I am being undone.
It is such a slow process. Because I am so rebellious.
Oh, how I want the new creation to be seen, and the old to die.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:22-24
It's much easier to be forgiving, gentle, kind, humble and compassionate when it is well. But what about when life happens? Are we really expected to be joyful when the kids are acting out, the finances are stressed, the wait is long, the relationships are strained?
God's Word says, in 1 John 2:6, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Ouch. Nowhere in the Bible do we find that Jesus was anything less than gentle, kind, humble, compassionate, loving, and forgiving!
I am so convicted that my circumstances should not affect my walk in the light (1 John 1:7). I want others to see Jesus in me. And I know this requires daily dying to myself. My flesh clings to the riches of this world. My heart clings to my Savior.
Lord, let me be undone for You. Do away with the old, and let the New shine through...no matter what's going on around me.
GOD
/ me
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30
I agree it is so hard to continue to be patient when you have a teen screaming at your because they are frustrated and don't know how to navigate the waters. I can't say I have always walked with Jesus in these moments. I wish he could come here and talk to my teen and preteen. It would be so much easier.
ReplyDelete"...no matter what's going on around me..." THAT is definitely the hard part. I struggle with retreating inward to a place of hopelessness instead of serving Him in anticipation of what's to come. When I look back, I can see His hand all over everything, even what appeared to be disappointments at the time. Thank you for the reminder; I feel like He's been speaking to & convicting me of these truths almost everywhere I look. Now I just need to get my stubborn-wanna-tantrum-like-a-toddler-self to receive it. :)
ReplyDeleteConnie, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing this. I can relate. Our life has been a big hot mess since the week of Thanksgiving. Well, actually, it was a hot mess for months (maybe years?) before that, but the truth just came to light that week. Since then, it has been therapy here, therapy there ... turmoil. Just hard stuff. I need a separate calendar just to keep up with all of our kids' therapy appts.
ReplyDeleteBut you are absolutely, 100% correct. Our walk shouldn't depend on our circumstances. Preach it! I need to hear it and I'm sure I'm not alone.