What Does God Want From Me? A Personal Revelation of Conviction Verses Condemnation

It's strange how my life today looks wildly different from the way it was in the beginning of my Christian walk. My spiritual life cooled after being burned by a fellow Christian a few years back. Then, unthinkable challenges, such as adultery and divorce, came my way. I became someone far different from the bible believing, Jesus freak I thought I was.

Recently, I opened my bible and read verses I hadn't read in years. I hardly recognized myself. I felt so far off from God and it made me afraid, very afraid. Suddenly, I was in a crisis. A crisis that left me with only two options. The first, completely turn my life upside down and take drastic, tragic measures to make my life look more godly, or never, ever open that book again!

I decided, in a moment of panic, I couldn't live up to God's instruction. I decided I need to live in the world. I needed to be a casual believer-believing, but not searching God's word for more, or seeking God deeper. Because when I search for more, or I seek deeper, I only see my horrid state. Sadly, I was, for the moment, misled by a successful tactic used on much of the world.

When I read my bible that day, I used the verses I read to condemn myself. I let the verses tell me God is too strict, harshly expecting me to be perfect, to live perfectly. This is wrong. I should have allowed his words to convict me.

I took the map God gave me (my bible) and when the map showed I needed to be in one place (righteous), but because I was in another (unrighteous), I wanted to rip up the map (my bible), fall to my face, curse, and doom myself because I wasn't on target. Imagine I did this. I would have been doomed, but by my own making. What if, or when, I decide to pick myself up? How will I find the right road when all I have is a ripped up map?

I misread God's intentions for giving me this map. I thought for a moment it told me I am damned, worthless, useless. Yet God's map was for direction, for conviction, to convince me of my misdirection, so I could make my way to the place he wants me to be.

God hands us the map, points, and says lovingly, "Look at where you are compared to where you should be, where I want to get you to. Now ease your way there. And by the way, here, I'll walk with you and help you along your way. You know I have told you no matter where you go, how you get there, regardless of how far off the path you wander...I will never, ever leave you!" (see Hebrews 13:5)

This is what the LORD says- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:16, 18 and 19

Tiffany Twist is the author of two books, TIFFANY TWISTED: exposed, unraveled, rewritten (June 2004 by Expert Publishing Inc.) and SOME DANCE: Hey Bartender, I'll take a decade of marriage on the rocks, a therapist straight up, and a fantasy guy with a twist (April 2005 by et al Publishing)

Tiffany has filmed for E! Television and Style Network's top rated "Diary of an Affair" to air in April 2005 and has currently been contacted by producers from both Oprah and Dr. Phil.

For more info visit http://www.tiffanytwist.com

---

Is It Real?

If any man be in Christ, he is a new... Read More

Hard Times Can Be Your Best Time

Do you have a dream, but are waiting for "just... Read More

By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them

Military personnel at a U.S. prison in Guantanamo, Bay, Cuba... Read More

The Fountain of Light Exercise

An etheric body, also known as the aura, surrounds every... Read More

Is Your Soul Breathing?

God made humans in his image but these days very... Read More

African American Hiking for Spiritual Health

Hiking is gaining popularity within the African-American community. We're beginning... Read More

Book Ends

In the responsibility we have as Christians, we are displayed... Read More

Meditations From a Spiritual Journey

For me, the best poetry stirs my soul; it awakens... Read More

How To Change Your Attitudes

What type of person grabs your attention and motivates you?... Read More

Addiction and Confession

ADDICTION: - There are numerous obsessions and addictions which prevent... Read More

The Amazing Possibilities In Your Impossible Dream

There was this TV commercial a couple of years back... Read More

Time for Healing

We have to go through some unfortunate experiences sometimes in... Read More

Enthusiam And The Spirit

In this article, I would like deal with one specific... Read More

Nurturing Your Spirit

Do you ever wonder about the other "YOU ?"The one... Read More

Be Aware of the Supreme Deceiver (Part 2)

The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds... Read More

Small Things

When my dad was nearing the end of his life... Read More

The Slippery Halls of Perspective.

As we walk these halls of Life viewing the world... Read More

As Above, SO Below

The 'As Above, So Below' law that is the combination... Read More

The Winds of Change

Humanity is entering a very critical time in its path... Read More

6 Little Prayers That Bring Healing - Every Time You Pray

Ok, let's start with the amazing story of Robbie and... Read More

Sinners by Choice

God said, "Thou shalt not?" and we continue to tell... Read More

To Witness the Life that is God

My wife, our friend and I went to listen to... Read More

8 Ways to Plant Spiritual Ideas Deep in Your Heart

The fundamental aim of spiritual study is to get facts... Read More

The Mirror of Truth

James 1:23-24Anyone who listens to the word but does not... Read More

Chakras 101

The chakras are different coloured energy centres that originate from... Read More

Chicken Soup with Chopsticks: A Jews Struggle for Truth in an Interfaith Relationship (excerpts)

Does God care if I marry a gentile?Even as I... Read More

Spring Cleanup

The junk I'm talking about is the stuff that we... Read More

For the Glory of God

One of the most touching stories in New Testament scripture... Read More

Discipline of Prayer: Always Connected

Every workday, five days a week, I take the light... Read More

You Are Not Your Stuff

We humans are a funny, funny breed. We spend our... Read More

Sheltered in the Arms of God

"Mama, save me!"My six year old son jumped into my... Read More

10 Commandments

I thought I would draw this article up as a... Read More

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 2

Matthew 1:1-17The Genealogy of Jesus Christ1 The book of the... Read More