Daily Devotional

Philippians 1:1-11

“Rett’s Syndrome is a rare, genetic neurodevelopmental disorder of the grey matter of the brain that affects almost exclusively females.”

  I have to confess, I’m not completely sure what that definition means, but I am certain of the hardship and heartache that’s hidden within its clinical connotation. My best friend’s daughter suffers from Rett’s Syndrome and I have watched him endure many trials over the years that would’ve beaten down and broken a lesser man. How heart-breaking it must be to see your only daughter stricken with such a tortuous malady; to live each day in the midst of a storm that seemingly never ends. He is, without question, an exemplary father, rich in love and rarely to be found in this world. I’ve often asked myself, “How is he able to find joy in this situation?” The answer is quite simple. Peace. His strength comes from the peace of God working in and through his life. His joy comes each morning he’s able to look upon the face of his daughter and see the twinkle in her eye and the crinkle of her smile, the movement of her hands and the sound of her voice, the expression of her emotions that unquestionably proclaim a richness of life amidst a poverty of speech.  The apostle Paul understood the power of God’s peace and the joy it could bring into hardship and trial. He understood the power of God’s grace and the strength it could bring to the weak and broken-hearted. He even conferred it upon the Philippian church through his letter of encouragement:

“Grace to you and peace from GodeHis  our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul knew what was needed to bring peace into troubled lives; to foster joy in the midst of trial and suffering. Evidently, so did my friend. Have I told you his daughter’s name? It’s Grace.

-Are Grace and Peace priorities in your relationships?

 

If you have questions regarding, or would like to discuss, today's devotion, please contact Myron at mwilliams@southlandchristian.org.

Philippians 1:1-11

  Throughout his life, my father was able to impart plenty of wisdom in a variety of caring and colorful ways, but this memorable maxim will always be at the top of my list: “Son, always remember who you are and whose you are.”  Apparently, the apostle Paul was a purveyor of his Father’s wisdom as well…his heavenly Father, that is! Paul’s letter to the Philippians, penned to encourage a fledgling church in a hostile world, begins with an interesting and challenging introduction:

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus…”

 To me, it’s interesting because of one word: servants. The Greek word isdoulos,which literally means, slave. Slave? Sounds kind of depressing and demeaning, doesn’t it? Why not, “Paul and Timothy, Champions of Christ Jesus!” or perhaps, “Paul and Timothy, Distinguished Emissaries of Christ Jesus!” or maybe, “Paul and Timothy, VIP’s for Christ Jesus!”? Please, allow me to ask you a question. Do you like to be recognized; to stand out in a crowd and be seen and thought of as someone special and important among your peers? On occasion, I surely do! But, when position becomes more important than purpose, ego becomes the cornerstone of a relational foundation that will inevitably crumble and fall; a foundation built upon selfishness and devoid of the mortar that strengthens and sustains: Joy in Christ. Enduring many trials and temptations, Paul discovered that real joy can be found only in a heart that has completely surrendered its will to God’s will; a heart that is totally and completely obedient to the commands of Christ; a heart that is enslaved to Jesus. To truly love God and love people is to be a slave, bound not by chains of oppression but by bonds of devotion, relationship, community and service to God and His people for the purpose and glory of Jesus Christ. Paul knew who he was, and most importantly to whom he belonged, which helped him establish the joy of serving Christ as a pillar of support that would lift up and encourage the church in Philippi.

• Where have you come from and where are you going? To whom do you belong?
• Do you have difficulty identifying and embracing joy in your life?

 

Romans 8:18-25

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope21 thatt the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

 

Revelation 22:12-20

12 "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give yout this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

“Meh.” A friend of mine had this word on his shirt the other day. As he is about ten years younger than me and he had to explain to me what the shirt meant. It’s not a word as much as a sound you make as you shrug your shoulders as if to say, “no big deal.”

Besides making me feel really out of touch with the lingo of the next generation, the shirt made me think of something bigger.  I thought about distinguishing between what really matters – the eternal things – and what really doesn’t matter – the temporary things. 

The battle that rages in us is a battle between the temporary (the flesh) and the eternal (the Spirit). Our addictions, thoughts and bad habits will all be overcome when Jesus comes back for us and we are fully redeemed. As the reading from Romans 8 says, “until then we groan and we hope.” The reason we can let God fight for us is that He is the one who has set eternity in our hearts (see Ecclesiastes 3:11).  God knows how this will all turn out. He doesn’t dream about eternity like we do – He is preparing it for us.

God will fight every battle for you as you release more and more of your strongholds to Him. He will help you in the temporary and make everything right in the eternal. This is why Revelation 22 declares that the Spirit and the bride (the church) say “Come!” and why we can say to the temporary, “meh.”

• Will you let God win the battles in your life for you as you set your mind on things above, not on the things below (Colossians 3)?
• The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” Until you do we groan and we hope in You. You will make everything right again. Thank you, Lord!  Amen.

Written by Amanda, acarter@southlandchristian.org

 

 

We Can Let God Fight For Us Because He Has Better Battle Position

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."t

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,t neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

 

Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV) 

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the Lord.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

 

 

 

Strategic positioning matters in any battle. Since the invention of aircraft, militaries have been using planes to fly over potential target areas and assess the risk and benefit to attacking that particular location. Having an aerial view gives those making decisions a better vantage point.

Sometimes we do not understand why we or the people we care about have to fight internal battles or overcome strongholds at all. At times, we deem God as unfair and disconnected as we attempt to feebly deal with our strong emotions during trying times.

During a particularly trying season in my own life I began to meditate on the passages from Isaiah 55 in today’s Scripture reading. Particularly the lines which say, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I realized God’s not boasting in this passage about how much greater He is, He is really reminding us that He sees the whole picture. He has the “aerial” view.  He sees our whole story start to finish and, more than that, He sees how our story fits into His bigger story of redemption that He wrote through Christ (see Romans 8 passages from today).

This ability makes God the ultimate battle plan commander. He has the most strategic eye in the battle and He is for you.

• Do you believe that God is working all things for your good as it says in Romans 8:28 – that His battle plan is sure and strategic on your behalf?
• The battle is tiring, Lord, and sometimes in the heat of it, we can’t see beyond the fight. Thank you that you see beyond the battle and have made a way for us to walk away from the fight with the victory! Amen.

Written by Amanda, acarter@southlandchristian.org

 

We Can Let God Fight For Us Because His Power is Made Perfect in Our Weakness

Scripture Reading:

Romans 8:26 - 31 NLT

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believerst in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work togethert for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstbornt among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the major obstacles to letting God fight for us is our slow-paced humility. We do not like to speak our need because we see an admission of need as an admission of weakness.

One of the best reasons to let God fight for you is because His power is made perfect in your weakness. It’s like those rubber gripping circles you use to open stubborn jar lids. They give you the traction you need to focus all of your energy on the motion of opening the jar. The gripper things does the gripping so you can use your energy to do more turning. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says God’s grace is sufficient for us in our weakness because His power is made perfect (which means complete) in our weakness. God’s grace is the gripper. His power frees us to use our energy to overcome rather than to try to simply hold on.

God’s plan for your life is that you do more than hold on. God’s plan for your life is that you live a full life immersed in His love and strengthened by His power.

• What weaknesses do you need to admit to God and believe His power in? What fears do you have in admitting weakness to Him?
• Lord, thank you for not condemning us in our weakness, but rather helping us in our weakness. What a loving gesture from such a powerful, capable God. Help us to trust you. Amen.

Written by Amanda, acarter@southlandchristian.org

The First Battle

Scripture Reading: Romans 8: 5-7 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

Have you ever wrestled a Koala? Me neither. I have, however, wrestled my son as I attempted to hold his little arms still so he would not startle himself awake while napping. My husband announced one day that soothing Cole is like “wrestling a Koala.” So, in a small, indirect and really imaginative way, I suppose I have wrestled a Koala.

Have you ever wrestled with yourself? Not physically but internally and mentally. If you’re human, I’m guessing you have. That’s what Paul speaks to in Romans 8 over and over again. We’re going to talk this week about letting God fight for us. To be clear, the fights we’re discussing are the internal kind; the ones that rage within us as we attempt to overcome behaviors and attitudes that hold us back from the abundant life God planned for us. But in order to let God fight for you, you have to be willing to fight the first battle: you have to decide whether you or God will lead your life. The first battle is one for your surrender – exchanging your attempts and your efforts for dependence on God.

• Are you willing to fight this first battle and surrender your efforts for dependence on God?
• Father, we need you. Apart from you, we can do nothing. Help us fight the first battle and willingly raise the white flag giving you full permission to do what only you can do in us.  Amen.

Written by Amanda, acarter@southlandchristian.org

18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life int Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:18-23

 

 

Paul really wants us to understand there are two paths to choose. One leads to death and one leads to eternal life. One leads to shame and regret (see verse 21), one leads to holiness. What I’m thankful for in this passage is a two-word phrase Paul uses to describe why we continue to sin even after we’ve accepted grace: “human limitations.” To be in skin is to be in a wrestling match between our old tendencies and our new identity in Christ. Here’s the thing, though – a tendency is not our identity. Identity tells us who we are and in relationship to God – who’s we are. Tendencies are temporary while identity lasts.

Please don’t be confused. My tendencies to sin and go my own way do not define me any more and they don’t define you either. My life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3) and so is yours! My identity is set – I am a child of God even as I wrestle with my tendencies.

Do not be discouraged! Take heart! Your bad habits and proneness to wander are not who you are – they are part of being human. However, by living according to the Spirit and sowing habits that feed the Spirit and starve your ways, you can overcome! With God, you can overcome. Who you are is determined. How you live as a result of that depends on how many tendencies you’ll throw down.

Lord, remind us daily that we need you. Oh, we need you. Remind us that our identity is in you and it is secure and that nothing is impossible with you (Luke2).

 

Written by Amanda Carter, acarter@southlandchristian.org

 

 

 

 

17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:17-18

 

My four year old learned the pledge of allegiance last year and is trying to re-learn it this year. I realized the other day, that she has no idea what she’s saying. She’s covering her heart and repeating the words, but she lacks understanding of what allegiance means or what the flag represents. One day, she will understand freedom and what it means to be allegiant to something, but for now she’s like a sock puppet: opening and closing her mouth simply repeating what’s been taught to her.

This happens every week in church services. We stand up, raise our hands or sing songs in worship, and many of us lack an understanding of what we’re pledging our allegiance to and what living that way would really mean day-to-day. We open and close our mouths repeating what’s been taught without truly understanding the message of salvation.

Paul refers to a “pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.” Following God – choosing God’s ways over our ways, sets us free from sin. We no longer have to be held captive by sin. Paul refers to obeying from your heart. For me this means obeying as a response of love and gratitude – from the heart - to all the God has freed us from – death, eternal separation and the endless wandering that accompanies following our ways instead of God’s ways.

God, we want to understand what we have in you and we want to respond from the heart, not just as puppets repeating what we’ve been told. Will you show us what it means to belong to you and not to ourselves?

What do you need to truly give over to God with your heart rather than just your mouth?

Written by Amanda Carter, acarter@southlandchristian.org

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 6:15-16

 

 

Have you ever taken advantage of the “freebies” at a hotel? In all fairness, the little shampoos and lotions, soap bars and food items on the continental breakfast are provided to serve our needs DURING OUR STAY. But how many of us take a bunch of them home with us for later use? Track with me here, none of us will be thrown in jail for taking an extra grapefruit cup or toiletry, but truthfully, we have used the items given freely to us in a way that takes advantage of the generosity of the hotel.

Grace and obedience work that way. Paul asks a great question in today’s passage. Since we have been set free from the law, should we keep on sinning since God has generously extended grace to us? He quickly answers “By no means!”  Grace is meant to be received within the parameters of God’s plan. He generously extended the life of His son on our behalf to offer us a way out from the grip and slavery of sin. Truthfully, sometimes we use the grace He has freely given to us in a way that takes advantage of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Verse sixteen in today’s reading reminds us that what we obey controls us. Are you obeying sin – which leads to death, or are you obeying God out of gratitude for what He has done for you? You will be a slave to one or the other – sin or obedience.

God, help us not take advantage of all the benefits of our salvation. Help us respond with obedience and work to throw down sin so that nothing holds us back from all you’ve extended to us in Christ!

Written by Amanda Carter, acarter@southlandchristian.org

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace

Romans 6:12-14 (NIV)

 

 

Each week, we work hard to bring various people together to complete the weekend services. There are more volunteers than most attendees at Southland could even guess! Here’s the thing, we do not come offering the same gift or the same set of skills. We all come bringing our own strengths, given by God, so He can use them to help those who attend each weekend know who He is and understand all He has planned for their lives. If my job is to sing, my voice is my instrument. For me to try to play electric guitar would be a joke! But perhaps, for the camera guy, to try to sing would be a joke. Each of us does not make sense being used as an instrument we are not.

Today’s passage refers to offering ourselves either as “instruments of wickedness” or “instruments of righteousness.” The freedom of choice is clear. We can be either; however, once we give our lives over to God, we have surrendered the option to be slaves to sin. We have chosen to belong to God and serve Him. The wickedness in our lives may vary; our struggles in the flesh are dependent on many individual things. The definition of righteousness, however, doesn’t change. It’s right living. It’s living like God wants us to – plain and simple. Just like I don’t attempt to play electric guitar on the weekends, I cannot claim to belong to God and still let my flesh rule me. I am a different instrument.

In what areas of your life do you wrestle to release behaviors, habits, choices that reflect sin rather than right living?

What would you have to do to truly release those things?

Written by Amanda Carter, acarter@southlandchristian.org

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life int Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:12-23

 

 

Recently, I went to a cabin in Gatlinburg to “get back to nature.” Now, let me clarify what “nature” means to me. In a nutshell: beauty, not too hot, not too cold and limited interaction with bugs. The woods seem to give little attention or consideration to my “nature preferences,” especially in the bug department. When an insect lands on us, our first reaction is to try to shake it off. We just want it off of us. What about a tick? When this little creature lands on you – sometimes unbeknownst to you – it sticks. Not only that (yes, this is gross), it begins to live off you and suck the life-blood out of you.

For today, let’s consider our sin, or our propensity to sin, like a tick on our skin. This little pest comes and lands ever so gently on us – sometimes unbeknownst to us, and then it begins to live off of us, sucking the life-blood from within. Sin takes things like joy, patience, and peace out of our lives and -- if left unattended -- continues to grow as it feeds on our weakness and ignorance of its presence.

In order to throw something down, you have to know where it is located. In order to prepare us for the week, let’s pray and ask God to expose sins in us we know of and that we have left unattended.

Lord, we know you can help us identify the things we need to throw down and that you will do so in love. Show us, Lord, what those are today.

What did God reveal to you?

 

Written by Amanda Carter, acarter@southlandchristian.org

Romans 7:14-25

 

All week, I have focused on the same passage of scripture. I can relate to everything Paul is speaking about in the passage.  I find comfort in knowing I am not the only one who feels this way.  I find comfort in knowing Paul felt this way, too. Paul, one of the earliest most influential missionaries, whose writings formed a considerable portion of the New Testament, felt this way!  The same way I feel, Paul felt!

 

Just like Paul found, just like I found, and just like you can find -- our hope comes from one person alone.  Jesus Christ.

 

We will be rescued from ourselves. Rescue is coming, and thanks be to God, we will be delivered through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord! 

 

I continue to learn the only way I can defend against the lies from the enemy, is to have the Truth embedded in my heart.  When the enemy wants me to make excuses based on fear, I turn to the truth in God’s Word.  I choose to believe, really believe, His Word is the truth, no matter what the world says.

 

Truth:

 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

 

“…God is Love.”

I John 4:8

 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

I John 4:18

 

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:36

 

 

 ¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^{a]" _cke_saved_href=">a]">[a]} For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 ²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  -  Romans 17:14-25

 

 

 

I can name and recognize many of the excuses I make in my life.  Recognizing the excuses are only half the battle for me.  The other half is what keeps me from being an “excuse-free” person.  I know this is a big expectation, as I type; I am already making “excuses” for why I might need to make some excuses for something down the road or even later today. Recognizing the other half means addressing the fear I live in.

 

I allow fear to paralyze me.  I allow fear to make decisions I know are wrong.  I allow fear to convince me I am making the right choice.  I allow fear to dictate my coming and going, and on some days whether or not I get out of bed. 

 

Fear motivates most, if not all, of the excuses I make in my life.  My fear-based excuses are very convincing, even to me.  My fear-based excuses are usually made to “protect” another person, to keep them from harm, or from hurting them with my poor decisions. 

 

Fear is not from God, therefore my excuses and actions as a result of my fear separate me from Him. I want nothing less, I want to walk daily with Him and live in the peace of His faithfulness and love.

 

• What are your fears?
• Do you find your fears and excuses often go hand in hand?

 

 

 

 

 

 ¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^{a]" _cke_saved_href=">a]">[a]} For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 ²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  - Romans 17:14-25

 ¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^{a]" _cke_saved_href=">a]">[a]} For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 ²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  - Romans 17:14-25

 

 

 

Being comfortable is another reason I make excuses in my life.  I may be completely aware I am doing something I don’t want to do, but I continue because I am comfortable.  Whether or not what I’m doing is helpful or harmful, doing the same thing seems easier, comfortable.

 

The longer I continue doing the things I don’t want to do, the more pain I experience in the end.  My comfort eventually turns into a pain that is so uncomfortable I look back in tears -- wondering why I continued in that behavior. It’s then I realize and remind myself there is no way being uncomfortable and doing what I should be doing could ever be as painful.  

 

Yet, time after time, I choose to be comfortable, believing the lies of the enemy over the Truth of my Savior.

 

Thankfully, I am beginning to recognize the excuses I make and I choose to do the uncomfortable sooner rather than later. The comfort of making excuses is always temporary, ends in pain, and is slowly becoming the option I am most uncomfortable with.

 

My Prayer:

 

Father, please help me discern the difference between the temporary worldly comfort and the eternal comfort found only in You. I love you and thank you for your Son, in His Name, Amen.