This morning on A Moment With God, I read
“There is no better time to praise God than right now”.
Amen. I agree with that. And I did it.
So I resolved to do so at that exact moment and throughout today.
That’s a small, achievable step for me. I need small steps and I really need to begin experiencing ACHIEVABLE steps.
In 2011, I feel I haven’t grown much spiritually, emotionally or psychologically. And unfortunately, the area where I want to grow least, but have in leaps and bounds, or rather, breadth, is: physically. I have gained an extraordinary amount of weight (based on my body type and the weight I’ve carried most of my adult life). It is tremendously embarrassing, uncomfortable and I am actually experience some health side-effects b/c of it that I’ve never had in my life. Yes, it’s way past time to address this area of shame in my life and quit making excuses.
I like to blame it on hormones, peri-menopause and discouragement/depression but some plain truths are that I overindulge in food, I don’t monitor portions or calories. I sometimes binge. I sometimes am an emotional eater. And I usually like to settle down in the evening with a glass of wine, small piece of smoked gouda, maybe a few olives, grapes and the like.
Firstly, my body does not require such calorie dense foods in the evening and I am not able to burn off any of those calories in the evening hours.
Also, too often I get myself into a state of overwhelm and have weaknesses in the areas of time management and focus. I become scattered in my thoughts when I take on too many projects. I then become non-productive, a procrastinator and sometimes paralyzed in my efforts.
These are many of the characteristics about myself that I don’t like at all.
I believe God who is my Wonderful Counselor, my Enabler, my Prince of Peace, my Burden Bearer wishes to bring more peace, order and fruit into my life. I usually just don’t take the adequate time to abide in Him, to receive HIS marching orders for my day, to receive His wisdom, counsel and corrections. I believe He is impressing upon me that right now, in this moment, is the time to transition and let Him in, fully.
I am at that place where I am willing to yield and say, ‘YES’, I am willing to obey this impression on my heart. Please come and meet with me. Right here and right now. I want to abide. I crave Your Presence.”
TRUTH: I have not permitted Jesus to be LORD of my life in a long while. And without being connected to His life-giving, overcoming Spirit, I live by the dictates of my ‘old man’ the flesh, which profits nothing and allows my willfulness and resistance/rebelliousness to expand.
Unmistakably, God is speaking to me this morning through Hebrews 4:12:
“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. “ [Amplified Bible]
Also from:
Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? After beginning in the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?
Galations 5:17 “ For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.” [Amplified Bible]
My binging, my over-indulgences, my unrestrained willfulness and resistance is antagonistic to the life of Christ in me.
[Merriam Webster's] Antagonistic: marked by opposition or ill will
How can I claim to be a disciple of Christ when within me I am resisting His promptings, urging, instruction and choosing to live willfully in my own desires and mindset? Oh yes, I am definitely born again and have inherited eternal salvation from my sins based on my belief and confession of faith in his sacrificial shedding of blood on the cross for my sins, but I live like an enemy of this cross and this work, for I don’t resemble in nature or practice the One who because of His resurrection from the dead, now abides and lives within me. Oh, wow, I am reeling from that revelation. I need to take a breather and step back from posting for a bit.
[Later]…….
I have a legitimate craving inside me…to walk spiritually like Brother Lawrence did, as described in The Practice Of The Presence of God.
Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).” [Amplified Bible]
Wow, I am inspired by God’s revelation of Truth in His Word. I know this was His Word to me today. He IS a personal God.
My dear friend Lisaa in Nyssa, Oregon shared with me 7 days ago a teaching on the Blessing of Obedience by Jim Cymbala, which I”ve not yet listened to because I knew there was resistance within me.
Today, I believe, is my day to listen to it. And not just to listen but to meditate, pray and respond.
The Blessing of Obedience
It is 34 minutes in length.
Is this YOUR day to also listen to this teaching?
Was something sparked with YOU as you read my true-confession posting?
Can you share something with us in the comment section?
~Blessings, Lori~
Lori Clinch Adams ©All Rights Reserved
