In the net

Following Sunday's amazing vision night and thinking about the whole net illustration, and something Tim spoke about a few weeks ago I have been really thinking over the fact that 'the closer we are to God the closer are friends are to God'.  This is something which has really impacted me and made me think.

Let me share a couple of things (I REAALLY hope I don't offend anyone and am not mentioning names, but I hope these stories illustrate a few points)....

The last couple of weeks I have really been trying hard in my relationship with God.  I've been attempting a quiet time every day and even making the effort to get up early to read my Bible and pray before work.  The journal has really helped me to focus on this better.  I have also been praying more about certain things and just generally tried to stop being so lazy and make more of an effort.  I am trying to give God the start of my day rather than the last dregs of a busy day which consist of reading a Bible passage to tick the box and saying a quick one line prayer whilst turning the light off and going to sleep.

However since I have been focusing on praying more, spending more time with God and actually making an effort, some amazing things have happened.  A close friend who I value a lot collapsed in work this week and was rushed to hospital with some sort of virus in his heart tubes (forgive my lack of technical vocab).  He is not a Christian, however this incident and some amazing answers to prayer have been a real eye-opener to him.  He came to church for the first time a few weeks ago and also, during his scare, even prayed himself.

Another friend emailed saying how much he had been blessed by this blog, and although he wasn't a Christian, he had really taken some positive stuff from it.

My work has massively improved and I was graded 'outstanding' after a lesson observation today.  Praise God for my work and influence within this area, and the number of boys lives I am hopefully impacting merely through following God's calling for me to teach and for placing me in this area.

So I was thinking that perhaps, and in line with the 'net' illustration we were shown on Sunday, if we are on a higher level of intimacy with God, then perhaps this also influences our friends and in a way 'pulls' them up to higher intimacy and brings them into a closer place in relation to God.  If we are linked to our friends, like the links in a net, and if we then pursue closeness with God, then does that mean that we bring our friends closer to God also?  Not that they should live out their faith through us, but still, you get the idea.  Some good thinking.



Secondly, I was reading about Jacob in Genesis 25 and how God renamed him Israel.  Now, little did I know but Israel means 'he struggles with God'.  Now, forgive me if I'm wrong but wasn't Jacob/Israel one of the biggest influential leaders of the Old Testament?  Was the name Israel not given to a whole nation?  And yet it denotes suffering?  This absolutely made my heart leap for joy when I read this.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE USED BY GOD AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! It's ok to struggle.  God can still use you.  Your struggles do not prevent God from moving in your life, working through you and using you for His glory and in His plans! Just look at Jacob.

So, no more thinking you are too useless to be loved or used by God.  NO.  God uses the strugglers and the weak and the seemingly 'inferior' people to make massive differences just as much as anyone else.  Let Him use you today!!!!!