More ConneXion notes

Discovering God's Will

Part 6 - Inside the mind of God

Jan. 8, 2006

1) When we are not guided by God's principles, we typically resort to whatever
our fears and desires lead us to do. What are some ways that a person's fears
may influence decision-making? Any examples?

~ Think about the root of why those fears drive us. Is your pride on the line?
Would you lose your freedom, or become uncomfortable?

2) What are some ways that a person's desires may influence decision-making?
Any examples?

~ Why do these personal desires often triumph over God's principles in our
lives? Is God's will not greater than our own petty desires? What excuses or
reasoning do you follow in circumstances like these, when God's desires and our
own clash? What has been the outcome?~ How often do these fears/desires lead us to question or make excuses to soothe/ignore our conscience? Are you trying to get those questions answered, or do you keep them unanswered so as to have an excuse for the next time your fears or desires flare up?

3) Read Matthew 16:24. What does this passage suggest about the relationship
between following God and discovering His will? Try to explain.
(NIV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

~What does "taking up our cross" involve?

~Verses 25-26 may help here as well.

Each one of us probably has tons of questions about aspects of God and His Will
that we don't understand, but those questions shouldn't become a stumbling block
to trying to discover His Will. Seek out the answers- look in the Bible- find
people to help you out!

Got the invite

Scratch most of the questions about the wedding from below- I just got the invitation today.

Any old-schoolers that'd like to save some money and split the cost of the hotel, leave me a comment.

World War 2 Memorial, with the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial in the background. Taken this morning. 

Hah! So much for dropping the blog.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

I suppose that "substance" and "evidence" is what I was hoping for in that last post. We have Biblical evidence, archeological evidence, logical arguments, scientific mysteries, and all these are more than enough to hang our faith on. I was, and still am, hoping for a more personal evidence from God. To explain it a bit differently, I've been hung up on the term personal relationship with God. In my life, that relationship has seemed pretty impersonal: I pray, but there's no equally vocal response back. God's working- of that I'm sure, but it bugs me to no end that I can't see that evidence. Incarnate evidence- that's the word I'm looking for.

I know of several arguments that try to explain why God doesn't use personal appearances or dramatic miracles:
~We're in a dispensational era where God doesn't (or rarely) works that way.
~We have enough evidence for God already.
~God wants us to find Him through our struggles and mature in that way.
~You'd probably just wind up doubting the appearance or miracle anyway- it's not a cure-all to doubt.

Even so, I still think that it would help a ton if God would ever reveal Himself personally & directly, instead of "hiding in the background" of the world. Just call me doubting Thomas...

In other news, The holidays have been good this year, if a little more dull than normal. I have tomorrow off- sweet. Possible pictures tomorrow. Oh, and if anyone has begun to plan details around the wedding in Feburary (arrival/departure times and places, lodging, pre and/or post wedding plans), let me know as I'm starting to plan flight times and prices!