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Topic: ONEROUS (03/02/17)
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TITLE: My Bewildering Burden | Previous Challenge Entry
By Elaine Hemingway
03/09/17 -
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I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
One thing I have learned, though, and have an empathy with Paul regarding it, is that it is easier to maintain a disciplined physical lifestyle than a spiritual one. We have to be constantly on our guard as satan with his well-honed subtleties tries to tempt us into compromises.
Through the years there have been various corrections I have tried to make in my lifestyle. Accepting the Lord Jesus as my Saviour was a wonderful release to various mistakes I had made. To finally realise that I was loved without limitation and unconditionally was wonderful; I wanted to please my Lord in every way I could to show my appreciation. Was I a little overweight? Then a better eating regime was necessary, and exercise was a pre-requisite of health. Smoking? I realised that was a no-no so immediate cessation was necessary, without I might add, any ill effects of withdrawal symptoms.
I had proclaimed my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such foreign substances were to be denied.
It’s the Spiritual difficulties that I find hard to adhere to. I shouldn’t envy others their abilities and strengths when I know that my God supplies my every need. When my brain lets me down in the remembrance of chapter and verse for a particular quotation I should be content with what I have and allow the Lord to use it.
God in His wisdom gave people like Billy Graham, George Verwer, Jack van Impe, Bodie and Brock Thoene, Randy Alcorn, Jerry Jenkins and so many others of my heroes, enviable gifts and the opportunities to use them, whereas others he places in less privileged positions but yet equally important in His grand scheme of things. I have to learn to be content but to give of my best in every situation in which He places me.
In Philippians 4:11 Paul proclaimed that he had learned to be content in all circumstances disclaiming particular needs, and that’s where I fall short.
I find it difficult to be content when I have fallen down in my discipline. My intentions may have been good to have a quality Quiet Time with the Lord, but interruptions made that impossible. I then try to set aside an alternative time, only to again be frustrated. Yes, eventually I can dwell in the Word, feed on it, but nagging at the back of my mind is the accusation that I should have done better.
That is when I have to learn to be content.
Perhaps the interruptions were sent to ensure that I fulfilled another instruction. God has every right to interrupt my own agenda for His purposes. I have no right to feel frustrated. And no, I don’t want to be caught napping. I don’t want to miss out, so hard though it is, I will persevere, running hard for the finish line and giving everything I’ve got – for His Glory.
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Just a note: since it is hard to get the indented format for the verse and because The Message version sound so much like everyday conversion, it took me a little bit to realize you weren't quoting scripture anymore. Maybe use quotation marks around the verse next time.
Nicely done
Blessings~