Recently I have found myself waiting and wondering what God is doing. I know it is ok to ask God these kind of questions because you see it a lot in the Psalms. If God is all-knowing as we read about in the Bible, and He is has plans for us to prosper us and protect, and if he knows the desires of our hearts even without us saying what they are...... I have to ask why and I waiting and wondering?
I have a deep faith in God. I have seen him over the past two years do some pretty amazing things. Things that were done with perfect timing and perfect results and yet here I am wondering what is the meaning. I know that God allows us to go through fires to purify us from things that are holding us back but at what point do the benefits of the fire out weigh the results? I like to use the smoker to cook different kinds of food and as I learn more and more I learn that the keys to a good result is A) Have the right kind of meat B) Have a good smoker and C) be prepared to wait a long time for the results. Using that as a model lets say the meat is our soul. A good smoker is our situation and the long time is the season we are in.
Our soul, as I am learning, is not as complex as I thought it would be. For example I know that certain things I do have a direct impact on how my soul responds. For example when I lose my temper over a silly thing and say mean things to my bride, I know that my soul is going to mourn and hurt. I also know that when I am an encourager and say the right things my soul is joyful.
The situation. This is where for me the rubber meets the road. By nature I am very responsive to the situation I am in at the time. If someone is giving me grief for something I consider silly I am not going to respond to that situation in a positive way. But the converse is true when I am in a situation that brings out the joy. As I get older I am seeing that I have a choice as to how I am going to respond to a situation and I am getting better at putting the mouth muffler in place. Not always but I am getting better. I am also seeing that in the non-positive situations the way I respond can have an effect on others either for the good or the bad. When I was younger I could care less about how what I said impacted others and I was blind to the way it impacted others.
Now for the season. One thing that makes smoking a brisket great is the rub you apply BEFORE you start the smoking process. Getting the right combination of spices and seasonings in the right amounts is so important to the final results. Too much cayenne and people can't eat it. Not enough brown sugar and you don't get a good crust. That same thought is what I am learning. Before the soul and the situation are ready I have to prepare my self with the right seasoning. I have to use consistent portions of prayer and study. I have to apply them daily and let them sink in. I can't rush at the last moment and apply them otherwise they haven't had a chance to sink into my soul and saturate it.
Soul, Situation and Seasoning. Three key ingredients to having out walk with Christ have the perfect result.
