5.07.2009

The Post About Bargaining with a Diety



Have you ever tried to bargain with God? I have. Let me set up a few scenarios for you:

Me: God, if you make that cop turn right so I don't get pulled over - no more speeding, I promise.
Me: God, if you help me turn this 6 pages into 15 pages - no more procrastinating, I promise.
Me: God, if you keep me from throwing up in the back of this SUV - no more Olive Garden, I promise.

I think God gets as annoyed by this as my Mom did when she would ask me to clean my room and I always yelled back from the cluttered compound in that rolled-eyes, stuck up way "I.....WIIILLLLL, I PPPRRROMMMIIISSEEE."

You see, I rarely kept those promises. To God or the woman who birthed me. Even worse? Those negotiating moments with the heavenly Father were the only evidence of my relationship with Him. Sure, I went to church and did mission projects and said grace before the Olive Garden, but we had no real RELATIONSHIP.

Relationships are built on communication. And if I've learned anything about God - He loves to chat. About anything and everything. He likes to talk about the things that weigh on me and cause me stress and the things that make me laugh so hard my gums show. Like Hurley from Lost. Everything.

Philippians 4:6-7 "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Who couldn't use some peace?

(image: Jamie)

4 comments:

  1. Yooooo jamie... you'll have to help me come up with a name! it's funny, I was just on Relevant's site and up pops Jamie Golden's name... you're a star now!

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  2. So true. Most times, our relationship with God is based on need. Only when WE need Him, we ask for His help. But God asks only that we live for Him and preserve His peace.

    Great post...

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  3. M: I think your project should be named Broken Toe. Just a thought. I love Relevant so much. Maybe too much. Maybe just right.

    mf: Great point about living for Him - then there's peace for all!

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  4. I bet you never thought you would see me comment? Suprise the Olive Garden blog brought it up out of me lol!

    I have been back to Olive Garden since that lovely experience of throwing up on the side of the interstate in my undergarments and I promised myself I would never eat that much at one time again. So far so good!

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Don't be afraid if I chase your rabbit comment...

 
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