He Dwells — The B'log in My Eye

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I am not very fond of sponges — essentially they gross me out. There they sit in all their moistness at the bottom of the sink, seeping toxicity. The problem with the damp-sponge is you never know what ungodly thing it last sopped-up and the only way to make that determination is to squeeze the wretched thing and see what comes out. It’s my testimony that nothing good has ever come out of a damp sponge.

The sad irony is that the sponge and I have much in common.

Example:

I’ll be cruising down the road in my little red pick-up truck, singing along to my local Christian radio station, when some doophus texting his life away on a cell phone cuts me off. Instantly I react. There’s no time to prepare, no time to pray, no time to pause and consider what Jesus would do. Often what pours out of my heart in these moments would offend the vilest of sponges.

And I am Elated!

Well to say I am elated is a slight exaggeration, but I am pleased for one very important reason — I had previously prayed the Lord would reveal my true heart to me so that I might be changed and He has answered the prayer. Like the miserable sponge that I am, God has lifted me up, wrung me out, and revealed the venom inside…just as I asked Him to. Now all that’s left to do is clean up the mess — God is not mocked.

I am happy to say that today, these contemptible events happen with less frequency as I age, but I do long for the day when they are the rarest of occurrences. In these last days I’ve learned a couple of things that have helped me considerably.

I pray more and I pray more specifically. When I get in the car, I thank the Lord for His provision and protection. I pray for preparedness, that in these ugly situations I’d be equipped to respond appropriately and in a manner that is pleasing to Him, reminding myself that I am His ambassador. As a result I discovered that God talks! Now each time I’m confronted with one of these incidents, I clearly hear the solution. I’m experiencing the truth that the Apostle Paul wrote about in this 1 Corinthians passage:

Who Makes the Way of Escape?

God does!

I believe when we willingly make prayer a more consistent habit, God removes the barriers that prevent us from hearing Him more plainly. If it’s true (and it is) that God will not allow Christians to be tempted beyond what we’re able, but always makes the way of escape, then all that’s left for the believer to do is to prayerfully maintain a clear path by which His blessings may flow.

A quick confession…

While it’s true that I pray more and I hear God better, I still occasionally react sinfully. Why? Because every once in a while I quench the work that the Holy Spirit wants to do and I choose to operate in my own flesh. I only say that to remind you and myself that while I’m getting better, I’m not quite there yet, and it would appear I have a long way to go.

Questions:

• What comes out of you when you’re squeezed?

• What can you do differently?

• What can God do for you?

• Do you believe?

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