His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).

As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.

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January 13, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

There I was cruising along in my spiritual naiveté enjoying the journey. Then out of nowhere, a call came reminding me of who I am and am not……. A friend reminded me that I was not nearly as pious as I thought I was, and I felt my anger boil up when made the point of the joke……  I was then reminded by circumstances and family that I had failed their expectations and was responsible for their pain and fear.

I thought I had grown beyond my petty anger and defensiveness. Are these the trials I am to stay in? Am I to stay patient inside these kinds of challenges and difficulties? Or was I simply too naive and “mature” to consider an enemy that prowls around searching for ways to interrupt my life and growth?

And God says…”Only the things that have first slipped through my fingers can touch you.. And the enemy prowls around looking for ways to wound you. The enemy must find ways to try and interrupt your growth and maturity…..that is all he has left to him. He already knows the outcome, but he also knows human nature. Resist the enemy. He will flee from you. Acknowledge and be aware of your shortcomings in a way that reminds you that you cannot grow into spiritual maturity. Real maturity comes about as you are reduced and Christ is increased in you. Real maturity has nothing to do with your personal growth; it has only to do with your brokenness. These circumstances help provide a brokenness that brings you to Me………. Hallelujah

All things work for the good of those that love the Lord…… a broken and contrite heart I cannot ignore…… And be reminded that you decrease so that Christ can increase in you.