In a previous post, I shared my thoughts on the Preface of the “Crazy Love.” However, I thought I had probably had written enough for one blog post, so will share my thoughts on Chapter One: Stop Praying, here.

Doesn’t that title grab you immediately? Stop Praying. What!? Are you serious? That’s crazy talk.

But listen to what Francis Chan writes:

“What if I told you to stop talking at God for a while, but instead to take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word?” (pg 23)

Listen!

I know we do it in our daily lives (at least I do) – talk so much we forget to listen. And we do it with God, too (again…at least I do). I praise Him, thank Him, ask Him for guidance, for help, etc. But do I really listen to Him?

One Bible Study or sermon I heard gave us an acronym for PRAY that I find to be a very good reminder. We should approach God in this order.
P- Praise “Enter his gates with a song of thanksgiving. Come into his courtyards with a song of praise. Give thanks to him; praise his name.” -Psalm 100:4
R- Repent “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” -Acts 3:19
A- Ask “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” -Luke 11:9
Y- Yield “Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and
serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.” -2 Chronicles 30:8

I also interpret the “Yield” to be the time where we get out of God’s way, sit back, and listen to what He has to say to us. He wants to speak to us – and more than that, He wants us to hear and to obey.

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“The wise man comes to God without saying a word and stands in awe of Him.” (pg 23)

When’s the last time you stood in awe of God?

More than anything this week, I think I’ve been convicted of this. I grew up in a Christian home, lived a “good life,” tried to keep my nose clean, as my Dad would say. I have never had a “come to Jesus” moment when I’ve been completely broken, abused, hurt, or gone through a debilitating trial. I’ve been blessed – and that’s really my testimony. But I think that’s also my challenge. I’ve never been “forced” (for lack of a better word) to rely solely on God. So while I know Him, while I love Him, while I know He loves me, while I rely on Him… I’m not sure I completely grasp the extent of all of it. I know it’s indescribable, because the Bible says that it is. I know my minute mind cannot fully grasp the fullness of God, no matter how hard I try. But I also think I’ve got to step back and stand in awe of God more often so that I can develop my understanding of Him and his greatness to the best of my ability.

As if to answer my own questions, Francis Chan writes, in response to why God created 350 billion galaxies, “Do you think maybe it was to make us say, ‘Wow, God is unfathomably big?’ Or perhaps God wanted us to see these pictures so that our response would be, ‘Who do I think I am?’” (pg 24)

As I type, it hit me that God does try to put in perspective that which He knows we’ll never be able to put into words. He knows we’ll never be able to describe how big He is; as Chan writes, it’s unfathomable. However, he provides us an amazing illustration of His grandeur. We’re but a mere speck in a small galaxy amongst hundreds of billions of galaxies. And yet, He pursues us with an unrelentless love. Crazy. A crazy love!

Go HERE and watch the video called “The Awe Factor of God.” If that doesn’t blow you away, I’m not sure what will.

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I’m going grab a few thoughts from pages 25 and 26 to link together some thoughts.

“Have you ever thought about how diverse and creative God is?” [cut] “…have you ever marveled at it?” [cut] “…the point of it all is His glory. God’s art speaks fo Himself, reflecting who He is and what He is like.” [cut] “This is why we are called to worship Him. His art, His handiwork, and His creation all echo the truth that He is glorious.” (pg 25-26)

As if anything but a creative, all-powerful God could create all that we enjoy on this beautiful earth. And how awesome is it that He was so diligent with his creation that he paid attention to the most minute details of everything. A caterpillar with 228 muscles in his head?!

What baffles me is that knowing the extent of the miracles, creativity, diversity, and sheer wonder that exist in nature alone – how can anyone doubt that there’s a God? And how can anyone doubt His power? There’s no way a simple “big bang” could create all that – there simply must be a force behind it. And that “force” must be something so indescribably huge, awesome, powerful, great (keep inserting adjectives here) – that there is no room to call it anything BUT God. It’s simply not possible.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your creativity and the beauty of this world around me that we are given the gift of enjoying. Lord, how much greater will heaven be one day?! That You have chosen to reflect even a small amount of Your glory for us is humbling. Help me to be more aware of You daily, more in awe of You daily. Thank you for the examples You’ve given us that help us understand Your might, Your vastness, even if we’re unable to put it to words. Amen.

*****

“I sometimes struggle with how to properly respond to God’s magnitude in a world bent on ignoring or merely tolerating Him. But know this: God will not be tolerated. He instructs us to worship and fear Him.” (pg 26)

How easy is it to fall into that trap? I think back on the times when I felt closest to God, when I felt most in tune with Him, most greatly appreciated the wonder of everything He created. My answer is simple: when I was completely plugged into a local church and a small group who held me accountable. When I consciously spend time daily in His word, His world is more real to me. I’m more aware of His presence when I’m in His word. Ironic how that works, eh? “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8. Care to test Him on that promise? I just bet He’ll deliver!


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“When we love God because we feel we should love Him, instead of genuinely loving out or our true selves, we have forgotten who God really is.” [cut] “…we have to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Him.” (pg 27)

As little children, we’re taught that we should love Him. So we do. But somewhere along the line, we begin to be “test takers” and just answer the questions the way we were taught to answer them.

When I was in college, I was very good at knowing the answers for the test – but not retaining the information for further reference. Do we do that with God? Do we cram for the test, but fail to retain the information?

I challenge myself as well as anyone else reading this – retain the information! Get in His word. Know Him! Let the Holy Spirit fill you. Getting the answer right only for the test is simply not good enough – this is a Life Application, not a test we need to pass. For if we don’t apply it to our life…I don’t know that we’ll pass the test.

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“We are programmed to focus on what we don’t have.” [cut] “This dissatisfaction transfers over to our thinking about God.” (pg 28)

I just finished a Bible Study called “Lord Change My Attitude” by James McDowell (very good, if you're wondering). The first chapter focuses on complaining, and specifically calls it “wilderness thinking.” The Israelites, when being led out of Egypt and to the Promised Land, complained every step of the way, despite all the provisions and protection God gave them. The miracles He provided were quite amazing. Yet they grumbled.

The result of the grumbling was that God didn’t allow the Israelites into the Promised Land until the last of that generation had past away (except Caleb and Joshua) (Numbers 14: 29-30). He was so angry that they weren’t satisfied with what He had given, that he took it away. He kept His promise of giving the Promised Land to the Israelites…but those over age 20 who made the walk from Egypt never were able to see it.

Talk about convicting! I was (and am) so convicted about my complaining. What blessings am I blocking simply because I’m not satisfied by what God has given me? Am I so focused on what I don’t have that I forget to thank God for what I do have?

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“We don’t get to decide who God is.” [cut] “His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words can’t contain Him. Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” [cut] “God exists out of time, and since we are within time, there is no way we will ever totally grasp that concept.” [cut] “…it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable of comprehending. What a stunted, insignificant god that would be!” (pg 29-30)

I love these phrases! When I get myself talking in logic circles, I really take solace in the fact that I will never totally grasp His magnitude – and that’s OK! God is not and cannot be defined by “Our Interpretation” of Him, and our attempts to do so is a disservice to God, because we will never be adequate in our description or interpretation.

Likewise, His word is not open to our interpretation. It’s amazing to me the vast number of interpretations there are for various passages, and how twisted and divergent some of those interpretations can be. I’m sure it saddens God to see His word corrupted in such a way and used to do such terrible things to His people. While the Bible is the living, breathing word of God – it’s not for us to bend to our wills. It is The Truth – it is God’s Truth. There is no other Truth.


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Speaking of truth provides a good segue to justice. “If what we truly deserved were up to us, we would end up with as many different answers as people who responded. But it isn’t up to us, mostly because none of us are good.” (pg 32)

Think of all the “bad” people throughout history. Many of them believed that they were doing what was right, what was true. Many even acted (wrongly) in the name of God…believed that they were right and acting upon the truth. I have sat through many church services where they do a man-on-the-street type video asking for people to define “truth” – and every time a majority of the people say that truth is individually defined. Truth is different for everyone. Everyone must find their own truth.

What a lost world we live in. Upon what do we base truth if everyone is defining it for themselves? If truth is dependent upon a person or a popular opinion, anything can become true! As Chan writes, none of us is good – so by that, we’re then defining truth from a whacked base-point. That’s a hopeful thought. Oy!

But if Truth is God (and it is) – John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” – then we have a strong and perfect foundation upon which to base our definition of Truth. Actually, it’s the only definition. As believers, when we receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth dwells within us (“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13). When people start to make decisions and laws based on popular opinion instead of God, we slide quickly down the slippery slope.

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“John’s [description of the throne room of God in Revelation 4] helps us imagine what the throne room of God looks like, while Isaiah’s [Isaiah 6] reminds us what our only response to such a God should be. May Isaiah’s cry become our own. Woe is me…we are a people of unclean lips!” (pg 35)

We have NO right to be God’s chosen people. We are far from worthy and not at all deserving. Yet…He chose us. Not only that, He sent His only Son to die for us, to pay the price for our sins. Now that’s a crazy love.

Heavenly Father, you are gracious and merciful. We are so undeserving of your grace, your mercy, or your love. Thank you for the precious gift of your Son and your saving love. Thank you for taking the burdens of our sins and nailing them to the cross. Help us to live a life worthy of our calling as heirs of your kingdom. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.