Theology Thursday: When GOD Does Not Fit Our Life

I want to start out by saying that I watched the first half of John Piper's sermon "Don't Waste Your Life" again last night, and I would encourage anyone reading this right now to click here and check it out. It is one of those sermons that basically inspired a generation of Christ Followers to follow Him with the clarity you get from focusing on One Thing.

I started thinking about how we try to fit GOD into our lives. We come up with a plan for our lives that includes when and who we will marry, what our career will be, how much we need for retirement, when/how we will have kids, and what our hobbies are. We try really hard to stick to that plan and then we fit GOD in where we can. Maybe we go to church, go on a mission trip, spend time in prayer, lead a Bible Study, etc. Basically, when we feel like we have worked GOD into enough of our schedule and He is at least a part of our plan, then we have balance.

Here is the thing...GOD is not looking for balance!

He never has been. He wants 100% of us, all the time, and in everything we are doing. He is not looking to be a part of the plan we have already made. 

We have multiple "shape fitting toys" that our kids have played with at different points in their lives. The most popular is that wooden circle shaped toy with different shapes cut out of it. There is a corresponding wooden cutout of each shape that has been cut out of the circle and the goal is to reinsert those shapes back into the correct spot.

Now, different kids do it different ways. Sophie was always pretty good at looking at it and finding the right shape to start with so that she did not have to force it into the hole. Elijah, to start with, would just pick up every shape and shove it in until one fit. Ezekyal, on the other hand, would pick up one shape and try over and over again to force it into the wrong hole. Rather than realizing that there was another shape that would fit, he would just keep trying to force it until he got so frustrated he would either throw the piece or start crying.

Today's blog is shorter than usual, and the only point is:

Let's stop trying to fit GOD into our plan, our goals, and our life because, in all honesty, He is not going to fit!

Let's realize that He does not want our life to be balanced, He wants our life to be singularly focused on Him.

Hebrews 5:7 says, "During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."

Let us submit to GOD and in turn have our prayer and petitions be heard!