praise God for that!!! I am so excited to see you’re into God’s Word, and soo blessed by this, you have no idea. It’s truly amazing how God works, and I needed a loving reminder of this, and I agree with your take on God giving us the desires of our hearts. He will give us the desires of our hearts, but our hearts need to be in the right condition, seeking Him and His will for our lives, and I believe our desires & dreams (often as far back as a child) is often a glimmer of His plans for our lives. God bless you abundantly, and cause you to prosper.