Unbeatable
I found myself correcting someone the other day who said that Satan was stupid. His depictions in cartoons and movies may make him look foolish but he is the father of lies. And he trips up even the wisest men. The reason I point that out is because lately I feel beaten. I realize that the title says differently but I wrote it to mean that I perceive certain sins in my life as “unbeatable”. I think it’s because I have failed so much in certain areas for such a long time I just don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel (but maybe that’s because I am facing the wrong way). I’m not going to say what it is I am struggling with at the moment. You can insert food, complacency, over working, pride, self-image, greed, porn or lust, gossip, hatred, anger or whatever it is that you just can’t seem to shake here. I think I am right to say that I can’t beat these things.
Only Christ in me can overtake these hurdles and strongholds I have built to protect and obscure my insecurities. There’s the rub. While logically I am beginning to understand the premise of faith more and more, the more I understand it the less I see I have. Sorry this is kind of a rant, but I am tired and need rest. Maybe one day I will rest in and believe in the amazing power of my risen King.
May I join you at this table? Is this seat taken?
One of the biggest revelations I’ve received in recent years was that, on top of everything else that I’m not bringing to the party, Faith is one of those things. It was a little shocking to me that Faith was not based on my ability to buck up under the pressure and say “I believe!!!”
I, too, am growing in the understanding that I was just laying in a ditch, under a hedge, and got picked up and dragged to this party. What I don’t get is, that I’m still kinda standing at the door, asking “Do you need me to get some chips or something? I can just run to Wal-Mart, I’ll be right back.”
…
So, I just went looking for a verse about “slandering celestial beings”; turns out it’s in Jude v8-10. But, “somehow” I went to James to find it. I had forgotten just how much “in your face” truth James throws down. Ch. 1 v. 13-15 is a good reminder, in the context of this discussion. But, the whole letter, really… I had some other thoughts on the topic, but I can’t really top James.
I think I’m just going to sit down and enjoy the cake. But, if we run out chips, just let me know!
Oh man good stuff. Realizing that we need to come to God open-handed is a really hard one for me as well. So many times that phrase has been used to mean our lives, finances and skills, but for me lately, it is alot about coming to God with my failures, lack of faith, inadequacies and letting Him take them. For some reason, I have a hard time letting them go, maybe having a hard time believing that he would actually take them.
Good stuff.