I had a revelation today in the perfume section of some over priced store in Plaza Las Americas. I have to make a stand. I must fight. The battle begins now, not some day in the distant or near future. No one is going to come along and make things change for me. Nothing is going to change my circumstances. I have the power of Christ at my fingertips and the Holy Spirit at my side. What do I have to lose.
This might not make any sense to you. It makes perfect sense to me. I allow myself to be imprisoned. The funny thing is that this prison the door is wide open. There is no lock, there is no key, no one is holding me there. I can choose to walk out at any minute. I decide by my own free will to walk into this cage and shut the door behind me. How crazy is that. How many men that are freed from bondage decide later to return to their old, cruel slave master. They say "Please put these shackles on me". That does not happen. So why do I chose to go back to my old imprisoned life of sin. Christ has freed me. And yet I say the word and I am back.
Galations 4:3-7
"So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
Eric-
In my recent studies I have discovered a word that previously didn't have much of a meaning to me. This word is humble. I have heard that as a Christian we are supposed to be humble. What I thought this meant was that we weren't supposed to think of ourselves as better than someone else. We were supposed to let someone else stand in the spotlight from time to time. My recent studies have helped me discover that there is much more hidden in this word.
I have been reading a book called "Every man, God's man". It has been a great book so far and has made some life changing points. In a chapter titled "One attitude required" a few things began to make sense. One paragraph from the chapter says "Humility doesn't save a man eternally, but it sure saves him a ton of grief. Humility doesn't change a mans circumstances, but it helps him see God's purposes in the circumstances. Humility doesn't speed up answers to prayer, but it accelerates acceptance of God's will. Humility doesn't earn a man more of God's love, but it helps him experience God's love at a deeper level."
True unbridled humility is an essential part of the Christan walk. It is strange that one cannot simply decide to be humble. Those that decide to be humble often find themselves prideful that they are more humble than someone else. I have caught myself in this line of thinking many times over the past few years.
Scripture has many things to say about humility.
Psalm 25:9
Psalm 147:6
Proverbs 11:2
Proverbs 22:4
Isaiah 57:15
Matthew 23:12
James 4;6
I won't write out the scriptures. You can go to Bible Gateway and look them up for yourselves.
Finding out that humility is one of the top components of the Christian faith has changed my view on my relationship with God. Here are a few ways that relation has changed in my mind.
- Before I thought more highly of myself because I was dependent on God. I would ask Him to help when things weren't going in my favor.
- Now I realize that in everything I am to completely recognize that I am incapable. I have to be utterly reliant on him.
- I must recognize that I am helpless against my own sin. I cannot control it, I cannot be free from it. The only freedom is in complete reliance of Him.
One could spend days on end telling of ways they needed to be humbled before God.
The minute I asked that God would make me more humble he answered my prayer. I began to see ways I was insufficient. It turns out that a short temper and anger are two things that I struggle with. I did not even think of these things as problems in my life. This is yet another area I have to submit to God's will. I have to accept that I am not capable of being patient and ask for the Holy spirit to make up for that missing piece in me.
Take a step back, look into your own life. Ask God to reveal exactly how much you need him.
Eric-
It is official. Live healthy 2007 has begun. I am re instating my old eating and exercising Habbits. The plan is to loose about 50 pounds by christmas time. It will be hard and take a lot of hard work and determination. If I put my mind to it I have enough the knowledge and skill to do it (thanks to the Boyds). Here begins the journey, you can hold me accountable.
On another note, I am completely bald now. No, the receding harlines did not take over. I decided to beet them to the punch and shave it all off. It is frightening exactly how white my scalp is. I guess 23 years of no sun and you would be pretty white as well. Now instead of having my hair show the receding line, it is the sun tan from when I had hair on the top of my forehead. I look like Eddie from the Munsters but without hair.
I have decided to start praying that the Lord would bring in the funds for a motorcycle. I believe it would be very helpful down here in Cancun. When I am finished with it I can sell it or just give it away to a pastor here. If you are a believer and agree with me, please pray with me that God will supply all of the money I need. A semi-new bike would cost around $1,000.
God bless,
Eric-
I am not sure why this isn't working. I tell it to update the website, but nothing changes. I go to the site and all that I see is the original content.
Thanks,
Eric-
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