I guess God was trying to get my attention this morning.
First thing you need to know about me is that when it comes to the local church and reaching more people for Jesus in an ever-changing culture, I’m a glass-is-half-full-type of guy. (In fact, I think it’s probably much fuller.) In just about every other area of life, regrettably, I’m wired up as a pessimist. It sucks. I worry. I try to control. It impacts relationships from time to time. I don’t like that part of me, and I’m trying to fix it. God wants me to fix it.
That leads me to this morning. In my current reading plan through the Bible, I’ve landed in Matthew 6. For worry-warts like me, this is a familiar passage. I hate this passage. It helps magnify how human I am. Jesus tells me, “Do not worry about your life.” He then goes on to describe how I need to get my focus on the bigger picture, trust in God and learn to live out his plan for me today. He’ll tackle the challenges (or joy!) that tomorrow will bring. I know from experience that the formula works. You’d think I’d learn.
Then, just to prove that God thinks I’m a slow learner and need an extra push, immediately after closing my Bible I see a link from David’s Twitter feed to this post. He indicates, “If you think you’re in a recession, you are.” He goes on to explain:
“The very best way to get out of a recession is do something really important that helps people: to be in a business that allows you to be obsessively, compulsively preoccupied with the needs of others; to have great products that deliver on everything that they promise; to do what you love and love what you do; to be smart, to save, and to hold in reserve the financial, emotional, physical, and spiritual wherewithal you’ll need to weather difficult times.”
David is smart. Jesus is smarter. I’m still learning.
Now you know how God speaks to me. I’ve never heard the audible voice of God tell me what to do, but God still has a way of getting my attention and pointing me in the right direction. Life would be easier if I always listened. Now you know how to pray for me.
When was the last time you heard from God, and what was he trying to tell you?
Tony,
I completely resonate with you. I also am a “half full” guy partly because of personality and partly because I’ve learned nothing will change if it’s not examined. That’s why I learn a lot from you and your “get your strategy on” approach.
I’ve never heard the audible voice of God. But he has given me a few audibles at the line of scrimmage of life. I’m presently seeking God on direction concerning using my passions more instead of just getting by in comfort.
I’ve often wondered if God could tell me to do anything? Send me anywhere? Would I go?
I’ll join you in the prayers.
I tend to believe the best for other people and the worst for myself.
I’ve heard God speak to me ONE time. 6 years ago when I was flying on a plane to Detroit to minister @ a church, I literally heard God’s voice tell me that I was moving here (well to this area). I had a record deal and a fiancee’ waiting for me in california, and in the 2 short days I was in Detroit, God confirmed that I as to move here.
Although I didn’t hear His voice, I had the SAME EXACT feeling last week while on a plane landing somewhere else.
I’ll be praying for you. Please pray for me.
I once was a HUGE Pessimist. It found it only brings about negative energy. You really should read Harmonic Wealth by James Arthur Ray. A lot of it deals with financial stuff but the principles are huge in your line of work. Reading that book changed my life, not really financially, but in relationships and my pessimist nature. I think you will like it.
Ouch, Tony! I think I’m wired a bit like you. Thanks for passing on God’s voice to me too.
Hey Tony,
Being home one day from a month’s stay in hospital after an accident that should have killed me, I would LOVE to tell you about how I heard from God in the back of an ambulance. It will blow you away what He said to me! Too long a story for here…but please call me or come visit and let me share this HUGE message of joy and hope with you!!! I am on a mission to share it with as many as possible…. part of what He told me to do after the accident, by the way!!!
I will pray for you specifically now that I know what the “specific” is!!
Leslie White
Tony,
I’m wired up the same way. On top of that, I am a perfectionist. This is something that I’ve been coming to grips with over the years. I agree with you, it sucks. Thank you for the direct and honest post. It’s helpful to know that other people wrestle with this. I will include you in my talks to Jesus about this.