Tag Archive | Psalms

The Shaping of a Christian…

Feb18

Isaiah 64:8

8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
    we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand. ESV

Last post I referred to God’s attention to detail which I discovered in my study of the book of Revelation. Details so precise, so detailed only God could have designed them. I learned that it is the application of these truths we find in the details that shape us.

But I’m sad to say this is where the enemy promotes his greatest deception. The point Satan aims for is to diminish the level of impact by Christians for the sake of Christ? He knows the outcome of a life shaped by the Truths of God’s word. And he fears it. So his goal is to keep us distracted so we aren’t shaped by those truths. That opens up the opportunity for us to be shaped by anything but God’s Truth.

So how does God’s attention to details shape us? It was a slow dawning for me. Several years ago, I was going through a particular difficult time. Prior to this, my commitment to spending time with God in His word was severely lacking. Oh I prayed a lot! So I guess you could say I was talking (more like complaining) to God more than I was listening to Him. But there came a time when I couldn’t even put words to my struggles.

Desperate, I just opened my Bible and began reading. Starting actually in Psalms. When I came to words that spoke to my pain, I recorded it. Keeping at it, eventually my mind settled down. Eventually, the fiery darts of confusion and fear were displaced with a clearer mind and a growing faith. Not to mention a growing dependency on the Truths of Scripture.

Once I began experiencing the healing as it applied to my trials, more and more of the details were revealed. For example, when I found myself worrying, God directed me to Scriptures revealing His plans to counter the fiery dart of worry. Philippines 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” NIV The more I focused on this Truth thought the more I believed it. The more resistance I gained in warding off the enemy’s fiery darts. The greater my peace.

Now, just multiply this act with consistency. Growing stronger and gaining in resiliency in warding off the enemy’s attacks is the shaping process. God’s word is designed to help us overcome the enemy. But deliberate effort made in the study of God’s word is the key. The deeper we dig the more we discover. And as life happens we will discover even more details that shape us. God will show us the right way, He will point out the road for us to travel, He will lead us by His truth and teach us.