Can you remember a trip you took either with family or friends, maybe a school event, church group, camp, or otherwise, or even a trip you would rather forget? Maybe it was a long trip and you can remember asking someone, "Are we there yet, how much longer?". Were you tired, hungry, irritated, bored, angry, physically ill, fearful maybe? Well, whether it was pleasant or not, it might be a good reminder of where we are today as followers of Christ.
Some days are filled with lots of joy, peace, fulfilling purpose, and a strong desire to 'keep on keepin' on!', but some days are not. All too often because of circumstances, and/or people it's easy to fall prey to thoughts from the enemy that come so naturally leading us quickly down a hill of despair. How about the age-old lie, "You will NEVER change, that's why you keep doing the same things!". Or another one of the devil's 'oldies but goodies' is "How long have you been serving Jesus, you should have stopped those things by now if you really are a Christian?".
Being constantly aware of your thoughts is crucial to your victory in Christ. The truth is, we are all in this sanctification process together whether we like it or not, or better yet, whether we want to admit it or not. But it has always been God's plan for us to stay focused on these simple truths:
"Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed (experiencing or showing feelings of alarmed concern or dismay, upset, worried or agitated because of some unwelcome situation or occurrence), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:7-9 ESV
Here Joshua encourages us to focus on the Word of God so that it stays in our hearts and minds, and that we will prosper in this life. We waste much time and energy by focusing on our mistakes. God does not want us to strive to the point of hopelessness because we act like humans.
"Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Psalm 31:20 KJV
David, remember him? He was a man after God's own heart. God knew him too in his mother's womb and was well aware of sins he would commit, yet He still chose him for His Glory. Pride and strife will be present for now, both in us and around us, but God will keep us from them as part of our sanctification process.
"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Philippians 3:11-16 KJV
Oh, and then there's Paul, born a Roman citizen, a Benjamite Jew, a zealot for Judaism, harsh Pharisee, member of the Jewish council, zealous for the Law, persecutor of Christians. He reminds us it is not through the righteousness of man in which we will receive our inheritance in Heaven, but through the redemptive work by Christ Jesus on the cross. We will never be free from sin in these earthly bodies but we will conform more and more to His image as we stand fast to the Word of God. No, we are not there yet, but we can have His perfect peace, power, and provision as we continually trust the truth of God's Word over our thoughts and feelings.
On a journey of Healing and Hope with you,
Terri Lynne
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