Live Righteously

I recently wrote a post that mentioned Mary Geegh’s book on listening prayer entitled “God Guides” and since then I have been trying to listen to God in the manner that Mary did.

It isn’t easy to listen to God. There are way too many noises in our world today to hear the soft voice of our Creator. I have turned off the noise of the stereo, but I still hear the freeway off in the distance. I have no TV but I hear the tree-trimmers off in the distance. I hear my own voice telling me what I think I need to do and often when I do hear God speak, my on voice speaks over it because it thinks that I know best. I don’t. But still my pride thinks that I know what is best for my life.

A long time ago, I taught myself how to meditate as a Buddhist would. It was in these times of meditation that I would find peace with myself. Sadly I was still at odds with Jesus but, thankfully, my salvation was to come later. In these times of quiet meditation I learned how to discern between the different voices that I heard in my head and heart. Through the use of similar practices, I am going to start listening to what God has to tell me. Though, this time instead of internal peace and relaxation, my focus will be Jesus, His glory and His will for my life. I no longer follow the teachings of the Buddha, but those of Jesus Christ. I will listen to what the Holy Spirit says. I will listen to God’s guidance. I will listen to what He wants me to do and I will obey.

I will listen and obey. What good is listening if I don’t obey? I would be better off being ignorant and not knowing, than knowing and not doing. We are called to live lives of obedience to God and His commands. 2John 1:6 says “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

I choose to walk in obedience and obedience is love. I will love my God and my neighbor. I will listen to the commands of God. I am not perfect and I never will be, but from this day forth I strive to live in obedience and love, to the benefit of all.

Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: Biblical Love, Holy Spirit, How to Live, Power of Prayer

I can’t believe its already Friday! This week absolutely flew by and sadly I feel that I have very little to show for it. I almost missed my Bible study this morning because I forgot it was Friday. We are currently studying (ironically enough) hermeneutics or how to study the Bible. Yes, we are studying how to study…  =)

I started reading another book last night entitled “Called & Committed” by David Watson. It is about creating disciples and disciple makers for Christ. I’ll keep you updated as I go through it.

Have a great and safe weekend.
Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: Books, Today

I need God’s guidance for my life. I have made so many problems in my life worse by simply thinking that I could fix them on my own. If I act without God’s guidance, whatever I do is certain to fail. I have learned that from real and practical experience.

God is perfect and He has a perfect will and plan for my life. I just need to know what that plan is. But, how can a person know the mind of God? To know the mind of God, a man or woman must speak to God and then allow God to reply. A conversation is of no use to either party if only 1 person is allowed to talk. So how do we learn to let God reply to our prayers and petitions?

I just finished reading a book called “God Guides” by Mary Geegh. It is such a quick read, at only 60 pages, that I started and finished it in the same night. The gist of it is how Mary, who was a missionary in India, continuously asked the Lord for guidance and she listened for the answer. The method that she used can almost fill a whole page of the book. So after she gives us the “how to” she then gives many pages of inspiring real-life stories about how she was instructed by God and what happened when she did what she was told. A major theme of the book is simply Listen and Obey.

I have decided to follow Mary’s example and seek God’s guidance in my life. I want to add people to the fold of God as she was in her book. The way that God used her, and the people she ministered to, to enlarge his kingdom is beautiful. It was not a preachy way but a practical way of winning converts through changed lives and common sense.

You can purchase the book from Mary’s family for $3.50 at God Guides.

God Bless you,
Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: Books, Life-Changing, Power of Prayer

I recently heard a quote that, in essence, said “if the holy spirit left the churches of the United States, 95% of church activities would continue as they were before”. That is sad. That means that we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives and that we are just going about blindly, trying to do what our own sinful hearts and minds think is right.

As I write these posts, I often pray that the words I use will not be mine but will be what God wants me to say. I want Him to be glorified by what I write. I want His truth to be what you read and not just my own nonsensical ramblings. After I pray about what to type, I am often told to change a sentance or even remove entire paragraphs. That happened a lot in my Prop 8 Was I Wrong post. Whenever I got ahead of myself, I was corrected and told to fix what was wrong. And that is a perfect example of both living with and without the Holy Spirit.

I know many Christians who do not pray except when times are tough. If they are sick, taking a difficult exam, they don’t have enough money to last them through the month… When times are though they pray but not when times are good. Ephesians 6:18-20 says “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

So if we don’t pray how can we possibly know the Lord’s will for us? How can we possible be lead by the spirit if we don’t have communication with God? How can we even think that we are doing the right thing if we don’t ask for wisdom and guidance? The simple answer is that we can’t and without prayer, the Christian faith is impotent.

I pray that everyone who reads this blog would take time to pray for themselves and their friends, their family and their church leaders, your missionaries and political leaders, for those who preach the Word and those who listen. May everyone who reads this take time to pray and cultivate a prayer life. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen.

God bless you,
Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: Holy Spirit, How to Live, Power of Prayer

Galations 2:20 states “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

This is not an easy concept to grasp for a new believer and the longer I am a Christian, the more I desire to fully understand it. In all actuality, I have a basic understanding of it but what I really want is to realize it, to feel it, to experience it and fully accept that Jesus Christ lives in me. And I believe that is the key phrase. “…what I really want is to …  fully accept that Jesus Christ lives in me.”

I haven’t fully accepted that Christ lives in be because I haven’t given up my right to my own life. I still hold on to it like a little kid holds on to one toy when his mother is giving him a better one. In my mind I know that what God wants for me is FAR BETTER than what I want for myself. But, in my heart, I still want to control my own path and destiny.

Why, if I know that the second thing is better, do I still hold on to the first thing? Pride. The simple answer is pride. I am, and have always been, a prideful person.

I pray that the Lord would see fit to teach me how to live in the knowledge of His love and power in my life, that He would show me what it truly means to trust Him, that He would show me how to relinquish control over my life and give it to Him.

Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: About Me, Biblical Concepts, How to Live