Thursday and Friday, April 9 & 10, 2009
Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
By: Teresa Criswell
"...The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what He requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
~ Micah 6:8 ~
I was pulling the weeds today. The roots were stubborn as I tried to pull them from below the surface. The root itself was twice as long if not more than the actual weed.
I was reminded of sin that is deeply rooted in my heart. From the surface it doesn't look that bad. Yet deep down it has festered, taken root and is so hard to pull up as it is entangled with other roots. I can "snip" the bottom of the "weed" from the surface of sin but if I don't get to the root, it only gets deeper below the surface more intertwined and much harder to get out of the ground (my heart).
The root of sin are of many different things...but I believe more than anything the root to all sin is pride. Pride comes in many different forms. If I'm shy or I don't want to talk to someone because I'm afraid of what that person may think...believe it or not it's pride. You may say, "No, that can't be." Seriously, think about it. If I put a guard up around myself because I'm fearful of rejection or what they might say about me; it's pride. I'm thinking of ME, MYSELF and I at that moment which is the "trinity to humanism". Some of you who know me may think, "You shy?" Maybe not bashful or shy, but I hold back many times when the Lord wants me to bless someone with a compliment or a word of encouragement.
I always thought that pride came in one form and that was in the form of haughtiness. For example, "I know I'm good, I'm better than you and I can do it better than you." However, I believe just how Lucifer (Satan) fell which was from pride; he truly believed that he could raise himself up above God...PRIDE! He was so bright and beautiful as he reflected the glorious light of God. The key is that he only "reflected", he was not the source of light. Lucifer actually believed that he was the source of light. Boy, he was truly deceived. How interesting that he was deceived by his OWN deception.
Another example that I can give that I unfortunately do a lot is when someone is wanting to help me out, by blessing me with something and I refuse it because I don't need their help, yet I just prayed for help in a certain area...but my reasoning is "If I accept it then what does that say of me?" Maybe some of you don't have these issues, but I do and struggling with those stubborn roots today was a great reminder.
Here are some common sins that are from pride and what we can do to please the Lord instead:
Sin OR Please the Lord
Manipulation OR Speak Honestly about what is trying to be accomplished.
Lying OR Truth
Stealing and Hoarding OR Giving
Gluttony OR Being balanced
Jealousy OR Celebrating
Taking offense OR Choosing to not receive offense
Selfishness OR Selflessness
Behaving rudely OR Behaving kindly (Remembering that niceness is not to be
taken as a weakness).
Grudges and Unforgiveness OR Forgiving and showing Mercy
Notice everyone of the sins mentioned above has to do with protecting myself. However, when I choose the right thing, I by default will walk humbly before the Lord.
We have choices to make daily. I have made many, many bad choices in my life. I have made a few good ones and I like the outcome of the good choices. Not only are the results worthwhile but it pleases God. Let us get the root system cleaned up.
Let us take root in the fertile soil that our hearts need to be made of, so that we may do what the Lord requires of us and that is to do right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
By: Teresa Criswell
"...The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what He requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
~ Micah 6:8 ~
I was pulling the weeds today. The roots were stubborn as I tried to pull them from below the surface. The root itself was twice as long if not more than the actual weed.
I was reminded of sin that is deeply rooted in my heart. From the surface it doesn't look that bad. Yet deep down it has festered, taken root and is so hard to pull up as it is entangled with other roots. I can "snip" the bottom of the "weed" from the surface of sin but if I don't get to the root, it only gets deeper below the surface more intertwined and much harder to get out of the ground (my heart).
The root of sin are of many different things...but I believe more than anything the root to all sin is pride. Pride comes in many different forms. If I'm shy or I don't want to talk to someone because I'm afraid of what that person may think...believe it or not it's pride. You may say, "No, that can't be." Seriously, think about it. If I put a guard up around myself because I'm fearful of rejection or what they might say about me; it's pride. I'm thinking of ME, MYSELF and I at that moment which is the "trinity to humanism". Some of you who know me may think, "You shy?" Maybe not bashful or shy, but I hold back many times when the Lord wants me to bless someone with a compliment or a word of encouragement.
I always thought that pride came in one form and that was in the form of haughtiness. For example, "I know I'm good, I'm better than you and I can do it better than you." However, I believe just how Lucifer (Satan) fell which was from pride; he truly believed that he could raise himself up above God...PRIDE! He was so bright and beautiful as he reflected the glorious light of God. The key is that he only "reflected", he was not the source of light. Lucifer actually believed that he was the source of light. Boy, he was truly deceived. How interesting that he was deceived by his OWN deception.
Another example that I can give that I unfortunately do a lot is when someone is wanting to help me out, by blessing me with something and I refuse it because I don't need their help, yet I just prayed for help in a certain area...but my reasoning is "If I accept it then what does that say of me?" Maybe some of you don't have these issues, but I do and struggling with those stubborn roots today was a great reminder.
Here are some common sins that are from pride and what we can do to please the Lord instead:
Sin OR Please the Lord
Manipulation OR Speak Honestly about what is trying to be accomplished.
Lying OR Truth
Stealing and Hoarding OR Giving
Gluttony OR Being balanced
Jealousy OR Celebrating
Taking offense OR Choosing to not receive offense
Selfishness OR Selflessness
Behaving rudely OR Behaving kindly (Remembering that niceness is not to be
taken as a weakness).
Grudges and Unforgiveness OR Forgiving and showing Mercy
Notice everyone of the sins mentioned above has to do with protecting myself. However, when I choose the right thing, I by default will walk humbly before the Lord.
We have choices to make daily. I have made many, many bad choices in my life. I have made a few good ones and I like the outcome of the good choices. Not only are the results worthwhile but it pleases God. Let us get the root system cleaned up.
Let us take root in the fertile soil that our hearts need to be made of, so that we may do what the Lord requires of us and that is to do right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
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