Posts Tagged: possession
“Preferences Become Cages”
I have a friend with whom I frequently talk on the phone. I find him to be a wonderful blend of kind and insightful.
I mentioned to him this morning that I am trying to get over my preferences. Could he pray for me about that? He said something that I immediately thought was profoundly true: “Preferences become cages.”
Yes!
I have noticed that when I get what I want, I am not necessarily happy. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I remember ever getting what I wanted, and being tremendously happy with it. Of course, I may just be getting old and forgetful. However, I doubt it.
But what’s wrong with having preferences, you ask? Probably, not much.
It’s just that, when I have preferences, pretty soon, the preferences have me. Any time that any material or emotional or relational thing possesses me, I’m possessed. And possession (demonic or otherwise) is not good.
Also, when I have preferences, they come prepackaged with resentment. The resentment may not kick in right away. It may lie dormant for years. But then, at some point, I don’t get my preferences, and the resentment becomes active.
Furthermore, preferences keep me from the happiness of surprise. One of the reasons very small children enjoy playing peek-a-boo may be that they have not yet developed preferences about when they will see you. (Some folks, by the time they are teenagers, prefer not to see their parents at all.) Whether preferences are met or not, the happiness of surprise evaporates.
Finally, preferences keep me from making new friends, learning new things, experiencing the moment in an open-minded way. Preferences turn me into a prisoner of my own expectations.
On second thought, maybe there is a lot that is wrong with preferences.
I don’t know what hell is like, and would rather not find out, thank you! However, I wonder if it isn’t a place where we are imprisoned with our increasingly precise preferences.
Stay out of hell! Okay? I’ll try to stay out of it as well.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
Recent Comments