The Man in the Mirror Blog

Maturity in Jesus is a stubborn mission. Yesterday my heart was troubled. I went to God. He showed me a good thing that I had unwittingly let become an idol. I repented. Is there no end to this? No, not in this life. "In but not of" means Jesus doesn't want to take us out of the world; He wants to take the world out of us. He's not just giving us abundant life; He's making us holy. PS: Heart working just fine today. Reminder to self: Be sure to thank Him for intervening right away.

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"Know thyself," say the great philosophers. Better: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Psalm 139:23-24). Lord, my heart is so deceitful that the only way I will ever know myself is by asking for your help, so I'm asking. Amen.

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Today I read 2 Kings 4 about the woman who helped Elisha, then had a son who died that Elisha brought back to life. It brought back the full force of the emotions I felt when God used this same story to meet & speak with me so tenderly during the darkest hour of my life. The Bible has become my best & closest friend, the one who never fails me, who always tells the truth, who always knows exactly what I need, & who always says exactly the right thing at exactly the right moment. Through repetition, every day is like attending a Bible Reunion.

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I am so grateful that 40 years ago several mature Christian men saw a clueless young man walk into church with his new wife and, knowing what needed to be done, took me under their wing & discipled me on how to become a Godly man, husband, & father. Unfortunately, my dad had the opposite experience and, as a result, we had very different lives. This is why I have dedicated my life to men's discipleship.

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It's not so easy to wait on the Lord when circumstances are screaming for action. Jonathan attacked the Philistines & they panicked. King Saul didn't know what to do next. He started to seek God for direction. But then the commotion grew louder. He said, "Never mind; let's get going" (1 Sam 14:19). In other words, "Never mind. We don't have time to hear what God has to say." Oh, how many of my sorrows can be traced back to this one error: feeling like I needed to take action before I heard from God.

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When I was about ten years old, my parents said they were going to attend my Little League game. I begged them not to come until I was in tears, and finally they agreed to stay away. Then I threaded my glove onto the handlebars of my bike and cried all the way to the field because they were not coming.
Of course, I did want them to be there—badly. I wanted my parents at all my games. I wanted them to rescue me from what became a downward slide that ended with my quitting high school. (from Man Alive)

If your kids tell you they don't want you to attend their events, don't believe them--not even for a New York minute. It's almost impossible to make a comeback from not being their for your kids.

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The greatest lesson I've learned came in the middle of a business crisis--a crisis of my own making. I thought I could "work" God to get what I wanted. My bad. I was spiritually immature. So, in love, He broke me down. As I sat in the rubble this lesson occurred to me: There is a God we want, & there is a God who is. They are not the same God. The turning point of our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want, & start seeking the God who is. No amount of reinventing Him in our imaginations to be the God we want is going to have one iota of impact on His unchanging nature & character. He is who He is. -- Patrick Morley

It is, of course, first & foremost the salvation of our souls. On this side of eternity, abundance is the Holy Spirit & the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, & humility. It's knowing your spiritual gifts & finding ways to use them. It's communion with God, genuine affection for others, being part of a loving community, having a sense of purpose, gaining victory over destructive behaviors, knowing how to build & maintain healthy relationships, & feeling like you're making a difference. Everything we "really" want is found in Jesus. - Patrick Morley

Yesterday & Friday we filmed videos for a DVD Study Guide for my new book Man Alive which comes out Jan 17. My heart is so full of something I can't put into words that I'm on the verge of tears. Last night we filmed men sharing around a campfire. 5 men I love very much shared things so deep, so real, so sacred around that fire that I was overwhelmed just to be in their presence. It was one of those moments you never forget. Thank you God for showing me the goodness & depth that is in men when they surrender & keep seeking to surrender themselves to You. Lord, you were glorified last night around that primal fire.

The Accuser's Best Tactics, #4: Getting you to feel slighted. Few things work better at destroying relationships than a perceived slight. The Deceiver whispers, "She doesn't respect you" or "He thinks he's better than you." The Accuser knows that a wounded pride is a very deep cut that will want to fester, even become a pity party. And whatever else happens, he will want to keep the parties from sitting down & honestly talk it through. He knows that, like any cut, healing can only take place by bringing the 2 separated parts into contact with each other. & sometimes the cut is deep enough to need stitches. - Patrick Morley

The Accuser's Best Tactics, #2: Getting you to focus on your "rights" & what you're not getting out of a relationship. "Think of all you've done for them, & this is the thanks you get?" he whispers. "You're not getting what you need--what you DESERVE!" Jesus, however, says, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 13:15). He came as one who serves, not to be served. He laid down his life for others. We have been crucified with Christ. Our lives are not our own. We've been purchased from the Accuser at the cost of His life. - Patrick Morley

The Accuser's Best Tactics, #3: Getting you to think, "I'm not so bad. I'm really a good person." Here's a central question: Am I basically a good person who does sinful things, or a sinful person who does good things? We do have good in us, but "the heart is deceitful above all things" (Jer 17:9) & we "all have sinned" (Rom 3:23). Our natural hearts recoil at this truth! The Deceiver whispers, "That's not you! Be glad you're not like those people!" It's the proud Pharisee vs. the humble tax collector who cries out, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). Any other approach will inevitably lead to a proud, self-righteous heart. - Patrick Morley

The Accuser's Best Tactics, # 1: Getting you to think your temptations are sins. This week I have been bombarded with pride of life temptations. Even though I KNOW temptations are not sins, the Author of Confusion was able to trip me up for a few days, and I was living under condemnation. Nice work, Deceiver. Props to him, but praises to Jesus for bringing me to my senses. We know there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). But it's still a daily battle, yes?

The 2-fold purpose of a Quiet Time is communion & discipleship. "God is spirit, & his worshippers must worship in spirit (communion) & truth (discipleship)" (John 4:24, comments added). One w/o the other is like eating half a meal--it's just not enough spiritual calories to avoid spiritual malnutrition. Think of communion as doxology for the heart & discipleship as theology for the head. Both have essential nutrients for the soul. A little doxology & theology each day will keep the devil at bay!