Sunday, June 20, 2010

Simple doesn't = Easy

How do I limit the Lord in my life? I limit Him with my disobedience. Why are lessons so hard to learn? Why must growth be so darn painful? How can I be the Lord's disciple if I choose to ignore those simple requests He's made of me?

I long for a joyful God centered life for a dear friend. I see her teetering in between an old life and a new one. My heart BREAKS every time I see her make a choice that pulls her further from Him. How must my creator feel when I do the same? How He yearns for me to live the best life He has for me, and yet my choices, my own will get in the way.

If Paul asks in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (follow verses 14-18 for context), then at least I'm in good company...

But what's the answer?

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39)

So, the answer is as it always is...the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Press in to Him, and press on.

Tomorrow is a new day. My prayer is to be obedient to His will and to be able to carry that out.

3 comments:

Lou said...

Amen!!! Love this post. :)

Have a great week!!! ((HUGS))

Lou

Kathleen said...

It's a huge life-lesson, obeying.

It seems a mystery, yet no mystery exists: "discipl-INe" is the route to "disciple-SHIP" (I remind myself to get IN the SHIP).

And you're right: simple doesn't mean easy, but when we obey, the burden is ever so light!

Great post!

Kathleen

INSIDE THE SHRINK said...

Great post. As long as we are confined in this cursed world inside these mortal bodies, we will be fighting that battle betweeen spirit and flesh. The Bible says the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Yet Jesus knows our weakness and is always there with open arms when we recognize our sin and repent. I think your post is a good example of "working out our own salvation with fear and trembling." Thanks for being real. God bless, Dr. Bobbi