The divine mentor: Lesson four

One thing about computers or electronics - even your cell or mobile phone -  is that when things go wrong, you can simply "reboot" the device. You  "refresh" the page. You hit the "reset" button. 

It's not necessarily causing you to start from scratch or start brand new, but doing any of these actions, causes you to "push away" or remove the clutter that is adding to the confusion or the breakdown of the operating system. In the same way, we humans need to occasionally press our "reset" button. We need to renew our thinking. We need to clear some clutter in order to restore "right" thinking (remember the word 'orthodox'?) and get our minds and lives back on track. 

Clutter in life or of the mind is like dust. Sometimes you don't know where it comes from, but it accumulates quickly! Other times, you know exactly where the clutter comes from, and unfortunately, we choose not to do anything about it.

When our minds and lives are cluttered, sometimes everything suffers. We become tired mentally and physically. Our "bad" stress level rises. Frustration overwhelms us and oftentimes, the people around us. Clutter interferes with our most important relationships: spouses, children, co-workers, customers, and friends. Even our relationship with God. If our time with God is cluttered with the stuff (let's just call it "garbage")  of life, He is not able to fully use us. 

We need to be refreshed and renewed. We need to press the mental, emotional, and spiritual "Reset" button and "reboot" ourselves. Another analogy is that we're driving around not knowing where we are, but having an idea of where we're headed. We need to pull over, take out the map, get our bearings, then get back onto the right road. And while we're at it, get a cup of coffee or a cold drink of water.

Romans  12:1 - 2, is thankfully one of those key verses that the Holy Spirit has helped me to memorize over the years. "Therefore, I urge you,  brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test  and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

This verse, and its admonition, is key to understanding WHY we need to be in God's Word every day. Wayne Cordeiro breaks it down well into some basic categories of renewal and refreshment.

First of all, we need to be refreshed. We live in a "dirty" world. I don't think I have to explain that. Just turn on the radio, TV or open your email. Our minds are constantly being bombarded with ideas, images, and thoughts that are not necessarily good for us. After a while we become weary. At least I do. Being in  God's Word is a cooling cup of clean water for our minds. It's a quick shower to rinse off the dust of this world. 

At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Peter protested and wanted to be washed from head to toe. To that, Jesus replied, "A  person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean,..." John 13:10. As Christians, we have been washed clean by the sacrificial blood of Jesus. But we do pick up some of the world's "dirt" as we traverse through it.

This "daily shower" of refreshment also keeps our accumulated Godly Wisdom fresh. Our minds and hearts are continually being sullied. If we don't hit the reset button, more of that worldly stuff will accumulate.  Eventually, it gets so thick that we may not recognize our thinking. Think of it as a car in a wintry or dusty climate. Sometimes the weather is just so continually bad that we can't wash it. The outside and inside become more filthy by the day. Finally, spring arrives and a  stretch of good weather and we go to the car wash. After the "shower," it looks like new. 

Take a look at Solomon. Smartest man that the world has ever known - except for Jesus Himself. But he let his time with God be crowded out by wives, a great lifestyle, and acquiring knowledge. What did it get him? Nothing and plenty of trouble. In time he would see everything that God had blessed him with just crumble. Family, kingdom, and all. What a tragedy!

Refreshment also keeps us better prepared. Think back to college or whenever you had a major test. Were you better off keeping up with daily reading even for 15 minutes and a simple review of the material before the Final examination and a good night's rest?  Or were you one of those "crashers" who partied all semester and pulled all-nighters the days before? Keeping God's Word fresh keeps us prepared for the struggles of life. It helps keep us sharp for those  "divine appointments" He may (will) send us. Because God is omniscient,  He knows it all and is always prepared. We aren't. We need reminders. We need to keep our swords sharp.

2  Timothy 3:14 - 17, teaches us that we need to be continually in God's Word and to know the Holy Scriptures. They keep us ready for all things.  The Bible is the perfect renewing and refreshing food to teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us in all of the things of God.

Third, being refreshed and renewed in God's Word keeps us fruitful. I enjoy flower gardening although it can be time-consuming. But you know, the summers that I spend even one or two hours each week going through and pulling out weeds or popping off "dead heads" (wilted flowers), the results are spectacular. Flowers bloom. 

So it goes with the fruitfulness of our lives. Fruitfulness will be apparent not only in our personal lives but very often in the lives of people around us. Our lives touch others. Our relationships are enhanced by God's Word in helping us better relate. We can share similar thoughts. We can offer a word of encouragement or warning. As we speak God's Word, it goes out and His Kingdom grows. God wants us to be fruitful in every aspect of our lives. Joshua 1:8 and John 15:7 both speak of how successful or fruitful God will cause us to be IF we are anchored in His Word. 

Another part of refreshment and renewal is the recognition of God's Word and Truth. As we said earlier, we are constantly being sullied by the world around us. Sometimes we lose track of Whose we are. Jesus said, "My sheep  listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27. Being in God's Word keeps our hearing attuned to the Holy Spirit. 

One thing I learned while being a soccer dad, is that sometimes as much as you want to give encouragement (read that as directions to your kids)  from the sidelines during a game, you're actually best off simply cheering for the team in general. Why? Our children know our voice. They've heard it for years. They can recognize it. The fact of the matter is, they really need to be listening to their coach's voice instead. He or she is the person running the team and the plays. Our  "alien" words can be a distraction when their coach is trying to direct them. How well do we recognize God's Voice in our lives? Are we cognizant of His direction? Are we allowing God to direct our lives?

Finally, when we are refreshed and renewed, we are able to make wise and Godly decisions. Do you remember the last time you made a rash decision? Didn't work out too well, did it? I know, I've made them too. Typically, we make these rash and sometimes foolish decisions because we are either weary or are caught up in the moment. If we are staying plugged into daily Bible reading and study, we are operating under the power and influence of the  Holy Spirit. He has the wisest decisions for our lives.

Sometimes the going gets really tough. We are battered around like a leaky boat in the middle of the ocean. We need a safe port to pull into. We may need to make repairs on the boat before continuing. Taking the time to be with our Father aids us. His Word provides rest, reassurance, and wisdom. Taking time out gives us a better perspective of where we're going or what we're about to do. We may be caught up with helping a  friend because we have a relationship with them, but are we the best person for the job? Is there someone else who may be better equipped?  And that doesn't mean passing them onto one of the pastors. There are plenty of good "lay people" that God has equipped.

As a man, I may sympathize and empathize with a woman regarding their particular need but a woman will be a much better choice. Not only that but as a married man, there are questions of impropriety. It has been Dr. Billy Graham's habit over the years to never be seen alone with a woman - only his wife Ruth. It's not that he's untrustworthy, but he knows that he doesn't even want to give a bit of talk to the possibility of impropriety. He is aware of his "unspoken" witness to God. He always wants God to receive glory for all that he does. The least impropriety will mar that witness.

In the end, God always knows best. And knowing the best means that He wants the best for us. He wants us to find rest in Him. He wants us to be refreshed and renewed as we spend time with Him. He gives us new strength and wisdom as we read then apply  His Word to our lives.

My personal takeaway from this chapter, even the entire study so far, is this: being refreshed and renewed by God's Word and a time of prayer not only draws me closer to my Savior, it further draws me to witness His  Majesty and Glory. As you draw closer to God, you can't ignore the utter Greatness of God.

Right now I'm reading through the book of Job. Over the years I've probably read it completely through about a dozen times or more. This time is different. My mind and heart are seeing verses and passages as if I'm reading them for the first time. God "exposes" Himself in the pages of Job: not only His Majesty and  Glory but also how God is in complete control of all of creation. Not like puppets. No. He is in control like a conductor of an orchestra directing a deep rolling symphony. All of the parts perform perfectly for the sole purpose of bringing Glory to God. Even the devil fumbles and bumbles. The devil's spitefulness clearly contrasts how loving and caring God really is.

Press the reset button on your life. Restore God to His rightful place. First.