Christian Living

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Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. {Romans 8:5-8}


The other day I carelessly pulled a piece of skin off my thumb (ya know, next to the nail). Thinking it would come right off, I yanked it away. To my dismay, instead of coming off, it just kept peeling back farther and farther until I decided I'd better get a nail clipper! I thought nothing of it until later when I applied hand sanitizer to my hands.....liberally.....Now, I'm no stranger to pain - I've been burned countless times; fallen down steps a plenty; been bitten by a dog twice (once requiring stitches); sliced through my thumb with a bread knife which also needed stitches; broke my pinky finger and my wrist; oh yeah, and gave birth naturally, without drugs three times. BUT THAT WAS PAIN LIKE NO OTHER!! Though it hurt, it was necessary that the area be cleansed to avoid further issues. If I had only done the right thing to begin with - that is, used the nail clippers - I could have avoided the discomfort.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. {Proverbs 14:12}

Sometimes I "yank" myself away from the Holy Spirit. Poor, rushed decisions lead me farther and farther away from the path God has mapped out for me. The TRUTH of the matter is as educated and experienced as [we think] we are, apart from God, we just don't have it in us to always to do and say the things that produce the desired result. And to go one further, our "desired result" is often times not the same as God's!!

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. {Isaiah 46:10-12}

I know. It's painful (and even torturous!) to let go and patiently wait on the Lord! In fact, it causes blunt trauma to our pride organ to admit that our sure-fire, 100% fail-safe plans and ideas are.....rarely that. Those abrasions are, indeed, "flesh" wounds; damage to the self-serving, impulsive and destructive or SINFUL NATURE. I can only speak for myself when I say that I would much rather endure the unpleasantly achy, yet oh-so-temporary blow of a "flesh wound" than sustain spiritual distress with eternal consequences!

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. {Romans 8:1}

So, to conclude, our task for this week is to remain joyful in our circumstances while we allow God to 'work it out', when and how He sees fit. NO, I'm not telling you to consult with the Lord before clipping that hangnail - though it wouldn't hurt! - just resist the temptation to take over (with all your wisdom & logic!) just because we are much quicker and more efficient than He tends to be.......this is where you giggle 'cause you know you do it too! Open your eyes to the bigger picture and understand that it's MUCH bigger than you!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. {1 Peter 5:6-7}

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