God does not work with us all in the same way, nor at the same time on the same things.
It took me a while to fully understand that.
Many times I would wonder why I would be convicted of some behavior I had, while everybody else seemed to bounce around totally oblivious to theirs. The “It’s not fair” pity party would start to play its sorrowful tune.
I get it now! It is an honor! I am sure you’ve heard this old cliché, “God loves me just the way I am but he loves me too much to keep me this way.” Well it’s true.
Every time I heed his correction I am sacrificing my fleshly desires; my need to be right, to win, to be justified, or to just be a “jerk”. Don’t we all have a right to be a jerk once in a while? NO – not when you are truly committed to walking closely with The Lord. “Jerk” is never okay with God. Yes, and here it comes, my pet peeve cliché’ Yes, but were only human. Ugh I hate that one. We are only human, that is true, but so was Jesus. As I follow his example and continue to obey God and sacrifice my flesh, he does a marvelous thing, he intervenes – he begins to replace me with more and more of him. It is a beautiful thing
As I commit to:
Apologize when I don’t think I should. Give my last dollar when I don’t want to. Kiss the cheek of those that slap me. Forgive and pray for those who have hurt me. Honor and Respect those that have dishonored and disrespected me.
I get more of Jesus.
Does this mean I am becoming a doormat?
That would be an Unequivocal NO!
God will continue to teach me how to set up healthy boundaries. He is helping me to let go of unhealthy relationships and he is moving me into healthy ones.
God’s guidance is Wise and Most Importantly Complete.
He won’t give us his heart without also giving us the wisdom in knowing how to protect it!
Be Blessed!
1 comment:
Last night I reflected on a lot of things during my long walk. Starting with my wish to have an hour with my Mom, shouting "Mom I love you" to the skies, to demanding why I couldn't have even just a few memories to have of my Mother, to wondering why I felt that way. Where all the anger came from. It's amazing how small of a space anger can take up, but when it comes out it seems like it should have filled the earth.
I came around to thinking about a part in the "Students Life Application Bible", where it mentioned that you have to invite God into each area of your life, otherwise he is stuck in the doorway. A friend of mine commented that it was like a vampire, as the legend goes that a vampire cannot enter a house without invitation.
But unlike vampires, Jesus is good, and He needs to be constantly invited in. We can't just expect Him to walk right on in. We need to stay with Him, encouraging His influence on our lives. Much like an interior decorator.
As I thought about it, I came to realize how much attention (or how little) attention I had paid to Jesus' location in my life. Sure I've invited Him into my life, but I had to question if I had invited Him into all areas, and if I invite him every day. Because each time we invite Him in, as soon as our attention wavers, Satan boots Jesus out and we must invite Jesus and God back into our lives.
I still need to work on the forgiveness. And a lot more. But with God as my help, and you as my friend, I'm sure I can do what is needed. Including beating my defiant nature.
Something else I've also noticed, is that in order to be open to God, you have to make yourself vulnerable. When you are invulnerable, only Satan has access. And he rejoices each time we put up our armor and defences against the world.
And another thing, we must remember to do things for God's will, not our own. It is hard to do things without thinking of how we will be affected by it. Emotionally, physically, financially. Or even how it affects our social standings. I'm kind of lucky in that respect. I don't have a social standing. I just kind of exist. Not necessarily a good thing. God doesn't want us to "just exist", He wants us to open our arms and hearts to those in need, and to do His work despite the consequences. God bless!
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