The Dangers of You
Blog By Josh Sepulveda
As my eyes pierced between the rack of clothes, I could see her heart pulsating out of her linen shirt as she contemplated her next decision. See, as a child, I would love to hide from my parents in the store and just wait until they found me. This was my favorite part of shopping! On this particular day, I found my opportune time to escape the grasp of my mom and darted to the rack of long dresses. The minutes passed by, I heard my name begin called, but I knew if I wanted to win, I need to be still and silent. I saw her feet as she passed me for the sixth time all the while calling my name louder and louder, but now with tears. I was in too deep, my mom grabbed the manager and asked him to CALL THE POLICE. That’s when I couldn’t hold it in. I gasped so loud that she ran over to me and with tears in her eyes hugged me and very loudly said, “don’t you ever do that to me again!”
Needless to say, I retired my hide and seek glory days, but I learned something about my mother that day. She was so passionate about her son, and her intensity only amplified her passion that was already there. Now, that I am a grown man, her intensity may have lessened since that day, but her passion has remained the same.
I learned from my mother that my passion should remain the same no matter what life throws at me.
When it comes to us seeking God our passion for Him does not waiver because of our lives highs, lows, or in-between.
Our passion in those times of our life will determine where we end up.
How is your passion when you we get the new job?
How is your passion when it’s consumed within months of you making breakfast for the family, and filling out the paperwork?
How is your passion when there are the years of learning how to navigate holidays without your father or years of funneling thoughts of feeling inadequate?
The highs bring great wins, the lows bring losses, and the in-betweens are something we just get by doing.
What I consistently do in each is what I will produce when it comes to my character.
Inconsistent times of seeking the presence of God, will not help me produce who God has called me to be.
David is a great example when your passion for God remains despite what happens in your life.
Psalms 63:1-3 (NIV)
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
David is singing this psalm in the desert a low moment, but he reminds himself of his passion even in the temple. The passion he has for God is the same in his lows and highs.
I need to remind myself that the highs, the lows, or in-betweens should never determine how passionately I seek after God.
This is the God who went before me in my times of trouble the one who created me by hand.
Knowing that, why do I allow life to determine how passionately I seek after God?
Often, it’s because my passion for seeking God has been conditioned by my response.
As I find myself winning my response usually has my passion drifting from God because I’ve become comfortable.
As I find myself losing my response will say, “woe is me, I can’t do this, God you’re the one who put me in this situation.”
As I find myself just doing life, my response has my hands applied to the work, but my heart has forgotten the reason why I started.
The problem is ME because instead of responding with seeking Christ I react to MY highs, MY lows, and MY in-betweens. I become self-absorbed with what life throws at me instead of knowing who is in me.
That’s why I love the way Romans 8:5-8 MSG puts it,
“Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self-ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.”
Let’s remind ourselves, “His Spirit is alive and breathing in us!”
We can’t ignore God because we are self-absorbed with life! His presence is readily available for us in every high and low.
Let’s continue to seek after God.
As Conference is getting closer will you be absorbed with where you are in life or seeking Him passionately!