“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
Why does it seem that some people make themselves impossible to love?
Why is it so important for us to understand why things are the way they are?
Why do we so easily put ourselves on the throne of our own hearts and why do we make it difficult to put Jesus there on that throne instead?
These are just a few of the 100,000+ questions that run through my mind though more specific to my own circumstances and I would be willing to bet 100,000+ dollars you have probably asked yourself the very same questions, though specific to your very own situations....Am I right?
Well, people aren't impossible to love, it is hard to follow Jesus and deny my self-righteous attitude (because essentially that is what it is) and we don't have to understand everything...this is truth definitely worth understanding.
Sometimes...we just need to know that God will use these circumstances for His Glory.
Have you ever felt like you have gotten so far away from the person God has created you to be that you needed to turn on your heels and run for it?
Stop running!
Just.
Stop.
This morning, I woke up and thought how ashamed I felt because of how far I had gotten from believing His truth about who I am in Christ. I know without a doubt this is exactly where Satan wants me to be; he wants me to doubt that I belong to Jesus, he wants me to doubt that I am part of God's plan. Satan wants me to be so wrapped up in shame that I believe these lies.
I told God that most likely this is why I had stopped conversing with Him as deeply.
Yes...my prayer life has been shallow.
The truth of the matter is, I have been so caught up in believing the negative opinions of others about myself that I have neglected to embrace the truth of God's Word. I have been allowing those very negatives to be the background music of my life. I have been dancing to the tune of the enemy.
I want that music to stop. I want Jesus to rewrite my Theme song with Truth.
He says I am beautifully and wonderfully made.
He says that He has a purpose for me.
He says that He commands His angels concerning me.
He says that I am His beloved.
He declares to be my Father.
He declares to be my Friend.
He says that I have been renamed.
He says that I have been made new.
He says that when I stumble, His mighty right hand will be there to lift me up.
The Word of God points to His glory in my life. What do I mean by that? Well, I can choose to believe what God says about me and live it OR I can choose to believe what others say about me according to my past and live it out. When I choose to believe Jesus and live out Truth then His glory shines brightly in my life. I must desire to be His over my desire to sin. This is the posture of escaping self-service to Jesus-service. This is where I must be in order to stop worshiping me. I must be in the middle of His truth. I must look to the word to escape the temptation of self-gratification.
The word of God in 1 Corinthians 10:13 affirms the TRUTH of escaping, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it."
The word of God is my blue-print for life. Jesus is the un-slumper of slumps.
It's not always a joyride when your sin is the revelation but IT WILL ALWAYS BE A JOY TO LET JESUS BE MY RIDE OR DIE!
We all experience the same types of temptations. We are all given the same tools to overcome our desires. My joy will actually be found in His glory... "dear brothers and sisters, when trials come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy!"
If you know in your heart, dear friends in Christ, that you have allowed satan to come in and snatch your joy from you by believing the lies of others about who you are in Christ, then pray this prayer with me:
Jesus, Help me to stay centered in you so that I can love those that may not show me love. Increase in me Lord, so that I may decrease. Use your Word to deepen my trust in You Jesus. Help me to recognize words spoken over me that contradict what Your plan for my life is. Rise up and give me the power to rebuke the lies of the enemy with Love and Truth. I acknowledge that when I feel pain, it is part of something unseen to man. I acknowledge that there is a war over my spirit and that I am not fighting with flesh and blood but with a very REAL ENEMY. Jesus, keep my spirit steadfast in your Truth. Be there inside my heart Jesus, rise up in temptation so that I will experience great Joy when I OVERCOME THROUGH YOU ALONE, JESUS. Show me the way to escape my desire for self-service and submit to a posture of Jesus-service in my speech and actions. I love you and I praise your Holy Name. Amen.
