I thought about the title to this post Monday afternoon while talking to Pappy about something. Then, one of those things happen that as you all know I call an "it's not odd, it's God" moment. God just keeps having things repeated to me twice in just a couple of days lately, and so when that happened yesterday morning during my devotions, I took the time to stop and pray and ask Him just what He wanted to show me....see, I'm learning....slowly but surely!!!
Now....NEVER EVER ask God to shine His light in your heart and point out something, if you really don't want to know....because He's gonna do just what you asked...so BE PREPARED!!!
I wasn't really prepared for the answer He gave me.
Do you wonder about my title, "Tickle My Ears"?
When I wrote that, what I was talking about was preachers...well, more like "inspirational speakers"....who just say what they think the people want to hear, which makes them very popular. I'm talking about those on TV who are so popular and their books are best-sellers!!!
It's always sugar and spice and peaches and cream and nothing bad...in other words, the people who flock to hear these speakers only want to have their ears "tickled". They don't want to hear anything that might convict their hearts...make them stop and think about any wrong-doing.
They only want to hear the good stuff.
2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT)
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Which brings me to the scripture that I heard twice...and, after thinking about it, goes along perfectly with this topic. It's about the rich young man who asked Jesus what good thing he could do so that he could have eternal life (this goes along with yesterday's topic, too...."Religious Fanatic") This message was brought by our youth pastor at church Sunday night, and was used in my devotions again yesterday. Remember the story???? Jesus repeated several of the ten commandments to the young man, and he told Jesus that he kept them. Then, Jesus told him to go and sell all that he had and give the money to the poor.
Matthew 19:22 states, "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
Why do you think he went away sorrowful?!?!?!
Because......he placed more importance on his possessions than he did on what Jesus was asking of him. Does this mean it's a "sin" to have money, or possessions??? Indeed not...remember:"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (first part of James 1:17 - KJV) What this young man failed to realize was that even his riches came from God....EVERYTHING we possess is a blessing from the Lord. This lesson really touched my heart. Like I said earlier, I asked God to show me the "err of my ways"....and boy, did He!!! And, it definitely wasn't a "tickle" to my ears...it hurt, and tickles aren't supposed to hurt!!!! It didn't hurt me physically, but it hurt my heart to have to be shown that there are still some things there that I need to get rid of. One of them is my fear.....fearing God is one thing...but fearing man is an entirely different situation. My fear isn't that I'm physically afraid of anybody....it's an emotional fear. A fear of letting anybody get too close for "fear" of getting hurt, or revealing too much of myself.....it's a "fear" of saying the word "no" ...to nothing that really is "wrong", but it might not be the direction God is leading me in for that particular day, hour, or even moment of time!!!
If none of this makes any sense to you, then that's okay....because God was speaking to me...about my shortcomings....and that was only one of several things
(I might share some of the others, if He directs me to).
So....if you want to know where God wants to improve your life...
just ask Him...
and He will be more than glad to point it out to you...
but, like I said earlier...
BE PREPARED!!!!
It might hurt just a little...
but will be so worth it in the long run if we listen and obey!!!
In His Love...and with mine!!!
*** Edited to add***
After I wrote this, I turned the TV on, and there was a program on about conquering your "fear".
I've said this before, but God absolutely never ceases to amaze me. I sometimes wonder about my posts and if they are what He's asking of me...
then, He confirms it for me!!!
Oh, what a WONDERFUL, AWESOME, MIGHTY, AMAZING GOD we serve!!!
Now....NEVER EVER ask God to shine His light in your heart and point out something, if you really don't want to know....because He's gonna do just what you asked...so BE PREPARED!!!
I wasn't really prepared for the answer He gave me.
Do you wonder about my title, "Tickle My Ears"?
When I wrote that, what I was talking about was preachers...well, more like "inspirational speakers"....who just say what they think the people want to hear, which makes them very popular. I'm talking about those on TV who are so popular and their books are best-sellers!!!
It's always sugar and spice and peaches and cream and nothing bad...in other words, the people who flock to hear these speakers only want to have their ears "tickled". They don't want to hear anything that might convict their hearts...make them stop and think about any wrong-doing.
They only want to hear the good stuff.
2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT)
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Which brings me to the scripture that I heard twice...and, after thinking about it, goes along perfectly with this topic. It's about the rich young man who asked Jesus what good thing he could do so that he could have eternal life (this goes along with yesterday's topic, too...."Religious Fanatic") This message was brought by our youth pastor at church Sunday night, and was used in my devotions again yesterday. Remember the story???? Jesus repeated several of the ten commandments to the young man, and he told Jesus that he kept them. Then, Jesus told him to go and sell all that he had and give the money to the poor.
Matthew 19:22 states, "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
Why do you think he went away sorrowful?!?!?!
Because......he placed more importance on his possessions than he did on what Jesus was asking of him. Does this mean it's a "sin" to have money, or possessions??? Indeed not...remember:"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (first part of James 1:17 - KJV) What this young man failed to realize was that even his riches came from God....EVERYTHING we possess is a blessing from the Lord. This lesson really touched my heart. Like I said earlier, I asked God to show me the "err of my ways"....and boy, did He!!! And, it definitely wasn't a "tickle" to my ears...it hurt, and tickles aren't supposed to hurt!!!! It didn't hurt me physically, but it hurt my heart to have to be shown that there are still some things there that I need to get rid of. One of them is my fear.....fearing God is one thing...but fearing man is an entirely different situation. My fear isn't that I'm physically afraid of anybody....it's an emotional fear. A fear of letting anybody get too close for "fear" of getting hurt, or revealing too much of myself.....it's a "fear" of saying the word "no" ...to nothing that really is "wrong", but it might not be the direction God is leading me in for that particular day, hour, or even moment of time!!!
If none of this makes any sense to you, then that's okay....because God was speaking to me...about my shortcomings....and that was only one of several things
(I might share some of the others, if He directs me to).
So....if you want to know where God wants to improve your life...
just ask Him...
and He will be more than glad to point it out to you...
but, like I said earlier...
BE PREPARED!!!!
It might hurt just a little...
but will be so worth it in the long run if we listen and obey!!!
In His Love...and with mine!!!
*** Edited to add***
After I wrote this, I turned the TV on, and there was a program on about conquering your "fear".
I've said this before, but God absolutely never ceases to amaze me. I sometimes wonder about my posts and if they are what He's asking of me...
then, He confirms it for me!!!
Oh, what a WONDERFUL, AWESOME, MIGHTY, AMAZING GOD we serve!!!
I think a lot of us are afraid to get our feelings hurt and that's why we do things that won't hurt others but inside we hurt becasue of that fear. God will let you reveal things when He feels you are ready and also don't forget He will take the fear away and the hurt too. Love ya and if you need anything sister, I'm here. I've been praying for you too.
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