January 18, 2016

Prognosis, Prescription, Result - Gloria Guest


Into the year

The days left behind, a curtain of blackness

The landscape before, unchartered and strange

No footsteps to follow,

But one solitary Light…..

Each year I choose a bible verse for the upcoming year that I feel is something God is wanting to do in my life or express to me.  This year my verse is “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 (NIV)

This verse is divided into three parts:

 In the first part of the verse I am given the result of following the prescription; that as I move closer to God that He will draw near to me and help me. I like how He gives the result first; He is telling me that first I need to draw near to Him, just the way that I am.

In the second part “Wash your hands, you sinners,” I am given part of the prescription – to wash my hands – letting me know that action is required on my part and I am given my prognosis – I am a sinner.

Hands represent how we interact in the world around us, the things we do, how we deal with others – how we serve others. God is saying that I need to deal with the wrong ways that I have treated people and renew my commitment to helping others rather than taking care of my own selfish desires.

 Sin represents death so to have such a prognosis is serious. I have a choice; to continue on the way that I am which leads to death in relationships and death in living a victorious life or to wash my hands. Washing takes a concerted effort. We wash our hands not once but many times a day. Throughout my day I need to examine my heart and change my ways.

The third part of the verse is an even stronger prescription along with another prognosis, “purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Purify means to purge and is a process whereby impurities and things hindering my life are removed with God’s help. The prognosis is double-mindedness; a spiritual condition that affects the mind whereby in one moment I want to live a righteous life while in the next, I am going in the opposite direction. God is telling me that it is only by allowing Him to purify my heart that I can be free to follow Him with my whole heart, mind and soul.

This year I endeavour to draw near to God in my life, examining my heart and making changes where He asks me to.  My writing is just an outward expression of what is in my heart and so I can only improve my message as I listen to God’s message to me. There really is no one else to follow on this path, no footprints to guide me, as we all have different journeys; no one else – except Jesus – who lights my path.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NIV)

8 comments:

  1. I wish you many blessings this year, Gloria. Thank you for this thought provoking post

    ReplyDelete
  2. That was great, Gloria. You will indeed have a wonderful year and a powerful message as you "wash your hands" daily. I needed to hear this too, especially the double-minded part. Thanks. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always enjoy reading your messages Gloria! Our constant drawing near to God is a sign of our spiritual growth and our dependence on Him. Thank you for this wonderful reminder of our calling!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This verse is a good reminder for me too. As you clarify this for yourself, you clarify it for me. Thanks. Well said, Gloria. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you all for reading and commenting. An interesting side note: My neighbor who moved in recently and I really don't know very well invited me to her Bible Study...three times! And it wasn't a phone call...or text...but she came to my door. The third time I figured she must have heard something about me...'Gloria really needs help,' or something...I really didn't want to go to a Bible Study...I figure I've been there done that...sort of not so good in a group of women..so I really wanted her to leave me alone. I'm a strong introvert and I felt I had finally adjusted quite well to living out here, knowing next to no one with my husband gone half the week...now here she was at my door again! Long story short...I went last night...and her Bible Study is on the significance of the Temple and drawing near to God ;) God has His way of calling us out and I guess He knew with me that it would take three personal invites...the poor lady even had to come out in the cold to knock on my door three times. By the way....she is a wonderful person and I hope to become friends :) Just thought I'd share as I had just posted this and then...I'm called out by God to do something about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the danger of putting things into writing... God will call us out! So glad you responded and risked going to the Bible Study - it's sure to be a source of encouragement for you this year.

      Delete
  6. What an interesting and lovely story, Gloria. Thanks for sharing this. God works in strange and persistent ways.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to join in the conversation. Our writers appreciate receiving your feedback on posts you have found helpful or meaningful in some way.