Dirty Ideas...
What do you do with a new plate or dish you just got from the store?
Do you put food on it right away and eat off it?
Or do you clean it before you use it?
Most people would clean it first, right?
Why?
Because it's DIRTY.
Even if it may look new,
Even if it may sparkle,
But that doesn't mean it's truly CLEAN.
The plate was made at the factory,
Many hands have touched it,
Chemical residues are still on it,
There's an untold number of harmful or dirty agents on a new, unwashed plate.
That's a lot like our own IDEAS.
They may be birthed from inspiration,
They may look sparkly and exciting,
But they need to be washed and cleaned,
Before we decide to eat off of it,
Before we decide to take action or invest time, effort or energy into it.
We should never take a new idea and run with it,
Not until it's been washed thoroughly,
CLEANSED by prayer and God's word,
With earnest seeking of God's will and His approval.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
The TRUTH is...
Our ideas are all naturally DIRTY.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
Our inspired ideas in it's original form are tainted with our desires, pride, ego,
It's limited by our own understanding,
It's really not as good as we think it is,
And that's why we need God.
It should actually come as a great relief to all of us.
If we're wondering why our ideas have failed in the past,
It's because it's limited and dirty,
And that's why we need God.
We're meant to PARTNER with God,
We're meant and RELY on Him for direction and details.
What a RELIEF!!
Now we just need to put it into practice.
What does that look like?
It means we need to run EVERYTHING by God.
Yes, EVERYTHING.
Not just the BIG stuff,
But also the SMALL stuff,
And the MEDIUM size stuff too.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
So here's some real-life examples of all SIZES that we can ask God for details and approval on.
EXAMPLE #1: Business Appointments (SMALL)
- If I'm on the phone with a client or prospect to schedule an appointment, I'm looking in my calendar looking for an empty time slots to place them in. My brain is scanning to figure out what time would be ideal. In that moment, I have a choice to ask "Holy Spirit, what time slot looks good to You?". Then comes a tickle tickle of the brain and my eyes land on a slot. So I just choose that. It's that simple. Just by ASKING and LISTENING, you are PARTNERING with God in the small things.
"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
EXAMPLE #2: Communication (MEDIUM)
- There's a problem that needs to be responded to by email. There's several different ways I can approach it but none of them sit right. I have a choice to ask "Holy Spirit, what do you think? How should I handle this situation?". Then I get a tickle tickle of the brain and have a sense of how to approach it wisely and kindly. I thank God for the answer and proceed. It's that simple. ASK, LISTEN and proceed with child-like FAITH.
"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"
EXAMPLE #3: Business Opportunity (LARGE)
- A business opportunity opens up from a meeting with a colleague. The more we talk, the more it seems to make sense. There are multiple synergies, efficiencies and it seems to be a solution for both our problems.
- However, I really want to be in God's will so I ask "Holy Spirit, is this what You want me to do? What is Your will? What do You have to say about this?". Then I listen. I wait in silence for as long as it takes, up to a few minutes of silence (which is way longer than you think).
- I may even repeatedly ask the same question everyday for a week or two. The larger the commitment and investment the longer I am willing to WAIT and SEEK. I would rather go slow to make sure I'm in God's will than jump the gun and bang my head against the wall. I know that if I do my part in SEEKING God, He will do His part in revealing the next step to me. God's got you! Trust Him.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
The truth is, the results are so much better WITH God,
It's a no brainer to do EVERYTHING with Him,
It's a shocker that we don't.
Such is the world we live in.
Some would even say it's foolish to ask God about EVERYTHING,
That it's too much.
Well, I'm not saying not to BLINK without asking God,
But I am saying we are waaay behind the ball on getting into the details with God.
So this week, practice asking God about the small, medium AND large-sized things in your business, relationships, health and finances.
"Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me integrate You into my life more each day,
Help me remember there is nothing too big or too small for You,
Help me remember that you want to be a part of EVERYTHING.
Remind me to ask you,
Tickle my brain often,
Bring joy into my life through PARTNERSHIP with You.
Show me new ways to connect with You,
Keep softening and opening my heart to You,
So I may be able to hear You and feel You,
More distinctly than ever before,
That I can receive new revelation in PRAY CONTINUALLY,
That I can stand in awe of You each day,
That I can have deeper reverence and fear of the Lord,
That cleanses me,
That draws me closer to You,
In Jesus name I pray, Amen."
Cheers to cleansing, purifying, SANCTIFYING all ideas with God!
Woohooo!!
Sparkle! Sparkle! ^_^
