What is the Opposite of Running?
This first blog is all about finding fresh, authentic HOPE! When we are struggling with sin, most of us run from God, because we do not think He wants to be near to our unholy hearts. That is what Adam thought. He did not listen and obey God. In his fear of God’s judgment, he tried to run and hide.
Here is an incredibly hopeful question for you to think about each day of 2009. After Adam sinned, what did God want him to do? Hint: It relates to the story of the prodigal son. If the Lord gives you wisdom and revelation into this question, fresh fire will fall upon your journey!
Because Adam sinned, he felt guilt (feeling bad for what he had done wrong). We also know that guilt produced the pain of shame. Adam knew he blew it with God and ran for cover in the hills of Eden! Can you imagine entertaining the fantasy of being able to hide from the living God of the universe? Are we really that arrogant that we actually think we can live life apart from God?? Yes, we are!!! Ok, so what is the HOPE in all of this???
God wanted Adam to do the opposite of what he did. The desire of a good father is to have their child talk to them about what they are struggling with. In Luke 15, the prodigal son shares the secret to receiving the gift of grace within the painful struggles of life. He realized he needed to go back home and talk to his Father.
The prodigal son did the opposite of Adam. Instead of running from God, he returned home to find his father running to him! This is the moment where grace flowed into his discouraged heart. His father loved him so much that he did everything possible to let his child know that he still belonged to his heart within the painful struggles of his life.
The next time you are struggling with discouragement and wanting to avoid God, stop and re-evaluate the slippery slope you are about to go down! Then, choose to return back home to the heart of God and start talking to God about your struggles. As you come to your senses, watch the relentless power of God’s love fill you with a sense of acceptance within your human struggles that allows you to come home to the understanding heart of God.
Finding God’s delight in you when you have disgust for yourself…well that is HOPE. That is the reality of finding the goodness of God within the dirty manger scene of our hearts. The birth of hope is realized when we daily hear His voice and open the door to Jesus. The King has arrived! He is the one who brings us home each day of the journey to the Father’s heart!
I look forward to hearing your responses. After listening to your hearts and much prayer, I will write my thoughts to you each month.
In His kind strength,
-Paul Singh
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