Something wonderful has happened since I've begun to grow in the grace of God. I've slowed down. Not physically, but mentally. And yes, this is a good thing!
I don't mean that my mind can't or doesn't process information like it used to. I mean my mind has grown more calm and I see more clearly now. I've found myself rethinking a lot of things, but I've found that I'm not over-thinking things nearly as much as I used to. Grace... which means rest for me... has allowed me to step back and not try to get everything figured out, and not be 'right' about everything, and not try to get everything done, and not try to save the world, etc, etc. Grace means that I have slowed down, and instead of trusting myself to accomplish all the things of the Christian life, I'm trusting God more and more to "work in me to will and to do according to His good pleasure." Slowing down has helped my mind to be less fuzzy, and vice versa. It's all a result of growing in grace.
Back in 1999, I tried the "Atkins Diet" for the first time. I won't get into the details of the diet, but in short it's a low-carb diet. I did this "diet" for six weeks. And I really did lose a lot of weight and I really did feel a lot better. Of course, after I got off the diet I gained all the weight back and then some! Same with each subsequent time I've tried the diet. Which is why "diets" don't work. But I won't get into that right now!
The one good thing about this experience is that during this short period in my life I cut out all sugars, starches, flour, etc. In doing so, I cleared a bunch of "junk" out of my system and as a result my mind became more clear and more sharp. I was quite amazed. I hadn't realized how fuzzy my mind was until I got rid of the junk in a rather quick fashion! I noticed a stark contrast.
I compare this to what happened in my life when I began growing in grace - except for one major difference, of course. Grace is not a fad! Grace is not a "diet" that I try from time to time when I get the unbiblical notion that my life needs a "spiritual boost." Grace is the ongoing power and presence of God in my life. Grace is the foundation of my life, because Grace is a Person named Jesus.
I've definitely got a lot more growing to do - as we all do - and I can say that happily and with joy because I'm not the one who's in charge of my growth! My "job" is to rest in Jesus, and as I do the Life of the Vine naturally flows in me and through me - a branch - and I continuously experience His life. (Technical note: I purposely chose the word "continuously," not "continually." "Continuous" means "uninterrupted in time; without cessation." "Continual" means "recurring regularly or frequently." See the difference? The Vine's life doesn't only flow through us "regularly or frequently." We experience His life continuously, without cessation - whether we realize it or not!).
Back when I was running around always trying to figure out God's perfect will for my life, and trying to make sure all my "spiritual t's were crossed and i's were dotted," and trying to make sure I did my daily Bible reading and said all my prayers and witnessed to everyone at work, and struggling to apply every last principle that I was taught... and so on and so on... my mind simply had too much going on and the Christian life was pretty much joyless! I had no peace. It was a miserable rollercoaster ride with many emotional highs and lows (mostly lows) and many twists and turns.
To grow in grace I've had to get a lot of the 'religious' junk out of my life. Grace has released me from the pressure to perform and has cleared my head to actually see Christ! Jesus is a Person, not a set of disciplines or principles to live by. About 12 or 13 years ago I was able to take a step back and take a long, deep breath, and my journey of growing in grace began to take root.
I've since found that God's will in my life is not realized as I stress myself out over it! Bible study and prayer are not disciplines as much as they are expressions of a loving relationship with my Father as I grow in His grace. Sharing Jesus with other people is no longer a duty. Rather, I'm resting in the Life of the Vine and He leads and guides as I trust His life in me one day at a time... and all of these things are fulfilled much more naturally, not forcibly, as He sees fit. And much more slowly... but with much more substance.
How has growth in God's grace affected your mind / thinking / thoughts / actions / joy / peace / etc?
Joel, this is a great post! Lots of great points!
ReplyDeleteI guess one of the biggies for me has been getting used to the seeming lack of activity. Instead of running around in a thousand different directions trying to do anything and everything, I’m slowly learning to be better focused. I can’t do everything so I just have to focus on doing whatever Father has for me to do in that moment.
I’m a planner by nature and I like to plan and see that plan fulfilled without any hindrance. Flexibility was not in my vocabulary so I was easily bent out of shape. Well, between working with teenagers and having 5 grandchildren, I’m finding that I often have to lay down my plans to be available for what Father has planned for us to do together in that moment.
It’s still a struggle and, at times, I have to remind myself of what I’m learning but it’s all been good. This week-end, my plans really got messed up big time but, as a result, I saw Father at work in a relationship that I’d been praying about. It was inconvenient for me but the results were well worth it.
Thanks for bringing up this topic, Joel. It’s given me a lot to think about.
I look forward to reading your post about dieting. Maybe we can all share war stories about that. Maybe some of us are experiencing victory on that battle front. If so, I’d sure like to hear about it. Right now, I’m hiding in the trenches trying not to look up in case a Little Debbie Snack Cake is walking by. LOL
Aida
Aida... I've got my eye out for many of the same enemies: Little Debbie, Chester Cheetah, Blue Bunny, the Pillsbury Dough Boy... the list goes on and on and on! They really do just sneak up on you when you least expect it and pounce on you when the moment is right. Like you, I'd like to hear from anyone who may be able to give some encouragement or exhortation in overcoming these enemies. :)
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I was trying to communicate in this post is that all that I mentioned is a result of a growth process, and has by no means been automatic. In short, this is where I'm at "today" as a result of having begun a journey of growing in grace 12 or 13 years ago, and I have a lot more growing to do.
While this post was meant to show the results of grace working in my life, it's also meant as an encouragement for myself and for anyone who may be "struggling" with growing in grace. It can be a struggle for several reasons. Living by faith/grace is completely different than living by the flesh. Living by the flesh, we live by what we see. Living by grace, we live by what we don't see.
As a result of this journey that I've been on, I've seen my mindset change, but it certainly hasn't been automatic! I'm sure everyone can relate to that. So I hope that as we share on our blogs and in 'real life' the ways in which our mindsets and ways of living have been transformed by grace, we'll all find encouragement to stay rooted in grace, knowing that even though the fruit often is a long time coming, God does and will continue to bear His fruit in and through us.
Joel,
ReplyDeleteI read your post yesterday but I didn't have enough time to leave a comment. One thing which you pointed out about 'slowing down mentally' was a huge issue for me. By nature, I am a very 'restless' person. I will always be looking for something which is not in order, something which is not in its perfect condition, as I am the world police. (I think in medical terms, it is an illness!). The root cause of my restlessness is my perfectionist spirit. I have seen a tremendous 'improvement' in this area of my life ever since I got a taste of Grace. I don't think anything other than grace (even medical treatment) could have done that. But I still need to slow down further. The critic spirit and perfectionist spirit still stirs up once in a while and it makes me miserable , not only me but the people around me as well. The way you have been slowing down is now an encouragement for me, not that I am going to make a conscious effort to slow myself down, but ask God to work in that area of my life.
Hi All
ReplyDeleteI have never been a planner, controller or a restless person but it doesn't seem to matter. We are all a mess by the time we reach adulthood. I was positively programmed with no inter-relational type problems or anti-social behaviours. BUT I still needed to fill that special place that was reserved for God.
God will bring things into our lives so that we know that we need Him and until we recognize and accept Him, our lives will be a mess, even if only internally.
Like Joel, after I learned about the Grace Life and appropriated it, about 7 years ago, I knew what the gift of the Spirit that the Bible talked about was all about. I'm still learning more and more every day and at the rate I'm going I should arrive in about a million years (give or take a day or two).
I have slowed down in my thinking and I rest in Him. I am not required (by God) to run myself ragged to be a good Christian (only by man). Sorry about their luck, what God wants is a trillion times more important than what man wants.
I have copied and pasted Joel's last 2 paragraphs because it is exactly what I would have written. Except mine is 7 years.
To grow in grace I've had to get a lot of the 'religious' junk out of my life. Grace has released me from the pressure to perform and has cleared my head to actually see Christ! Jesus is a Person, not a set of disciplines or principles to live by. About 12 or 13 years ago I was able to take a step back and take a long, deep breath, and my journey of growing in grace began to take root.
I've since found that God's will in my life is not realized as I stress myself out over it! Bible study and prayer are not disciplines as much as they are expressions of a loving relationship with my Father as I grow in His grace. Sharing Jesus with other people is no longer a duty. Rather, I'm resting in the Life of the Vine and He leads and guides as I trust His life in me one day at a time... and all of these things are fulfilled much more naturally, not forcibly, as He sees fit. And much more slowly... but with much more substance.
Amen Brother
Resting in the Vine
Bob
Bino and Bob... Thanks for sharing. I think you're right, Bob, that we're all messed up due to the flesh, whether "positively" programmed, or "negatively." At times I've had more of the restless perfectionist flesh, and at other times I've been calm and collected, to a fault. Literally to a fault. An example... I used to work as a Heart Monitor Tech in the hospital where I now work as a courier. One day I saw a patient's heart rhythm suddenly go into ventricular fibrillation (not good), and I calmly and quietly went and told the nurses. At first they didn't run to go and check on the patient because even though I "said" something bad was happening, they didn't hear any worry in my voice and so they didn't realize that it really was an emergency! I don't know why I bring this up except to illustrate (in a weird way) that the flesh can be messed up in "positive" ways just as in negative ways.
ReplyDeleteAnd so, the Holy Spirit slowing us down in our thinking is a good thing no matter what, at least in the way that we're talking about it here. And you're so right, Bino. I don't think it's something we can consciously make ourselves do, but it's the work of the Holy Spirit in us over a period of time - perhaps "a million years, give or take a day or two." =)
I am thinking of a song, is it Bob Marley? No...."I can see clearly now, the rain has gone, I can see all obstacles in my way....." -come on now, I thought for sure you would put it on here, haha.....
ReplyDeleteAnyway good post, yes I too have experienced clarity like never before that comes with peace, rest and joy, it's wonderful isn't it?!!
LOL... yep, I had that song in my mind when I wrote those words. :) I also had in mind the end of one of the Shrek movies, when they're doing "Far, Far Away Idol" (a spoof on American Idol). The Three Blind Mice sing that song. "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..." :)
ReplyDelete