Day One: And I'm walking...
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."
And I'm walking... walking where you may ask? Walking down the road that leads me to wherever God has me. Even before I became a Christian I wanted to be on this path. I wanted to be walking down a path that led me to where God wanted me to be. I honestly thought that path would be easier. Can we say I was wrong? I was SO WRONG! In fact, I honestly believe the road God wants me on is much harder. The road that I walked in sin seemed easy and hard at the same time. I felt as though I was answering to only me, but I was still empty. Yet I couldn't figure out what that emptiness was. Well that emptiness was there because I did not have Christ in my heart (no matter how many times I swear I did). After I accepted Christ into my heart in July of 2008 I thought things would get easier. Well Satan came at me full steam then. Job loss. Grandmother passing away. Abusive roommate. Bad living situation. Money issues. Loneliness. Singleness. Satan always comes at you stronger when he realizes he is loosing one of his. When someone that he has controlled for so long is now turning away from sin and begins to lead a life where Christ is the center and the things of the world no longer matter. When we begin to live in the world but not be of the world, he attacks.
What do we do then? Do we run back into the world because we felt less attacked. Do we curl up in the fetal position and rock back and forth crying because it's too hard (I have done this by the way)? We can and try to do both of those things. But something always stops us from running and someone always picks us up off the ground when we cry. Do you know who that is? It's our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He grabs our hand as we begin to run. He holds us in His arms as he rocks us and says, "There, there. I know it hurts. I know. Just hold on to me."
This reminds me of a verse. A verse that helped me get up and realize that not only am I not alone in the way I am feeling as a new Christian, but Christ was treated the same way. It says in John 15:18-20, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours."
You have to run to the cross. You have to cling to the cross. When you have been redeemed that is where you have to be. On your knees, head to the earth and pouring your heart out to Him. I remember a friend one time was going through a difficult time while I was going through my own wilderness. I began to speak to her and had one of those moments when you just start talking and you know it's the Holy Spirit speaking through you. One of the only things I remember telling her was, "Satan can bring you to your knees, but it's what you do when you are down there that matters. You have two choices. You can give in to the pain and have a pity party, or you can be at the feet of Christ and cling to the cross and pray."
I hope that you cling to the cross. I hope that you allow Jesus to hold you in His arms when you have no where else to go. I hope that you are dropped to your knees and look to Christ for what to do instead of the world.
In Him and for His glory!
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."
And I'm walking... walking where you may ask? Walking down the road that leads me to wherever God has me. Even before I became a Christian I wanted to be on this path. I wanted to be walking down a path that led me to where God wanted me to be. I honestly thought that path would be easier. Can we say I was wrong? I was SO WRONG! In fact, I honestly believe the road God wants me on is much harder. The road that I walked in sin seemed easy and hard at the same time. I felt as though I was answering to only me, but I was still empty. Yet I couldn't figure out what that emptiness was. Well that emptiness was there because I did not have Christ in my heart (no matter how many times I swear I did). After I accepted Christ into my heart in July of 2008 I thought things would get easier. Well Satan came at me full steam then. Job loss. Grandmother passing away. Abusive roommate. Bad living situation. Money issues. Loneliness. Singleness. Satan always comes at you stronger when he realizes he is loosing one of his. When someone that he has controlled for so long is now turning away from sin and begins to lead a life where Christ is the center and the things of the world no longer matter. When we begin to live in the world but not be of the world, he attacks.
What do we do then? Do we run back into the world because we felt less attacked. Do we curl up in the fetal position and rock back and forth crying because it's too hard (I have done this by the way)? We can and try to do both of those things. But something always stops us from running and someone always picks us up off the ground when we cry. Do you know who that is? It's our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He grabs our hand as we begin to run. He holds us in His arms as he rocks us and says, "There, there. I know it hurts. I know. Just hold on to me."
This reminds me of a verse. A verse that helped me get up and realize that not only am I not alone in the way I am feeling as a new Christian, but Christ was treated the same way. It says in John 15:18-20, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours."
You have to run to the cross. You have to cling to the cross. When you have been redeemed that is where you have to be. On your knees, head to the earth and pouring your heart out to Him. I remember a friend one time was going through a difficult time while I was going through my own wilderness. I began to speak to her and had one of those moments when you just start talking and you know it's the Holy Spirit speaking through you. One of the only things I remember telling her was, "Satan can bring you to your knees, but it's what you do when you are down there that matters. You have two choices. You can give in to the pain and have a pity party, or you can be at the feet of Christ and cling to the cross and pray."
I hope that you cling to the cross. I hope that you allow Jesus to hold you in His arms when you have no where else to go. I hope that you are dropped to your knees and look to Christ for what to do instead of the world.
In Him and for His glory!
This is so great! I look forward to reading more.:)
ReplyDelete