In our present condition we are in trouble. Our selfish desires and intentions rule how we think, what we feel, and how we act. Our tendency is to act first and consider the consequences of our actions when we are having to face the consequences. By then, it’s too late. We are ruled by our anxiety and discomfort and in constant pursuit of a remedy. Whether we are losing, winning, suffering, celebrating, hungry, thirsty, lusting, greedy, angry, tired, lonely, or bored, we are not satisfied. “Clothe me, feed me, entertain me, heal me, save me!” It’s always something with us. Then, when we finally realize the mess we have made of things and ourselves, we might feel guilty and ashamed and as though we have failed. In our own way, we worship our triumphs for a little while, but we worship our failures all the more. We can become lost in the paralyzing disappointment and depression of our defeat.
Key question: What might you be in denial about that you can realistically improve on your own that you might realistically need help with from someone much bigger than you?
Here is the thing about coming to our senses about what we need God to be involved in. Not only do we need to bring to God the worst things in our lives that we know need to improve and get better; we need to bring to God the best of us. God can take our best and make it better than ever.
This final NLX 101 Admit Lesson includes a study of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The young man went his own way with what was given him by his father and squandered it all on selfish pursuits that had devastating consequences that would prove fatal without an intervention of some kind. At the point that the young man discovered that he was destructive and helpless outside of relationship with the one with all of the resources, he realized that his return to sensibility meant doing whatever he had to in order to reestablish a connection with the one who could help him. NLX 101 asks a number of those key questions to help participants come to their senses about their futile efforts to achieve satisfaction and, like the prodigal son, seek to be connected to the One with the resources to experience something better.
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