Life is difficult. We all know this for we’ve tasted pain before and we are continually faced by it. Whether we like it or not, we have to deal with it; it’s unavoidable. But, the question is how are we dealing with it? Is it a solution that is carried out in God’s presence or is it just another new way that you’ve design to make you feel better for the moment?I guess many times we have fallen into the trap of blindness, where we take our eyes off God and allow our sinful nature to take the lead even though we clearly know that our actions and heart should be seeking after God’s counsel. Though I hate to admit it, but I have to say that we are pretty good at finding all sorts of ways, except God's, to soothe ourselves, telling us that life is okay and that we are okay too. We deal with our deepest agonies by manipulating things to go the way we want them to be.
We really tear God’s heart when we are ever so ready to turn to other things for comfort and help except Him. Perhaps what we really need to consider is- are we fearing the consequences of sin more than we fear sin at its core? Because until we really understand what sin is; it's true nature, the damages it can do to one’s life, as well as the ache it can bring to the heart of God, we won't quit playing with it.
In the midst of all our troubles, struggles, pains, difficulties in life, our heart is probably the one thing that we need to change, and prayer is the only way that will change it. I believe that God is faithful & will keep His promises, to supply all that we need- comfort, peace, strength, courage, hope and wisdom, at that moment to help us get past them.
Two ways of dealing with pain: one that seeks the counsel of God, while the other turns to earthly things for temporary comfort; one that is willing to wait upon the Lord and be obedient to Him, while the other is stubborn and determined to do things his/her own way. Which way are you following?
“If you are determined to go in a certain direction, God will step aside and second your emotion.” ~Ravi Zacharias.
And when this happens, I think that’s when we will face the greatest pain of all.
1 comment:
Your entries, if I may say, are very well done! I find it reflective and simple-to-understand as I go through them. You did an excellent job, Serene!
Ok, a little bit extras, actually quite a lot...
[quote]We really tear God’s heart when we are ever so ready to turn to other things for comfort and help except Him. Perhaps what we really need to consider is- are we fearing the consequences of sin more than we fear sin at its core?[/unquote]
This reminds me of a small scripture verse that I was reflecting on several days back - Romans 7:14-25; which briefly goes something like this (I will take out the excerpts that is relevant to your material)
NIV
v18: I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
v19: For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.
v22: For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
v23: but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
Deep within us, just like the scripture has illustrated - a battle within occurs between the earthly desires and the heavenly purpose set for us by God and the Holy Spirit. We are constantly fighting a battle in our everyday life, more so to neglect what our heavenly Father wants for us. We turn therefore towards the earthly desires because of the ongoing attractions and temptations that are right before our eyes - seeing is believing, but how true is that anywayz? True enough to lure lots of people to commit and preach the greatness of earthly life rather than the opposite.
But the question remains; even though we know of the consequences of the sinful and earthly desires in comparison to that of God's desire for us... why do we still do it? Christians especially, bear a great deal of brunt and guilt whenever faced with this question.
Is it short-sightedness? In view of the importance and significance in dwelling in a life which is so temporal (accepted by many other members so as to be part of them to feel accepted), unbeneficial in the long run, but yet people desire it still; better than that of long-sighted vision of which, that of eternal life?
Control? Faith? Denial? Fear of going through trials set by God not meant to harm us but to help us and be fruitful to us? Whichever it is, we seem to be losing the battle over and over again by giving in to the old sin in which we would later comfort ourselves by saying; aiyar - a lil bit onli, won't so chia-lat eh lar -
But;
Matthew 24:35: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away...
There are many ways of going about it, but the human heart, like you mentioned, is the primary focus here. Loyalty to the King comes from the heart as many of the scriptures and even novels, poems or story books will tell us. If our heart is not set right before the eyes of the Lord, no matter what good deeds we do, it boils down to nothing. The heart needs to be right, and yeap, like what the book by EM Bounds had mentioned, that is by prayer which increases faith that leads to trust, to obedience and a true Christian conduct.
Everything begins from the heart - life itself and the first organ to develop in the developing foetus to keep them kicking.
Till then! Keep posting!!
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