{"id":1673,"date":"2011-04-26T13:24:20","date_gmt":"2011-04-26T18:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/?p=1673"},"modified":"2011-10-31T18:44:55","modified_gmt":"2011-10-31T23:44:55","slug":"twirl-032-42511-when-god-says-no-or-wait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-032-42511-when-god-says-no-or-wait","title":{"rendered":"TWIRL 032 (4\/25\/11): When God Says “No” or “Wait”"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Week In Recovery Lesson<\/h2>\n

When God Says “No” or “Wait”<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

It is our nature to want what we want when we want it, and to want to get all that we want. This is the primary function of the GO center of our brain, according to the automatic chemical transmissions beyond our control. These are known as excitatory processes. Our values and morality shaped by real-life experience, influenced by intelligence and common sense, work in the frontal regions of our brain as the STOP center of the brain to attempt to reign in our perpetual pursuit to get what we want. These automatic chemical transmissions, known as inhibitory processes allow us to think things through so that we can exercise effectively caution and judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem is that we are innately selfish in our sin nature. Therefore, the GO system in the brain more often than not overrules and overrides the STOP System. This can be true as well when we have an opportunity to act on something positive and healthy but but do not when we are overcome or motivated by apprehension, fear or laziness. So our selfish sin nature can infect the STOP system of the brain, along with the GO system.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we pray, asking God for this and for that, more often than not we are praying from a selfish motivation. Sometimes that selfish motivation isn’t necessarily sinful, but also might not be for our best. Do we believe that God is always interested and knowledgeable about what our best is? Do we want what we want or do we want what is for our best?<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus wrestled with this as a thirty-three year old man coming into a some pretty stressful time in his life. In fact, he was having to process this problem of impending torture and execution. Intellectually, he knew that this was something absolutely necessary to fulfill his calling—his destiny—as the sacrifice for the merciful forgiveness of sinners once and for all. Jesus knew this was why he was born into this world. He had said as much to his family and friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

After telling his friends, “My soul\u00a0is crushed with grief to the point of death”,\u00a0he prayed to God:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.\u201d <\/strong>Matthew 26:39 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n