Archives for: July 2014

07/31/14

Permalink 09:48:42 pm, Step(s): 10 Maintaining progress, 323 words   English (US)

Am I Standing Firm?

"If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Mark 14:38).

My Loving Heavenly Father is my constant companion, ever sending impressions of His will for me. I believe that He would never lead me in any way other than I would choose to be led -- if I could see the end from the beginning, as He does. When I surrender my carnal will to His all-knowing will, life is so much better. I still have difficult situations to deal with. But, I have the peace of God, knowing that He is right there with me, giving me guidance every step of the way. This is why it is my desire to continually seek His will, and choose to follow the impressions He gives me. I can always trust Him to provide a way for me to do what He asks. Even though I don't always do it, it is my deepest desire to live my life in humble submission to His will. This is why I continue to make an introspective inventory of my life, praying for wisdom and strength, and then making amends when I am convicted of my mistakes.

I believe that this process of recovery is synonymous with the process of sanctification, of which Ellen White makes this statement:

Why do we not dwell more upon this? Why do we not strive to make it easily understood, when it means so much? Why do not Christians open their eyes to see the work God requires them to do? Sanctification is the progressive work of a lifetime. The Lord declares, "This is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thes 4:3). Is it your will that your desires and inclinations shall be brought into conformity to the divine will? (Selected Messages, Vol 3, 202.3)

"Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it." (Step 10)

07/25/14

Permalink 09:00:47 am, Step(s): 09 Making Amends, 198 words   English (US)

Edification or Pride?

"We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive... We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, 'The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.'" (Romans 15:1-3)

Nearly as important as our relationship with God, is the establishment of balanced interpersonal relationships. Extending forgiveness to those who have harmed us, leading to the making of amends (when appropriate) is important in bringing a satisfying balance to our relationships.

Possibly the greatest barrier to the making of amends is our pride. I know it's hard, but when you (and I) "Humble yourselves before the Lord", then "He will lift you up in honor" (James 4:10). When, in our humility, God lifts us up, it becomes possible for us to begin to edify others by forgiving their sins against us and become willing to make amends where we have offended...

My experience in the making of amends is that it is often a great bridge building process, bringing greater balance and satisfaction to my healthy relationships.

"Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others." (Step 9)

07/10/14

Permalink 07:55:33 am, Step(s): 07 Purification, 355 words   English (US)

Humbly Ask Him...

Jesus said, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22). Faith seems to be a large factor in whether we receive what we ask for, but in considering how we ask..., it may be well to consider this story:

"Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’"(Luke 18:9-13). My tendency is to be more like the Pharisee, looking on the faults of others, rather than humbly admitting my own weaknesses. But listen to what Jesus said about that, "I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:14).

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" (Acts 3:19). These "times of refreshing" come to us as we admit and surrender our issues to God. Whenever temptations to those sick behaviors come, is when the "rubber meets the road". That's when I must decide to put my will entirely on the side of God and trust in Him for deliverance. It is only then that He will work in me "both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13). When we do our part, we can be assured that God will do his part. That is how, I believe, He removes our shortcomings. Each time we cooperate with God in this way, we are gradually transformed to become more and more like Jesus. And that is my goal. Is it yours?

"Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." (Step 7)

07/04/14

Permalink 09:39:55 am, Step(s): 06 Repentance, 178 words   English (US)

"Be Ye Transformed"

It is only by the mercies of God that we have come this far by faithfully following His leading through this healing process of recovery/sanctification. Now, we are invited to get ready for God to remove our defects which we so painfully identified and confessed. In getting ready, the apostle Paul portrays a state of humility, when he said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1).

When we are entirely ready to let go of our defects of character, this "sacrifice" is holy and acceptable unto God. Paul continues, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2). It is so easy to get entangled with worldly pursuits. But, we must remember that, whatever we behold, we become like. In order to be renewed to be more like Jesus, we need to behold Jesus a whole lot more, and the things of this world a whole lot less. Thus, our minds are renewed. God heals our defects of character. Thereby, we are transformed to become more and more like Jesus. Surely that must be "good, and acceptable", as the "perfect will of God" works both in us and through us.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:5)

"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character." (Step 6)

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