I am glad that my God is so merciful.
At the same time I am just a bit bewildered by how opposite my desires are to what I know God's will is. Or are they??
How is it that a girl that is all about God's will is trying to make her own happen no matter what? Clearly there is a pretty big trust issue here.
Has God really let me down so much that I have reason to "make things happen?"
And how is it so hard to do what is right?
God is so good. We heard today at Substance Church that we as "Christians" can choose to be the multitude or the disciple. The difference being that we either count to Jesus or we are the ones Jesus counts on.
If we are Christians that are trying to live our own lives without really anymore of Gods input than a Sunday morning church service then we are probably part of the multitude. BUT, and this is a big but, if we are people that are willing to surrender everything and allow God's will to be our own then we become the discipled. Yes I did said EVERYTHING.
That is very hard to swallow. Especially here in America where we want to be able to do, watch, listen to anything we want without even a second thought as to how we are or are not effecting the world.
I have Christian friends that are participating in Yoga classes, others that love Glee, still others that are sleeping with boyfriends on Saturday night and going to church with them on Sunday.
I have no idea what to say about these things. I know how hard it is to abstain from, well anything!
Did you know that self-denial is a spiritual discipline? Have you ever heard of such a thing??
You will grow stronger and more mature and deeper in your relationship with God if you learn how to tell yourself "NO", interesting huh?
Maybe that is why it is important to move out of your mothers house at an appropriate age, and be responsible for your own bills understanding the world does not revolve around you. Or live overseas where you need to learn new things and be sensitive to another culture, learn a new language, figure out the transportation system etc. Or live with roommates so you are constantly needing to consider another person when you do things, buy things, eat things, etc.
How have you taken steps to practice self-denial? Sometimes it needs to be quite intentional, I will try to come up with something and then I will post it, you can help keep me accountable if you want . . . or not. : )
Post your ideas too so we can encourage each other:
