Affections

i've been reading a book called Gospel Wakefulness by Jared C. Wilson (thanks to Steve for passing it on to me!), and it's been very thought-provoking, challenging and encouraging.  it's not a book about salvation, but instead he covers the enlightenment of the soul (after salvation or simultaneously at conversion).  here's an excerpt from  chapter 3 titled "Renewed Affections"


Gospel wakefulness doesn't lead to asceticism.  It does not lead to a withdrawal from society and simple pleasures into a monastic religious regimen.  Rather, gospel wakefulness is foremost about orienting your spiritual system around the sun.  When the sun is at the center of the system, the planets and moons don't cease to exist.  In fact, they exist more securely, more beautifully, in their proper positions and proportions.  With God at the center of your universe of worship, with the gospel at the center of your life, all other good gifts-people and pleasures, thoughts and things-take their proper place and proportion in our lives.  They are more pleasing and enjoyable because they give the pleasures they are designed to give, and no more.  ...When your spiritual vision of God is blown up to its proper size, the effect is all-encompassing, the good sort of disorienting.  


throughout the book he speaks of this awakening (to the glory of the cross and Christ's work on it and resurrection) and how that puts all other aspects of our lives in perspective with the caveat that it can only occur by the Spirit's power.  in other words, we can't will our hearts to be aligned to God.  it's meaty, and i've enjoyed the thoughts it's stirred in my life the last week or two.  


(when i read the section above, one of my favorite Sara Groves songs, "You are the Sun" popped in my head.)