“And do not follow the customs of the present age, but be transformed by the entire renewal of your minds, so that you may learn by experience what God's will is--that will which is good and beautiful and perfect.” Romans 12:2Kim and I in sari's with Ashwanthi who tied them for us (we are held together with saftey pins!).
The other day one of my team mates lead a devotional on Psalm 24. I thought I would share his thoughts with you – and expand upon it a bit.
In ancient days when the Ark of the Covenant approached the walls of a city the accompanying priests called out to the gatekeepers to open the entry “Lift up your heads oh gates.” And the gatekeepers responded with “Let the King of Glory come in.”
I love that. “Let the King of Glory come in.”
My team mate then went on to share about modern day gates – the ones in our mind; doors closeting our ideals, prejudices, impressions, judgments, beliefs, viewpoints, convictions, principles, opinions, attitudes. Then he asked the stinger…What gates have you invited the King of Glory into? What gates are you guarding? What gates are you hiding? Ah, um, well…I have some work to do.
The devotional made me reflect on areas of my life that aren’t quite lining up with God’s way of doing things. I get grouchy when tired, hot, and sweaty, when I haven’t eaten, and rude people are shoving past instead of helping me put my bag in the overhead bin. I get a bit testy when I explain clearly that my internet connection is disconnected and they tell me it isn’t. I turn cranky when I am in a room and most of the occupants ignore me because I am female. Irritation rises when I am on time and the people I am meeting are very, very late.
Instead of being willing to open the gate to let the King of Glory come in and change my attitude, my actions, my assessments, I hold my ground, justify my actions and batten down my “gates” (i.e. bad behavior) with excuses and rationalizations.
Romans 12:2 says that we need to let God transform us inwardly through a complete change of our minds. This enables us to know the will of God---what is good and pleasing to him.
Opening up the “gates of our mind” to God does just that. He goes in, cleans the proverbial closet, changes our mindset, transforms our thinking, and leaves truth behind. We go from being bigoted and prejudiced to loving; from greedy and stingy to a hilarious giver; from lust filled and raunchy to pure. We are freed from our old, antiquated thinking and moved further on the continuum toward abundant life and freedom. “Know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
What areas of your life don’t exactly match God’s principles and ideas? What areas need God’s cleaning and restocking? What areas need the sword of truth to pierce through and dismantle them? What gates are you guarding? What gates are you hiding from God?
Updates:
Condo – Still for sale.
Work – I am in India for another week. We are praying for businesses this trip and God has encouraged, infused faith, and admonished. It has been amazing to be apart of. Check out the team updates: http://repurposing.biz/chennai-november-2009-blitz/www.repurposing.biz/chennai-2009-blitz
Travel – Traffic is scary in India…I am so glad that I am not driving! We have witnessed a motorcycle accident and several fender-benders. God has protected us thus far as we travel around the city. Thank you Jesus!
Requests:
Condo – It needs to sell!
Travel – I leave for San Francisco on the 7th at 3:30 in the morning, flying via Hong Kong. Please pray for safe travel, no nausea, and that my luggage will stay intact and arrive with me. Also, pray for our day to day outings out and about Chennai – traffic rules here are a mere suggestion vs. law!
Finances – I am raising funds for my trip to India. If you would like to donate, please send a check to Annie Gaudette, 3777 Fujiyama Way, Redding, CA 96001 – include a note in the envelope stating the funds are for me. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Websites - If you would like to RSS my update vs. getting them by email visit my blog site http://www.denaandrews.blogstpot.com/. To find out more about rēp visit http://www.repurposing.biz/ for information.
In ancient days when the Ark of the Covenant approached the walls of a city the accompanying priests called out to the gatekeepers to open the entry “Lift up your heads oh gates.” And the gatekeepers responded with “Let the King of Glory come in.”
I love that. “Let the King of Glory come in.”
My team mate then went on to share about modern day gates – the ones in our mind; doors closeting our ideals, prejudices, impressions, judgments, beliefs, viewpoints, convictions, principles, opinions, attitudes. Then he asked the stinger…What gates have you invited the King of Glory into? What gates are you guarding? What gates are you hiding? Ah, um, well…I have some work to do.
The devotional made me reflect on areas of my life that aren’t quite lining up with God’s way of doing things. I get grouchy when tired, hot, and sweaty, when I haven’t eaten, and rude people are shoving past instead of helping me put my bag in the overhead bin. I get a bit testy when I explain clearly that my internet connection is disconnected and they tell me it isn’t. I turn cranky when I am in a room and most of the occupants ignore me because I am female. Irritation rises when I am on time and the people I am meeting are very, very late.
Instead of being willing to open the gate to let the King of Glory come in and change my attitude, my actions, my assessments, I hold my ground, justify my actions and batten down my “gates” (i.e. bad behavior) with excuses and rationalizations.
Romans 12:2 says that we need to let God transform us inwardly through a complete change of our minds. This enables us to know the will of God---what is good and pleasing to him.
Opening up the “gates of our mind” to God does just that. He goes in, cleans the proverbial closet, changes our mindset, transforms our thinking, and leaves truth behind. We go from being bigoted and prejudiced to loving; from greedy and stingy to a hilarious giver; from lust filled and raunchy to pure. We are freed from our old, antiquated thinking and moved further on the continuum toward abundant life and freedom. “Know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
What areas of your life don’t exactly match God’s principles and ideas? What areas need God’s cleaning and restocking? What areas need the sword of truth to pierce through and dismantle them? What gates are you guarding? What gates are you hiding from God?
Updates:
Condo – Still for sale.
Work – I am in India for another week. We are praying for businesses this trip and God has encouraged, infused faith, and admonished. It has been amazing to be apart of. Check out the team updates: http://repurposing.biz/chennai-november-2009-blitz/www.repurposing.biz/chennai-2009-blitz
Travel – Traffic is scary in India…I am so glad that I am not driving! We have witnessed a motorcycle accident and several fender-benders. God has protected us thus far as we travel around the city. Thank you Jesus!
Requests:
Condo – It needs to sell!
Travel – I leave for San Francisco on the 7th at 3:30 in the morning, flying via Hong Kong. Please pray for safe travel, no nausea, and that my luggage will stay intact and arrive with me. Also, pray for our day to day outings out and about Chennai – traffic rules here are a mere suggestion vs. law!
Finances – I am raising funds for my trip to India. If you would like to donate, please send a check to Annie Gaudette, 3777 Fujiyama Way, Redding, CA 96001 – include a note in the envelope stating the funds are for me. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Websites - If you would like to RSS my update vs. getting them by email visit my blog site http://www.denaandrews.blogstpot.com/. To find out more about rēp visit http://www.repurposing.biz/ for information.
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