Why should we take a Spiritual Inventory? And, is it Biblical?
It's been a few weeks since my last post and I could give you a whole bunch of excuses as to why that has taken place, but the truth is I just didn't want to write, I am discouraged as it appears that there are very few people who read my stuff. A great deal of self doubt has crept in. I am asking questions of myself like, has called really called me to write about His word.
As I was praying about this God asked me why it was important to me that others read my work? Of course my quick and dirty answer was "because I want to glorify your name Lord", but was that a truthful answer? No, it wasn't, it was a smokescreen to cover my pride. I want you to read and comment on my writing because I want you to think I am somebody, that what I write and say is important. I want your comments so I can feel good about myself. This is a shameful and sinful motivation.
The human spirit and mind is full of pride and from it stems all sorts of excuses for sin and other wrongful behaviors. The churches history is filled with men who like myself had justified beliefs, teachings and behaviors that not only were self-centered but just plain wrong and sometimes even hurtful to our fellow human beings.
Taking inventory is a fact finding process. In a business an inventory helps the business owner make decisions about what is selling and what is not. In a spiritual inventory we are trying to find out the facts about ourselves and our relationship with God and our world. This last inventory of mine showed me my pride and showed me how I had stopped relying on my God and started to rely on my self again. Hence the reason for taking inventory on a regular basis.
Some people believe that once you accept Jesus as Lord you never have to worry about sin. That God takes it all and rips it from you. While this may be true in a few , very rare people, for the majority it just ain't so. Human pride and human will battles against God's Holy Spirit. Becoming like Jesus is a lifelong challenge. The good news is that once we accept Jesus as Lord we have His Holy Spirit right here with us and can turn to Him and repent, then He will give us the strength to overcome that particular sin until the next time we think we can do this thing on our own.
The inventory is a tool to keep us ever mindful of our need for Him. But is it scriptural?
Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
The Spiritual Inventory I suggested using the 10 Commandments in the book I have written should be a beginning of a lifetime exercise, there are many other moral and spiritual inventories available and all are good. If you have never formally tried tried the inventory process in your walk with the Lord I do recommend it.
One final thought on the inventory process, honesty and fearlessness is critical for the inventory to be of value in your walk with the Lord. If you do not honestly face yourself you cannot honestly face our Lord and ask for his power and strength in your life. Will you be afraid at searching your own heart? Yes most likely, but ask the Lord for help, He will answer.
Blessings upon you and yours.
Les
It's been a few weeks since my last post and I could give you a whole bunch of excuses as to why that has taken place, but the truth is I just didn't want to write, I am discouraged as it appears that there are very few people who read my stuff. A great deal of self doubt has crept in. I am asking questions of myself like, has called really called me to write about His word.
As I was praying about this God asked me why it was important to me that others read my work? Of course my quick and dirty answer was "because I want to glorify your name Lord", but was that a truthful answer? No, it wasn't, it was a smokescreen to cover my pride. I want you to read and comment on my writing because I want you to think I am somebody, that what I write and say is important. I want your comments so I can feel good about myself. This is a shameful and sinful motivation.
The human spirit and mind is full of pride and from it stems all sorts of excuses for sin and other wrongful behaviors. The churches history is filled with men who like myself had justified beliefs, teachings and behaviors that not only were self-centered but just plain wrong and sometimes even hurtful to our fellow human beings.
Taking inventory is a fact finding process. In a business an inventory helps the business owner make decisions about what is selling and what is not. In a spiritual inventory we are trying to find out the facts about ourselves and our relationship with God and our world. This last inventory of mine showed me my pride and showed me how I had stopped relying on my God and started to rely on my self again. Hence the reason for taking inventory on a regular basis.
Some people believe that once you accept Jesus as Lord you never have to worry about sin. That God takes it all and rips it from you. While this may be true in a few , very rare people, for the majority it just ain't so. Human pride and human will battles against God's Holy Spirit. Becoming like Jesus is a lifelong challenge. The good news is that once we accept Jesus as Lord we have His Holy Spirit right here with us and can turn to Him and repent, then He will give us the strength to overcome that particular sin until the next time we think we can do this thing on our own.
The inventory is a tool to keep us ever mindful of our need for Him. But is it scriptural?
Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
The Spiritual Inventory I suggested using the 10 Commandments in the book I have written should be a beginning of a lifetime exercise, there are many other moral and spiritual inventories available and all are good. If you have never formally tried tried the inventory process in your walk with the Lord I do recommend it.
One final thought on the inventory process, honesty and fearlessness is critical for the inventory to be of value in your walk with the Lord. If you do not honestly face yourself you cannot honestly face our Lord and ask for his power and strength in your life. Will you be afraid at searching your own heart? Yes most likely, but ask the Lord for help, He will answer.
Blessings upon you and yours.
Les
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