"The Challenge"

Okay, A new year is suppose to bring on one of those New Year Resolution things, right? These are usually require effort or else it wouldn't be a goal, correct? I don't know about you, but unconsciously, this is usually a goal or resolution that requires a "plan". A "plan" that is created by me, myself, and I! And this plan becomes an obsession or an idol in my life unintentionally. I am learning that the "plan" that me, myself, and I come up with usually has a very low success rate.  I am now more than ever, seeing that reliance on myself is just exhausting to my soul. I try, I fail. I try harder, it may worker a little longer, than I fail.

 So how can one succeed in "change"? O.K., stay with me... I have been challenged in the word discipleship. If I can't disciple the 5 little faces that watch me every single day of my life, then I surely can't disciple others. I am unintentionally discipling them in one way or another.  They are learning from me.  I can lead them proactively according to the Gospel or lead them in the ways of the world.  This is what I am being challenged with presently. (This definately needs a plan wiser than I can articulate) My heart has always desired for my children's heart to desire God. This is probably a desire for many parents. My hope is that by them having a heart that desires God more than any other desire, they will be able to make choices that honor Him. It is easy to see your child do something wrong and correct them with words (information and knowledge) or even actions. But does all that knowledge change their hearts? Does it change their strong desire for whatever they are momentarily desiring more than Christ?

For example, one of my children just found a Hello Kitty bracelet in the hotel we stayed at recently. I could tell by the look on her face she wanted to keep it. She manipulated her wording in a way that she was asking if she could keep it. I at first was frustrated in my heart that she even thought of keeping it. But, I quickly started praying in my head for wisdom how to handle this teaching opportunity. If I make her turn it in, then I have shown her the right thing to do BUT did her heart want to do it? So, I told her she had two options. She could turn it into the front desk or she could keep the bracelet. Scripture I shared with her was, "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." ( Matt. 7:12  ) We didn't take any actions for the next two days there and when it was time to check out, she brought it to me. I reminded her of her choices. I also explained that though it may not be valuable, one day she may be faced with turning in something that was of great value or she may loose something important. This was a good test. Sadly, my daughter didn't ask to turn it in. Yes, this breaks my heart. Yet, I am thankful for the insight of how to pray for her. I see where her heart desires things more than Christ. Equally important, how can I model desiring Christ more than earthly possessions?

This leads me to this: Bob Thune, pastor in the Acts 29 Network, gives a great sermon on discipleship.  Go here to listen ( http://www.acts29network.org/sermon/deconstructing-discipleship-part-1-information/ 3 parts to this) He discusses how we are being formed as human beings and what the Bible says about how we are formed.  He gives great insight in to what is going on in our hearts and why change is so hard.  Will information on how to change it or knowledge of the the Word change it? No. We must first admit that we desire XYZ more than Christ. One must be honest where his/her heart is. Then we must let the Gospel reform our lives.  We ask the Holy Spirit to help change our desires - he has been sent here by Jesus as the comforter with power to change our desires.  I remember when we moved here, after much wrestling with God, I realized that my desire for comfort and things of comfort was greater than my desire for the Gospel. (It took me moving here to realize this ).  I also quickly realized that I could not change that by knowledge of the Bible, Christ, or with a great plan. I had to (painfully) confess, repent, and surrender to the Lord. Amen He answered and daily reminds me that the Holy Spirit is walking me through this. Thune also makes this wonderful statement, "Urge people to repentance and not just confession." There is definately a difference!

So, MY CHALLENGE (aka: new years resolution)is to not just feed information to my children but to pray for them that the Gospel will reform their hearts (as well as mine)and that the Lord will continue to teach me how to disciple them. Its my prayer that they will desire the Gospel, Jesus, more than anything and when they don't, they will repent of it and allow their hearts to be reformed by the Gospel of Christ. I am thankful for my husband who loves the Gospel and has opened my eyes to so many depths of the Gospel.
~ Jen