Skip to main content

Thoughts From Douglas McKelvey

Dear Friends,

I know that by sending these “thoughts” out to over 600 people each week, I am sending them to a mixed crew. Some of you are experiencing inner peace and great joy. Others are tired and going through stressful circumstances. Two friends I know are experiencing the grief of loss. Some may be looking forward to the Christmas season with a sense of excitement and anticipation, while others are feeling depressed or emotionally numb. Some may be going through what St. John of the Cross called, “The Dark Night of the Soul” (struggling to even believe, or sense God’s wonderful presence at all), while others feel like he is so close he’s breathing down their necks. Over the years I’ve walked through each one of those places in my journey with Jesus. Like the seasons of the year, we too go through spiritual seasons – not staying put in one, but entering into one and then exiting out of it into another. 


I don’t know who is where at this present time, but I did feel led to post this particular “thought” today for anyone who might be going through a time of battling temptation or fighting destructive desires. I felt these words from Douglas McKelvey, in his book, “Every Moment Holy’ might be helpful for anyone struggling with strong desires you are somehow feeding and not wanting at the same time. Desires that could lead you to a place you know you don’t want to go. I trust that if you are that person (and maybe there is only one) you will find the strength to resist by reading and following this confession and petition for provision. May grace, in the form of strength and a change of affections, be yours. Enjoy.

Battling a Destructive Desire

“But each person is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has been conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15

Jesus, here I am again, desiring a thing that were I to indulge in it, would war against my own heart, and the hearts of those I love. Yet, O Christ, I want my life to be yours!

Take my desires. Let them be subsumed in a still greater desire for you, until there remains in me no room for these lesser cravings.  



At this moment I might choose to indulge a fleeting hunger, or I might choose to love you more. Faced with this temptation, I would rather choose you, Jesus.

But I am weak. So be my strength. I am shadowed. So be my light. I am selfish. Unmake me now, and refashion my desires, according to the better designs of your love.

Given the choice of shame or Your glory, let me choose Your glory.

Given the choice of this moment, or eternity, let me choose in this moment what is eternal.

Given the choice of this easy pleasure, or the harder road of the cross, give me grace to choose to follow you.

I know that there is nowhere apart from your presence where I might find the peace I long for, no lasting satisfaction apart from your reclamation of my heart.

Let me build, then, my King, a beautiful thing by long obedience, and the steady progression of small choices which when laid end to end, will become like the stones of a pleasing path stretching to eternity, and unto your welcoming arms, and unto the sound of your voice pronouncing the judgment: ‘Well done.’”


In Romans 7:18-20 Paul states, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin living in me…” So what's the solution? Paul tells us in vv. 24-25 where he exclaims, “What a wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Brennan Manning was once asked how it was that he became an alcoholic after he became a Christian. His answer was a mere six words: “I took my eyes off Jesus.” It is not without reason the author of Hebrews tells us: “Fix your eyes (the Greek word for ‘fix’ has the sense of one thing glued to another!) upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith…”



It is hard to sin when as believers our eyes are glued to Jesus, Pastor Jeff

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thoughts From David Wilkerson

Dear Friends, I date myself when I suggest everyone knows David Wilkerson, author of the best-selling international adventure story (a true story) written in 1963 and titled “The Cross and the Switchblade.” It chronicled Wilkerson’s work with gangs in New York City and was later made into a biographical crime movie in 1970. One of his lesser-known books is a devotional book entitled, “I’m Not Mad at God,” published in 1967. I have selected three entries. I made some minor grammatical changes for better understanding. I trust at least one of them might hit home with you. Enjoy. "Stay here and keep watch with me." Matt. 26:38 "The true purpose of prayer is that we enjoy much personal communion with the Lord. The heart is reluctant to dwell in God's presence for long, and so it satisfies itself instead with 'devotions.' This describes a hurried period late at night, or early in the morning, when a quick prayer is offered to God after a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thoughts From Aristides and Diognetus

Dear Friends, I love history. In fact, if God had not called me to be a pastor, I might have ended up teaching history. Therefore, today, I share parts of two historical documents (from the second century) which I ran across while doing research for my sermon this past Sunday. I found each one intriguing and thought I would pass them along to you. They both have to do with the beliefs and lifestyles of early Christians. The 1st is by a man named Aristides the Philosopher, a man who was given the job of looking into the new “cult” called Christianity and reporting back to the Emperor Titus Hadrianus Antoninus with what he discovered (some believing he became a Christian himself by the time he finished it). The 2nd is by a man named Diognetus and is taken from his “Epistle of Diognetus.” I believe you will find them informative and challenging. Enjoy. Aristides reports to the Emperor Hadrianus Antoninus. “As for the Christians, they trace their line from Jesus Christ who is ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Reprint of the First Thought for the Week

Dear Friends, Today (after a 2-3 week break from sending out some thoughts) I am back at it! For those who may not have heard, I just finished 6 months of cancer treatments at the NIH, and after tests on July 24 was told that it has gone into remission. The next day we discovered Nancy’s mom had passed, with her funeral service being held last Monday. It’s been a busy time. So today, still catching up, I thought I would send out the first “Thought for the Week” I ever sent out – way back in February of 2008! Some may remember the story, while others will not. It’s the story behind the writing of the hymn “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by Thomas Dorsey, published in 1938. I did not reference the book I found it in. Enjoy. The Story Behind the Song, “Precious Lord…” “Back in 1932, I was 32 years old, and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's south side. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, wh...
Post a Comment
Read more