Getting Honest With God
To remain spiritual, we must be honest with ourselves and God, identifying and overcoming our weaknesses through self-examination and confession.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of honesty with God through a practical approach he calls the 'pad and pencil method.' He encourages believers to kneel with their Bible, write down their shortcomings as revealed by the Holy Spirit, and then confess these before God, committing to change. This self-examination fosters spiritual growth and clarity, allowing individuals to confront their weaknesses without evasion or rationalization. Tozer assures that this practice will lead to a revitalized spirit and a deeper communion with God. Ultimately, he highlights that true honesty with oneself and God is essential for spiritual renewal.
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Try what I call the pad and pencil method. This method is very simple and consists of getting on your knees with your Bible, a pad of paper and a pencil. Read the Bible and then write down what is wrong with you. The only way to remain spiritual is to keep after yourself. The pad and pencil method is good. Read, for example, the Sermon on the Mount. When the Holy Spirit says, "You are that person," write it down. Read on. When the Holy Spirit says you are wrong here or there, write it down. Then set your Bible aside and go over your list before God in confession with the promise that you will never be caught doing those things again.
Commune with your own heart, be still and question yourself like a doctor with your open Bible before you.
You will find that this will bring sunshine to your life, and you will have springtime in your heart. When you get before God realizing that there has been a bit of snow on the ground and that the happy song of the birds is not heard in the land and that the sweet smell of the flowers is not within you, begin to question yourself before God with the open Bible. The symptoms you already know, but try to get at the causes. If you are evasive with God, then there will be no help. If you are evasive with yourself, if you rationalize your weaknesses, you will get no help.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Self-Examination
- The Need for Humility and Honesty
- The Consequences of Evasion
- Lack of Help from God
- Rationalizing Weaknesses
- No Spiritual Growth
Key Quotes
“The only way to remain spiritual is to keep after yourself.” — A.W. Tozer
“When the Holy Spirit says, 'You are that person,' write it down.” — A.W. Tozer
“Commune with your own heart, be still and question yourself like a doctor with your open Bible before you.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Regularly examine your life and identify areas where you need to grow.
- Be honest with yourself and God about your weaknesses and shortcomings.
- Seek to overcome your weaknesses through confession and spiritual growth.