My Walks With God

All of these systems are seeking knowledge and understanding of the world and people God created. As we perfect our systems and change our perspective, it changes our hearts. As our hearts change the systems evolve and provide more clarity and understanding to the world. It is the beauty and freedom of our Creator. He patiently awaits for us to find a way of alignment in order to enter the Kingdom again. These systems, our trials and tribulations, and the longing and compassion of humanity to make cultural shifts are helping us get there. All is of and from our Creator. Although some experiences are for the lesson learned through the consequences of our own or others actions. While humanity is imperfect, we are constantly perfecting ourselves and these systems. Our brains are a gift from God as it distinguishes us from God’s other creations. The hope is all will align and we reconnect with God again in the Kingdom. We will be ready if we allow ourselves to let go of the hierarchy and imposed supremacy this world has created that doesn’t allow us to see humanity and all of God’s creatures the way we were intended to. It is important to root into the true character of God, define our values based upon His character, and hold ourselves accountable when we fall short. We are not defined by the mistakes we partake in, rather it is the response to them that matters most. The destination lies within us. Heal yourself from the woes of this world and listen to the wisdom that is deep within. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Above all God cares most about the inner works of our heart. God sees all and has the wisdom to guide us. Our creator is constantly pushing us forward and revealing things when God knows we are capable of understanding these new perspectives. 1 Corinthians 13:4–13:10 Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. If your love is conditional based on someone changing a component of themselves that has no bearing on the values of the heart and mind then you are not loving in the image of God. If you are deeming an individual less than yourself because of circumstances they were born in or of, you are not loving in the image of God. God’s love is unconditional and everlasting. It is radical and freeing but perfectly disciplined in the mind and heart. Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” There are many social justice groups and hate groups alike all around us. You have to sit in discomfort and ask yourself do your opinions and values align with those seeking justice and equality or those seeking oppression and power? You must also define what is oppression and what is the consequence of an individual’s values and actions (especially if one is considering if they create an unsafe environment)? While these varying groups change and evolve over time the values and lessons remain true.

Genesis 3:17 And to Adam he said, “because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you;”. Both Adam and Eve choose to eat the forbidden fruit of their own resolve which is why both received consequences from God. The primary issue here is that both Adam and Eve decided to listen to someone other than their creator and were deceived which led to a different understanding than God has intended for us. As individuals, regardless of our identity, we are responsible for the choices we make. Unfortunately due to the confusion that often is a result of trauma (sin) it can be difficult to understand this. Every day each person makes individual choices that have no bearing on what gender, race, sexuality, etc. they are. However, I believe it’s important to note that certain systems and long held beliefs have significant impacts on an individual’s outcome and rights which influences so many things. Overall no one person is greater than another, hence the equality God so wants us to seek. The true difference between us are the choices we make about what truths we allow into our hearts and minds. The choices we make on how we treat each other. Do we try to find superiority over others or compassion and comradery? When we see someone struggling do we make excuses why they should or do we provide solutions? When we see a child having a hard time do we punish and ridicule or do we guide and teach? A big problem as of lately is we are influenced by others that have no interest in trying to understand other perspectives and the complex, freeing, and loving nature of God. They pull us in a direction that bends our values out of fear of violence or invalidation which prevents us from moving forward. This is something I am still praying and seeking guidance on. I know the importance of boundaries but how do you deal with people who refuse to adhere to consequences and instead seek violence? My own personal stance is to pick more informed and empathetic leaders that seek truth above power to help guide them. The choice to change someone’s hearts will always reside on their shoulders and I trust God to deal with whatever comes to pass. Like an invasive plant, once a bad seed is planted it grows and is hard to gain control of. It’s important to ensure you don’t allow it to grow in your heart.

If in our own personal lives someone is imposing something on you that makes your environment or those around you unsafe or at risk then leave if you can. Protect yourself and those around you in a loving/non violent way by creating distance and seek those that will help as God provides so many helpers for us. God has always given us the freedom to choose. We can choose who receives our energy as it is the most valuable thing we have. Listen, learn, be truthful, and connect. Let someone reveal who they are without any expectations or control. Root yourself in God’s values and it will be easy to see who seeks to harm and who seeks to understand and work together. Who is transparent, consistent, and seeks knowledge and truth over power, violence, control, and being right. As a society and a human race we have long looked to pain for our lessons, now is the time to lean into the love, grace, and acceptance of our Creator. Do not be afraid to allow people to fall away from you.

God is as consistent as they get. It is one defining characteristic. He does not show favorites and is steady in His understanding. God knows no bias for He is love and grace. The only lines He draws are when someone causes harm, pain, and suffering. And even then it is left up to the individual who is being harmed to draw that line and protect themselves for God so hopes the one doing harm will change and the one being harmed will help them understand the consequences of their actions and values. God sees all and knows all and understands every person’s story with compassion. Sin brings sin until someone along the line decides to do better or until those around them seek justice and protection of the righteous. It is why there are so many generations of us. It is humanities agreement with God; each generation getting the chance to change and improve on our journey back to the Kingdom. Are your ideals and values causing harm? For reasons that have nothing to do with your physical or mental safety? Are you imposing your ideals of how someone should be instead of listening and accepting? Love means to let go of control and power in order to allow what is.

Consistency in our values are so important when trying to understand how to move in this world. If I as a person don’t want one human being subjected to something I shouldn’t want any human being regardless of identity, history, privilege, etc to experience it either. Superiority is a ruse people use in order to subjugate power. This can be seen in many populations including: gender, race, sexuality, and age (among others). Parents are not superior to their children, men are not superior to women, one race is not superior to another, and vice versa. We must balance our minds and hearts to understand our value and worth is not wrapped up in outwardly/worldly things regardless of what these human constructed hierarchies have conditioned us to believe. God wants us to seek true equality. The true test of a person is not what we see on the surface but rather what is found deep within the heart and mind. If you find value and seek guidance from someone it is best not to let the bias of this world get in the way.

Currently there is much discussion about the divide we are experiencing in America and in a variety of other nations all over the world. While there is much nuance with each “side” one is more consistent than the other. One will get us closer to the Kingdom of God while the other takes us further. Look for those leading with love, grace, knowledge, compassion, consistency, accountability, equality, and equity. Resist the urge to confine or control God based on some past understanding and instead find the pattern of God’s nature. God does not punish, God allows consequences to ensue as lessons to enlighten. God wants us to protect ourselves from those who lack understanding or proper guidance and have allowed the world to consume them. Allow God to guide your heart and mind with the values He is so consistent in giving. While humanity is still figuring it out I see so much hope among us. So many important conversations are happening and so much healing is occurring as a result of our fall away from the Kingdom of God.

In conclusion, we impose so much on each other without even realizing it. My whole life I’d only ever experienced love through the lens of control, pain, and condemnation. A life of never being good enough and only being worthy if I adhered to some set standard and obeyed perfectly. It wasn’t until I truly found and sat with our Creator every day that I began to learn the actual meaning of unconditional and unwavering love and confidence. I have felt the sting of hell and kept perpetuating ideals and values I learned from the world that were keeping me trapped in it. I myself still struggle with this today but God is ever patient and loving as He helps me figure it all out. It is my hope that as our generation expands its knowledge and understands the impact of our action or inaction we will find the true way to the kingdom as we open our hearts and have faith that God will handle all the rest. Do you have faith in God and the people He created? I do. I so desperately want to see us make it to the perfect Kingdom and glory of our Creator.