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

---

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Jesus Who Gives Me Strength

"...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I... Read More

Significant Examples of the Mother Who Influenced My Life

As Mother's day is upon us, Iam moved to express... Read More

Self-Realization How It Can be Achieved Within Ones Life Time

Before we dwell on the subject of Self Realization we... Read More

Hold On!

Job was a spiritual man who loved and obeyed God... Read More

It Took a Banker to Show Me What Jesus Was Talking About

On January 13th 1982 an Air Florida flight crashed off... Read More

White Sun - Tao of Heaven. Showers of Wisdom ( Part 2 of 3 )

People rarely live up to a hundred years of age... Read More

The Spiritually Dead Church

The spiritually dead church. Now, I am not talking about... Read More

Spiritual Growth: Measures for How Youre Doing

In my yard are quarter-circles of grass growing taller than... Read More

Using Your Spiritual Path Against Yourself

In looking back at my process over the years I... Read More

Romantic Relationships: A Spiritual Perspective

Meeting someone so attractive, so beautiful. Your heart beats like... Read More

Payday Someday

Let us face reality squarely in the face by acknowledging... Read More

When We See Jesus As He Is

You know that the Bible tells us a lot about... Read More

Abandon Religion

Why Abandon Religion?It is so commonly believed today that religion... Read More

Angel to Angel

Years ago, my minister spoke to us about how you... Read More

Language of Dreams

Dreams take us not into ourselves, but out of ourselves.... Read More

Mind, in Time and Space

One cannot make a decision in the moment of now.... Read More

Thou Shalt Not Judge

Judgement; What does this mean? The encyclopedia definition is, "The... Read More

The Greatest Gift

(Channelled)The greatest gift you can give me, is to acknowledge... Read More

Faith and Repentance Basics

As I listen with pastors and preachers in the body... Read More

What Is Wrong With Being Common?

The Emmaus Journal What is Wrong With Being Common? This... Read More

Beware of the Lobby Lizards

Our church is infested with lobby lizards. They crawl around... Read More

Just Do It!

"It's a big challenge. It's a journey into the unknown.... Read More

Pebbles of Wisdom

Coming face to face with yourself in the space between... Read More

Humanity Needs Islam

The human nature means the soul and the body. A... Read More

Love vs. Fear - Volume 18

Breaking with tradition, today's article comes from the 9-23-04 edition... Read More

Sunday Dinner

No one appreciates mothers enough. In this life, that's a... Read More

White Sun - Who Are We?

Human beings originally have three forms of existence. The first... Read More

Stress Strategy: Flex Your Spiritual Muscles

In his book, Stress Without Distress, Dr. Selye suggests that... Read More

Energy Fields and Group Healing

I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals... Read More

Importance and Necessity of Special Revelation - Part One

This article is a reply that deals with certain criticisms... Read More

New Hope For Global Peace

In a recent article entitled "Some Evidence of How We... Read More

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 1

An Introduction to MatthewSETTINGHave you ever been promised something wonderful,... Read More

The Power of God?s Word in Your Prayer Life

Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More