Are we willing, to be Challenged, in Love?

The alternate title for this post could be, Are you willing to step Outside of your Comfort Zone?

I was at a prayer meeting once, when someone made a comment, something like, “You can bring a challenging word, at times.”

I’m hoping that it was a complement, and not the alternative of, “Are you for Real?” Or “And who do you think you are to bring such a word?” ??? 🙂

I do think, that to bring a challenge, can be a good thing to do, if it is from Our Lord God Almighty. But, sometimes, challenges, even if they are from Our Lord God Almighty, could possibly be considered as, … Unwanted! … ???

In order to try to keep this a balanced post, I’m going to acknowledge that some challenges, can be unwanted, because there is an error to them, in some way (in the challenge itself, or even, in just the timing), and that is what makes those challenges unwanted. For this post, I’ll be thinking about a correct challenge, that Our Lord God, is directing someone to bring.

I’m thinking that the best way to start looking at this idea, is to ask, “How would I respond, if I was the one, who was being challenged?”

So, if it was me, who was being correctly challenged, then how would I respond?

The first question would be, “Am I even going to consider the challenge, or just dismiss it out of hand, as complete nonsense?”

Just because a challenge is correct, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to “see” it as being “correct”, at the point of it being received. Will I be able to come to a point, where I’m able to see that a challenge, is valid, and as such, this means that, I, could be in error, in some way?

A correct challenge, from Our God, could very much so, be a challenge to us. Are we open, for our viewpoint, to being challenged, by Our Lord God?

Hopefully the answer to the above thought is a “Yes”. But then, the next part could be, what if we don’t know, “How”, to respond to the challenge, that is brought to us?

My first thought here is, if we don’t know “How” to respond, then we should ask Our Lord God for help and direction, for what to do next.

If Our Lord God, clearly tells us, that what we are doing is so wrong, that we need to stop, and do an immediate U Turn, then do it!

If Our Lord God, tells us, that there is an exit or escape route ahead, that we should take, then hear His prompting, and take it.

Then there may even be a different time, when Our Lord God, could tell us, “You are in a challenging time, but for you, the correct route is to stay on course, but, keep a keen ear open, to hear the correct steps, to take, at the correct time.”

I’m thinking that this post is very much so going along the lines of, Hear, what Our Lord God, is speaking to us. Then, be willing to Follow, where He is leading us to go.

I’m also starting to think that this post could end being a never ending post, that just keeps circling back on itself. Instead of doing that, I’ll finish with one last thought, that I once heard.

Instead of relying on your brakes, use your steering wheel. The basic interpretation for that thought is, instead of going up to the limit of what’s OK, steer away, or steer clear of it.

John 10:27-28

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Romans 12:2

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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Blinded by the Light