Yesterday, after I was done praying prostrate on my floor (sometimes, it’s just necessary), I realized something.

I’m old.

I was probably down there for a good 20 minutes. When I was done, every joint I had bent creaked when I tried to get into bed. It’s quite ridiculous, really. As I heaved and ho’d myself into bed, I realized how old I am.

Maybe it’ll get better if I keep doing it.

-j

Everything seems to have five stages. Five stages to admitting you have a problem and five steps to overcoming the problem, five steps to stress relief, even five steps to starting your own phone company. I have come up with my own five steps. I’m calling it “Five Steps to Following God’s Voice”. I’m still working on it, so bear with me. Disclaimer: I’m coming up with these as I go through them.

Step 1: Confusion/Denial
When God is doing a work in your life, Satan is right there to try to stop it. Maybe when God is speaking something to your heart, Satan is speaking the opposite. At this point, both options make sense, and for a young believer, it can often be difficult to discern between the two. I still have trouble with this, especially for big decisions. The good news is that with prayer and diligent seeking of the Lord, we can be taken to the second step.

Step 2: Clarity/Acceptance
Sweet release! The Deceiver’s voice has been pushed out and the Lord’s voice is the one that rings true. At this point, you know that God is speaking something into your life, and you’ve been able to rebuke the Devil’s voice enough to really believe God. Your faith begins to increase as you see how the Lord has been faithful so far. It’s possible to jump from here to step five, but for me, I still have some more journeying to do.

Step 3: Fear
Satan is very relentless. Once he sees that you believe God’s voice, have figured out where God is leading you, he makes a second round of attacks to get you off balance. This is particularly common with life-changing decisions. Maybe God is calling you to be a missionary. Satan will tell you you can’t possibly live like a missionary. Maybe he reminds you of all the stuff you’ll have to give up, the sacrifices you’ll make. He wants you to become afraid of the decision. To think you won’t be able to get through it, that maybe this is just a fleeting fancy in your mind. He tries to cripple you so you don’t act on what the Lord is doing in your life. If you stop here, the Devil has won. Thankfully, God will bring you to the next step if you seek His face.

Step 4: Confidence
Do not be dismayed! Once you realize that God will never call you to something you can’t handle and will always provide for the needs you may have, you can have confidence in what He is asking of you. He will handle it all. I know, this is a step that’s easier said than done, but so many people have been here. A plead by someone in the Bible was prayed when he cried “I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief.” Reach out and find those who have traveled this road before, and claim the promises that God has given that will eventually result in…

Step 5: Victory
You have heard God’s voice, overcome the temptations to give in, and acted on His leading. Finally you have victory! Satan has been unable to squelch your walk, and the Lord has brought you to His task. You may not be finished, but you’re doing it, and that is victory. After this point, you can remember how God led you to the victory when Satan tries to put and end to the work you’re doing, or rather God is doing through you. The good news is Satan has already been defeated, and God will always have the victory!

I can’t say I am that great at believing myself all the time. The first step is always the toughest for me, and the third step usually comes immediately following step two, but I know that step five will make it all worthwhile. God will never let us down, and He will always be faithful. In Revelation, His name is “Faithful and True”, and therefore we can be sure of our callings, whatever they may be.

Press on!

-j

I miss baseball.

I miss the thrill of 50,000 people chanting in unison, cheering their favorite player or jeering their arch nemesis. I miss the brown of the infield and the green of the outfield. The call, the windup, and the pitch. I miss the crack of the bat as it sends a round hunk of cork 400 feet into the stands, and the crowd yells “YEAH!” or “NO!” in unison. I miss the sound of high heat as it smacks the pouch of the glove. The umpire always making the best or worst call, depending on which row of the scoreboard you like. Bernie Williams. Bern, baby, Bern!

I don’t know what it is about baseball, but it’s by far my favorite sport ever. I would play baseball (softball also counts) until I literally could no longer move. I love hitting, and I love fielding. I think if I was more into it in school as a kid, I would have been a decent pitcher. I also probably wouldn’t be overweight…

The first baseball game I have watched all season is the All-Star game that is currently on. I’m so motivated by it, I think I’m going to bring my elliptical trainer out to the living room to work out while I watch. That will help take care of the obscene amount of left-over dessert I just ate.

Willie Mays just gave me goosebumps.

I love baseball.

-j

I woke up singing this song:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!
We worship at the door
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
We glorify the Giver of life, the Light of the World

I love it when that happens.

-j

“Hallelujah, What A Savior” by Vicky Beeching

I am both full and not tired, so I decided to get up at 1am and post on my blog. Actually, I got up to work out some music for a lyric I wrote this weekend, but I decided to blog about it.

I was at a baptism at our church in Mansfield, Ohio, and one of the testimonies presented inspired the following lyric. I should warn you that it’s not yet complete. I suppose it’s the chorus to a new song.

He has given me a free gift
Now I’m living Him a new life
blah blah blah word that rhymes with gift
All because of His sacrifice

He has given me a new mind
and I’ve given up my old ways
something something rhyme for mind
I just want to give Him praise

Because of all that Jesus has done
I have found a free life

It’s very young, and was scratched down in about 30 seconds. Hopefully I will finish it soon. It’ll be the first song I have written in a while.

-j