Who Are We Kidding?

Sep

Who Are We Kidding?

Posted on September 10th, 2009 in Encouragement, Faith, Worship Leadership by Fred McKinnon

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bible-1 Last night Joy and I had a rare evening where all the kids were in bed before 8:30. Both of us had plenty of work to do – but we decided to just have some time for the two of us. We’d missed our morning prayer time together so we opted to watch a couple of Joyce Meyer episodes that Joy had saved on the DVR.

I don’t typically watch many “christian programs” on TV – and though I’ve always enjoyed Joyce Meyer’s teachings when I’ve heard them, I wouldn’t call myself a regular viewer. She had author Gary Smalley on as her guest.

To say that I was challenged and pushed in my spirit would be an understatement. Here is a 65+ year old man – a guy whose been ministering longer than I’ve been alive … and he’s sharing with the world how he’s battled lustful thoughts all his life. He accepted the fact that since he was a man, this was his unfortunate lot in life – his “thorn” in the flesh. (He didn’t use that phrase, but I’ve certainly used it). After all, according to Dr. Dobson, 99% of men struggle with lust (women, too, by the way) and 1% lie about it.

Whether or not men (or women) struggle with lustful thoughts isn’t the issue, though. The issue is how he overcame this. Not only Gary, but Joyce and many others, from thoughts of lust, worry, anxiety, anger, fear … the list goes on and on.

How do they overcome and walk in victory?

THE WORD of GOD.

For a solid hour, Gary and Joyce steamrolled a path of Scripture and teaching on how meditating on the Word of God brings victory in our minds. Gary pleaded with God, “can you REALLY take this away from me”? God’s voice said “my Word is so STRONG, it will do it”.

Which brings me to the title of this blog post, “Who Are We Kidding”? Here’s the reality. Many (most) of you who are reading this today … you haven’t read God’s Word. You haven’t meditated on it. You haven’t hidden it in your heart.

You are pastors …
You are worship leaders …
You are small group leaders …
You are parents ….
You are “Christian Record Label Execs” …
You are church staffers …

And we get up, pour our coffee, rush off to our jobs, sneak in some blogs, twitter, and facebook along the way, come home, love our wife and kids, watch some TV, and go to bed. We get our “Word” for 30-40 minutes on Sunday.

That is woefully, painfully, and horribly WRONG. WHO ARE WE KIDDING?

Even as I type this blog, I’m convicted because the truth is … I woke up at 5:15 AM today, went to regimen training, came home and ate breakfast, took my kid to school, grabbed some coffee, and came back home to share this “revelation” with everyone on my blog. Do you notice what is missing? That time in God’s Word. That quiet time where I read, study, meditate, and just listen to His voice. I justify it saying, “when I get to the church, I’ll close my door and get that time in” … and many times I do. Many times, my day is thrown into the tyranny of the urgent as soon as I ascend the stairs to our office complex, though.

WHO ARE WE KIDDING?

I challenge you to get into God’s Word. Don’t just check off a daily reader plan, either. Meditate on it. Memorize it.

What are you struggling with? Lust? Fear? Anxiety? Financial Attacks? Loving people? Unforgiveness?
There are plenty of Scriptures that you can find. Memorize. Meditate. Get victory.

This is a hard word today. I, my friends, am the chief of sinners. But I want to sound this truth, and remind us of it again and again. If you receive this from my heart … from God’s heart … will you leave a comment below and let me know? While you’re there – don’t forget to checkoff the box that says “subscribe to comments” so you can keep up with the ongoing discussion.

James Choi

I am deeply encouraged to see that God has only confirmed my thoughts with yours. Lately, I’ve been longing for something more in my life other than my everyday schedule. So many times have I just resorted to watching tv, hanging out with friends, and so many other busy-making schemes. I would always do whatever would make me feel at ease. I would do what takes no effort so I can relax and have time to myself.

But more and more I have seen a need for me to be more knowledgeable, more thirsty, more desperate to know God more. The words I speak, the way I live my life directly takes a toll on everyone else around me. Even among the leaders around us, I fail to see many examples to defy self-satisfaction in order to fulfill a need within us to have God change us into His image.

All i know is, as we draw closer to God’s heart, we must read His word to persevere, to tell people about Him, what He is all about, and to know Truth (not truth taken at face-value, or secondhand truth). We need to see truth through first hand experience, an experience that will edify the church and being more people to Christ!

Thanks for sharing! I hope all will be encouraged by this message and I hope many will seek God like never before!
blake vernon

Teusday night 9:00 p.m. in my Mother’s living room, in 1979 I was born again and Spirit-filled w/evidence of speaking in tongues.Two years ago after spending almost three decades in the “institutional Church” and going thru the “renewal”,”cath the fire”and “everything else that came down the pike”,I change jobs and dug out my cd’s of the WORD.I put all my teaching and opinions on the altar,thru out 90% “listened to JESUS”,lost a lot of “brethren” and got my first love again.Praise GOD,faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD!
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Connie Carney

I think it is religion that lures us into believing that if we think about God, or read a few scriptures that’s enough. Somehow, we must speak it out and tell the devil to get out of our way. I have been in a bad marriage for years, trying to get out MY way. I have been waiting for God to do something when I have been doing nothing;except complaining. There are some genuine concerns but I keep going back to thoughts of myself instead of Gods answer I should be speaking the word each day over the whole thing. we did begin putting our armor on each day , and praying together some at my insistance. My husband never has led our family..he’s content to sit back and watch cartoons. I struggle everyday with love is patient, love is kind..he doesn’t even live with us and it is still hard the 3 times a week I see him. But I must break through into love is patient, kind, prefers the other person, is longsuffering, has manners, respect him. Don’t know if we will make it but God can make all things possible and work them to good to those (us) who love him and are called according to his purpose. Our little boys are so hurt, and so is our adult son. There are some serious issues that only God can change and heal. I want our family back together with God at the head, not me put there by a husband who refuses to make a decision and then blames me for every mistake. Help us see what covenant means. Help us honor You, God. Help us be Christians first, then husband and wife.
Connie
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Ben

Hi Fred,

I’ve of all the persons never really took time to read any of your posts on highestpraise.com and today for some reason, I just was going thru my list of emails and the tagline caught me Who are we kidding, I of most persons have struggled and do struggle with thoughts of lust and the list goes on, in my everyday /night I just find it hard to overcome these thoughts and, yes as you mentioned in this post I would like some counselling via email in this matter and some upliftment, I have made a promise to My God and I do intend to keep it, but every now and then I falter and just feel like a dog going back to its vomit as mentioned in proverbs. Thank you for this post.

Ever in God’s Love
Ben
http://highestpraise.com Beth Beadle

Hi Fred,

Thanks for the confirmation of what the Lord has laid on my heart. We, as an extended family, are going thru a very tough time right now and God has been confirming Himself to me thru His word in a very special way. I don’t know that I could get thru this time without His word. So, I applaud you for giving us that gentle nudge!
Judy Dowley

If we just relised the differance that coming to the Lord upon waking makes we would be to scared to run into our day thinking we can do it ourselves.
Beth

Our pastor has been peaching this, and once again today. A young man witness today of how the revelation of this and putting it into action changed his course. Reading and meditating on his own, instead of just listning to the Pastor, thinking that was enough, has caused him to walk in God’s Will not his own.
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