Do you know Him?
My wife and I are reading John Eldredge’s book, “Wild at Heart.” Great book. Couples need to read this followed by the reading of the book he wrote with his wife, “Captivating,” which gives a terrific insight into how women are wired. Two thumbs up!
In this morning’s chapter, John was talking about the big mistake most men tend to make, that is, expecting for the “Golden-Haired Beauty” to validate us as men.
Big mistake. Adam cannot run to Eve and expect anything more than she humanly has to offer. There are no physical answers to our spiritual problems.
Last night, we ministered to a woman at our Prayer Clinic. A pretty lady, she came seeking deliverance from the lifelong need to be validated by men. Courageous! Seems that, as a child, the poor girl’s dad was so wrapped up in trying to help her drug-addicted sister that, along with working his job, he had no time for her. So, she sought that masculine attention elsewhere as she got older.
This has ultimately failed her as well.
PRACTICING HIS PRESENCE
“Jesus wants to be a real person in your life!” Those are the words I heard from wild-eyed evangelist Jesse Duplantis on a cassette tape I had listened to some 15 years ago. At the time, the words offended me until I realized that Jesus was no more than an historical figure to me not unlike George Washington or Davy Crockett. At least He had graduated, in my mind, from just being another fictional character like the tooth fairy , Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.
“Jesus is as real as I am.” That’s what I heard Dr. J. Vernon McGee saying on a radio broadcast.
“I know you minister and preach and stuff, but what do you and Jesus DO together?” That was a question asked me by a college girl who attended church with me.
Is Jesus REAL to you? I mean is He REALLY real? During my many years of living single, people were always asking when I was going to get married again. “I AM married,” I would tell them. “I’m married to Jesus!” Yes, He had finally become real to me. VERY real.
I contend that, once we TRULY embrace the fact that we are accepted by the One who matters most in all the universe - God Himself, a VERY approachable, VERY loving family man, by the way - we will receive all the validation we will ever need. Until this happens, we will seek validation from the opposite sex, from our awards, trophies and titles, and by keeping up with and surpassing the stuff owned by the Joneses. We may even seek validation through religion as we compare ourselves with ourselves, maybe even setting ourselves up as the standard to emulated by all others.
Jesus is real. He’s REAL! Do you know Him? If you don’t, how can you truly LOVE Him?
If you don’t, here’s something to consider: “Love” is spelled T-I-M-E. We fall in love with people with whom we spend TIME (that’s why we must guard our hearts in the workplace where we spend most of our time). So, spend time with Jesus. He wants RELATIONSHIP with you. Too often, all we give Him is Religion - a series of manmade do’s and dont’s, rules, regulations and traditions.
Some love affair!
A WATERSHED MOMENT
Years ago, I gave a ride to an incredible Christian woman from our congregation, Her car had broken down and she needed a ride to church. “Here’s my chance,” I thought. I couldn’t wait. No sooner was she in my car than I was asking, “What makes you so…so DIFFERENT?”
She chuckled and, in the time it took to get from her house to the church building, she gave me several of the most cherished, significant pieces of advice anyone has EVER given me. Ready? She said she did three things that had changed her walk with God:
1) She prayed every day, all day. Her life was a prayer. Prayer is two-way conversation. God is always teaching; we must be always learning.
2) She studied the Bible. She didn’t merely READ it. She didn’t look for a Holy “Thought for the day” verse as she ran out the door. She was panning for gold, examining every nugget.
3) She hung around with people she wanted to be like. She added that we all need a Paul, a Barnabas and a Timothy in our lives to keep the water ebbing and flowing and from getting stagnant.
I have purposed to live my life this way. No, I haven’t arrived but that woman’s 3 Tips have helped much more than the many sermons I’ve passively listened to and, soon after, forgot.
I hope that helps.
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
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