Friday, August 20, 2010

Spitting Chunks (I'm very classy today)

I am NOT a Bible scholar, a great Biblical teacher, BUT I love the Lord and I LOOOOVE His word. I am a theologian. I study it, I chew on it, I soak it up, I meditate on it, I listen to it, I hear it, I speak it and I crave it. I simply love His word. It is life to me. I wish I had it all memorized, every word of it buried in my heart to spew out at any moment. Until then, I chew on the parts before me and spit those chunks out (my apologies for the eloquent visuals today).

I was sitting here this past moment rejoicing at a call to prayer I received and immediately His words from Chronicles came jumping out of my heart, only I had one word wrong as I recited it in prayer. I said "When", but the bible said "if".

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

What an amazing word from God, what a great promise He makes to us. I began to think about the difference between "When my people" and "If my people" pray means. I'll tell you right now, I have no answer, at least not one that I can intelligently express. But the word when, would say to me "I know you are gonna do this, it's just a matter of time" and the word if, says to me "You know, it's up to you. You can continue in your ways and I'll hand you over, BUT if you choose to ask me for help and stop doing what your doing, I have great things in store."

What are your thoughts? I'm just chewing for the rest of the day. I'm gonna chew on His words, even the little ones! God, open the flood gates and let your word rain on down. Speak to us Lord!!!!

2 comments:

  1. There's a lot of tension in the "if" - it's a challenge not a command not an assumption. God knows our self-will, self-sufficiency, self-focus so well - the "if" oozes kindness and tenderness from God's heart - He doesn't force His perfect will on us, we can choose to walk in the light, walk in the truth, walk in the Spirit, walk by faith, walk in trust and obedience, walk in constant communion/prayer and IF we do, His response is phenomenal!!

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  2. Thanks Marina. Yes the tension of "if". The challenge God speaks into our lives. Thank you for your insight!

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