It was so good to be back at church this week. I have been so hungry, yet I have spent too much time indulging in junk food and not enough time feeding on God's word.
Yesterday there was a reoccurring theme that kept convicting me. It is all about the cross and not about me, my problems or my weaknesses. The enemy had convinced me that I had to spend so much time feeling guilty about my "issues" that there was virtually no focus on God. I know I'm not worthy of His gift, but guess what? God knows it too! People that know me well also know it. God did not send His son to die on the cross to make me feel guilty. He sent Him to pay for my guilt, not add to it. Satan knows my weakness (I guess that should be plural since there are many!) and he hits me in the pity and guilt department with all he's got.
In my study of Galatians 5 today, I read in verse 6 "...The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Then onto verse 23 where we are told "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Note the word "fruit." It is not "fruits." All of the traits given by Paul are one fruit. We don't get to pick and choose which ones we will be good at or want to do. If we are producing real Christlike fruit, we will produce them all.
I am starting to keep a prayer list of my own. It contains certain personal requests I have for God when I talk to Him. The newest one I have is for those that are not able to worship regularly. I'm talking about the people that, because of a career choice or physical issue, just honestly can't be there. I now really understand how those people are targeted by Satan and picked apart from the flock. Now my struggle is not being annoyed with those who don't show up by choice. They have no idea what they are setting themselves up for.
No comments:
Post a Comment