Friday, December 17, 2010

Am I?

     

 "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become so callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ, to PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and TO BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS, and TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED AFTER THE LIKENESS OF GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS." Ephesians4:17-24

Am I being renewed daily? or am I still "putting on my old self?" 


As I have been praying  that I would be more aware of how my walk is and how I am spending my time (Ephesians5:15-16) I have realized that so quickly I am ready to put on my "old self."

The other day I was at a store with all my kiddos, they were being horrible (that's actually being nice) Normally I would have left with their behavior, but I had to get food. I had more then enough by the time we were checking out. I was doing all that I could to not explode so in turn I was being very cold. To add more fun to my night, I accidentally got into the 10 items or less lane with about 50 items. The cashier was nice and said she would take me anyway, but then the line behind me got long and the kids were all over the place, I told her I would put everything back in my cart and go to another line. The customers behind me were all making fun of me ( not in a mean way, trying to be funny) and I about lost it. The cashier could see that I was about to boil over and she read my shirt which said (hope) she said "No big deal, there is always hope, right!?!" You would have thought that I would have put a smile on my face and said "thank you". Nope, I gave her a nasty look and threw all my items off the belt and into my cart and went into another line.

 At the time, I thought I handled everything correct, because I never yelled, but when I stopped and let the Lord show me my behavior. I was horribly embarrassed and convicted. Needless to say I apologized and asked my kiddos to forgive me and the Lord as well.

I could share so many more.

I am pretty sure that if the people in the store would have known all that I went though leading up to my nastiness then they would have completely understood, BUT is that really an excuse (or any excuses for that matter) okay for those who say they are in Christ!?! That would be NO!

I don't want to live on this earth with my old self pretending to be new. I want the Lord to rip off my old self. And to live in Jesus, clothed in His love. (Colossians3)


 *Because God is pleased with me, I now want to live a life pleasing to Him (2Corn5:9, 1Thes4:1)

I am righteous through Jesus, now go and be righteous, I am loved now go and be loving (Col3:1)


I am forgiven, now go and be forgiving (1John4:11)

* I have had this written in my bible for a long time, It is not from me, but don't remember where I got it. If you know, please let me know so I can give credit*


                                        "You called me out of death and called me into life!"


5 comments:

  1. I hear you precious sister and friend. I hate, hate, hate my sin...and yet I hold onto this nature of flesh. Wretched sinner that I am, who will rescue me from this body of death? THANKS BE GO GOD -- through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!!

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  2. This was so perfect for today!! The whole store thing happened to me too yesterday and I acted in my old nature again, raising my voice and I felt so bad afterwards. I so want to put off the old self and be more like Jesus :) Thank you again for this post!

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  3. We all wear the old man easy enough, but none of us can put on the new man in our own strength. I'm learning (in process still for sure) to recognize those chaotic moments as invitations to prayer; we stop everything, gather around and offer ourselves anew to Christ, begging Him to grant us His grace. He proves His grace to be sufficient every time (the problem is I don't turn to Him every time!). Let's keep fighting the good fight of faith together, encouraging each other to get back up after "store" scenes. Press on Melissa, with your eyes fixed on Jesus who is not only the Author but also the Perfecter of your faith. There is hope afterall :-)

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  4. Amen!! (I feel like I say that alot on your posts, but I can't help it!!) Less of me, more of Him!

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  5. More of Him. Less of me. Daily picking up my cross. I too wrestle my old nature daily.

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