"Do you want to get well?"
The title comes from a sermon I heard many years ago at Berea Baptist Church. In light of all that's going on in the world, needless to say it's been on my heart. I've also been doing a devotional on healing our land. Which brings me to ask,
"Do you want to get well?"
No, really. Ask yourself that question. I imagine most people, myself included, would answer, "Of course I do! Why are you even asking?"
But do we really? Do I really?
Because the truth is that I say I do...and yet I am easily swayed by old ways and bad comfortable habits, like interrupting and beating myself up when I fall short.
I say I do...and yet I try to do so much on my own, instead of asking for His help.
I say I do...and yet sometimes I am so busy I don't even remember to look up and acknowledge Him and the fact that He is always with me.
I say I do...and yet I waste so much time on social media, comparing myself to others or getting angry at complete strangers because they're mad at the Governor or won't wear a mask.
I say I do...and yet I am so, so quick to point fingers in the face of loving criticism from people I love.
I say I do...and yet I am so full of pride and defensiveness, because in my head I am a "good person", and nothing is going to dismantle that image I have of myself because I'd rather be perfect than sanctified, forgiven.
I could keep going. But I think I've made my point. So what do we do? How do we get well?
For me, it's starting with prayer. I've been reading through the Gospels with Justin, and over and over a theme I keep running into is that God can be trusted. Just like how He tells Moses, He is who He says He is. He's a good father who knows what's best for His children. I can trust Him and ask Him for help because He's good and wants to give it to me.
Next, I need to forgive myself. God never expects or demands perfection from His children. I know that I am fallible and will mess up, and guess what? God knows that about me, too, and yet He still freely and willingly forgives me. I need to accept that amazing grace.
Another step I need to take is just that: a step back. Less social media and more time in His presence, in His word, being still. There's a lot of information out there that claims to be "the truth", especially in the midst of a pandemic. God's word is THE truth, and that is where I must stake my hope if I am to become more like Him and receive the healing I need.
Now if you're like me, you're probably thinking, Gee, all of these "heart checks" sound really great and look really great on paper....But how do we remember, in the moment, when it matters most? I have to be honest with you, I don't know. I just don't. That is something I have wrestled with for a very long time, and it is something I am still wrestling with. This brings me to my last point: Ask for His help. Ask Him! I believe He will help you, and I believe He will help me. I imagine if I spend more time asking and less time wrestling, I'd get to a better place.
Meaningful change does not happen overnight. Oh, how I forget that! Seriously. As I mentioned earlier, God is who He says He is. He wants to help us. Start there.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6
"Do you want to get well?"
No, really. Ask yourself that question. I imagine most people, myself included, would answer, "Of course I do! Why are you even asking?"
But do we really? Do I really?
Because the truth is that I say I do...and yet I am easily swayed by old ways and bad comfortable habits, like interrupting and beating myself up when I fall short.
I say I do...and yet I try to do so much on my own, instead of asking for His help.
I say I do...and yet sometimes I am so busy I don't even remember to look up and acknowledge Him and the fact that He is always with me.
I say I do...and yet I waste so much time on social media, comparing myself to others or getting angry at complete strangers because they're mad at the Governor or won't wear a mask.
I say I do...and yet I am so, so quick to point fingers in the face of loving criticism from people I love.
I say I do...and yet I am so full of pride and defensiveness, because in my head I am a "good person", and nothing is going to dismantle that image I have of myself because I'd rather be perfect than sanctified, forgiven.
I could keep going. But I think I've made my point. So what do we do? How do we get well?
For me, it's starting with prayer. I've been reading through the Gospels with Justin, and over and over a theme I keep running into is that God can be trusted. Just like how He tells Moses, He is who He says He is. He's a good father who knows what's best for His children. I can trust Him and ask Him for help because He's good and wants to give it to me.
Next, I need to forgive myself. God never expects or demands perfection from His children. I know that I am fallible and will mess up, and guess what? God knows that about me, too, and yet He still freely and willingly forgives me. I need to accept that amazing grace.
Another step I need to take is just that: a step back. Less social media and more time in His presence, in His word, being still. There's a lot of information out there that claims to be "the truth", especially in the midst of a pandemic. God's word is THE truth, and that is where I must stake my hope if I am to become more like Him and receive the healing I need.
Now if you're like me, you're probably thinking, Gee, all of these "heart checks" sound really great and look really great on paper....But how do we remember, in the moment, when it matters most? I have to be honest with you, I don't know. I just don't. That is something I have wrestled with for a very long time, and it is something I am still wrestling with. This brings me to my last point: Ask for His help. Ask Him! I believe He will help you, and I believe He will help me. I imagine if I spend more time asking and less time wrestling, I'd get to a better place.
Meaningful change does not happen overnight. Oh, how I forget that! Seriously. As I mentioned earlier, God is who He says He is. He wants to help us. Start there.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6
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