Hi, I’m Joni and, yes, I read all the comments on my blog!
… and a lot of people post a lot of comments! And many, if not most of them, are very insightful. Take what Angela posted last week. She’s been a regular reader of my blog for a long time, but recently she wrote, “Joni, I think I am starting to get it. You see, when I accepted Christ 26 years ago, I thought it was going to make my life better in a worldly sort of way. I wanted no trials -- I even believed that as a Christian I would not have severe trials and that Jesus could be persuaded through prayer to keep me and my family from them. I wanted a beautiful house, perfect husband, perfect children, etc. etc. I thought these were a Christian's right; if I didn't have the perfect husband, kids and home, then I thought I must be off track -- that I wasn't being blessed. What a burden that was to bear.”
Angela is right. I don’t know what it is about us Christians, but we slip into this “performance” mode where we think that we can impress God with our right way of living; we think He “owes” us a few blessings if we buckle under and obey through a tough time. It’s why I often talk about affliction, hardship and pain… yes, even on my blog. Because it’s those things that always lob a hand grenade right smack into the middle of that performance thing, shattering it to smithereens –when affliction hits us broadside, no longer do we dare think we have God wrapped around our little finger.
By the way, Angela went on to say that she’s being a lot more circumspect about the things she prays for now; you know, not so much a list of wants and wishes, but prayer that is centered around God and what He wants. Angela then closed her blog post by saying, “I want to be dead to my sin and alive to God. What a kind and compassionate Father to bring me to this eternal perspective. I have so much to learn, I'm just so thankful that Jesus loves me despite my thick heartedness. Thank you, Joni for another very impacting message.”
Well, I'm not sure the things I write on my blog impact people all that much, but I sure do love sharing what I'm learning these days – how I'm growing and what I'm seeing in God's Word. And, hey, if you’d like to join the conversation, then why don’t you visit my blog at joniandfriends.org and post your comments and tell me your story, share what you are learning from the Lord. A lot of other people will read your words besides just me. And while you’re on our website, be sure to visit our radio page and pick up your copy of “Who I am in Christ.” Because like Angela, you know who you were before Christ came into your life, right? You were a broken sinner, friend; living your life for yourself… you were a user and an abuser of God's creation and not living by His instructions. Friend, you were a mess! But like Angela, you have been made alive in Christ. You are now dead to those old ways. Performing and putting on an act for God isn’t for you… no, like me and Angela, you want the life of Jesus to flow through you. And this little booklet “Who I am in Christ” will show you how to do just that.
Again, you can ask for it on my radio page at joniandfriends.org. Finally, today, remember it's not all about your perfect husband, perfect kids, home, and how perfect they all are; no, it's not about getting the things you want in prayer; not even about your suffering making sense. It's really all about knowing Jesus. Period! That’s it! Because you'll never have God wrapped around your little finger… So do what Angela did: wrap your little life around our wise and wonderful God.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends