DING! - Your Hood Is Ajar.
This is the message our car has been giving us for the past few months. The first couple times this happened we pulled over and walked around front to find that the hood was perfectly fine. We’ve had the car into the shop twice and no one had been able to fix the problem. So, at random intervals once a week or five times a day we get the message that our hood is ajar. now when this message comes up, we’ve reached the point where we simply push “okay” on the steering wheel and the message goes away.
Obviously there is a problem with our information system. There is definitely something wrong (probably a bad sensor) but the car’s computer is interpreting the problem incorrectly. Yesterday when I heard the ding and saw this message pop up, I wondered how often I do this to myself, how often do I sense something wrong, find the wrong cause and send myself the wrong error message.
Getting The Wrong Messages
Of all the teachers, influencers and advisors we have throughout life, the person we get the most messages from and the person we listen to the most is ourself. I can be pretty quick to diagnose what’s wrong with me and to send those error messages; you said the wrong thing, these people are better than you, you don’t work hard enough, you’re not good enough, etc.
Finding More Accurate Input
My perception of myself is often like the computer on our car, I can sense that there is something wrong but when I interpret the information I come up with the wrong diagnosis. There is someone who has a completely accurate view of me and who has already shared his diagnosis of my problems. Even where I see brokenness and problems, God sees me as valuable and effective for him. In Ephesians 2:10 I am reminded that I am God’s workmanship, created to do his work. In Psalm 139 David reminds me that God knows me completely, the good and the bad, and that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In Ephesians 1:4 I see that despite my flaws God selected me to be one of his own even before the world was formed, that I should be holy and blameless. Throughout the bible, God goes on and on in his diagnosis of me. I simply need to listen more to his voice than my own.
Letting God's Voice Take Over
Read through chapters 1 & 2 of Ephesians today. Sit alone with these verses and concentrate on hearing God’s voice. Consider that these words apply to you personally and practice thinking of yourself the way God thinks of you.