Considering God in 2014

"The vision of the Linger Conference was born out of a desire to help fellow believers seek God; not God's blessings or God's strength through trials, but God himself." AW Tozer in his classic work, The Knowledge of the Holy wrote: "Without a doubt, the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God, and the weightiest word in any language is its word for God." But Tozer did not stop at mere concept. He went on to tell how the idea of God results in practical Christian living. Tozer said, "I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God." Tozer applied the simple maxim: as man thinks, so he is; and to think well, is to think well upon God.

So here we stand in the new season of 2014; in the presence of God and with natural life all around us. So, how does the knowledge of God translate into transformational Christian living in 2014? I have some suggestions. And I am glad to say that my suggestions are borrowed from greater minds -- I am proud to be a scavenger of great thoughts. John Piper helped me here in my thinking. So, here are thoughts from John ...   

We can say for certain, God is personal. And, God desires us to know Him personally and live personally among fallen men and women in the imitation of Him, as Ephesians 5:1-2 tells. Here are wise questions that flow from the image of God in a fallen world. I commend them to you in 2014...

Where have I been in the year preceding me?

• What special friendships were made (Psalm 119:63)?
• What books did I and my family read (Proverbs 1:1-7, 8; 2:1-22)?
• What Scriptures did my family memorize (Psalm 1:2-3; 19:7-14; 119:1-11)?

How did I fair under the varied seasons of life?

• What loved ones passed on (Psalm 90:1-17; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11; 7:1-2)?
• What were the great personal, ministry, national tragedies and losses of the year? How does the true knowledge of God help me through these (Psalm 23:1-6; 46:1-11; 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11; Isaiah 40:12-31)?
• What were the great personal, ministry and national blessings of the year (Psalm 37:1-40; 103:1-22)? Did I give thanks?
• What were my most significant failures, even sins, for the year behind me (Psalm 36:1-12; 51:1-19)?
• What commitments have I made to overcome sin in 2014 (Psalm 1:1-6; Psalm 119:1-11)? Is there a slavery I need to be free from?
• What significant spiritual and practical victories did I experience (Psalm 42:1-11; 43:1-5)? And will I capture this moment and reproduce it?
• In what tangible ways did I communicate gratitude to those who have blessed me and invested in my life (Psalm 105:1-45; Isaiah 52:7)?

Am I honoring well the shoulders I ride; those mentors who walk before me?

Whatever happened to the man or woman who first opened to you the words of life from the Scripture? Where is the comrade, coach, or instructor who believed in you and helped you to accomplish a great goal? What about the Bible teacher whose careful handling of the Word opened up new vistas of understanding? Where is the friend who stood with you through thick and thin?

In review of the year past, make a list of two types of people: The first list is the names of people whose life, ministry or personal investment in you have deeply touched you and changed your life—go beyond the year if you like. The second list should include those people who played the most significant role in your life.

Write a brief, meaningful letter to each of them. Be specific in your gratitude. Explain what they did for you and why it was important to you. Show them how they were God’s instrument of blessing in your own life. And pray over each letter realizing that you are a debtor to them for their investment in your life.

Have I completely and fully forgiven those who harmed me?

Fresh starts should begin with forgiveness for others. Having a genuine spirit of forgiveness towards those who have wronged us is a mark of biblical Christianity: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

Successful Christians are men and women who are free from bitterness. They have learned the principle modeled by our Lord Jesus Christ who, while suffering death at the hands of people he had never wronged, was able to say “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24).

The first thing you will likely realize is just how many offenses are polluting your thought life and, probably, your spirit. This is a sign of latent bitterness. Bitterness will kill you. It renders you completely ineffective.

Have I considered Him?

As you look to a new day, adopt a new spirit of forgiveness towards your insensitive friends as well as your hateful enemies. Psalm 37:1-11 will help you. Forgive your imperfect father and mother for whatever it is you need to forgive them for, and pray to the Lord that your own children someday will forgive you for your failures. Quit devoting untold precious hours to commiseration, mental replay of the wrongs done, and thoughts about just how badly you were wronged. Stop blaming everybody but you for your problems—if others are our problem, we are slaves; if we are our problem, we are free; for freedom is the power to act to our best end, to our best interest, to our best glory of God and good of another (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Will I miss this moment?

The opportunity to remember and to say “thank you” may never come again. Trust the Lord. He is in charge: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all y our ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5).

There are questions and actions that flow from the nature of God.

Tom Brown
Training Leaders International
www.TrainingLeadersInternational.org