:: In.a.Mirror.Dimly ::

A family room is a place to hang out, to kick back and relax. We don’t expect to regularly eat our meals in there. We read books, watch TV, and hang out with friends.

That is, until we add some new rules.

For example, a child could take the cushions off the couch and build a fort. Certain parts of the room would become off-limits, and imaginary enemies could be lurking all over the place. We know in reality that a fort in our living rooms is unnecessary—unless you live in someplace like Texas.

When praying to God, we can make a similar mistake of creating rules, barriers, and harboring fears that are unfounded. We can set up false methods of protocol that make us “acceptable” before God. Like a fort made of couch cushions in a living room, our rules do nothing to change the reality of things.

God accepts us on the basis of his grace and mercy, redeeming us through Christ. We may ask him to play by our rules, but in the end we’ll only be frustrated.

It’s hard to figure out “how” to approach God. Do we begin with praise or confession? Do we need to take a step of obedience? Should we just sit still and meditate on him and his goodness?

What I’ve found is that I often play games with God, while God never plays games with me. I’m the one hiding in a pillow fort, not God. While God may ask me to take leaps of faith, I sometimes need to let go of my expectations or rules. I sometimes set up protocols for approaching God that never existed in the first place.

While God may ask us to take a step of obedience that feels difficult or to wait quietly without hearing anything in particular, he doesn’t play games. There is always a point and direction. Sometimes we need to wait for it. Sometimes it will remain a mystery.

When I am frustrated or discouraged, I sometimes find that I’m guilty of placing my own expectations and rules onto God. In other cases God simply will not move according to my timing. The trick is to move myself onto God’s schedule and follow his lead.

And that is tricky indeed…

The Next Post: On Friday we’ll talk about ways to move toward God and his plans for us.