OUR FATHER'S INTERACTION IN OUR SURRENDER

When I began practicing "listening prayer" (asking the Father questions and then waiting with faith), almost two years ago, I was also in this season where I related to God with love but was under a transactional mindset. In an unperceived way, it felt like everything I heard was non-refundable. So if God pointed out something in my life that he was asking me to give up, I would assume He's tired of me trying to live with an idol and, "if He's going to keep walking with me" it meant, I had to give up this forever. At this point, I didn't have a grid for seeing the inerrant Word of God as relationally applied in the context of interaction and friendship. If that's new for you think about it in this way; Proverbs says, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. THE NEXT VERSE says, Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes." (Proverbs) Which one is it? Answer a fool or don't? In the New Testament Jesus says "go into all the world", but then in the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit tells Paul, "don't go to Asia", ...which is all the world. What's the point? Jesus is a real person. Scripture points us to everything we need for life and godliness within the context of following a real person in real time. If scripture becomes only policy, you've missed what it means to be in a relationship with Jesus.

The first time this guidance of the Father deeply impacted me was when He clearly asked me to give up alcohol. Although I enjoyed alcohol in ways that I sensed honoured God, in friendships, dates with my wife etc, there were specific times that it would lead me to old habits which had attachments to evil spirits. (That story is fun /hard and crazy which I'll write on soon) However, for the sake of this post, I knew God was saying I want you to give it up. And I did. It was tough, but after a few weeks, Jesus led me to pursue Him so passionately that I began to see I didn't need it. It was powerful to genuinely know that about your heart. Then on Feb 9, 2019, I had a deliverance from those spirits that 0-like a tic attaches to us - were attaching to sinful habits. I was so free. Then about 4-6 months after my deliverance I had an encounter on one of my prayer walks where I felt the Holy Spirit point out some pride about how happy I was with myself, and MY commitments were the basis of my boast, not Jesus. You don't realize when your commitments replace communion. Instead of rejoicing in God you find that you love your pleasure in how well your obedience is. But Jesus never put shame on me once; thankfully Jesus doesn't do shame. Get to the point James. So on one hot summer day that summer, (now I haven't even had a thought about for months) but on that hot summer day I just blurted out, "Jesus, I'd love a Corona" Then I heard, "go for it". I thought what? I said, God, I need to test that. I was certain I wouldn't drink anything alcoholic until it was with Jesus in the new heavens. This was so hard for me. It was such an enjoyment of mine and it felt so real to give it up. What was missing in my understanding of intimacy and relationship was the goodness of God. Let me be clear, this story isn't meant to make you feel liberty where God hasn't given you. It's meant to share what I learned about Him. So the next day I got as quiet as I could and said Lord, I gave this up, you told me too, how is that you said go for it? I heard this wonderful impression in my mind "I asked you to give this up to develop a deeper friendship and release you from spiritual conflict, those spirits are gone, and I'm good dad, and I can give back gifts." 

It's weird to admit this, but I didn't know in my walk with Him, that He could do that. After meeting with a few pastors and with the wise counsel of my wife who said you should obey Him, I had a glass of wine for the first time in 9 months and it was different, it was a gift, it was Him. I could feel the joy of a Father when His kids receive something Fathers love to give. I just didn't know He could be that real-time loving. 

Learning to recognize His voice is so valuable and wonderful because there will be times,--as you seek to live a lifestyle of Word and Spirit--where you will clearly sense God is leading you to surrender a desire or give up something in your life to then later release it back to you. For some, He knows your heart that He doesn't. I write this because just this interaction in a relationship with Him is so key. What I'm learning is that it is not always cut and paste.

Think about the story of Abraham and Isaac where God says to give your son up, and in faith in His goodness and nature, Abraham not knowing, just obeys. Isaac is very thankful His dad believes in hearing God's voice. There are times when our Father will say to us through impressions or reading scripture, "I want you to give up this or that, social media, a relationship etc. Trust He's a Father and as the Bible says, loves to give good gifts.  Don't be surprised when the Father gives back to you something you've surrendered. He's a good dad and delights Him when we receive.