His Word as a Talisman?

I’m convicted this morning that sometimes we – that sometimes I – have used the promises of God as an incantation, his Word as a talisman.

There have been times that I have quoted the promises written in the Book at my problems as if quoting the promises written in the book would change my circumstances. While those recitations have occasionally worked change in my attitude, I cannot recall that those words alone have ever changed my circumstances.

On the other hand, there have been times that I have used those promises in discussion with my King, times that he and I have wielded those same promises on the problems that were facing me, and the problems have bowed their knee.

I am reminded this morning that it is not the words on the paper that carry power. It is not the noises that come from my mouth that are imbued with his authority, no more than noises from any other part of my anatomy.

It is he himself that is the word of God, and while he inhabits me, while he lives in me and with me, if I use his words apart from him, if I unintentionally leave him as a bystander or cheerleader during my fight, well then he can stand by, he can cheer me on, I suppose.

But if I intend to move in the power of God, I need to move with God, in God. And that’s not a challenge, it’s not difficult. I’m not convinced that it’s automatic either.

I’m not above chewing out an oblivious driver who endangers my life and my vehicle. I’m not sure those words are imbued with the power of God; in fact in hindsight, I hope not!

I’m not perfect in my relationships, and I’ve said hurtful or insensitive things, more than I care to remember, actually. If those words carried the power to move mountains, we’d be in real trouble, I can tell you.

There have been times I’ve declared, “I forgive you” with no more power than my mutterings at the oblivious driver. And there have been times when those words carried power and presence enough to change a life. Apparently it takes more than just the noises from my mouth.

But there are times where my words have been in harmony with his words, words like, “Come out,” “Be filled,” “Be healed,” “Be blessed,” and what I spoke changed reality, became reality. When I spoke with him.

The alternative is to be with him. To be with him when we speak.

There is a New Year Before Us

It has been said that “Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it.” If we apply this personally, we could say, “Those who fail to learn from their history will find themselves making the same mistakes all over again.”

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to not make those particular mistakes again. It’s not that I’m afraid of mistakes, but I’d sure like to learn from new ones, instead of repeating the old ones.

And so I try to reflect on the year behind me, and I try to learn from the year I’ve just finished, with the hope that I’ll actually be more mature, not just older, next year. If you’d like to join me, here are some questions you might reflect on.

Hint: this is a great time to get out your journal and write:

• What was your biggest triumph in the past year? What does God say about it? (Go ahead! Ask him!)

• What was your most costly mistake in the past year? What do you learn from it?

• What was the smartest decision you made during the year?

• What was the greatest lesson you learned during the year?

• If you could repeat one day of the last year, what day would that be, and why?

• If you could forever forget one day from last year, what day, and why?

• What one bit of Scripture best describes last year?

• What are you most happy about completing during the last year?

• Who are the three people that had the biggest impact on your life? Have you thanked them?

• Who are three people whose lives you impacted for good? Have you thanked God for them?

• What area of your life have you best taken responsibility for?

• What area of your life did you leave to someone else to be responsible for, and why?

• What was the most loving service you performed? What effect did you see from it?

• What was the biggest risk you took? How did that turn out? How could it have gone even better?

• What important relationship improved the most? What made the improvement?

• What important relationship took a hit last year? What can you learn from that?

• What compliment would you have liked to have received?

• What compliment would you like to have given last year? Can you give it now?

• What else do you need to say or do to be completely finished with the year?

• What would you like to say to your Father about last year or your last season?