“Knowing where the land mines lie is the first requirement of a safe journey.”- John Ortberg
John Ortberg concludes Chapter 4 of The Me I Want to Be as he states every human being possesses a unique temperament. Hence, certain practices come more naturally to you than others. So, when you engage too much in activities that drain you, you cannot fill up with the life God desires for you.
As a result, Pastor Ortberg references author Gary Thomas. Mr. Thomas wrote a book titled Sacred Pathways. He defines sacred pathways as ways we find naturally enable us to experience God’s presence. In addition, we often recognize these pathways as we find ourselves being changed or making key decisions while engaged in a particular activity.
While it’s good to be familiar with each pathway, most likely you’ll find one or two resonate most with you. When you identify your specific pathways, you’ll find they’re the most sustainable. That’s because of your high desire for them.
However, due to your uniqueness, you also wrestle with a unique set of temptations. Thus, knowing your sin patterns helps remove barriers to living in the flow of the Holy Spirit. This, in turn, facilitates growth.
Another aspect of growth is freedom. As Pastor Ortberg notes, freedom is:
- the goal of growth- spiritual practices always revolve around freedom
- needed for the path to growth- you’re free to find the path that best helps you
- not synonymous with self-indulgence; indulging your sinful nature inhibits growth in the Spirit
As John covers in the next chapter, one decision you make guarantees your growth: There is a God. It is not you.
Today’s question: What assists you in knowing where the land mines lie? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “A Copernican revolution of the soul”
