We can stop worrying and feeling condemned over our flesh when we realize that God doesn't intend to "fix" it. God puts no hope in the flesh, neither should we! My flesh is lazy, jealous, impatient, and prideful. But His life in me is loving, kind, humble, patient, and longsuffering. Why waste any more time feeling guilty or constantly trying to fix myself? It's exhausting. What I do now is fix my hope completely on Jesus Christ and His grace. The more I rest in Him, the more the fruit of His Spirit is produced in me.
My flesh will never change, but His life, working in and through me, can be trusted. So, instead ordering another Christian self-help book on Amazon.com, let's remember that Christ's life in us will accomplish all that He purposes for us as we rely on Him. After all, He redeemed us from our old life (flesh can never fix flesh) to give us His! The power of His Holy Spirit enables us to stop all this preoccupation with "what's wrong with me" as we walk by faith, not by sight. Love you all!
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ~ Psalm 73:26
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Victoria Gaines
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Vicki, we must be in same place of growth. This is exactly what I've been learning through my challenges recently. I used to read so many books to try to fix myself. Now I have a garage of books I need to get rid of. Christ in me is the answer. As I am learning to submit it all to Him each day, He does work in me and through me. Isn't it amazing? We don't have to work at fixing ourselves. He transforms us from the inside out. How great is that?
Love you and your heart Vicki!
Debbie
Debbie, yay! I know, I'm tossing out books, too, and really don't want anyone else to read them, lest they be led astray:-) It's natural to want to fix ourselves...but if we're in Christ, we know He's already made our provision. He IS provision! Love you, girl! Thanks for popping over!
Debbie and Vicki...
That is exactly what I did a couple months ago. I am an AVID reader and spent a ton of money on how to fix what was wrong with me. But when Christ became my Life...I boxed up ALL those books and put them up! He is ENOUGH. It seemed as if every time I would read one of those books I would get worse! Flesh increases flesh, I suppose.
Oh how I love my sweet abiding sisters! Thanks for all the encouragement, both of you!
This is so powerful! Thank you for sharing - I will think of this the next time I am tempted when browsing Amazon.com!!!
As I walk through the valleys of downtrodeness at times feeling as though I need to do more to fix whatever is troubling me, I find it refreshing and so encourageing to stop and partake of a morsel of your God given wisdom through these biscuits and other writings. I appreciate you very much and thank our Father God for all you contribute to enlightning us along the lifes journey we are on.....Thanks so much Vicki for being a wonderful spokesperson.
I sure can relate to this post and especially about the many books. Guilty! I'm keeping my Andrew Murray books though. :)
Vicki, thanks so much for this post. I much appreciate it! Growing up in an "orthodox" mainline church, I read only the Bible for spiritual guidance. It's not that my friends and I were "holier than thou" in those days; it's just what we did. There were few if any Christian self-help books then. Later, when they became trendy, I wondered what they had that the Bible didn't. I read a few books, which I enjoyed. In fact, I can't think of one that I did not learn something from. They offered support for my walk with Christ, but that support was secondhand. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Self-help is an oxymoron. :)
Vicki...
When I said I boxed up all "those" books I mean't the ones that were "do this and that". I still am an avid reader and have many books I enjoy. I'm not sure if now if the place to share and feel free not to put this post up or to edit it but some books that are essential to me are by:
Michael Wells, Steve McVey, Warren Litzman, Sarah Young, LB Cowman, AB Simpson, Hannah Whitall Smith, Hudson Taylor, FB Meyer, Andrew Murray, Major Ian Thomas, Oswald Chambers, Andrew Farley
Oh the list goes on. But I read more now about abiding in Christ. Grace.
Sorry for the confusion!s
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