Cravings and Whispers

The chocolate candy kiss is melting on my tongue and filling me with satisfaction and pleasure as I reach for another and peel back the twisted foil wrapper and gaze at the pile of wrappers accumulated on the table. What am I doing? I ask myself! The idea was to work on getting pounds off, not on….what's going on here?

It's A New Year. Where is the Lord leading, and how do we read the passions of our heart? Where is it all going? I'm reminded by Paul in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

I like the last three words of this- "who strengthens me"…..most often for me, it comes through His whispers. Interesting how this works, not audible but cognitive mentally, a fleeting picture in my mind, but I think it and understand it – perfect – Thank you, Jesus! I got it!!!

A person was at my desk a while back at work, saw my WWJD sign above my phone, and asked, so, what is Jack going to do? I smiled and responded, "ah yes, that's the issue, Jack or Jesus….right choices get made with Him standing close".

Yes, I'm a sinner, but Christ looks at me as a saint who is striving to become more like Him daily. To Christ – I'm the light of the world (Matt 5:14). I am a channel of Christ's life (John 15:1,5). I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17). I'm a son of God and one in Christ (Gal. 3:26, 28). This is what the Bible says about each of us who are in Christ….Wow!!!

How do I focus on the things God chose me to do? Paul helps again here in Colossians 3: 12 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." We're encouraged to think about these things as we walk our path, doing his work.

The past six months plus for us was challenging. COVID impacts our freedoms, the election issues, civil rights and social justice missteps, and anarchy in the streets; our country is hurting and divided like never before. We need each other, yet we're isolated from each other. Cravings here call for a new normal where differences are mitigated with humility and love bathed in patience and understanding. We seem to have lost some of this. If we can take our eyes off ourselves for a while and; Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). We would get to a better place.

Cravings and Whispers – The challenge is always craving the right things, suggesting we can control what we crave. Prayer is definitely needed. Will I listen to the right voices, so I can make the right choices? I spent a whole year (no regular job) working on developing a devotional that would help me deal with my cravings and sharpen my listening to His whispers. My life had reached a crisis point. How so easily we are led astray. It's easy to be a "junkie," meaning it's all about me and my next "fix." Fixes can take on lots of shapes and sizes, and often the tool box the enemy uses includes the following: Pride, Greed, Anxiety, Fear, Hate, and yes, last but not least, Lust. We could add many more, but this sets the tone. Sometimes we need to call a Christian friend and let God use people to step into our lives and minister to us. I called my home church, Pastor Gary Gulbranson, at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, Washington, and said, "I need help." He said, "come on in." His counsel and guidance were loving, Christ-centered, and supportive. He helped me form a group of guys who came alongside me and nurtured and encouraged me back to a better place. Pastor Gary was used by God in a mighty way in my life!

I needed to ask myself, "how did I get so far off track." I was not in a good - right place. Change is so much about realizing where you are; is not where you can stay. Many people never get to this point and suffer much. I needed a target as to where I was headed.

As I prayed about it, the whispers kept saying, you need to understand who I am and who I want you to be. The journey forward and the cravings I want for you are to become more like me. You need to surrender yourself to me and be born again and let me reign in your life. The transformation will take a lifetime, but the journey will be Daily Redemption – Developing Holy Character. Dancing in the jaws of the dragon", is how I like to picture it.

The Lord put me on a project to write a devotional book focused on his holy attributes. This was some eighteen years ago. These attributes are to be embraced, and we can either do this without or with God's help. When we chose to leave God out, it never leads to a good place. When we do seek His face, we make good choices. My old self has been crucified with Christ - daily. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). NLT

This is a very challenging verse; I would love to hear from you how the Lord helps you embrace this.

I encourage you to check out Daily Redemption in the book section on Amazon.com. You can also see more overview at the following website: www.dailyredemption.com. An ebook version is coming soon.

All the best to you, my friend, feel free to reply with your thoughts – We are in this together, and the Lord has taught us, iron sharpens iron.

I trust this finds you at peace and walking your path of life in the assurance of the Lord's love for you and his abiding grace, mercy, and care over your life and those close to you.

In His Care – Blessings On You!

Jack Madson, Author

Daily Redemption www.dailyredemption.com/blog