Ask and You'll Receive. Just like that?

Like most young people, I struggle to stay afloat financially; I miss my family, who live far away, so bad that I constantly hound them about moving my way; and I wonder when, or if, I’ll ever find that “someone” and get married.

This short list is just a fraction of a more extensive inventory of things that cause me to worry, keep me up at night, and stay unchecked on my never-ending “To Do” list.

Sometimes I let these things get to me. And sometimes I try to remind myself of the bigger picture—that I’ll look back on them 10 years from now with a whole new set of things to deal with and laugh at how petty the old ones were.

I don’t think these states-of-mind are out of the norm for most people. Yes, even those who follow Christ. I just have a problem of trying to deal with everything on my own and I can’t decide which one I want to live in.

“Ask God for what you want and need. Just ask.” This is all I’ve heard lately—from Sunday sermons, to small group Bible study, to my daily e-mail devotional. Perhaps this is the Holy Spirit’s response to this growing issue in my life. Still, the understanding I have about this simple message doesn’t make me want to give my stuff up to Him or ask for His help.

I’ve always had a hard time asking people for things because I don’t want to put anyone out. And I always feel so selfish asking God for anything, so I regularly say, “I know you’re busy and I don’t want to inconvenience you, so I just won’t worry you with my life. I’ll just take these things on.”

But Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

And He offers up at least one answer regarding things unanswered, not resolved, or unfinished in our lives in Matthew 6:25-34: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

I haven’t worked all this out in my heart and head yet. And I know what God’s Word says, but I need to implement these truths into my life—and sometimes, for me, it’s a process of figuring out how.

Also posted on: http://josiahroad.com/article/ask-and-youll-receivejust-like-that

Training

On the first day of 2008, I joined thousands more Americans by adding “Lose weight/Get fit” to the top of my New Year’s resolution list once again—something I’ve done every year since I graduated high school.

But this year, I have determined to actually accomplish my goals (again, something I say every year). I have, however, done something new this time around that I haven’t added to my workout regimen in the past few years. I got myself a personal trainer.

I’ve never been very athletic, only participating in dance until I went to college. So I figured it would be a good idea to work out WITH someone who knows what they’re doing—someone that would push me and show me how to work the areas I’d like to improve.

But the fact is, I didn’t expect then what I’ve now gotten myself into now. My personal trainer has been kicking my tail. I wake up sore. I go to bed aching all over. I feel like I’m consistently starving myself. And I’ve nearly drowned myself a few times by drinking so much water. But somehow I feel more invigorated and fresh.

In addition to all of this, my trainer recently informed me that I’ll be participating alongside her in the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in Nashville at the end of April. That’s not long for me to go from seasoned couch potato to experienced 13-mile jogger.

As I’ve been going through the day-to-day drill of “training,” I haven’t stopped thinking about Paul’s words written in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message):

You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

It all makes so much more sense now. I love it when God puts me in situations that teach me two lessons in one.

In my physical training, there are days when I feel like I’m going to pass out at any moment. In those moments, there’s nothing more that I’d like to do than fall flat on the ground, press my sweaty face against the cold concrete, and rest for 30 minutes. And then there are days I just want to give up and go back to indulging in my chips and salsa, venti mocha lattes (with whip), and daily, scattered snacks.

But I know that to get to where I want, I have to keep pushing, stay focused, and give the rest of what I can’t handle to Jesus.

The same is true with our spiritual lives. It would be easy to slack off or even give up in the race. It would be easy to participate in what the world is doing—enjoying the material goodies it has to offer—because it feels so much better. Right?

We are called to “stay alert and in top condition.” I don’t think it would be such a bad idea for all of us to add this to our New Year’s resolution lists as well.

Also posted on: http://josiahroad.com/article/training

They get it.

Growing up as the kid of a pastor was hard. I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back I see why I walked away from my relationship with God and rebelled during my senior year in high school (and a couple of years beyond).

I lived constantly under the “eagle eye” of a condemning, judgmental church. I grew tired of church member’s criticism and complaints. It seemed I couldn’t do anything right.

But it wasn’t just me they were after. Anyone else who stepped through the church doors that didn’t fit their man-made mold of the perfect Christian wasn’t accepted into the “club.” Only perfect people were allowed.

From that point on, I decided that I didn’t want to be that kind of Christian.

Since those experientially formative years, God has grown me in leaps and bounds. I’ve been as judgmental as they come on occasions, but he’s strategically placed some people in my life that I have been able to learn from —people who get it—along the way that have showed me how to be a genuine Christ-follower.

These are the people who have ushered an unwed, pregnant mother into their churches and walked beside her through the loneliest, scariest nine months of her life.

These are the people who have sought out those who are down-and-out—the homeless, the abused, and the neglected—and offered up their time, counsel, and resources.

These are the people who have welcomed, encouraged, and prayed for a brother or sister struggling with the issue of homosexuality without compromising biblical principles.

These are the people—my friends, mentors, leaders, and confidants—who have been the ones that made me say, “They get it. They actually know, love, and walk with Jesus. They really do understand what grace means.”

They are the ones who live as Jesus did—without condemnation or judgment. They are the ones who take the hands of the unwanted and unloved, and walk with them through the junk.

I want to be like them. I want to seek out and minister to the not-so-perfect people. And when these not-so-perfect people meet me, I want them to say, “She gets it. She really does know and love Jesus. If this is how Jesus is, then I want to know him too.”

Posted on: http://josiahroad.com/article/they-get-it

New Commitment

As a single girl, I’ve lived by myself, making my independent way in the world, for the last five years since I graduated from college.

I recently decided I needed to leave my spinster-in-the-making ways behind and start a fresh adventure. So I moved in with two other girls into a comfortable three-bedroom house.

In my excitement, I didn’t realize that this would cause me to do some serious self-evaluation of how I had been living the past few years. My move gave me a whole new understanding of the verse: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

It’s true. I’ve added a brand-new New Year’s resolution to my list. This isn’t something I chose to include; I was forced before I had the option to back out.

I’ve been made to sacrifice my privacy, and share my possessions and my time with my new roommates. I’ve had to be more considerate and mindful of their feelings, time, and stuff. I’ve actually had to stop thinking about myself and put them first.

It’s funny how God puts you in situations where you are made to realize and understand things you never saw before in yourself. All of a sudden I was faced with this new issue I never knew existed before in my life. As a result, I had to deal with it and change my ways.

I’ve made a new commitment to become less self-centered and more God- and people-centered. These moments of self-realization make me wonder what else I’m blinded from understanding about the person I am and/or should be in Christ.

How many times do I miss what God is trying to teach me? How often do I ignore the Holy Spirit because I’m too comfortable? And how much do I put myself before Jesus when I don’t even know it?

I think it’s something we all need to think about as we start a new year.

Posted on: http://josiahroad.com/article/new-commitment