2-0-2-2
The past 2 years would go down in history for many things, but I have realised if it was not for the circumstances, I would not have been able to see how strong I am.
In the past two years, a lot of people would have found themselves in a place where they would take stock of their lifepath – normally triggered by a change in circumstances that would cause people to feel like they can’t face the reality of it all.
In contrast to a lot of opinions that see it as a weakness to not be okay, I would throw my opinion hat in the ring and say that it is okay not to be okay, but that you are not to settle down in the place of not being okay.
When the late Eugene H. Peterson, American theologian, author and poet, did The Message Paraphrase Bible, in the best poetic way that he could, he paraphrased Matthew 5:3 as follows:
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule.”
{In context, this is the first verse in the Sermon on the Mount – a series of teachings by Jesus on one of the hillsides (or precipices) in Galilee as as per the Gospel account by Matthew – one of Jesus’ twelve closest disciples (students), and later one of the original apostles (leaders) of the first Church.}
Of course the more literal (word by word translations) use the following phrasing of the same verse:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NIV)
The phrasing ‘poor in spirit’ means just as it says – an impoverished, lacking spirit, with a sense of being full to the brim.
If you, like me, believe that we as humans are spirit, body and soul, then you would know that when one part is lacking or is affected negatively, that it will affect the rest of us. So if your spirit is lacking, it will also manifest in your body through physical manifestation, and through your soul – your thought patterns which leads to your external expression through words and emotions alike.
To come back to how Eugene Peterson expressed it in The Message paraphrase Bible and reading it in parallel to the more literal translation, the following thought occurred to me, which I would put out as a statement:
It is only when our backs are completely against the wall and we stop relying on our self-sufficiency, that we can allow God to move in our lives.
In a further teaching by Jesus whilst teaching people on the Mount, He makes the following statement in the context of seeking God’s will in our lives, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 – NLT)
We, as humans, try to be kings and queens of our worldly kingdoms as that is what is how everyone else is doing it – although within our choices and free will, but because we are acting on it in sometimes our selfish ambition, or what the “I” want as an good outcome, that we gravitate away from our original design as first and foremost to walk in step with our Creator.
Humans have been created with relationships at our core – with each other (in different social dynamics), and with God, yet in our fallen state we are convinced that we have to do life in our own ability and strength, and sometimes selfishly use others to get our way in life.
The harsh reality is of such a way of living that it will only last for a temporary moment in time, you will be able to keep up living like that until you reach burn out.
To be vulnerable, I reached such a point about a month ago, during the anointing service (a specific church service in our church once a year, where each person will be “anointed” with a bit of oil and being prayed for breakthrough and restoration in their lives and the year coming), where my team leader prayed for me for breakthrough in the situations I am facing, when I came to the realisation that I am with my back to the wall and that I cannot do life on my own – not without the help of God nor without the support of others.
That is when the verse, Matthew 5:3 came to mind
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”
The thing is, to move forward into God wants for my life, and what He has predestined for me for 2022, I had to get to the point where I felt like I am at my rope’s end – and the only way forward is making eye-contact with my Creator once again, knowing that He has the other end of the rope, and that he is ready and willing to pull me up and out my situation from where I am dangling for dear life.
I believe, also, that it is at the point of being at your rope’s end that your spirit groans to seek God’s kingdom and His will and way for your life – that when you make Him the centre of what your life is all about, that He will provide not just in your everyday needs and set you in right-standing (re-establishing the original intended relationship with Him as Creator, but also establish through you, His Kingdom, so that others too, can though your lives, become aware of a God that loves them like He loves you and that they too can live in relationship with their Creator.
There is no magic formula to get in right-standing with God, but as Paul explains to his audience, both Jewish and non-Jewish, that it is not not by our deeds that we are saved, but by earnestly and honestly with our mouths declaring that Jesus is Lord (that Jesus is the King and the centre of what our lives revolve around) and that through God’s power that Jesus was raised, that is all we need to be saved and to be in a right relationship with God.
For some of you reading this, you might realise that the right words do not come to mind to speak to God, or that you have never in your life actually spoken to God to establish the relationship I have spoken between man and his Creator (that is basically what prayer is – a conversation with God). Can I help you with a very simplistic prayer or conversation starter with God by using the following words (the words themselves are just words, until you make the choice that you will lean into it with all of who you are):
Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and that I have fallen short of having a right relationship with you, because I tried to do it in my human strength.
I believe in my heart that you died on the cross for my sins and that God raised you from the grave.I am sorry for the sins that I have done to cause a breakdown in this relationship.
Please forgive me for my wrongdoing and save me.
Jesus, I now turn away from all the things that caused my relationship with God to break down and now choose to live according to your will and way.
Jesus, I accept your forgiveness of my sins and confess you to be my Lord and Saviour.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen
(If you prayed this prayer, I want to congratulate you on the choice you have made and want to encourage you to get yourself in a bible-based church community , where you can even draw closer to God and His will for your life. Feel free to reach out to me via the comment section or via email, hello_sparky@sparkys-blog.online; I will try as far as possible to connect you to the right people in your area that can help you on this journey.)
So, as we step into the final weeks and days of 2021, may we actually become aware that we are all at the end of our rope, and that we are in the right spot to be connected afresh to our life-giving Source .
May we afresh establish for 2022 (and beyond) our relationship with God and His will for our lives.