Divorced. From Reality
Arrogance: Divorcement from Reality
We have heard it said many times that pride comes before the fall. Arrogance is a form of pride all it's own. It is arrogance that allows an individual to make every situation, both good and bad, be about themselves. It is arrogance that allows an individual to feel entitlement to things of this world: anger, resentment, pride, jealousy, and the like.
Arrogance is a nasty seed that is not so easily hewn down. It is a seed that goes down into the matter of the bones. Arrogance can be viewed as divorcement from reality! Sometimes a situation gets so disturbing for our carnal entities that we choose to fall apart, we choose to be unreasonable. We choose to get mad. We choose to experience such feelings as being jealous, full of rage, depressed, or simply so saddened to tears that we fear the warm salty saline might never stop flowing. Sometimes we choose to push and get our way even when no one asked for your thoughts or opinions. At this point we have divorced reality. Yep, no annulment necessary- we straight up divorced it!
This most present season has brought so many new and exciting things to our lives. I have been purposing to grow in my faith, my knowledge of the Lord, my perspectives, convictions, strengths, weaknesses, and my pursuit of God's kingdom and His righteousness. I am at a stage in my faith where I have had my blinders peeled off, only to reveal the facade of faith that I barely sought after. You can't get above what you know. You also cannot get past what you don't know. There is much knowing to get after in my life. We are a family whose roots run deep in faith. A kind of faith that I only skimmed the brink of until now. I asked God one day to take me deeper in my faith, our whole family did! I remember distinctly having a feeling of being on an enlightening journey that few people really seek after. (I am smirking as I type) And then, God hit me with it, like a ton of bricks...heavy, bricks.
In my quiet time He simply said-" you don't trust me, not really." I tried to laugh it off. And what does that mean, I quipped. I don't trust you? I have surrendered my life to you. I live and breathe for you. Of course I trust you. "Nope. Not really. You don't," He replied. (Disclaimer-many people may not hear God's voice speak to them in their spirit or converse with them, but I do. God and I talk-regularly. Of course I am audible, He is not. I will say, His inaudible voice is heavy and very present. Just didn't want you to think I am out of my mind.)
This brief, chilling conversation followed me, actually it haunted me, for days. I would think back as days went by and wonder why now is He saying this and why am I being checked in this way. Little did I know He was answering my prayer and this was just the beginning. "Take me deeper, Lord." That was the prayer. With days going by and trials coming on every side I remained focused on what I had prayed and in how God initially responded to my desire to go deeper. I was so divorced from reality that I had forgotten that being a Christ follower was all about becoming autonomous in Christ. Depending on Him in good times, easy times, bad times, times of crisis, times of pain and anguish; times when I physically had to pray for God to simply give me my next breath.
Reality is, faith sounds good. We are the elect. We were bought with a price and redeemed. Richly blessed, highly favored! Bless our hearts!
Don't misunderstand me here, I am a devout Christ follower. I participate in mission trips abroad and teach Bible study. We are a minister family. I simply lost sight of the main thing. I divorced the main thing. I muddied the water. God took the time and gave me a glimpse in what I was lacking most- the application of faith. I have faith but it has to be applied. It has to be tested. It has to become our everything.
Not only is Christ taking me deeper into understanding His integrity, His character, and my role in His grand plan, but He is also teaching me that His word settles me. No longer do I want to fall apart when things get REAL. I am learning that my identity is hidden in Him and His identity is not to fall apart. Rather, I am to have already been in His word, taking it in, metabolizing the doctrine and then He applies it like a salve to a burn. It instantly soothes and calms the affected area. Deeper is where we are headed even still. I like to say not only are we deeper, but we are in the middle of the ocean bobbing about with no arms, no legs, and sharks are circling us constantly. But in my quest to slay self and grow deeper I have bold confidence that those sharks won't touch us. The waves won't overtake us, and we will not panic. We will not fall apart. We will fall, into the loving arms of God. We will always be safe there.
Reality and I are on good terms these days. Reality is I cannot control anyone or their mouth. I cannot control situations or outcomes. Reality is that desiring salvation without being willing to come to Jesus on His terms is not legit, it does not exist. Reality is that if we are going to follow Christ we have to be so caught up in pursuing Christ that we open our hands and willingly let go of everything that He has given us. Hands open, for Him to take should He choose, and being a good steward of the things He has placed in our corner of the field. Reality is, knowing He is the creator and I will always be merely the created.
It's better that way.
The question is- are you someone who is viewed as unreasonable? Is it your way or no way? Do you push past obstacles because you simply can, or do you wait for God to work it out? Being unreasonable is the first sign of divorce from reality. Today is a good day to put that ring back on and quit fighting a losing battle with the God of the universe. Being willing to ask yourself the question- Do I really trust God?, that's a good start.
We have heard it said many times that pride comes before the fall. Arrogance is a form of pride all it's own. It is arrogance that allows an individual to make every situation, both good and bad, be about themselves. It is arrogance that allows an individual to feel entitlement to things of this world: anger, resentment, pride, jealousy, and the like.
Arrogance is a nasty seed that is not so easily hewn down. It is a seed that goes down into the matter of the bones. Arrogance can be viewed as divorcement from reality! Sometimes a situation gets so disturbing for our carnal entities that we choose to fall apart, we choose to be unreasonable. We choose to get mad. We choose to experience such feelings as being jealous, full of rage, depressed, or simply so saddened to tears that we fear the warm salty saline might never stop flowing. Sometimes we choose to push and get our way even when no one asked for your thoughts or opinions. At this point we have divorced reality. Yep, no annulment necessary- we straight up divorced it!
This most present season has brought so many new and exciting things to our lives. I have been purposing to grow in my faith, my knowledge of the Lord, my perspectives, convictions, strengths, weaknesses, and my pursuit of God's kingdom and His righteousness. I am at a stage in my faith where I have had my blinders peeled off, only to reveal the facade of faith that I barely sought after. You can't get above what you know. You also cannot get past what you don't know. There is much knowing to get after in my life. We are a family whose roots run deep in faith. A kind of faith that I only skimmed the brink of until now. I asked God one day to take me deeper in my faith, our whole family did! I remember distinctly having a feeling of being on an enlightening journey that few people really seek after. (I am smirking as I type) And then, God hit me with it, like a ton of bricks...heavy, bricks.
In my quiet time He simply said-" you don't trust me, not really." I tried to laugh it off. And what does that mean, I quipped. I don't trust you? I have surrendered my life to you. I live and breathe for you. Of course I trust you. "Nope. Not really. You don't," He replied. (Disclaimer-many people may not hear God's voice speak to them in their spirit or converse with them, but I do. God and I talk-regularly. Of course I am audible, He is not. I will say, His inaudible voice is heavy and very present. Just didn't want you to think I am out of my mind.)
This brief, chilling conversation followed me, actually it haunted me, for days. I would think back as days went by and wonder why now is He saying this and why am I being checked in this way. Little did I know He was answering my prayer and this was just the beginning. "Take me deeper, Lord." That was the prayer. With days going by and trials coming on every side I remained focused on what I had prayed and in how God initially responded to my desire to go deeper. I was so divorced from reality that I had forgotten that being a Christ follower was all about becoming autonomous in Christ. Depending on Him in good times, easy times, bad times, times of crisis, times of pain and anguish; times when I physically had to pray for God to simply give me my next breath.
Reality is, faith sounds good. We are the elect. We were bought with a price and redeemed. Richly blessed, highly favored! Bless our hearts!
Don't misunderstand me here, I am a devout Christ follower. I participate in mission trips abroad and teach Bible study. We are a minister family. I simply lost sight of the main thing. I divorced the main thing. I muddied the water. God took the time and gave me a glimpse in what I was lacking most- the application of faith. I have faith but it has to be applied. It has to be tested. It has to become our everything.
Not only is Christ taking me deeper into understanding His integrity, His character, and my role in His grand plan, but He is also teaching me that His word settles me. No longer do I want to fall apart when things get REAL. I am learning that my identity is hidden in Him and His identity is not to fall apart. Rather, I am to have already been in His word, taking it in, metabolizing the doctrine and then He applies it like a salve to a burn. It instantly soothes and calms the affected area. Deeper is where we are headed even still. I like to say not only are we deeper, but we are in the middle of the ocean bobbing about with no arms, no legs, and sharks are circling us constantly. But in my quest to slay self and grow deeper I have bold confidence that those sharks won't touch us. The waves won't overtake us, and we will not panic. We will not fall apart. We will fall, into the loving arms of God. We will always be safe there.
Reality and I are on good terms these days. Reality is I cannot control anyone or their mouth. I cannot control situations or outcomes. Reality is that desiring salvation without being willing to come to Jesus on His terms is not legit, it does not exist. Reality is that if we are going to follow Christ we have to be so caught up in pursuing Christ that we open our hands and willingly let go of everything that He has given us. Hands open, for Him to take should He choose, and being a good steward of the things He has placed in our corner of the field. Reality is, knowing He is the creator and I will always be merely the created.
It's better that way.
The question is- are you someone who is viewed as unreasonable? Is it your way or no way? Do you push past obstacles because you simply can, or do you wait for God to work it out? Being unreasonable is the first sign of divorce from reality. Today is a good day to put that ring back on and quit fighting a losing battle with the God of the universe. Being willing to ask yourself the question- Do I really trust God?, that's a good start.
