The influence of God in our lives

Alexandra Chris TD · Dec 22, 2011

Ok so basically, I'm still a seeker and I hear a lot of Christians say they put the Lord in the center of everything in their life.

What does it mean to you? How does the Lord influences you?

I just don't really understand this concept. Let's say you're going to the grocery store or you're making lunch, do you do it putting God in the center of this action? And how?

I'm sorry if my question isn't very clear!...

ViaCrucis · Dec 22, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Ok so basically, I'm still a seeker and I hear a lot of Christians say they put the Lord in the center of everything in their life.

What does it mean to you? How does the Lord influences you?

I just don't really understand this concept. Let's say you're going to the grocery store or you're making lunch, do you do it putting God in the center of this action? And how?

I'm sorry if my question isn't very clear!...

Well imagine you find yourself in a grocery store, and you're about to get in line to the check out and someone rushes in and cuts you off rudely and abruptly.

Someone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus should keep His teachings in mind even in these sorts of daily, run of the mill mundane situations. The right response then is to not get angry, be forgiving, and not hold a grudge (which, let's face it, is a really quite natural response).

That would be an example.

Placing Christ first and center means submitting ourselves to a way of life that puts into practice what He lived and taught and reflecting it in how we go about living. Not just in the big areas, but in the little areas. How we treat other people on a daily basis by placing their needs above our own, and our willingness to serve and be a servant to those around us even if and when they bring us or will us harm.

We ought allow ourselves to have even our mundane thinking be transformed by this. Seeing those around us, each person around us, as worthy of the greatest care and concern. Reducing our self-importance and increasing other-importance.

-CryptoLutheran

Rao · Dec 22, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Ok so basically, I'm still a seeker and I hear a lot of Christians say they put the Lord in the center of everything in their life.

What does it mean to you? How does the Lord influences you?

I just don't really understand this concept. Let's say you're going to the grocery store or you're making lunch, do you do it putting God in the center of this action? And how?

The need to put God in the center of everything certainly manifests itself as soon as you are with other people (your "neighbor"), as in fact ViaCrucis highlights with his examples.

If you're alone in your kitchen making yourself a sandwich, you don't have to worry about making a Christian sandwich

But still even you're alone, with no neighbor to love, there is yourself to love. Treating yourself with respect (e.g. don't indulge in self-harmful behaviours) is a christian thing to do. And so is to maintain a sense of love for life and gratitude. Hence perhaps when you're alone with your sandwich, it's good being able to recall a sense of wonder for the beauty of life, and gratitude that we are here to live it.

Maybe to some it sounds ridiculous... wonder, beauty, gratitude are big words for a sandwich

But small things are all part of the big pictures and are important too. After all, the first miracle Jesus made in his adult life was about a small and material thing: he turned the water into wine at a wedding. How small is that, compared to healing a crippled, return sight to a blind or resurrect a friend? Still, He did nothing less than using an actual miracle to bring a small joy into the lives of those people.

Catherineanne · Dec 22, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Ok so basically, I'm still a seeker and I hear a lot of Christians say they put the Lord in the center of everything in their life.

What does it mean to you? How does the Lord influences you?

I just don't really understand this concept. Let's say you're going to the grocery store or you're making lunch, do you do it putting God in the center of this action? And how?

I'm sorry if my question isn't very clear!...

Well, I think the difference is how you behave when you are with a friend, and how you behave when you are not.

When your friend is there you might chat, or share stories, and go places together, and perhaps remember things you have done in the past.

When that same friend is not there you won't be thinking about them all the time, but occasionally.

We can choose to behave as if the Lord is the first of these two; a constant presence beside us; there to greet us first thing in the morning, there to sit with us when we have breakfast, there to accompany us in our day. If we take this view then we won't engage in any behaviour that he would not want, whether we are alone or not. We wouldn't be the kind of person to appear nice when others are around, but kick the cat when they are not.

If we assume this constant presence then we draw closer to God and we learn to live in such a way that we are always tuned to what he would want, what he would say, what he would ask of us. So then, as has been said, we will tend not to get angry with other people for trivial reasons, or behave in a way that dishonours Our Lord.

Of course it doesn't always work like this, and sometimes we slip up, but mostly, I would say, this attitude towards God and ourselves helps a lot.

drich0150 · Dec 22, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Ok so basically, I'm still a seeker and I hear a lot of Christians say they put the Lord in the center of everything in their life.

What does it mean to you?

That everything you do is done (to the best of your ability) to the glory of God

How does the Lord influences you?

He gives me direction, incite, peace in turbulent times, comfort when bad things happen, and on and on.. He is what I need when I need it.

I just don't really understand this concept. Let's say you're going to the grocery store

When you goto the grocery store with God at the center of your life you tend to think of the can food drives (especially this time of year) and you buy a couple of extra cans of food to help out, or if you wish to go further you do the shopping for someone who can not get to the store.

or you're making lunch, do you do it putting God in the center of this action?

When I goto lunch and sometimes if i see someone who could use a lunch outside I buy him one too.

When you put God at the center of your life He will direct you in the way you should go.

Emmy · Dec 22, 2011

Dear Alexandra Chris TD. God is Love, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. God`s influence in our lives changes us completely. Instead of being selfish, always first and very wrapped up in our lives, God`s influence will change us: slowly but surly: IF We Let Him. Jesus told us in Matthew: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is like it: Love our neighbour as ourselves." Straightforward and easy to remember. Jesus told us also: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prohets." All important and to be taken with God`s loving Authority.
A Christian`s great weapon is Love, selfless and no conditions asked. Love will overcome all obstacles, and Love will transform us from selfish and unloving, TO: loving and caring freely, for all we know and all we meet. How do we achieve this? We start treating all others, friends or not friends, as we would love to be treated: kindly, with friendly words and helping hands, (if needed) forgiving as God has forgiven us, and remembering we are ALL God` s Own, all made in God`s image. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love, also. Jesus told us " ask and ye will receive," and we thank God and share all Love and Joy with all around us.( ours included) The people around will notice, and treat us the same. God will see, and God will bless us. AND God will know that we love Him. HOW?? Because we are following God`s Commandments to love and care: Love God with all our beings, and love our neighbour as ourselves. Love will change us, Alexandra, and God`s influence will turn us into loving children, for our Heavenly Father. We have enough time to get better, and better, and God`s influence in the lives of His sons and daughters, will be noticed by all we meet, and love as we love ourselves. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

food4thought · Dec 22, 2011

Hi Alexandra!

I agree with all the above, but feel compelled to add to it. Making God the center of my life means that I always strive to allow God's Holy Spirit to express Himself through me. In myself, I express my own thoughts, feelings, and biases, but through God's Spirit I am able to express God's love.

In a grocery store I might do some of the things mentioned above, or I may be led to speak a word of encouragement or faith to someone I would otherwise not talk to... all because God's Spirit prompted me to.

Making lunch I would thank God for the food.

Having the God of the universe dwelling in you should lead you to do and say things that please Him, whether it be lead by following His word as expressed in the Bible or by obeying a prompting of His Spirit from within.

God bless

Alexandra Chris TD · Dec 29, 2011

Thank you very much for all your answers! It helps a lot!
Can you also tell me how God influences you in your relationships with your friends and family? With unbelievers?

food4thought said:
I agree with all the above, but feel compelled to add to it. Making God the center of my life means that I always strive to allow God's Holy Spirit to express Himself through me. In myself, I express my own thoughts, feelings, and biases, but through God's Spirit I am able to express God's love.

Why do you mean by "allow God's Holy Spirit to express Himself through you"? Can you explain it more? Give me an example maybe?

drich0150 said:
That everything you do is done (to the best of your ability) to the glory of God

I've seen a lot of people say the same thing about doing things to the glory of God. What do you mean? Can you give me an example?

Emmy said:
Dear Alexandra Chris TD. God is Love, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. God`s influence in our lives changes us completely. Instead of being selfish, always first and very wrapped up in our lives, God`s influence will change us: slowly but surly: IF We Let Him. Jesus told us in Matthew: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is like it: Love our neighbour as ourselves." Straightforward and easy to remember. Jesus told us also: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prohets." All important and to be taken with God`s loving Authority.

Emmy said:
A Christian`s great weapon is Love, selfless and no conditions asked. Love will overcome all obstacles, and Love will transform us from selfish and unloving, TO: loving and caring freely, for all we know and all we meet. How do we achieve this? We start treating all others, friends or not friends, as we would love to be treated: kindly, with friendly words and helping hands, (if needed) forgiving as God has forgiven us, and remembering we are ALL God` s Own, all made in God`s image. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love, also. Jesus told us " ask and ye will receive," and we thank God and share all Love and Joy with all around us.( ours included) The people around will notice, and treat us the same. God will see, and God will bless us. AND God will know that we love Him. HOW?? Because we are following God`s Commandments to love and care: Love God with all our beings, and love our neighbour as ourselves. Love will change us, Alexandra, and God`s influence will turn us into loving children, for our Heavenly Father. We have enough time to get better, and better, and God`s influence in the lives of His sons and daughters, will be noticed by all we meet, and love as we love ourselves. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

I really like what you say about love. I think this whole concept is beautiful Emmy!

drich0150 · Dec 29, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
I've seen a lot of people say the same thing about doing things to the glory of God. What do you mean? Can you give me an example?

An example would be if someone were to commend you or reward you for your acts of Kindness then you would pass that credit or accolade to God. You literally do your acts in His name. It's kinda like making a donation to an organization in someone else's name.

food4thought · Dec 29, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Thank you very much for all your answers! It helps a lot!
Can you also tell me how God influences you in your relationships with your friends and family? With unbelievers?

In relationships, which is what being a Christian is mostly all about, we are called to be loving, kind, forgiving, and patient; knowing that we have faults just like everyone else, we should treat them as we would like to be treated. Ultimately, it is about putting the needs of others over ours. We should have the same love for those who are strangers or unbelievers that we do for friends, family, and believers. Love, ultimately, is an action of will, not a feeling. I would highly recommend that you read 1st Corinthians chapter 13 in your bible; it gives an awe inspiring description of what Christian love should look like. On second thought, let me save you some time and paste it here:

1Co 13:1-13 NASB If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (2) If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. (3) And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. (4) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (5) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,(6) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. (9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part; (10) but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. (11) When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. (12) For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (13) But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Why do you mean by "allow God's Holy Spirit to express Himself through you"? Can you explain it more? Give me an example maybe?

I will try. Understand that one of the central doctrines of Christianity is that every believer, from the time they become a believer (called being saved or being born again), has the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within them. The Holy Spirit is not some magical force to be used and manipulated for my desires, but a real person with personality and a will. I desire to please God, not myself, and so I seek to do the will of God instead of my own. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will prompt me in some way to do something I wouldn't do if all I cared about was my own desires. By obeying this prompting and doing what the Spirit wants, I allow God to express Himself through me.

One example of this in my life was a time when I was working. My relief had just arrived and it was time for me to go home. It was a Friday afternoon and I had the weekend off, so I was anxious to go home. The person who was relieving me was someone I had never met before, but he was familiar with the job duties so I didn't have to stay and train him. From the time I left, I had a small voice in the back of my head saying "go back". This kept repeating as I continued to go home, ignoring it. Finally, it dawned on me that this might be God's Spirit speaking to me (I was a new believer at the time), and I turned around to go back when I was about halfway home. When I arrived back at work, one of my bosses was there speaking with the new worker. Come to find out, the new worker was a missionary who was taking time off from the mission field to raise some money before going back out, and my boss who I barely knew was a Pastor!!! I told them what had happened on my way home and we were all strengthened in our faith and had a good long talk about the things of God.

This was an instance where God had the spiritual encouragement of me and the other two in mind, which is an expression of God's love towards the three of us. Other times, he has similarly lead me to say or do things for others in a loving and caring way.

Sorry it is such a long post, but I hope this helps you in your seeking of God through Jesus my Lord.
Mike

Alexandra Chris TD · Dec 29, 2011

drich0150 said:
An example would be if someone were to commend you or reward you for your acts of Kindness then you would pass that credit or accolade to God. You literally do your acts in His name. It's kinda like making a donation to an organization in someone else's name.

I see, it seems a little clearer

food4thought said:
In relationships, which is what being a Christian is mostly all about, we are called to be loving, kind, forgiving, and patient; knowing that we have faults just like everyone else, we should treat them as we would like to be treated. Ultimately, it is about putting the needs of others over ours. We should have the same love for those who are strangers or unbelievers that we do for friends, family, and believers. Love, ultimately, is an action of will, not a feeling. I would highly recommend that you read 1st Corinthians chapter 13 in your bible; it gives an awe inspiring description of what Christian love should look like.

It makes a lot of sense! I like how love is described in your quote of the Bible.

food4thought said:
I will try. Understand that one of the central doctrines of Christianity is that every believer, from the time they become a believer (called being saved or being born again), has the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within them. The Holy Spirit is not some magical force to be used and manipulated for my desires, but a real person with personality and a will. I desire to please God, not myself, and so I seek to do the will of God instead of my own. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will prompt me in some way to do something I wouldn't do if all I cared about was my own desires. By obeying this prompting and doing what the Spirit wants, I allow God to express Himself through me.

The way you explain it is a good way, I mean, I understand what you mean now!

food4thought said:
One example of this in my life was a time when I was working. My relief had just arrived and it was time for me to go home. It was a Friday afternoon and I had the weekend off, so I was anxious to go home. The person who was relieving me was someone I had never met before, but he was familiar with the job duties so I didn't have to stay and train him. From the time I left, I had a small voice in the back of my head saying "go back". This kept repeating as I continued to go home, ignoring it. Finally, it dawned on me that this might be God's Spirit speaking to me (I was a new believer at the time), and I turned around to go back when I was about halfway home. When I arrived back at work, one of my bosses was there speaking with the new worker. Come to find out, the new worker was a missionary who was taking time off from the mission field to raise some money before going back out, and my boss who I barely knew was a Pastor!!! I told them what had happened on my way home and we were all strengthened in our faith and had a good long talk about the things of God.

This was an instance where God had the spiritual encouragement of me and the other two in mind, which is an expression of God's love towards the three of us. Other times, he has similarly lead me to say or do things for others in a loving and caring way.

Sorry it is such a long post, but I hope this helps you in your seeking of God through Jesus my Lord.
Mike

What you describe here is pretty much what we usually call conscience. Like when I feel tired cause I've been working all day and I think "oh well, I'll do that tomorrow" and there's this other voice that says "no, you have to do it now!"? Can that be compared to that? I mean if I listen to the voice that says "do it now", does it mean I'm listening to God (sort of)?
Oh and don't worry about the long post. Thanks actually, long posts help a lot!

food4thought · Dec 29, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
It makes a lot of sense! I like how love is described in your quote of the Bible.

No problem :wave:

Alexandra Chris TD said:
The way you explain it is a good way, I mean, I understand what you mean now!

Thank you.

Alexandra Chris TD said:
What you describe here is pretty much what we usually call conscience. Like when I feel tired cause I've been working all day and I think "oh well, I'll do that tomorrow" and there's this other voice that says "no, you have to do it now!"? Can that be compared to that? I mean if I listen to the voice that says "do it now", does it mean I'm listening to God (sort of)?

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Oh and don't worry about the long post. Thanks actually, long posts help a lot!

Well, the Holy Spirit can act similar to a conscience in the way He communicates with me, but He is far more. In the instance I mentioned, I had no reason for my conscience to send me back to work because my day was done and the replacement knew the job. Still, I was compelled to go back not due to conscience, but due to the fact that the Holy Spirit wanted to bless me and two others.

All people have a conscience, only those who are believers have the Holy Spirit. In my life, the Holy Spirit has displayed knowledge that I had no access to, has given me words to say that were exactly what a person needed to hear when I had no idea of the person's situation. The conscience is a natural thing that operates from what we know we should do based on our own knowledge/experience. The Holy Spirit is God, who is supernatural (above/beyond what is natural), and He operates from what He (God) knows I should do based on His knowledge.

Hope this helps;
Mike

Alexandra Chris TD · Dec 29, 2011

food4thought said:
All people have a conscience, only those who are believers have the Holy Spirit. In my life, the Holy Spirit has displayed knowledge that I had no access to, has given me words to say that were exactly what a person needed to hear when I had no idea of the person's situation.
The conscience is a natural thing that operates from what we know we should do based on our own knowledge/experience. The Holy Spirit is God, who is supernatural (above/beyond what is natural), and He operates from what He (God) knows I should do based on His knowledge.

Maybe conscience wasn't the right word. What about a sort of instinct/6th sense? Like you feel there's something wrong or something you should do even if it doesn't seem rational. Or inspiration? What you say about finding the right words to talk, can that be commonly called inspiration? (Sorry that's really interesting to me cause I'm a singer and I write and compose my own songs) Thanks for your patience

Jamesja · Dec 29, 2011

Really, being a Christian is a very simple thing. God gave you a law that is in your heart. Everyone everywhere knows the right way to live. It is a natural law that you cannot get away from. The Bible puts into words what we already know in our hearts. The big battle is between being selfish or not. When we admit how selfish we are and ask God to help us it gets much easier to deal with the core issue. Jesus is the prefect example of unselfishness. All sin has it's roots in selfishness.

food4thought · Dec 30, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Maybe conscience wasn't the right word. What about a sort of instinct/6th sense? Like you feel there's something wrong or something you should do even if it doesn't seem rational.

Maybe something like that, but remember that the Holy Spirit is a person. And I never had anything like this before I became a christian. I DID have an instinct, and I regretted not listening to that feeling once or twice, but my experience with the Holy Spirit was different, more personal... a voice in my head with what I can only explain as clean, white light in my heart, instead of a heavy, cold feeling in my gut.

Alexandra Chris TD said:
Or inspiration? What you say about finding the right words to talk, can that be commonly called inspiration? (Sorry that's really interesting to me cause I'm a singer and I write and compose my own songs) Thanks for your patience

Again, not quite. I have written a little bit of poetry in my time, and I remember how the words just suddenly flowed onto the page when things were going right. This really was a different sort of thing. Inspiration in the sense that I understand you to mean is something that reaches into your mind and pulls out knowledge that you have, and then orders it or applies it in some new or intersting way, like writing a good chorus to a song... you knew the language and the experience you were trying to express, but you needed a better way to arrange it, right?

Well, what I was talking about involves knowledge I don't have. I hope you can understand the difference.

God bless and looking forward to talking with you some more;
Mike

Alexandra Chris TD · Dec 30, 2011

food4thought said:
Maybe something like that, but remember that the Holy Spirit is a person. And I never had anything like this before I became a christian. I DID have an instinct, and I regretted not listening to that feeling once or twice, but my experience with the Holy Spirit was different, more personal... a voice in my head with what I can only explain as clean, white light in my heart, instead of a heavy, cold feeling in my gut.

I get the difference: something guiding you but without feeling like a threat?

Again, not quite. I have written a little bit of poetry in my time, and I remember how the words just suddenly flowed onto the page when things were going right. This really was a different sort of thing. Inspiration in the sense that I understand you to mean is something that reaches into your mind and pulls out knowledge that you have, and then orders it or applies it in some new or intersting way, like writing a good chorus to a song... you knew the language and the experience you were trying to express, but you needed a better way to arrange it, right?
Well, what I was talking about involves knowledge I don't have. I hope you can understand the difference.

Ok so not inspiration. But for example, it's happened to me several times to go on stage, not remembering what were the words I was supposed to sing and when the music came on, the words were just flowing out of my mouth. And it's happened that I was performing and found myself doing things (like dancing) as if I wasn't really controlling it, like it was someone else moving. It's hard to explain but do you understand?

Thank you for your help again

food4thought · Dec 31, 2011

Alexandra Chris TD said:
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I get the difference: something guiding you but without feeling like a threat?

Kind of like that... the difference is very difficult to put in words.

Ok so not inspiration. But for example, it's happened to me several times to go on stage, not remembering what were the words I was supposed to sing and when the music came on, the words were just flowing out of my mouth. And it's happened that I was performing and found myself doing things (like dancing) as if I wasn't really controlling it, like it was someone else moving. It's hard to explain but do you understand?

Thank you for your help again

Yes I do understand what you're talking about, there is just a difference between this and what I've experienced. Always remember that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person, so it's basically like having an all knowing and all seeing friend ready to give you advice and direction if you will tune in and listen to Him.

Jamesja · Dec 31, 2011

There is one key point that needs to be addressed. All of these good actions and thoughts are impossible on your own. The Bible teaches clearly that you have to be, born again. Jn 3:3 This happens when you confess your sins to God and ask him to forgive you.

When you do this the power of God will change your heart and you will be a Christian. After that it will all make so much more sense.

When you are something you don't have to try hard to be that.
A cow is a cow. It doesn't have to try to be cow. It walks like cow, it looks like a cow, and when it makes noise, it sounds like a cow because that is what it is.

When someone is converted and becomes a Christian, that is what they are. They will sound like a Christian, act like a Christian, and be a Christian because that is what they are. They have been changed by the power of God. It is a miracle.That is when the Holy Spirit comes into your life and takes over.
Once you have experienced it you will know what I am talking about

If you would want me to I could tell you my conversion experience.

Alexandra Chris TD · Jan 1, 2012

food4thought said:
Kind of like that... the difference is very difficult to put in words.
Yes I do understand what you're talking about, there is just a difference between this and what I've experienced. Always remember that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person, so it's basically like having an all knowing and all seeing friend ready to give you advice and direction if you will tune in and listen to Him.

Yeah I think I see what you mean but it's hard to picture. I guess it only really makes sense to those who have the Holy Spirit within them (just like Jamesja says).

Jamesja said:
If you would want me to I could tell you my conversion experience.

I would love to hear about your own experience!

Jamesja · Jan 1, 2012

I posted it on your other thread.

Thanks

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