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Spiritually MuddledSpiritually Muddled
by Mike Barres
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Have you ever wrestled with a thought, question or a decision and weren't sure what to do? Of course you have. Most of us find ourselves in this situation occasionally. However, was your question an issue of confusion or of will? Was it a real question about what to do or did it just seem like your thinking was muddled because you didn't want to do what you knew was right?

Oswald Chambers, in "My Utmost for His Highest," had something to say about that. In his September 14 devotion, "Imagination verses Inspiration", he talks about "Spiritual Muddle." Sanders said:

You cannot think a spiritual muddle clear, you have to obey it clear. In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will think yourself into cotton wool. If there is something upon which God has put His pressure, obey in that matter, bring your imagination into captivity to the obedience of Christ with regard to it and everything will become as clear as daylight.

Many times when our thinking is muddy and we think we need clarification, more thinking is not really what we need. Often we wrestle with simply obeying what we know is the right thing to do. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, knew what he was supposed to do, but was wrestling with saying yes to it (Mark 14:32-42). He did say yes — "not what I will, but what You will" — and His direction became clear. He went to the Cross and died for you and me in accordance to the Father's will.

Are you sure you aren't just making this complicated?
Not too long ago, I was talking to a man in a big city. He was not a Christian. The conversation got very complicated about what he believed and didn't believe. He also talked about some questions he had. I felt like the Lord gave me a question to ask him. I said, "Are you sure you aren't just making this complicated so that you won't have to act on what you know is true?" He got very, very quiet.

There are times that we sincerely need direction. As God's children, we can ask for wisdom if we aren't sure what would be best to do in a certain situation. God promises to bless us with His wisdom:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5 NKJV).

Other times, however, we are simply suffering from what Sanders called "spiritual muddle" or "muddle thinking." In those times, we need to simply say, "Yes!" to God and obey.

 
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      © 2007 Mike Barres.

      Title: "Spiritually Muddled"
      Author: Mike Barres
      Publication Date: September 18, 2007

 
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Mike Barres Mike is a pastor and writer for a number of online publications.

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