A God-centred Mindset
1. What are the keys to continuing freshness in your love relationship with the Lord Jesus?
Having a God-centred mind set
Guarding against busy-ness; taking time for solitude and being alone with the Lord
Relating to others who are an encouragement in my personal walk with the Lord
Cultivating a continuous relationship with the Lord by talking with Him and sharing my heart with Him throughout the day
2. What do you experience of the Holy Spirit’s speaking and leading in your everyday life?
I’ve learnt by experience how God gives me a growing conviction/peace in my heart about specific matters. Looking back I realised that this conviction is the Lord impressing something on my heart and speaking to me. I am learning to recognise this inner impression and rely on it. It does require faith, but faith grows as I learn to trust Him and respond to this, especially as I see the results of this trust.
This can also be referred to as what John Beaumont describes as “responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit”. It is very exciting to see what God does when we respond to Him in this way – even if we do make some mistakes! Susan and I have seen the Lord do some amazing things in people’s lives (friends, family, unbelievers and our own lives) as we have attempted to respond to this prompting.
3. Can you describe your everyday communication with God? Has this changed much since you first gave your life to Christ?
See answer to question 2
4. What is worship to you these days? How does it play a part in your everyday life?
There are times when I am especially aware of the Lord’s presence and His gracious intervention in my life and my family’s life. At these times I can respond in song, praying in tongues or even prostrating myself before Him. These are special times of responding to Him. However, I am learning that my life should also be an act of worship to the Lord. Romans ch.12 talks about being a living sacrifice (i.e. dead to sin and self, but alive and responsive to God – Gordon’s paraphrase!). I am challenged to live like this, but I am also aware how incapable I am of doing this and how much I need His grace and strength to do so.
5. What is your experience of blessings and disappointments in your relationship with other believers?
Many blessings and many disappointments! I have definitely been blessed by many believers, and indeed by many unbelievers, too, especially as I try to build relationships with those who really need to know the amazing love of Father God. As far as disappointments are concerned, it seems that many disappointments come from my own expectations and other’s weaknesses, failures and brokenness. I have to trust the Lord to bring healing and wholeness to those who disappoint me – just as I also need healing and wholeness and the ongoing work of Christ in my life.
6. What is your present understanding of local church life, leadership and structure?
To be honest, I don’t really understand it at all! Local church life is God’s people responding to the Holy Spirit as He orchestrates, leads and guides our lives, joins people’s hearts together and builds relationships between them/us. True leadership encourages others to come to the place where everyone is dependent on the Lord for themselves and not through their leaders (if this does not happen, don’t leaders end up building their own kingdoms?). Following on from this, leadership encourages others to realise and fulfil God’s plans for their lives. Let’s not forget that godly leaders show servant hearts.
As for structure, this sounds rather man-made. I think we should leave the structure part to Jesus as He is building His church. Instead, we should focus on responding to the Holy Spirit.
7. What 2 or 3 things have become increasingly important to you over the period since you first trusted in the Lord?
Wanting to know the Lord in an ever-increasing way so that He will take great joy and delight in my relationship with Him.
Being a good husband and father. I really need God’s grace for this one!
Learning to trust God and be responsive to Him in every area of my life. Isn’t this what God means when he says: “the righteous shall live by faith”? I really like the Amplified bible’s paraphrase of “faith” – leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence.
It is also learning to rest in Him, and allow Him to work out His purposes in my life and change me from the inside.
8. What 2 or 3 things have become quite unimportant/ meaningless/ valueless to you since God ‘turned your life around’?
Personal ambition from a career perspective.
Approval from other people and freedom from their opinions and expectations. The Lord is challenging me to seek His opinion and approval only, and not to judge myself or allow others to judge me. After all, we are (fully and completely)accepted (without reservation or conditions) in the beloved.
9. At the present time, what is your main area of desire, concern or aspiration?
To live fully loved by my Father and to be responsive to the Holy Spirit. How liberating this is to live without condemnation or shame, and experience God’s amazing love. I pray that I might experience the full dimensions of this wonderful love and live in a way that brings great joy to Father’s heart.
by Gordon Griffin, Malta
