It seems to me that we suffer most when we suffer ourselves. We actually cause us to suffer. We commit to things and allow ourselves to trust in things or people or ideals, or understandings or imaginations more then God.
Let’s take temptation. Temptation is like a “piece” of bubble gum that you can blow into this giant bubble but this enormous bubble is inside your head. You blow it up with captured mental pictures, imaginations, senses, understandings and if not captivated and spit out it will grow and grow and pop and make a big mess but unlike bubble gum with just all this sticky goo to clean up- falling into temptation can have long carrying messy consequences. One thought leads to another thought. That thought leads to a decision, which results in an action. It can be a pretty slippery slope if your focus isn’t on God and can start pretty innocently. The enemy works best in subtlety.
We can do the same with our own perceptions; worry, fear, doubt, depression and we might as well make our own personal painful wipe-out course when we listen to the enemy and ourselves.
Temptation, imaginations, suggestions, whispers, will come as if they have been read from your personal little black book. The enemy of your soul knows what you like, dislike, fear, stumble and struggle with and he knows there is nothing better then a discouraged, non-active, doubting, troubled, enticed, Christian soul.
But you know what he is scared of most? He scared of that same individual actually coming to God’s throne of grace and mercy for his help. No hole is deep enough- trust me.
A person who’s willing to be second in their lives allows the Spirit of God to work within them. When I say be second- means allowing God to be first and submitting to him.
It is to be FREE from ourselves and others, who so easily let us down and trust in God who fills our life with an everlasting love, pure heart, clear conscious and sincere faith.
Again I say- you can’t be free if our mindset is set upon our own understandings, perceptions, ideals, and trusting in ourselves.
We must put emphasis in our mind and heart on Jesus and the Father. We must remember, we are a new creature in Christ.
The old nature crawls back inside its cage if we whole heartily trust God in our life. The old nature becomes captive to the crack of the whip of light and righteousness.
And just as our body needs physical exercise to stay strong so does our spirit-man needs spiritual fitness in God’s word everyday. We need our mind and heart to be spiritually renewed each day, which not only brings contentment to our soul but also stirs our soul and steers us away from the things that try to take importance above God.
Spiritual fitness helps our focus and the more we see it’s importance in our lives the more our faith, love, perseverance, gentleness, kindness grows deeper. We don’t so easily suffer ourselves- or the things that come our way.
We live in the verse: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Let’s make God our focus in all things in our life.
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