Throughout our lives we are constantly being prepared for something. Before we are Christians we are built to long for more. Our eternal souls sense a need that our finite bodies cannot fill. And thus we're being prepared to understand a genuine need for redemption and salvation. After we are saved, we are a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) and are being prepared for His use. And this is where it gets interesting...
God's purpose for our lives supersedes everything else. We know that to be true in our minds. It makes sense, but sometimes it's harder for our hearts to follow. The biggest part of preparation comes in knowing and understanding that we cannot do it on our own (Romans 7:18) because of the nature which we fight against. It is only through the strength of Christ (Phillipians 4:13) and the renewal and changing of our minds (Romans 12:2) that we are able to shed what is left of our earthly nature and cling to what is Christ (Galatians 5:16-17).
I'm sure none of these things are new to most Christians. Many of the things with which we struggle in our walk with Christ aren't the more complex theological ideas. They are the most basic of concepts that elude us daily resulting in a gradual decay of our relationships that cause the most turmoil.
So why do I tell you all of this? Because I believe there are moments in life (and they can happen as often as needed - but must happen as often as is necessary) where we must refocus on Christ. It begins and ends as only you and God - nothing more, nothing less. We often cling to people because they give us a sense of satisfaction and security. This is a good thing. It's the kind of fellowship we were meant to have. However, at some point, those relationships begin to try and fill a void that only God can adequately satisfy. Therefore, the relationships (both with God and with the person) suffer because they begin to develop into something they were not meant to be, each role distorted because we assign them poorly.
This is my challenge for you: Remove everything from your life that you hold onto, anything that may keep you from experiencing God. Open your hand and release them to God. Let him put back into your life everything He wants to be there as He sees fit instead of clinging to things that you want - regardless of how good you think they may be for you or how good they may appear to be. Sometimes it's not a matter of good and bad, but rather a matter of timing. God's time is not like ours. Your time will come if you stay on the path that God has intended for you (Romans 8:28; Proverbs 3:5; James 1:16-17).
Execute it.
execute |ˈeksiˌkyoōt|
verb [ trans. ]
1 carry out or put into effect (a plan, order, or course of action).
2 carry out a sentence of death.
I like this because it's a play on words. hahaha
We are called to follow through with God's plan for our lives through meditating on His Word (Psalm 119:9-16; Phillipians 4:8-9; Joshua 1:8; II Timothy 2:15; I Timothy 4:15) and through constant prayer and supplication (James 1:5-8; Romans 12:12; Luke 18:1; James 5:16-18; I John 5:14-15). You execute what God wants you to do in your life through devoting your heart and mind wholly to Him.
We are also called to die to self, or execute the flesh (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:2-6; Galatians 5:25; I Peter 2:24). This is the only way we can hope to overcome sin and temptation. Please understand that it is also a process (Phillipians 2:12-13) and is something that we must always work towards.
Christ's message was very simple, but we complicate it every day by seeking to build things upon a foundation of basic principles of which we are lacking. The fact that it is possible to point out individual struggles with a great deal of accuracy and efficiency shows awareness of the temptations we face. It's encouraging because awareness of sin is brought upon by the work of the Holy Spirit. This shows a great deal of spiritual growth or conviction. However, after being called by the spirit, this is where there must be action. All that is necessary must now be done. It's the only thing left.
It's time to return to just "you and God", forgetting everything else. A truly fulfilled relationship with another person cannot be achieved until we are in line with what God wants. Perfection is not required in order to have an effective relationship. Relationships are not about perfection. It simply means that, by looking to other people for that strength and security, we take our focus off of God. And regardless of how legit a person is, can be, might be or how awesome and good they may seem... it doesn't necessarily mean that they are supposed to take a prominent role in our lives. Only God can decide that, and when we try and force them into our lives it takes away from our view of what God wants (spiritual discernment). In this, a sense of independence within God's will and plan is developed. It's not easy, particularly the part where you have to go back to the basics, but ultimately it's something everyone should do from time to time. And don't worry about the struggles you face. Always remember three things:
1. You are never temped beyond what you can bear (I Corinthians 10:13).
2. Perseverance through trials results in a forging of sorts that completes you (James 1:2-4).
3. God's grace is sufficient for you as His strength is made perfect through your weakness. (I Cor. 12:9-10)
Many times we pray to God for things with the expectations that He will provide these things by naturally endowing us with these attributes. Instead it may come as a trial through which we are forged into what He wants us to be. In most cases we are our own worst enemy. This can result in either the erosion of our joy because we look inwardly for answers and ultimately fail because the temptation and sin breaks us, or it can result in a dependence on God that leads to strength (and a more profound relationship) because we have rely on Him for the answers that we seek.
Get in your bible. Do what needs to be done. Your mind will be molded and your heart will follow. Again, know that we are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that our mind, once deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9), is being made new in Christ as He renews us entirely. We call this process sanctification. Begin working out your salvation today.
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