pilgrim in progress

One of the things I love about my job is the opportunity to get to know different pastors. This morning I talked with Ben Rudolph who I’ve really enjoyed getting to know. He’s in the first year of planting a church in a growing suburb and it is always exciting to hear about God’s grace0. This morning we talked about counseling, church, marketing, hermeneutics, Brian Mclaren, elders, and Jonthan Edwards. Ben is reading through Religious Affections and mentioned that he had just jotted down a list of questions to ask himself each morning based on the affections. He just emailed it to me and I think they are a great resource:

Fear – do I have a healthy fear of God (prov. 1:7)?  Am I in awe of His majesty and holiness?

Hope – What are my hopes and dreams placed in?  Is there any “storm” stealing my hope? (1 Pet. 1:3)

Love – Do I love God w/ my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength?  Do I love others like God loves them?

Hate – Do I hate sin?  Do I hate the sin in my own life?  Do I hate the evil in the world w/out hating the person committing the evil? (Ps. 101:3; Prov. 8:13)

Desire – Do I hunger and thirst after God’s holiness?  Is He the most satisfying thing to my soul? (Ps. 42:1-2; 63:1-2; Matt. 5:6)

Joy – Do I choose joy over pity in my circumstances?  Have I learned to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS? (Ps. 37:4; Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16)

Sorrow – Is my heart broken over the sin and suffering in the world?  Am I not moved that souls enter into an eternal hell every second? (Ps. 51:17; Is. 57:15)

Gratitude – Am I thankful to God for all He has given me?  Do I praise Him for all His goodness every moment of my life?

Compassion – Have I shown mercy and forgiven those who have wronged me?  Do I look to the needs of others and try to find a way to meet them? 

Zeal – Have I become lukewarm and tepid in my faith?  Am I passionate about seeing God’s Kingdom lived out through me to others?

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