This summer was a time of struggle for me and more than a few moments that on a good day I will call “praying in the garden” moments. The reason I call it that is because when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He struggled so much with Gods plan that He sweat drops of blood!
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1
While I didn’t sweat drops of blood I came close, said some words and got incredible frustrated, angry and saw the cliff of bitterness before God whispered, “I Love you as you are and Not as you “should be” my child” once again. My point is not my summer in the desert wandering around like a Freed Being still enslaved in my mind to a small God of my own making. My point is why do we slip into that limited life from time to time and are there any common denominators. Based on my all too painful personal research I would have to say a Resounding Yes!
While the common connectors to my wandering about may be helpful – I hope that anyone and everyone who has had struggles will share here as that might be the single point one person needs to read to open up to God’s Grace and grow into The Promised Land of His kingdom Here and Now:
1) The easiest way for me to head back to the desert is what I like to call “the law slider” – this is where without knowing it satan gets a law to slip into my thinking and before you know it condemnation, guilt and shame steal The Peace the Passes All Understanding!
Solution: remember you are under Grace – not law and meditate to support that knowledge! Meditate on verses that remind you of His Forgiveness, Grace and unconditional Love. For a list of those verses you can check out: https://www.begracefull.com/let-the-journey-begin/
2) Another all too easy way to start pounding sand again is the “expectation based on ignorance” – please keep in mind being ignorant isn’t wrong or bad but stupid – well that’s a whole different matter! If I start to think, “I got this” – I am ignorant! If I start to think, “God wont allow me to be in pain or suffer” – I am ignorant! The reason for much of the pain of believers if not all of it are the expectations we have on God, life and Being a child of God!
Solution: Fall to your knees, let God know you have learned from your ignorance, write down the lesson in a “Life Journal” and drive on!
3) Un-forgiveness of ourselves or others – God will do everything possible to get your attention – but some never see that – these people usually die bitter and alone!
Solution: Remember when Jesus taught us how to pray, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us” – as we realize and gain a heart understanding of the completeness of His forgiveness we need to offer that to others as well! In the case of this one many times Gods lesson is so we will learn to forgive ourselves for who He made us to Be, Here and Now!
I hope this was helpful and I hope you will add some that are common for you as we all grow as we see each other’s weaknesses – we grow together and we grow in understanding The Grace of God!
