The War Which Rages Within Me

Yesterday morning before leaving for the Early Service at church... I turned on the TV to listen to Dr. David Jeremiah while getting primped and dressed.  He has been doing a series of messages on "Claiming Faith - Finding Freedom," a study of the book of Galatians.  During his sermon he quoted a poem that immediately caught my attention.  I jotted down the first line because I knew that I would later in the day go on a hunt for the complete rhyme.  Amazingly, even in Pastor Rodney's Sunday School Class a verse was used and a reference made to what the contents of the rhyme were concerning - causing again my desire to go on a "google search" ! ! !  Consider the following words:

Two natures beat within my breast.
The one is cursed, the other is blessed.
The one I love, the other I hate.
The one I feed will dominate.
- Author Unknown

I find myself daily aware of "the war which rages within me"... between the flesh "the natural woman - the old nature" and "the spiritual woman - the new nature."  As I mature spiritually it becomes more and more apparent to me that I must daily feed (nourish) the new nature so that it will grow and become the stronger nature in this battle.  At the same time - I must say "NO" to the "old nature" and its desires!

I do not fight alone in this battle... Every Christian encounters these skirmishes in the battleground of our hearts and soul.  The "old nature," energized by its liaison with the world, in numerous ways, molests to disturb the peace and joy of the Believer. 

The spiritual lives of some of the greatest characters in the Bible were marred by "personal weakness" and "major mishaps."  Noah - Abraham - Jacob - Moses - Samson - David - Thomas - Peter - Paul - and the list goes on.  The Lord, with forthright honesty, gives us glimpses of the lowest points in the lives of those He used most.  Even though these men knew and loved the Lord... the same battle raged within each of them.

The "nature" we feed... will dominate!

 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.   

(Galatians 5:16-25 KJV)

Lord, help me to daily "Walk and Live in YOUR Spirit"!

COMFORT OFTEN BREEDS COMPLACENCY

I read this quote by C. S. Lewis the other day and have pondered on it since...  "The human spirit will not even begin to try to surrender 'self-will' as long as all seems to be well with it."

Again I am led to believe that for us (ME) to grow spiritually - we (I) must be moved from or forced out of our (MY) "Comfort Zone"!  In MY own life.... comfort seems to breed complacency!

It is in those difficult times in life that the Lord seems to reveal Himself most, because I have moved ME out of the way.  When I have come to a place of realizing I can do nothing... that is when God steps up and shows He is not only real... but that He is REAL TO ME!  It is in trials that my senses become keenly aware that He is working in my life.  

I am in no way advocating or desiring troubles to make me aware of His activity.  Let me make it completely clear:  I hate pain, I hate how it feels and what it does to me, to those I love and care for, and to others.  I detest the fact that life isn’t fair. I am frustrated that people who love God - must face the blows of life.  I am saddened to see all that is going on in the world around me today.  My heart breaks for friends and loved ones who are now going through loss, sickness, and heartache. 

When I am consumed with ‘SELF’ and take God out of the equation then there remains no purpose to all of it.  No purpose in the trials… no purpose in the pain... no purpose in the frustration... no purpose in the sadness... no purpose in the loss... no purpose in the heartache... no purpose in anything… just random suffering and agony without meaning.  When 'SELF' stands in the forefront... all I can do is ask WHY!

However, when I relinquish my ‘self-will’ and cling to His will, and put my faith and trust in Him… I BELIEVE!  I believe that there is a significant greater  purpose in  suffering, even though I may have no idea what it might be!  I don’t want to look back on life and see that I merely had a comfortable existence filled with apathy and complacency.  I want to look back and see that I have been in "the fire" for a reason.  I want somehow for every tear and every pain to be part of some inexplicable divine plan that my finite mind cannot fathom or comprehend in this lifetime.

The shuttles of His purpose move

To carry out His own design;
Seek not too soon to disapprove
His work, nor yet assign
Dark motives, when, with silent tread,
You view some somber fold;
For lo, within each darker thread
There twines a thread of gold.

  

(1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)   "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know inpart; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

Lord, Keep My Face "LOOKING TOWARD THE EAST"

I know that some of you will wonder... "has she totally lost it now (or did she bump her head in the tumble she took the other day)?"... and some may even think that is the direction her grandbabies will be flying in when they come from Thailand... with praying the Lord to keep her looking east?... but none of the above is correct - let me explain:

In Ezekiel 43:1, 2, & 4 it says:   “Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:  And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.   And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.”  Then in Ezekiel 10:19 it says:  "And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above."

The "glory of the Lord" entered the temple from the east.  Many times in scripture we see the glory of God manifested from the east.  It was a star in the east that led the wise men to the Christ child.  

Matthew 2:9  “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”

Many of our cemeteries are designed with all the graves facing towards the east.  This is done so when Christ returns in all His glory and we are resurrected... we are facing east and facing Him.

Matthew 24:27   “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

My prayer of:  "Lord, Keep My Face "LOOKING TOWARD THE EAST" is for the very reason that I always want to be looking for His glory in every aspect of life and hopefully living my life to bring Him glory!  Daily watching and waiting... ready for His glorious return. 

Matthew 24:42   “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

Lord, Keep My Face "LOOKING TOWARD THE EAST"... always "LOOKING TO SEE YOUR GLORY"!