Is the way you see yourself the same
as God see’s you?
We all
wake up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes, we all get frustrated at
drivers in traffic sometimes, we all skip out on our responsibilities
sometimes, we all do things that take us farther away from God sometimes. What
is your "sometime" thing? Or better yet, how does that make you feel about yourself when you
don’t do the things or act the ways we are suppose too? Not great right,
what is that? It's what is in you and what is in me that enables our emotions to
run ramped, and like a hurricane we stormfully plow through our lives. Emotions
and attitudes are complicated, but one thing that is for certain they are
merely temporary. “NO REALLY? Tell me something I don’t already know!,” said
with a snotty brashness of a lovely teenage attitude. If this true, why is it
we act out the majority of our days in this enhanced emotional state?
This is the same thing marketers us in commercials and adds for their “Latest and Greatest”
model or product, because there last one was with a roll of the eyes, SO last year! Are you living at the affect of your emotions, or are they effecting the
quality of your life? Whether your in debt, watching pornography, take a substance
or just can’t seem to keep your mouth shut during a conversation. Most of the
time these are just actions and behaviors you believe will give you a large
emotional gain in pleasure, but in all actuality they are minuscule at best.
Understanding this emotional whirlwind will be highly beneficial to you and
your personal development, but the realization is just the beginning.
In 1
Corinthians 10:13 itsays, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common
to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,
but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be
able to endure it.” If it is as common
as it says, see why it is used against us to buy products and services. Always
remember, every decision you make to do, say or buy is purely based off the
emotions we think it will give us in return. But more often then not, days weeks or even
as small as moments later the item, conversation or service didn’t do anything
more then a small emotional gain. Then we are left searching for the next best thing. Nevertheless, as it says “God is faithful,”
he is faithful in the fact that the temptations he puts in your path are
something you can control and conquer with his help but if you think you can do
it alone you are mistaken. For his strength gives you strength. He puts a temptation in your path, but at the
same time he gives you an escape route. Will you see the two or just focus on
the short term pleasure that the item/behavior will give you?
I know it
is hard to take a step back in the moment of temptation, and say “would I want
my parents to know I’m doing this” or “would I want to explain this to my
children someday” or “would I want to stand in front of my friends and family
and explain this…” It really is your decision, and the only thing I can
guarantee is that is going to be hard and I mean REALLY HARD! In 1 John 2:16 it
says, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of
the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
The flesh or emotions want you to have this one feeling, which remember is much
smaller then you think it will be. Like a grown up playing a practical joke on
an unsuspecting child, same too for your brain playing a trick on you.
The "Gimmie that" mentality, and just like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, "I want it and I want it NOW!!!" I
believe it is this way because if you are constantly distracted with chasing
emotions that can never really be caught, then that is less time you can spend
with your heavenly father, and that is the work of the evil one. There is
always hope though because like it says, “I can do all things through him who
strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 and with a little practice and seeking your
heavenly father you can too develop that strength through him.
Start
small, by record actions and behaviors in a journal. All the things that are not
what you believe is ultimately taking you closer to your major objectives in
life, write it down and make some simple things you can do to change that
behavior because like I mentioned before “he will also provide the way of
escape.” Now if you want to ignore it you can, but eventually you will
understand that when you develop strength in one area it has a way of spilling
over into others.
Welcome minor disappointments and setbacks, because I believe
that is where you will learn the most and from their God will put it on your
heart. Which will make it much more likely that you will follow through next
time.
Remember, you are magnificent and you can change things in your life with
Gods help. Live, Love and have Faith and you will have everything in this world
that God wants for you. For it is his will, as it is in heaven, here on earth
also.
