I hate the
devil. I hate his scheming ways and how he manipulates truth. I hate how he
creeps into our thoughts and makes us doubt the people that we are. I know that
today is Mama Monday, but I’ve been dealing with this feeling this past week
and today it just hit a high. I’m tired of doubting myself and what I am
supposed to be doing. It isn’t just my mom abilities, but also my wife abilities,
and my sister and daughter abilities. I have struggled with self-worth most of
my life and there have been moments in life where I am pretty good at fighting
those issues with truth, but it’s something that I continually struggle with
everyday. I was just thinking about this verse in church yesterday because it
is one of my favorites and been a part of my life for sometime:
Ephesians
3:20-21 Now
to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
We used these
verses at my Dad’s funeral and ever since then, I have loved reading them time
and again. But yesterday my pastor brought in up in church- though I honestly
can’t remember his exact reason, but in the moment I thought-God I have loved
this verse and believed this verse for so many years, but I still feel like I
haven’t seen it play out in my life. His answer to me was again, like always,
simple…He said, ‘That’s because you are not allowing me to do my work in your
life. You are taking over control and not allowing my spirit to move in your
life.’ I was amazed at how quick His response came and honestly how humbled it
made me feel. I have realized that I have continued to look at my life through
my own eyes and the eyes of the world. I have allowed the devil to creep into
my mind and manipulate me. I have allowed him to make me believe that if I just
try hard enough or work hard enough, I will be able to do anything. Doesn’t
this sound familiar? It brings me back to Genesis when sin first entered the
world. When Satan tempted Eve and Eve believed his lie-that we are able to ‘Be
God’ by ourselves and that God is keeping something from us. I’m tired of this lie;
I’m tired of how this lie has taken over our lives and our world. I want to experience
God’s power and His ability to do FAR MORE than we could ever ask or imagine. I
want to be the best mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend that I can be and the
only way I can do that is through the power of Christ. Allowing God to control
my life and be the center will bring the ‘immeasurably more’, immeasurably more
peace, love, self-control, kindness, patience…all the fruits of the spirit.
That is what I want. That is what I want for my family and friends. That is
what I want for you-for you to stop believing the lies that Satan is telling
you and grasp the great power of Christ. It requires sacrifice and humility,
but that sounds a lot better than the unfilled life that the Devil promises. I’ll
take the road less traveled; the road that seems small and narrow, because I
know that through all the struggle, that road leads to eternal glory with the eternal
God.
So take that
Devil, throw everything you got at me, I know I will stumble, I know I will
struggle, but my eyes are on the everlasting God who’s power is FAR greater
than yours and He has already won the battle. He has already won my heart and soul-nothing
can separate me from Him-not even your stupid, annoying lies.
God, I am
chasing after you. I am allowing your control to reign in my life. I know I
will stumble and struggle, but I also know that you are always with me and
ready to pick me up when I fall down. Thank you for your grace, thank you for
your gift of abundant life. I will strive everyday to let your love overflow me
and penetrate my mind so that I look to your truth and am able to combat the
lies throw at me.
And to you, reader,
I pray for you. I pray over you that you are able to combat the lies that the
Devil will in evidently throw at you. I pray that you are seeking His truth and
the life that God has for you. It is far greater than the life the Devil has
for you. Remember God’s life leads to eternal glory with Him, the Devil’s life
leads to eternal pain and suffering-which would you rather chase after? God is
with you always and I pray that you experience that today.
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