The Lord’s been working with me on sin areas in my life –
kicking out bricks in strongholds that I’ve become comfortable with and
accustomed to……and dependent upon. “Idols” – He calls them – because they
fight for a place on the throne with Him.
And I’m not making it an easy job for Him. Two steps forward and one step back;
sometimes one step forward and two steps back.
My flesh fights to have its “fix”.
I hold onto those bricks with my teeth.
Yesterday He showed me I Thessalonians 3:13 again: “…that
He may strengthen and confirm and establish your hearts faultlessly pure and
unblamable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our
Lord Jesus with all the saints!” (Amplified version)
It struck me that what He is pushing and prodding and
spurring me toward IS POSSIBLE. I can
get rid of this unholy “stuff” in me – these mind thoughts, these words, these
actions and reactions and attitudes, this “self-on-the-throne, dance around me”
mindset.
He says He will strengthen
the good that is there in my heart – make it stronger, more able to withstand
Satan’s attacks.
He will confirm
what is good in my heart, so it may not be lost – that Satan may not be able to
lie and discourage me into thinking it’s not there at all and bug me into
giving up trying.
And He says He will establish
my heart. He will (1) open my eyes to
ways I need to change,
(2) grant me the willingness to change, and (3) firmly establish me in this “new” holiness, not letting me backtrack.
(2) grant me the willingness to change, and (3) firmly establish me in this “new” holiness, not letting me backtrack.
He won’t do all the work for me, though. I have to learn to let him reign – in my
mind, in my day, in my heart. I have
to give Him my will. He’s slowly
unclenching “will” from my clutching fingers - through daily nuggets in His
precious Word, through glimpses of His glory and His great love for me, through
blessings undeserved, through seeing His grace and patience and so unbelievable
mercy…and through suffering…and struggles…and hardships…and tough times.
But look! Look what
He’s heading me toward – and you……….
FAULTLESSLY PURE and UNBLAMABLE IN HOLINESS!!!!
IN THE SIGHT OF OUR GOD and FATHER,
at the COMING of OUR LORD JESUS with ALL THE SAINTS!
IN THE SIGHT OF OUR GOD and FATHER,
at the COMING of OUR LORD JESUS with ALL THE SAINTS!
