Yesterday I was feeling incredibly tired and my nerves felt run out. Usually when this happens, as I'm sure it does with many, depressive thoughts start to kick in and fighting the feelings just makes tasks harder.
However, my eldest nephew pulled out a dvd lesson set for me the other day called "The Blazing Center" by John Piper. I had begun to read Desiring God by the same person and was confused, so he told me that the dvd should help bring clarity to what Piper calls "Christian Hedonism," which is the pursuit of your own joy in the joy of God and others that we are called to submit to and love.
I began to watch the dvd in the middle of all these thoughts that were causing such a fight towards depressive feelings and went to the chapter called "Pursue Your Joy: Isn't that Hedonism?"
Before Piper continued with the lesson on this particular subject, he went over what he had already discussed, the previous two chapters. He began to go into depth about the will of God and the will of man and how he was raised hearing the prayer, "Not my will, Lord, but yours be done." While there are times this prayer is completely appropriate (Jesus prayed it before his death in the Garden of Yesthemene), he expressed that he found himself wondering if and wishing that there could be a third option to "God's will or mine;" what if instead they could coincide so that what God wanted is what I want too?
He began then to talk about how not only is man meant to be God-centered but that God is also God-centered. For some reason, this deepened my understanding that my life, all of our lives--every detail--is made for God and not for us. Yet, by making it God-centered, our spirits, emotions and minds are in health because we are doing and living in what we are made for. Being reminded, for 5 minutes, that I am here for God and not for me took so much pressure off of me and my thoughts that I came out of the office with renewed strength and a fresh perspective. Every depressing thought faded because I am not here for me but God and he has everything in his hand that I would worry about if I was here only for me and others.
Comments
Jan. 31, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by aliveagain13
Yeah, Dad was showing Percy and I some of those dvds. I only watched the first 2 tho.
luv Katy
Jan. 31, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by thescarletpimpernel
Well put.
Sir Percy Blakeney
Feb. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Phoenixflames
hi, Percy linked your blog and I thought I might check it out. want to be friends?
Feb. 5, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by aliveagain13
Hey, this is Katy. the comment above this one is a friend from church...just so you don't freak out or something. It was fun chattin' with ya!
luv Kate
Feb. 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
hi this is me onedaymore.
I'm the one that Katy is visiting now:) i added you to my friends list is that okay?
onedaymore
Feb. 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by thescarletpimpernel
Update!!!
We are coming soon and then I will have to force you to update.
Sir PErcy Blakeney
Feb. 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by aliveagain13
'bout time to update! ;)
your niece,
Kate