Embracing the Glory
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us . . . And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. (Marianne Williamson)
When I first read this quote, I thought, No, that’s not true. We don’t fear our glory. We fear we are not glorious at all. We fear that at bottom, we are going to be revealed as . . . disappointments. Mandela is just trying to make a nice speech, like a sermon, to buoy us up for a day or two. But as I thought about it more, I realized we do fear our glory. We fear even heading this direction because, for one thing, it seems prideful. Now pride is a bad thing, to be sure, but it’s not prideful to embrace the truth that you bear the image of God. Paul says it brings glory to God. We walk in humility because we know it is a glory bestowed. It reflects something of the Lord’s glory.
(Waking the Dead , 87) (MY QUESTION: DO WE KNOW?)
On the other hand… I came across a situation about a week ago… regarding a fear…
a new revelation of fear.
So this reading above talks about fearing a glory that God has bestowed upon us… (upon me.)
-we can get to that another day… or next blog I’ll repeat the upper reading and dive into its intention…
TODAY:
What about fearing the sinful nature that dwells within us too?
I was reminded last week from satan… the things I am capable of doing. The damage I have to power to inflict. The power to destroy or take someone “off track” in their walk with Christ.
I know how to manipulate, tempt, sway, and lie. I have done this. Not knowingly causing a separation and a distance in not only my relationship with the Lord, but others.
I had no idea. Or I should say I was blinded.
Lust of the Flesh.
It even sounds sinful and creates a sickness in my stomach typing it… rereading it. Ick.
I think it’s because I have pain associated with this. Pain that I have gone through… and the mere thought that I have caused pain because of this is even more disheartening.
Satan had his claws in me one night, reminding me that I possess this power.
This sinful nature, this ability to cause pain… and it brought me down, it hurt, I felt dirty and unworthy of love.
I don’t remember a time that I actually felt this way, but known a difference. There are many times that I have believed these lies and agreed to them… but this time was different. and needed God’s strength, and His truth to set me free from these thoughts that plagued my mind.
Lust of the Flesh is something I acted on… so there was rarely a fight of “should I’s or shouldn’t I’s”
It was reactionary… it was giving in to the lies… and not contending with them, not knowing and definitely not believing the TRUTH in the matter.
The TRUTH that I am worthy, loved, precious in His eyes. His princess, His daughter, clean and pure before Him though the blood and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Those TRUTHs never used to come to mind, and IF even if… I caught a glimpse of them… it was quickly stomped out by the enticing sin before me, and the familiar ways of doing things.
Man o Man…
This night, this lesson was one of the hardest things I have EVER learned… and still am learning…
My identity was challenged. My “newness” was tempted to give in to the old.
I had to bring myself to the FOOT OF THE CROSS and SURRENDER these feelings, these thoughts to the LORD.
I COULD NOT FIGHT on my own. I didn’t know how to.
I only knew what I was used to… which was giving in and surrendering to SIN.
PRAISE GOD I can now recognize these lies as what they are… LIES!
I have a CHOICE in the matter… I am NOT as I was but have been created NEW.
Colossians 3:9-10
9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
So as I read the upper excerpt today… I was reminded not that I really fear the Glory of God in me… but I have feared the opposite… and it only came to pass… when I was shown this ability while with a person I love. Someone whom satan was tempting me to “destroy”… satan was reminding me of the pain I have to potential to inflict. When that is the LAST thing I would ever want to do to anyone and especially this particular love. The fact that I know how… is sickening… and in those moments… I HAD TO give the situation over the Lord… I couldn’t deal with it…
He is Mighty to Save.
It wasn’t immediate peace. But there was a sense of freedom. The freedom was that I could SEE. That I could FEEL the difference… See the spiritual attack that I was under, and Feel the weight of the moment lifted off as I surrendered all of the feelings and emotions to the Lord.
Through PRAYER and CONVERSATION with God… He taught me SOOOOOO much in how to
Recognize, Fight, and Ultimately Surrender…
There is more to this story, more to this lesson… but I think I am still reveling in it all… still taking in that night.
Just wanted to share.
It was on my heart to do so… and so I do.
The only thing I can think on how to encourage you… my dear reader peeps… is to ask God to reveal the things you may be in darkness about, to have His light shine in areas you are unaware of.
This challenged my identity… but first I had to know where my identity lies.
Do you know where your IDENTITY LIES? ( another blog soon)
That actually may be the start. “THANKS GOD”… that’s it…
I will repeat that one more time and end in simply this… deeply this… essentially this…
IN CHRIST?
