Taking a Spiritual Inventory

Kay called me the other day and told me about a friend of hers who's boss had mentioned that they might need to do a "spiritual inventory," and her friend really did not understand what this was or what their boss meant. But, praise Jesus that they have a boss who knows. Right?

So here Kay and I are discussing this, and it starts to get heated. I was trying explain myself and fix her friend (I like to fix things) and was not listening to Kay, and Kay was still trying get her point across. Bottom line? I was not practicing what I was trying to explain; I was not practicing. How do I know this because Kay told me that I was not displaying in my acts what I was talking about (what I heard was practice what you preach): "Fruit of the Spirit" found in Galatians 5. So, I ask you this. Just because someone does says good-bye while you are talking, aren't they still hanging up on you?

So, in the heat of realizing that I felt I was just hung-up on, I am pulling up Galatians 5 on the Internet (because when I get mad, I can multitask) and call Kay back! Phone just rings and rings, somewhere about the last three rings, I now have Galatians pulled up and starting to look at it, and then I get Kay's voice mail. I hang up and hit re-dial, and before the first ring, the Holy Spirit said "look at what you are reading, what do you see?" This is was I was reading verse 19:

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

These things that are in bold print were standing out from all the other things on the page. Well when she answered the phone, I could hear her sigh (which meant to me, "here we go again"), and I said "Baby, I am sorry! You are right, please forgive me." I finished listening to her and hearing her side, her view, her point. Once I did that, man I felt good inside. Actually I felt more "GOD" inside.

I went over with Kay, this from 22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control..." I told Kay that I did a "spiritual inventory" while I was waiting on her to answer the phone, and I did not like what I was seeing. 

So, this is a what I look at in myself, in the conversations with others, in things others are doing, and/or the things I might be reading on Facebook, and to me it is a "no brainer" that I don't need to be in it. Well, it might be a "no brainer" but I was using too much brain with Kay and no heart. So, when I can't see Jesus in these things, I am not going to be there long myself. In other words, if I can't see Jesus in these relationships, conversation, business dealings... I do not need to see Bobby either. I find myself in these places and things when I have not waiting on Christ, when I am listening to my feelings and not the Holy Spirit, make sense?

I know I have probably blogged about these words in Galatians before, however I believe that I might not be the only one on this planet that is looking for more Jesus in my life and less of me?

I call it a "No Brainer" because it is right there in black and white, and look how 19 started out "The acts of the flesh are obvious" (which means to me "No Brainer") and unless you really have a HUGE Bible, 19-23 should be on the same page together. I can look at all at the same time.

I look at this self examination, look at these words and look to see more of where I really am. I look at verses 19-21 and being honest, out of the 15 things mentioned I stand guilty of at least 13 of the 15? I look at 22-23 and have a hard time being guilty of 0 out of 9?

So, I do the self exam thing, and I always go over this with my accountability partner (it might be Kay) which is always someone of the same gender as myself unless and only if it's Kay. I currently have five different accountability partners, six when you include Kay. Accountability folks are "GOD" solid Christians, that Christ is very evident in their lives. Not just talking the game, but Jesus Christ is in their heart, and you see it in their lives, not their words. They listen, do not judge, voice opinion sometimes, share their stuff. Someone who I can trust, someone who is real and that person is someone I can be real with! If you don't have anyone like that in your life, make the changes and find someone, I had to change the locations where I was looking.

I realized life does happen. You can call it what you want to, but life does happen. When it does, and it will, I have to make a choice, am I going to see the "Fruit of the World" (Galatians 5:19-21) or the "Fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) in my choice, in my actions. Am I going to respond or react? Spend a lot of time praying. Then walk over to 1 Corinthian 13:1-13, and read about what real love is.

I choose to get better today and take a step towards the Lord of my life, which is Jesus Christ! What or who is the Lord of your life? What fruit are others seeing in you?

I do welcome your comments. And, know this Jesus loves you, and so do I.