Month: July 2023

Soul direction

Grasshoppered Soul

My soul was recently “grasshopper-ed” by looking at someone else’s work and comparing it to mine. I know better and came to my senses eventually but not without a bit of a fixation on the giant of “I should be doing more…”

As I sensed the condemning nature of that thought I clued into the deceit and lure to do more for God than He is asking of me and thus to detach from the Vine. Not a good prospect. Though I found that this led to some healthy reflection and self-examination where I let Him “test the attitude of my heart” (Jeremiah 12:3); where I got some clarity, received His love, and walked in faith in what I believe He is asking of me, trusting His redirection if I’m off. A joyous, freer, spacious place it was, trusting Him for His work of multiplying and using the bit I bring. This allowed more prayer, thought, and planning into what He has asked of me. Instead of pulling away diminished or rushing in with hubris, the giant was reduced in the fear of God.

The Israelites felt like “grasshoppers” when they encountered the people in the promised land. Their souls were diminished. (Numbers 13:33)

Of course, it was impossible for them to do it on their own yet they were acting like it would all be up to them. Their choice deeply disheartened God, along with Moses, Caleb, and Joshua. (Numbers 14:11) The people’s hope was in the wrong place.

I think they had misplaced assumptions as we often do: (Numbers 14)

  • That life in the new land would be easy
  • That God wasn’t really FOR them
  • The illusion that life before was better. (Romanticizing the past)
  • That our kids (the vulnerable ones) would suffer if they obeyed
  • That the land wasn’t good for them, but rather full of dangers
  • That they knew better than God and so didn’t heed Him

Then when they were rebuked and told that they’d have to wait 40 years, they wept and  swung the pendulum, deciding they would go, but on their own. They didn’t heed God’s warning. They were quickly defeated.

God rewarded the few who believed and feared God over the giants but they had to wait a long time.

How has your soul been tempted to grasshopper-ing?

 

How will you overcome your wrong assumptions?

 

 “These things were written for our instruction…” 1 Corinthians 10:11

Soul Warning

Soul Backdrop

Our souls grow in the swirling backdrop of wild philosophies that present themselves as new when they’re just coming around again deceiving, bringing regret and strife as they’ve done over the centuries.

If we could only see through it.

Their claims seem so virtuous and right but we forget how cunning our soul’s enemy can be. Ephesus was a city that 2000 years ago had a strong economy based on the commerce from their territorial goddess that “clearly fell from heaven” (Acts 19:35). Their cry, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians,’ supposedly promised help with fertility and childbirth.

 

To speak or act against their god was blasphemous. That’s the context of the fledgling group to whom Paul wrote the New Testament letter to the Ephesians where he and his companions had caused a significant riot.  (Acts 19:32) These new believers were being called to live there, in the midst of opposing philosophies and powers; to live out their newfound faith and to love one another in that darkness and confusion.                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ruins – temple of Artemis

Paul’s charge to them was to begin to allow this scandalous notion of God’s choice of them, and His incomprehensible love for them to bring peace and reconciliation between centuries-old differences and prejudices.

A new walk was called for. Walk in a new way, walk in love, walk in light, walk worthy of your calling, walk in good works, walk as wise, walk in God’s strength to fight against the prevailing philosophies and powers.

The letter is a treatise for living life against the backdrop of contrary forces.  Being rooted and grounded in God’s love (Ephesians 3:17) walking in and speaking the truth in love would bring a flagrant contrast to their old manner of life. This would get the attention of evil forces that they would need to “withstand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:10-13). Not an easy notion that called upon His power in their inner beings. (Ephesians 3:16)

What is the backdrop of your soul growth?

How will your rootedness lead to a new walk that goes against the flow of the present day?