Indulgence: Choosing Thoughts That Illuminate Our Spiritual Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing the Dual Nature of Temptation

Temptation can manifest in two distinct forms: when our will is thwarted, leading to negative emotions such as anger and resentment, and when our will is flattered, leading to vanity and pride. Understanding these dynamics is crucial in our spiritual journey. While we cannot prevent tempting thoughts from entering our minds, we have the power to choose whether or not to let them take root and influence our actions. By recognizing the nature of temptation, we can better guard our hearts and minds against its influence, allowing us to live more aligned with God's will. [01:36]

James 1:14-15 (ESV): "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where you felt your will was either thwarted or flattered. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time to align your response with God's will?

Day 2: Mindful Indulgence and Its Impact

Indulgence is the act of gratifying an appetite despite potential negative consequences. It is essential to be mindful of what thoughts and desires we indulge in, as they shape who we become. By indulging in negative thoughts or desires, we risk allowing them to define our character and actions. Conversely, by choosing to indulge in positive and God-centered thoughts, we can cultivate a life that reflects His goodness and grace. This awareness helps us make conscious choices about what we allow to influence our inner life. [03:05]

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Reflection: Consider a thought or desire you frequently indulge in. Is it drawing you closer to God or pulling you away? What steps can you take to shift your focus towards more God-centered thoughts?

Day 3: Becoming Children of the Light

The concept of "children of the light" refers to individuals transformed by God's nature. These individuals are not perfect, but their inner life is centered on God, filled with love, gratitude, and hope. They do not dwell on evil or indulge in negative thoughts because they have learned about God's character and strength. This transformation is not about achieving perfection but about allowing God's light to shine through us, making us distinct in a world often filled with darkness. [04:54]

Ephesians 5:8-9 (ESV): "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle to live as a child of the light. What practical steps can you take to invite God's transformation in this area?

Day 4: Embracing Positive Indulgence

While indulgence often carries a negative connotation, there is a positive dimension to it as well. Practices such as resting in God, embracing grace, and seeking solitude can be seen as forms of good indulgence. These practices allow us to experience God's love, peace, and rest, transforming our inner life and aligning it with His will. By choosing to indulge in these positive practices, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's presence in our lives. [10:05]

Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV): "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."

Reflection: Identify a practice of positive indulgence you can incorporate into your daily routine. How can this practice help you experience more of God's love and peace?

Day 5: Choosing Thoughts that Draw Us Closer to God

While we cannot stop tempting thoughts from entering our minds, we can choose not to let them build a nest in our lives. Instead, we should indulge in thoughts that draw us closer to God and His goodness. By focusing on thoughts that reflect God's character and promises, we can cultivate a mindset that is more aligned with His will. This intentional choice helps us become more like the "children of the light," living lives that are distinct and filled with the goodness of God. [10:47]

Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Reflection: What is one thought pattern you need to change to draw closer to God? How can you replace it with thoughts that reflect His truth and goodness?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the concept of indulgence and its implications on our spiritual journey. We began with a humorous anecdote from J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan," illustrating the human tendency to indulge in immediate pleasures despite knowing the potential negative consequences. This story serves as a metaphor for the temptations we face in life, which can either thwart our will, leading to feelings of anger and resentment, or flatter our will, leading to vanity and pride. Martin Luther's insight into temptation reminds us that while we cannot prevent tempting thoughts from entering our minds, we can choose not to let them take root and influence our actions.

We delved into the teachings of Dallas Willard, who paints a vivid picture of the "children of the light," individuals transformed by God's nature. These individuals are not perfect, but they are remarkably different because of their inner life, which is deeply rooted in God. Their thoughts are centered on God, and they are filled with love, gratitude, and hope. They do not dwell on evil or indulge in thoughts of rejection, failure, and hopelessness because they know better, having learned about God's character and strength.

The sermon challenges us to consider what we choose to indulge in our daily lives. While indulgence often carries a negative connotation, there is a positive dimension to it as well. Resting in God, embracing grace, and seeking solitude can be seen as forms of good indulgence. These practices allow us to experience God's love, peace, and rest, transforming our inner life and aligning it with His will.

As we reflect on these insights, we are encouraged to indulge in thoughts and practices that draw us closer to God, allowing His light to transform us from within. By doing so, we become children of the light, living lives that are distinct and filled with the goodness of God.

Key Takeaways

1. GY0fJDQ&t=96s'>[01:36]
2. The Nature of Indulgence: Indulgence is gratifying an appetite despite negative consequences. We must be mindful of what thoughts and desires we indulge, as they shape who we become.

3. Children of the Light: These individuals are transformed by God's nature, with their inner life centered on God. They are filled with love, gratitude, and hope, and do not dwell on evil or indulge in negative thoughts.

4. Positive Indulgence: There is a good kind of indulgence, such as resting in God, embracing grace, and seeking solitude. These practices allow us to experience God's love, peace, and rest, transforming our inner life.

5. Choosing Better Thoughts: While we cannot stop tempting thoughts from entering our minds, we can choose not to let them build a nest in our lives. Instead, we should indulge in thoughts that draw us closer to God and His goodness.

** [01:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Introduction to Indulgence
[00:45] - J.M. Barrie's Story
[01:12] - The Nature of Temptation
[02:02] - Luther's Insight on Temptation
[02:26] - Birds and Thoughts Metaphor
[03:05] - Defining Indulgence
[03:32] - Dallas Willard's Children of the Light
[04:54] - Inner Life Transformation
[05:41] - Depths of the Soul
[06:27] - Thoughts Centered on God
[07:42] - Mindset of Children of the Light
[09:00] - Emotional Life of Love
[10:05] - Positive Indulgence
[10:47] - Choosing Better Thoughts
[11:19] - Conclusion and Next Steps

Sermon Clips

"Martin Luther had a saying that I think was not original with him but he cited one time he was writing about Jesus's statement in the Lord's Prayer, lead us not into temptation about the nature of temptation, and he said really there's two kinds of temptation. There's the temptations that we experience when our will is thwarted and then we become angry or discontent or resentful or feel like a martyr but the other temptation that we experience is when our wills are flattered and they receive no obstacles at all and then we're pumped up or praised or we're tempted to become vain and he says this is actually the more dangerous one." [00:80:72]

"You cannot stop the birds from flying in the air, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. Like thoughts may come, I'd like to compare myself to this person or I'm envious of that person, or it could be really fun to indulge some greed right here or I'd like to experience a little bit of lust those kind of things come but there's a difference between then the the the birds flying around in the air and the first time a bird comes and brings a little twig and sticks it on my head and then another twig and if I don't do anything, as the twigs and sticks are being constructed together into a domicile for a bird I cannot simply say now well I can't stop the birds from flying around." [00:130:319]

"To indulge is to gratify an appetite in the face of negative consequences that would be apparent to any reasonable person. So I want us to hold all of that in mind and to be thinking about what are the thoughts that I want to indulge today, what are the appetites what are the ideas, as we reflect together on a description that Dallas Willard gives this is a picture." [00:181:599]

"Children of the light is afraid that he uses from biblical terminology which is just a way of saying that we have the nature of light as God transforms us. Light is their parent and is passed on to them its nature as any parent does and he goes on now these people are not perfect and do not live in a perfect world yet, but they are remarkably different." [00:243:519]

"Where the children of light differ is primarily and most importantly on the inside of their life, in the unseen spiritual dimension. It lies in what they are in their depths. I was very struck here I've mentioned that Sigmund Freud is known as the father of what is sometimes called depth psychology but the reason that it is deep is it burrows down into the unconscious and the unconscious is those place where we bury our desires for Freud they were often sexual desires the edible complex, um things that are too dark for us to name to other people those are the depths that have to be excavated by psychoanalysis." [00:292:56]

"But for God you see, there are depths in your soul that are unimaginably good, and partly the two they become unconscious not because you are afraid of revealing them to other people but because over time they simply become so apparent and so clearly and deeply the same way to live that you no longer think about them the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing that's a deep person." [00:356:56]

"Maybe the first thing that comes to our attention when we get to know the inner life is what they think about or what is on their mind what is that simply stated, they think about God, he is never out of their mind, they love to dwell upon God and upon his greatness and his loveliness, as brought to light in Jesus Christ, they adore him in nature." [00:390:16]

"Though no one has a stronger sense of reality and practicality than they do, their mind is filled with biblical expressions of God's nature his actions and his plans for them in this world, they do not dwell upon evil, it is not a big thing in their thoughts, oh I like that, they are sure of its defeat, but they still deal with it appropriately in specific situations, because their mind now listen to this, because their mind is centered upon God and oriented with reference to him, all other good things are also welcome there." [00:450:0]

"They love lots of good things, and they love people, they love their life, and who they are, they are thankful for their life, even though it may contain many difficulties even persecution and martyrdom, they receive all of it is God's gift, because of what they have learned about God, they are confident and hopeful, and here it is, and do not indulge thoughts of rejection, failure and hopelessness because they know better." [00:556:72]

"There is another dimension to indulgence there is a kind of a good indulgence if you have been a workaholic your whole life long the sabbath will be indulgence to rest in God is a kind of indulgence, if you're a performance junkie or approval addict then just grace just God loves me, there's a kind of an indulgence solitude is a kind of an indulgent." [00:604:16]

"So not today because of what we have been learning about God, I do not indulge thoughts of rejection failure and hopelessness, not because I'll get in trouble or because I'm not supposed to because I know better because of who God is, so those birds can fly around can't stop them from flying don't have to feel guilty about seeing those birds but they don't get to build the stupid nest in my stupid hair, I have better I have better thoughts to indulge." [00:634:16]

"Indulge yourself in God's love, indulge your soul in his rest, indulge your heart in his peace, there are wonderful additional truths to learn about children of life, and I want to be one, so I'll talk about them more next time." [00:667:44]

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