I am a procrastinator. I am a sugar-holic. I am co-dependent. I am a closet binge-er. (I don't know how to spell that. If I follow the rule of dropping the "e", it looks like I'm a binger, rhyming with dinger.) I am a product of generational sin and a fallen world. I am weak because of clinical depression and generalized anxiety. I am scattered and unorganized because of ADHD. I am a giver-upper. I am a disappointment. I am a failure.
At different times, I've been all those things. More accurately, I've let all those things and more control my life -- control me. I've let them define me. I've let myself BE those things.
I AM, actually, a child of the King. I've been redeemed. I am redeemed. I am HIS. I am cleansed and covered by His righteousness. I am a believer. I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. I am loved. I am cherished.
THESE. THESE are the things I want to control my life. These are the things that I should allow to control me and define me. THESE are the things I want to let myself BE.
Philippians 4:8 KJV (I love the poetic language of the KJV.)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be an virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8-9 The Message (I love the personal language of The Message.)
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.
Why have I never paid attention to verse 9? That is the promised result of doing the things in verse 8. That is the important part.
Philippians 4:9 KJV
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
I need the God of peace to be with me. I need to be worked into His most excellent harmonies. I need to stop living these wasted, listless days controlled by the negative things I allow to define me and start living the life He created me for -- a life full of love and trust and peace and rest in HIM.
Maybe, if WE start living this way individually, it will work its way up to the leaders of our broken world. I would like living in a world that is woven into His most excellent harmonies.
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