Honesty and Intimacy With God
by Cynthia Jennings on April 15, 2020Sitting in my office I looked at an area where I keep some of my books. One particular book from Seminary School stood out. I opened it up to a page that was folded and I saw my written words, “powerful.” I reread that section of the chapter. Yes, the story was powerful and so compelling that I want to share it.
The following words are an excerpt taken from the book: How to be a Soul Physician by Bill Thrasher:
One day a student we will call Tom spontaneously shared with me a very profound lesson he
had learned. As he was struggling with an ungodly habit, he related how he petitioned God to no avail for deliverance. One day a discerning man of God entered into his life and in a gracious
way asked him a question. “Why are you asking God to deliver you from this ungodly bondage?
You do not really want Him to answer your prayer.” Tom was completely devasted because
this was the precise truth. He told me that one of the most humbling things that he ever did
was to come to God and tell Him that he loved this ungodly habit and did not really want deliverance. You know what else he shared with me---that this was the beginning of the process
of breaking the bondage of that ungodly habit.
This excerpt made me began to reevaluate myself to see if there was an ungodly habit that I was pretending I wanted deliverance. Don’t start pointing fingers. An ungodly habit can be ANYTHING not just what we perceive as vile and disgusting. But any habit or addiction {food, drugs, shopping, gossip, toxic thoughts, backbiting to name a few}, bondage due to trauma or abuse that you don’t know how to deal with that takes precedent over God.
God’s word tells us to draw with confidence to His throne of grace. But how can one, like Tom in the excerpt draw near to God with confidence when you have the wrong thinking and attitude. The verb draw means to “come with freedom.” When Tom shared his “true” heart with God he was able to “come with freedom” and {drew} near with confidence. This allowed Tom to experience the promise of the verse, receive mercy and compassion during his weakness. Thus, he found grace, new motivation and the ability to deal with his problem.
God never honors deceit—even spiritual deceit. Are you willing to be honest with yourself and admit to any habit or addiction that takes precedent over God that you really don’t want to let go of?
PEARLStoPONDER: God knows what lurks in your heart. If you’re not ready to let the ungodly habit go tell God. Then you will be able to receive mercy and grace to deal with the ungodly habit.
James 4:8--Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Hebrews 4:15-16--15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The following words are an excerpt taken from the book: How to be a Soul Physician by Bill Thrasher:
One day a student we will call Tom spontaneously shared with me a very profound lesson he
had learned. As he was struggling with an ungodly habit, he related how he petitioned God to no avail for deliverance. One day a discerning man of God entered into his life and in a gracious
way asked him a question. “Why are you asking God to deliver you from this ungodly bondage?
You do not really want Him to answer your prayer.” Tom was completely devasted because
this was the precise truth. He told me that one of the most humbling things that he ever did
was to come to God and tell Him that he loved this ungodly habit and did not really want deliverance. You know what else he shared with me---that this was the beginning of the process
of breaking the bondage of that ungodly habit.
This excerpt made me began to reevaluate myself to see if there was an ungodly habit that I was pretending I wanted deliverance. Don’t start pointing fingers. An ungodly habit can be ANYTHING not just what we perceive as vile and disgusting. But any habit or addiction {food, drugs, shopping, gossip, toxic thoughts, backbiting to name a few}, bondage due to trauma or abuse that you don’t know how to deal with that takes precedent over God.
God’s word tells us to draw with confidence to His throne of grace. But how can one, like Tom in the excerpt draw near to God with confidence when you have the wrong thinking and attitude. The verb draw means to “come with freedom.” When Tom shared his “true” heart with God he was able to “come with freedom” and {drew} near with confidence. This allowed Tom to experience the promise of the verse, receive mercy and compassion during his weakness. Thus, he found grace, new motivation and the ability to deal with his problem.
God never honors deceit—even spiritual deceit. Are you willing to be honest with yourself and admit to any habit or addiction that takes precedent over God that you really don’t want to let go of?
PEARLStoPONDER: God knows what lurks in your heart. If you’re not ready to let the ungodly habit go tell God. Then you will be able to receive mercy and grace to deal with the ungodly habit.
James 4:8--Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Hebrews 4:15-16--15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
