The Secret is...
Maybe it’s actually painfully obvious and I’m just that dense, but for literal years I’ve wondered where the heck the fruit of the Spirit was in my life. I did not have peace or joy or patience, and I was not that loving or kind by nature. Was I missing something? Was there a secret code to having what I saw other people having? Was I not a Christian?
If you can relate, then yes, there IS a secret code… and it’s not that secret (well maybe there’s more than one, but here’s one of them). Ready?
While our salvation is only by God’s grace and not anything we can earn, we are not supposed to just sit on our hands and wait and hope God sprinkles us with some magic dust that gives us “the good stuff”. There is a mysterious “co-working” between God and us that has to happen.
Paul writes to the Philippian church,
“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil 2:13 NIV)
An evidence of our faith is our works. Contrary to my previous subconscious belief, we have to actually do some things to work together with God in order to have peace and joy and patience and all the rest.
So that’s the secret. With God’s help, we actually do what He tells us to do in His word.
Here are some examples:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)
This doesn’t say “I won’t let you be conformed to the world but I will renew your mind”, it says you don’t conform to the pattern of the world, and you renew your mind. Through our work to renew and control our mind, God does the transforming.
What might this look like? For me are large part has been carefully noticing how what I’m consuming (movies/shows, books, social media accounts, news, etc) is affecting my heart and thought life, kicking out any thoughts that are not helpful or God-honoring (using Philippians 4:8 as a filter for this, see below), and then adjusting my choices around what I consume and expose myself to accordingly.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV)
I’m learning to use this verse as an actual filter on thoughts. Is it true? If not (and this includes worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet, which is a hard one for me), then this thought does not get airtime in my head. When I notice it, I kick it out, hand it to God, and give my brain something else that’s wholesome to think about.
If it is true, move on to the next one. Is it noble? (Definition of ‘noble’: having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals.) If yes, I keep going down the line and testing that thought. If it’s not noble, I kick it out, hand it to God, and give my brain something else to think about that’s wholesome.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
My job: keeping my mind centered on God (his character, his provision, etc) and trusting Him as a result of that focus.
God’s job: giving the perfect peace promised.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV)
My job: release control, honor who God is, turn to God first instead of trying to solve problems myself, give God final say and influence in my life, develop a healthy recognition of how different and holy God is compared to me, reject and remove things in my life that do not honor God.
God’s job: direct my path, give the benefits that are promised when I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.
This is all probably somewhat oversimplified, but it’s been a starting point for me, and maybe it will be helpful for you too. There are heady explanations and concepts from different theological views for how God’s sovereignty and our participation work, but the simple version, as best as I understand it, is that there is a mysterious way in which God works with us as we work with Him. Progress and change is a gift from Him, yes, but there is a part we are responsible for. We work out our faith while God simultaneously works in us.
So let’s get to work.
I’m watching and listening to…
Audiobooks:
→ The book of John on Dwell (still listening to it this month, it’s becoming more and more familiar)
Podcasts:
→ Fully Alive with Susie Larson (part 1)
→ Susie’s Healing Journey with Susie Larson (part 2)
→ BibleThinker podcast with Mike Winger
Music:
→ Psalms, Vol. 2 by Shane & Shane
→ Family Force Five (a college years throwback, not for the faint of heart so consider yourself warned)
Shows/Movies:
→ The Windermere Children
→ All Creatures Great and Small Season 3
I’m reading…
→ Strong in Battle by Susie Larson
→ A Praying Life by Paul Miller
→ A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy (fiction)
I’m loving…
→ The Dwell App (it’s SO worth the $30/year)
I’m cooking…
→ One Pan Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet
Serves 6
Saute until cooked through in a deep skillet or dutch oven (you can also skip this step and use ~3 cups precooked chicken or turkey if you have leftovers):
1 T olive oil or ghee
2-3 chicken breasts
Salt
Remove chicken from pan and set aside. Add to pan and saute on low until cooked through:
3 cups chopped sweet potato
1 T oil or ghee
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
Salt
When the sweet potatoes are soft, stir in:
1 box spinach or baby kale
2 T balsamic vinegar
½ t thyme
½ t rosemary
A handful of dried cranberries
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
Stir together well and serve when greens are wilted and cheese is creamy.