Category Archives: christianity

How does God treat me if I don’t follow His way?

Posted on by

Recently, some of us were chatting together about C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles. If you’ve read them you know that he admits into the kingdom a person who was not trusting in Aslan.

One of the guys commented, “I was reading someone writing on this and he said, ‘Lewis was wrong.'” I agree. Lewis was wrong. He’s been wrong about a number of things — eschatology and his thoughts of household pets, but I am sure that I am wrong about loads more than that.

Coincidental to that conversation, I bumped into this passage in That Hideous Strength — a passage that kind of cleared the muddy water for me. In context, Jane is deciding to cooperate with the Director and do the right thing. She’s not sold on following Maleldil (God) yet.

“Sir,” said Jane, “I know nothing of Maleldil. But I place myself in obedience to you.”

“It is enough for the present,” said the Director. “This is the courtesy of Deep Heaven: that when you mean well, He always takes you to have meant better than you knew. It will not be enough for always; He is very jealous. He will have you  for no one but Himself in the end. But for tonight, it is enough.” — C. S. Lewis, in That Hideous Strength

I only object to this thinking on Lewis’ part if he considers one may die in such a state and still be in God’s good graces. Francis Chan has done a great job addressing that folly in the past couple of months.

However, I do see that God graciously accepts us where we are, to move us to where we should be. It is the courtesy of Deep Heaven — the grace of God.

Protecting your spirit from Identity Theft…

Posted on by

I think that sometimes we forget who we are. When I get a migraine, sometimes I say and do things I would otherwise not do. Afterward, I say to my wife, “Man – I really was not myself. I am not sure who I was, but I wasn’t myself.”

You hear people in sports say this sometimes. They have a bad showing on the field and they say, “We let ourselves down today by playing poorly. We forgot who we were.”

You hear Christians say this sometimes. “I forgot myself and I behaved poorly.” I spoke to a young woman once who, during her post-teen years, had done things she was very ashamed of. She had been raised in a Christ-honoring environment, saved — opened her own heart to receive Christ — years earlier. But along the way, she let herself drift from who she had become in Christ. She said to me, “I kind of forgot who I was.”

I believe that one of the most damaging tactics the enemy – Satan – has is to cause you to forget what Christ has done in your life.

This podcast reveals some of Satan’s tactics and offers steps to avoiding the loss of our realization of our identity in Christ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

A Bedtime Prayer…

Posted on by

Years ago a college student I know was having trouble with nightmares. Every night, she would lose sleep as she would awaken with a sense of fear and dread. Eventually she couldn’t even get to sleep, fearing what she might dream. Every night she would call her mom and ask her to pray with her so she might get some rest.

Eventually, I sent her this prayer in email, hoping it would be of assistance. She called me and said it had been a great help. The words of the prayer aren’t some kind of magic formula, however the truth represented and the commitment made were key to having a good night’s sleep.

God — thank You for bringing me into Your family, making me Your child, and blessing me with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus.” Thank You for giving me this time of physical renewal, mental rest, and emotional refreshment as I sleep. I receive it as one of Your gifts for me — one of Your children — and I trust You to guard my body and mind as I sleep.

I have thought about You and Your truth throughout this day. I choose to dwell on those thoughts as I go to sleep. I commit myself to You for protection against every attempt of Satan and any other unclean spirits to attack me as I sleep. Guard my heart and mind from nightmares. I reject all fear and cast every anxiety upon You, Lord, for You care for me. I resolve to rest in You as my rock, my fortress and my strong tower. Place Your peace upon this resting place. In the strong name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Sleep tight.