LOOKING FOR A " NEW NORMAL ", AS GOD WOULD DESIRE FOR YOU ?

6/23/2020

“ I JUST WANT THINGS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL ! “ How many times have you heard that statement from family, friends, and just about everyone, everywhere you go ? I have heard it a lot, and honestly, I too find myself thinking about many things that seemed just a part of everyday living that are now regulated, changed, or just not available like they used to be. I took a lot of things for granted. I have learned that I won’t be doing that anymore. In some of our lives where normal was a good thing, and our hopes were being fulfilled it is easy to think about what we miss, or things that we aren’t able to do. For others, life in the normal might have been very difficult, challenging, or downright brutal, and any change in circumstances would be a blessing and a relief. For every one of us, something has changed in our life….some changes being positive, and some feeling pretty negative or at the very least, frustrating. There is a fine line out there now between fear of living and fear of death. Another fine line exists between anger and impatience for others versus grace and understanding. One thing does seem inevitable in my eyes. The world is changing. It seems like the outcome of those changes being good or bad is still very much up in the air. Evil, corruption, and greed are still doing just fine, and the angst of mankind for each other still churns in turmoil. You may be asking yourself quite often “ Where is God in all of this ? “ I believe that God is all over this. I believe that God is giving us a pretty clear picture that His version of “ Normal “ is nothing like ours. I would challenge you to consider three key things that God just might be showing you to seek as a normal thing in your life. A PERSONAL AND DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. A RELATIONSHIP BUILT UPON HIS WORD, RESULTING IN TRUST AND OBEDIENCE AND REVERENCE IN YOUR WALK WITH HIM. LAST, BUT FAR FROM LEAST, A RELATIONSHIP BASED UPON OPEN AND INTIMATE COMMUNICATION. IN OTHER WORDS A LIFE OF CONTINUAL PRAYER AND WORSHIP.

HE WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE THROUGH HIM, YET THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW HIM. HE CAME TO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN PEOPLE DID NOT RECEIVE HIM. BUT TO ALL WHO DID RECEIVE HIM, WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, WHO WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD. John 1: 10-13

I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. John 15:5

KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD, THE FAITHFUL GOD WHO KEEPS COVENANT AND STEADFAST LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. Deuteronomy 7:9

For many Christians God seems very far away and difficult to know. More of a figurehead or concept or ritual tradition than a real Father, Savior, Lord, and King, or someone we could know in a personal way. I encounter a lot of people who struggle with the idea that God would even have the time or desire to know them personally. Perhaps in their mind, they are not worthy of being in relationship with God because of sin and feeling guilty or ashamed. Others just can’t make a time commitment. Others in the true depth of their heart simply don’t believe. A personal relationship with God is exactly what God wants and requires of us, and it it beautifully normal ! When you think of the people in your life that you are closest to, those relationships almost always have some basic things in common. Trust, Honesty, Deep Conversation, Joy in being together, ability to be vulnerable, shared interest, respect, caring, and most of all love for each other. Personal relationships grow from knowledge and understanding of each other. Spending time in God’s Word is the perfect way to get to know Him. His Word is full of His Character and His loving instructions for our lives. If you truly look at how the nations, societies and cultures of the world are built upon His Word and it’s tenants, it is absurd to listen to those who bash the very idea of Him, and think their wisdom actually came from their own intellect and self enlightenment. I can’t emphasize enough how important prayer and praise is as another key component of our relationship with Him. I encourage you to pray continually ! God hears us, and He hears us clearly ! His love for us is deep and His word encourages us to seek Him, share our needs, our thoughts, our struggles and ourselves. Many people struggle with prayer. What to say; finding the time to do it; believing they are being heard, and allowing God’s perfect timing and will to provide results. It is also good to pray with other believers and share your prayer needs with them. God encourages us to fellowship with others who know Him, and other believers praying makes our needs all the more special to God. He loves His people to be in a loving and caring relationship with each other.

AND WITHOUT FAITH, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR WHOEVER WOULD DRAW NEAR TO GOD MUST BELIEVE HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM. Hebrews 11:6

“ BUT AS FOR ME, MY PRAYER IS TO YOU, O LORD. AT AN ACCEPTABLE TIME, O GOD, IN THE ABUNDANCE OF YOUR STEADFAST LOVE ANSWER ME IN YOUR SAVING FAITHFULNESS. “ Psalm 69:13

DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD - THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND THE DESIRES OF THE EYES AND PRIDE IN POSSESSIONS - IS NOT FROM THE FATHER, BUT IS FROM THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY ALONG WITH ITS DESIRES, BUT WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER. John 2: 15-17

A life in Christ is very different than a life in the world. It takes commitment and effort. It takes belief and faith. It takes trust and a deep personal relationship. Open and vulnerable communication. Desire to seek Him and be obedient to His Will and Ways. God made us in His Image. Our “Normalcy” is in Him, not in our own sin and what the world would tell us is right and good. Go after God. Live in His Normal. Be Free In His Love ! Blessings and Peace/JAA

MAY HE GRANT YOU YOUR HEART’S DESIRE AND FULFILL ALL YOUR COUNSEL ! Psalm 20:4