If only God gave “spiritual progress” report cards. An ‘A’ in discipleship, ‘B-‘ in prayer, ‘C’ in forgiveness… and so on. We would know how and where to improve to truly please God.
We would get those butterflies felt every marking period in anticipation of those ever so daunting, centimeter high, black inked letters that can make or break you. Such small representations of mounds of work, hours studying and nails bitten to the skin in worry.
If only God gave report cards. We would compare and boast our cards, or hide them in shame. We would see our weak points and strive to better them. Our lives would forever be focused on being the best and having strait “A’s” to admire.
Praise the Lord God’s grace drenches us, and our report cards turning them into unrecognizable mush. Although it would be easy to see where we fail, we would no longer rely on the Lord’s gentle urging into betterment. We would miss the relational aspect of God’s kindness and love for us in the moments when He disciplines us in love and points us in the right direction.
Here in Zomba, Malawi my ears have been opened to the discipline of hearing God’s voice. For those who do not know me well, I am a talker. As a child I would consistently see, neatly typed in the ‘comments’ section of my report card: Slightly Talkitive/Moved due to talking/Needs to STOP TALKING!!! Okay, so maybe that last one was a bit of an exaggeration, but you see the theme.
I love to be heard and acknowledged, and if I acquired a “spiritual report card” under ‘Being still in My presence’ I would have received an ‘F’. Until this week that is.
Being in the midst of a culture pacing to the tempo of their own well being puts a new spin on the American way of life. Spending 15 minutes to simply stand in awe of the mountains, spitting clouds, stained in gold by the setting sun does not deem itself as unproductive. Instead I worship the Lord amongst His creation and find a new peace in His stillness.
“Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the Nations, I will be exalted in all the Earth” Psalms 46:10
The Lord has worked in my heart during this time in Zomba, showing me the value of not only prayer, but in listening and being still.
