Active or Passive?
Manage episode 351642892 series 2916055
I begin with a poetic rendering of "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," followed by a chapter from my book, A Course in Christianity entitled, "Active or Passive?" I finish with an original song by me but rendered poetically entitled, "Wherever You Go." I think you'll be blessed!
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Active or Passive?
I LOVE a good spiritually enlightened book! It is wonderful to get into the stream of Godly thoughts flowing from its pages and immerse myself in its ideas when they stem from the Bible. It's like taking a shower after a hard and sweaty day's work. Refreshing indeed!
But it's passive.
There's a place in our lives for passive. We need to surround ourselves with the truth in this dark world. Otherwise the dark world will creep, slither, and drip into every exposed crevice of our lives and cause us undue pain and suffering by influencing our beliefs. The crevices of uncertainty need to be surrounded, immersed, and melded with the truth of God, not the deceptions of Satan.
But remember, there's a difference between passive and active. Let's keep in mind that prayer is active while having someone else pour truth into our ears, or eyes (if we're reading or watching something edifying on TV or the movies) is passive. It is important to know that ACTIVE prayer trumps passive truth by a long shot.
Do you want to be practical? Do you want to be healed? Or drawn into the purpose God has for you being here on planet earth? Then spend more time in active prayer. Don't let the passive things become dominant. Frankly, that's Satan's ploy. He would rather have you swim around in the wading pool of God's truth than press in and receive the waterfall of God's glory with His healing for us and our purpose revealed. If that were to happen, he’d be left standing at the gateway to hell all by himself.
Yes, one can read the truth and listen to the truth and watch the truth and have cycles of deep prayer mixed with passive intellectual involvement but remember to keep your priorities straight. When passively letting the truth wash over you via whatever media you are using, and suddenly you come to an inspiring place that triggers a spiritual response--a movement of God's Holy Spirit deep within you, don't skim over that. STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN as if a train is bearing down on you. You are on the right track! Prayerfully absorb the truth.
Stop! Ponder. Relax in God. Know the truth being revealed right then. Don't pass by this enlightened moment. Let it sink slowly and purposefully into your heart, mind and soul. This, my friends, this is a germ of "Active" found in the passive. This is a gem of truth. Allow it to shine actively in your mind.
Passive is when others supply the seed and your interest feeds on their fruit. Active is when it is just you and God. This is when God nourishes YOU, the seed He created, that you would produce the fruit and extend His Kingdom.
Satan says, "Always do the passive, read the truth, absorb the truth found in spiritually mature movies and TV or regular pastors/evangelists. Let the preacher’s heartfelt messages roll over you but," he continues, "don't connect directly with God through prayer. It will kill you." (That's what the Israelites felt when they told Moses, "YOU speak to God. We can't do it!")
When Satan gives you that lie, please put him in his place (under your heel) and declare "GLORY BE TO GOD. I WILL PRAY. I WILL PRAY MY HEART OUT. I WILL PRAY UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME. I WILL PRAY UNTIL I KNOW MY SHEPHERD'S HEA
I'd love to hear from you! email: vic@zarley.net
章
1. Active or Passive? (00:00:00)
2. When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (00:00:12)
3. Active or Passive? (00:04:09)
4. Wherever We Go - poem (00:09:08)
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