[Part 1 of 2.]
Naming my opponent.
(With some Lessons from Dr. Who in pt. 2!)
There is so much I am learning about myself- what my fears are, what I struggle accepting from the world, where I tend to put my trust, etc.
And even though I have lived with myself for 22 years, I have made more discoveries about who I am/how I think in 2014 than all other years combined. Have you ever made an uncomfortable discovery about your motivations? I know… it’s yucky muck and mire.
I am experiencing discomfort because God is revealing how deep my pride is rooted. You could watch my progress in 4 classic stages.
1. Suspect problem (Luke 6:43-45).
What kind of fruit am I producing? Am I tired of trying?
Am I living in the Joy of the Lord? What words do I speak?
Are relationships hard? Am I experiencing freedom?
2. Identify sin (Luke 23:24).
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
“The struggle is real” to understand my motivations for my words and actions.
Excuses… a bandaid when we need surgery.
3. Surrender (Mark 1:40-45).
A leper went to Jesus saying, “If you will, you can make me clean.”
Jesus felt pity over him, touched him and said, “I will; be clean.”
Surrendering to His ‘sanctifying surgery’ produces a holy fear
of the Lord and His plans for my life.
The beauty of His plan is that I am covered in His abundant and satisfying love-
and here I learn how placing my fear and trust in only Him is good for me.
4. Continue to live in freedom (Romans 8).
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you have received the Spirit of adoption as His daughter,
by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Pride is so tricky! It produces bitter fruit, and if I focused on picking the fruit, cutting off branches even, the work would seem productive. However, pruned plants grow back stronger, more beautiful, cunning and deceiving. (Did you get chills, too?)
SO- The plan is to learn more about the root of my pride- what exactly I place my trust, hope, and security in. The hard part is worse than identifying; accepting my struggles has been the hardest. (Clearly due to pride!)
“You never had to enter into the battle alone. In fact,
I’ll fight for you- I’ll take your place.
I’ll do it because I want you, my treasure.
I will be your fountain of strength, and you will be my prize.”
I am pregnant with hope for my future- not in terms of earthly success, but particularly just in my relationship with Jesus. He is bringing me to a place of total surrender, a place of total acceptance of His affection for me.
A place where only He and I reside.
A place where striving ends.
A place with Jesus’ love as a constant comfort and embraced truth.
I’m really excited to enter into that place of life with Jesus, and without borders.
Stay tuned for.. dun dun dunn… “The Perception Filter.” (Season 6 references.)
