So I’ve had quite the week of navel-gazing, as they call it. It seems to be the vice that I fall back on when I have too much time sit around and think about stuff. Temporarily housebound from the blizzard this past weekend left me in a state of feeling the deep need to get “sozo’ed”, a Greek word in the New Testament and a term for popular program at Bethel Church in Redding, Ca known for its more holistic approach to healing, both physical and emotional.
Perhaps it comes from my deep interest in the study of psychology that turns my thoughts inward. In attempts to diagnose myself with a cause and a cure, I end up in a state of mental and emotional hypochondria.
Before I become introspective about my chronic introspection [lol], let me cut myself off and say that the Lord is delivering me of it! Through studying the life of David in my most recent FSM class, I am coming to terms with David’s immense imperfections and the way that the Lord dealt mercifully with his unbelief, bold sins, and tender repentance.
As usual, God has given me a revelation of this through Jesus. By looking at the Cross, He encourages me to “put on the new man” and no longer submit myself to the workings of the law and the flesh. Jesus died both to spare me from having to earn perfection and to give me access to perfection by the workings of the Holy Spirit. By His perfection I am healed. He attained the image of perfection and was still charged as guilty [2 Corinthians 5:21].
Brothers and sisters, if our striving to be like Him are not empowered by the Spirit’s work within us, then we will come up short, exhausted, and unencouraged by our own inability to produce a righteous heart. Having the Spirit of God inside of us and choosing to live by the power of the Spirit are two separate things.
“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14
Thank you Jesus, for your yoke is easy and your burden is light, should we understand what it means to walk in it. Teach us to yearn for righteousness from a place of restful sonship. Thank you for your Spirit.
1 Comment
May 2, 2009 at 9:07 am
So good! This is just what I was talking to the Lord about this morning. Hallelujah that the Spirit is our Helper!