Friday Fight 119: Primary or Secondary?
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF119.
Think back to a time when life was so difficult, and struggles were so painful that we somehow distanced ourselves from God. Perhaps it was an intentional separation or accidental isolation masked by pain, but either way, we stood in unfamiliar territory in our disconnect. Is there more than one way to move forward and reconnect?
Primary and Secondary:
Let's take a moment to think back to 4th grade English class when we learned the difference between primary and secondary sources; stay with me. While these two concepts refer to researching and analyzing information, we can still apply the concepts to our spiritual lives. A primary source is a firsthand account or original document, while a secondary source is an interpretation of a primary source, essentially looking at information through another person's lens. Both are important for different reasons.
Sometimes in our lives, we seek God through secondary channels, maybe without realizing it. We may have felt too filled with sin to pray, so we chose a secondary route to God. Sharing a prayer request is super. Maybe feelings of being unworthy kept us from Church or our Bible, so now what? It is important to seek those who seek God for help and prayer. After all, God intended us to share our hurts, repent, and hold each other accountable. But God also wants a direct relationship with us; we still need a direct alignment with Him. We should walk and talk with other Christians to help us grow spiritually, but a firsthand account of experiencing God is essential in our lives.
Darkness attempts to isolate us from God by planting seeds of doubt in every situation. Being mindful of this can be helpful as we walk through difficult seasons feeling distant from God.
Let's look at some reflective questions to see where we are spiritually. Is there a balance between asking others to pray and praying ourselves? Are we experiencing God directly and being a secondary source to others struggling? Are we getting a firsthand and secondhand account of reading the Word? Both are important, fulfill different needs, and contribute to our spiritual growth.
Most of us have a handful of people we contact when we need prayer. If you don't, try to establish that with someone. Some people lift me in prayer daily, which I greatly appreciate. I love praying generationally for the eight people in my family. Talking to God for others is my favorite, but I also understand the value and necessity of community. I absolutely send prayer requests when I feel led. However, God is our best connection, and that relationship is strengthened when we experience His goodness firsthand. He is an unparalleled source of love, forgiveness, and hope. He is waiting for us, and His Word says in James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Pastor Shannon
New Life Calvert