Things I’ve Noticed… December 1, 2007
Posted by servingthesavior in salvation..trackback
I’ve noticed something recently. I love how, since my salvation, I have begun making connections and noticing things that never even occurred to me before. Now, every time I even have a thought that I know is not pleasing to God, I immediately notice it and feel guilty. Every time I say or do something that God isn’t pleased with, I’m immediately remorseful. This may seem like something that is blatantly obvious to most people, especially those who have been saved for a while. It wasn’t like that for me before, though. Before I was saved I might feel guilty and ask forgiveness if I did something that was obviously sinful. If I told a lie or took the Lord’s name in vain, for instance. However, one thing I hardly ever noticed was when I’d have a sinful thought. I never even thought about what went on in my mind as being sin. Many times I could sin and never feel the slightest remorse. It got to where some of my sins became habitual, never even giving me the slightes bit of trouble to commit. It never occurred to me (before October) that “HEY! Maybe that signals a problem!”
I know now that I can’t live with Jesus in my heart as well as unconfessed sin. I literally grieve when I slip up. I am working on keeping God in control of my life and not being so quick to try and handle things myself. I am so desperate to try and live a pure and holy life that I don’t stop to consider that our human nature sometimes makes that difficult. I am still guilty of trying to do things to fix the problem rather than confessing my sin and asking God to help me live a life that is pleasing to Him each and every day. Without Him, it is impossible to live a holy life, yet I continue to make the mistake of trying. My prayer is that I will grow and mature in Christ and eventually not struggle so much with this particular problem.
I hope anyone who reads this understands what I mean. Sometimes I am guilty of spilling my heart out on the keyboard in a way that makes perfect sense to me, but absolutely no sense to anyone else. But, if it does make sense, does anyone else struggle with this? I get frustrated sometimes when I make these mistakes continually, even though I try my best not to.
Living with our flesh is a constant struggle, though. God never said the Christian life was easy. Before October, I thought it was easy! I was living life the way I wanted, because in my mind, I had signed up for “fire insurance” back in 1999. I understand now that salvation is truly the most amazing gift I’ve ever received, but living the christian life definitely isn’t easy!
Thanks to a challenge I read in another blog, I began reading the book of Ephesians. In reading, I found something that can be one of my reference points for helping me live a life that is pleasing to God.
Ephesians 4:1-6
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bodn of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called–5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
These words just jumped off the page at me. Praise God that with His help, we can accomplish this!
WOW!! Its like you are writing my thoughts down for me. I too went through life feeling guilt and asking for forgiveness for sins that I would commit, but I was numb to many things in my life that was hurting God. Then when I was saved those things were jumping out into the light like crazy! I was so broken for not even realizing the things that I did that displeased my Lord over and over. The Holy Spirit is constantly revealing things to me. Im so glad he does too, I dont want to do ANYTHING that is displeasing to Him. I cant wait to see you! Im just going to give you the biggest hug ever!