Doing hard things can seem like putting a key into the wrong lock. You have a bundle of keys, but which key works?
Things we naturally find devastating, confusing, hurtful or overwhelming don’t have to lock us out of successful living. They don’t even have to direct our thoughts. We may feel them, but God has given us the bible as the key to meditate on day and night, so that we are changed and transformed by it.
We can often shut out the light of God by not allowing ourselves to be examined by God's truth. Rather, we delight more in examining our emotions, or more preferably, other people. But those things don’t allow God’s benefit in our lives.
If we shut our spirit down, God’s spirit can’t proceed in us. Whatever we unlock the door to is what proceeds in us.
Proverbs 20:27 (AMP)
The spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being.
Much of what is wrong with us or our circumstances is the way we reason.
We pray that God will change things, and we suffer with distresses, but are we meditating on the things God tells us to? If we're not, we stay in a carnal, or soulish, state because we’re not grafting ourselves to the thoughts of the Holy Spirit moment by moment.
It takes our choice, plus discipline of the mind to do that, coupled with the direction of the Holy Spirit.
When we feel defeated, it's because we're not submitted.
Galatians 5:22-23 (AMPC)
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law [that can bring a change].
The fruit of the Spirit comes from His Spirit, not our own thoughts or will. But if we can continually surrender our conscience to His Spirit to expose what needs to be changed, we can take joy in what He can accomplish.
All we have to ask ourselves is, what do we want more? Him? Or me?
John 15:5-11 (Easy-to-Read Version)
“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned. Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father. “I have loved you as the Father has loved me. Now continue in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commands, and he continues to love me. In the same way, if you obey my commands, I will continue to love you. I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy.
It's a spiritual mystery. But once we open the door to Him, our lives change and take on a new meaning. Our surrender to His Lordship is the key that opens the lock. Remember, God is our Keeper.
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