I remember a story by Jim Dobson (Focus on the Family) where he was telling his young son, “If you disobey me, I am gonna stay up late at night thinking of ways to make your life miserable.” This made such an impression on his son, that he didn’t have any more problem with that particular behavior. Jim believes in tough love, and so do I.
God is like that too. He loves us, but He wants us to be like Him, holy. He is after Godly offspring, and He has the will and power to get them!
Whenever we get saved, some of us have the mistaken belief that we can life our lives the way that we want to. Sure, we say we’re saved, and we pray, give money, etc., but we still haven’t given God what he really wants most. That is our total life. This includes: our career, our hopes, dreams, aspirations, plans, money, time, possessions, etc. In short everything about us.
When God said, “That shall have no other gods before me”, He wasn’t only talking about ones we bow down before, but also the ones that we serve with our life force. Jesus came that “we might know God”. And I believe that the knowing is one of intimate relationship with God. He wants us to go all the way with Him.
How can we know God if we spend most of our time on ourselves and our needs, etc.? God expects us to spend more time with Him alone so that we can know Him more and more. When was the last time that you got alone with God for more that a few minutes? I’ve heard stories of real God seekers who daily spend 5, 6, 10 hours seeking Him. I must admit that so far, the most time that I have spent with Him is one or two hours a day. That’s hardly enough to get by for that day, much less get to really Know Him.
Since I have begin on this path, God has ruined my life. I am unfit for the world and barely fit for God. Boy, what a bad situation to be in. I’ve got to go one way or the other. I think that I’ll go toward God more. Since I am already ruined to this world, I might as well go all the way with God!
Whenever God gets a hold on your life, He is intent on ruining your life. He wants to posses His people with His Holy Spirit. In order for that to happen, you will have to die to yourself. All of you must be surrendered to God. Every inch of you, with nothing held back. He wants to go into all the hidden rooms of your life. His power will cleanse the temple that He dwells in. Holiness and sin cannot live in the same place. Also, included in sin is the desires of the flesh. So let Him kill you and cleanse you. Only this way can you really live.
