Living Beyond Myself

Sorry for the convoluted last blog post about “How does God speak to us?” You know why it’s convoluted? Because I was confused. Not that I’m above being confusing now… nope. This is me as I’m learning, not me after I know it all. Consider this take two on the subject of how God interacts with us. I’ll get back to you with take three some date in the future!

The question of how does God speak to us has been big on my mind lately. See, deciding to adopt two children with special needs from a different country is kind of a big deal. It’s not like we are super-people or something. That sounds hard. It sounds rather beyond our resources. So I have been studying this hard and applying it to our circumstances. I hope that this conversation between me and God also encourages you as it has me.

This morning I studied for awhile that question, “How does God speak to us?” I focused on working through an article that pretty ruthlessly says that Christians are only “spoken” to as they read the Bible, the Word of God. I agreed with and disagreed with the author on different points as I worked through it and read through related Scripture. I came to a sort of conclusion: Whether or not God speaks to His people through prophesy or visions, signs or wonders in this day and age, He DOES guide and instruct us with His Spirit through the written Word.

I wasn’t satisfied with that conclusion. I laid down after working through the study and cried out to God asking, “What does it mean, God, that You are with us!?” Then God led me a little while, speaking to me through Scriptures I have read before… to know this: God is with me. And God is for me.

Before I go on, read Galatians 5:13-25 (NIV):

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

These things I know:
I know that God is with me. Romans 8:9
His Spirit indwells me. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
He loves me. Romans 5:8
He is, of course, the almighty God! Isaiah 9:6, That’s My God by S. M. Lockridge (Whoa, just gotta say AMEN! after that!!!!!!)

God’s Spirit produces the good fruit, not my own spirit, not myself. Galatians 5:22
We can have this fruit produced in us when we “walk in the Spirit” Galatians 5:13-25
Walking in the Spirit is in direct opposition to indulging our flesh. Galatians 5:13-25, Romans 8
Notice that living in the flesh serves your immediate carnal desires and self, and living in the Spirit causes you to serve others.
It is easy for me to recognize the flesh in myself!

So, we should follow after God. We should live in the Spirit.
How?
By denying the flesh.
By allowing God’s indwelling Spirit to control and direct you. Romans 8:5-16, Galatians 5:18
In times of trouble and suffering, you can be sure He is with you. Didn’t He lead you there?

What do you do when it’s hard to tell what to do?
What do you do if the decision is between going beyond your resources and taking the conservative road? (between risk and safety)
What if it’s not as obvious, the battle between flesh and Spirit?
What if it’s just the details?
The Bible says to pray. To seek council. To seek wisdom. Read the Scriptures.
And to live in the Spirit.

So I thought through our decision to adopt.
Our desire to adopt is not a fleshly desire. Our enduring reason to adopt is to love and serve orphans, the least of these. Matthew 25:31-46
The Bible does command the Church to care for orphans. James 1:27

Throughout our Christian lives, we have experienced times of walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh. We are familiar with the feelings in our hearts, in our spirits, even in our minds when we are walking in the flesh… and when we are walking in the Spirit. Deciding to adopt scares our flesh but excites our spirits.

Adopting two children seems beyond our resources, our physical stamina, our emotional strength, definitely beyond our flesh. Beyond our comfort zone? Yes.
But, we continue to feel God’s presence and peace and encouragement as we proceed down the path of adopting James and Jordan. We keep putting one foot in front of the other, seeking God’s approval with each step. We strive to discern when we are serving our flesh and when we are walking in the Spirit.

Times of deciding on details. Details like should we adopt Kaydee? Should we adopt Vetta? Oh, my heart wanted to say yes, YES! My heart is still groaning at these girls being alone, without a family to love them. But you know, at that time, we searched the Scripture, we took council, we prayed and we talked with each other so much as a couple. And we didn’t feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit within us. It was like God was silent in us, even holding us back. We are no perfect discerners of the Spirit, but we were not going to do something beyond ourselves (adopting two children?) without believing that God would bless us.

We decided to wait. Wisdom told us to wait.

Then Jordan came along. And barriers were removed. Deciding to adopt him felt like a natural step in walking in the Spirit. I can’t prove that. I can’t prove anything in the Spirit. Only God can do that and I don’t think He will.

So this is going to be hard. But we CAN say with confidence, hasn’t God brought us here? Won’t he now provide a way? Sometimes His strength is best witnessed in our weakness. Every day through the adoption process and every hour once the boys are home when we can live and stand in the victory of Christ, God will have the glory. He is bringing us here. We wouldn’t have come on our own. We eagerly wait on and expect the strength of the Lord! (Eagerly wait on and expect = the hope spoken of in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…)

I don’t know that this was more clear or that there are holes left in the discussion. This is important for me to think through and write down to encourage me in the years to come. Praise God! There is joy in my heart today!