In his book Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis talked about putting off telling his mother about a toothache. He waited until he couldn't stand it anymore even though he knew she could relieve his pain because it also meant he would be required to see a dentist! Like most of us he didn't so much care for the cause to be addressed but the relief of negative symptoms. Lewis used this analogy to point out we might realise we have a problem with anger and cursing and want to have God deal with it because it is a source of embarrassment but how God also wants to deal with our lust, bitterness, and unforgiveness. God's intention is to give us the "full treatment" when we would rather half-measures according to our preferences.
God is gracious, merciful, and patient in convicting us of sins. Our eyes are opened to our sins one by one and we begin to realise how interconnected they are with our unbelieving and selfish hearts. Through repentance and faith in Christ we are given victory over sins which continue to pester us for seasons throughout our lives. Sinful thoughts and deeds are so natural to the flesh they can stealthily cohabitate inside us for some time until God's Word or bad feelings tip these squatters off. This is part of the battle we are responsible to fight, to bring thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ and see they are bound and arrested. No one should be more joyful or at rest than a Christian for who God is and all He has done and promised to do--but sin seeks to rob us blind.
Just today I found myself battling anger which welled up quickly and threatened to overthrow self-control. The LORD helped me to take stock of why I felt angry and stressed: I felt frustrated by people, feeling stress because I have a lot to do but not much time, and how unexpected expenses keep piling up. Then I considered, hasn't God promised to provide for all my needs? Are not my times in God's hands? Is it hard for God to change the hearts of people--even my own? It is written in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." God used feelings of anger to cause me to stop and consider Him, to turn my heart back to Him again rather than focusing on all that seems to go wrong.
Giving vent to anger doesn't change our circumstances or other people: sowing to the flesh through outbursts of wrath further corrupts us. God's love, on the other hand, edifies us and others. Horses wear blinders to force them to look straight ahead, and sin is like blinders fitted on us which focuses on ourselves and the faults of others. We are to walk circumspectly as children of light giving thanks to God for all things as it is written in Ephesians 5:15-17, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." God has taken off our blinders and revealed His will, given us the Holy Spirit without measure, and may we make the most of the time He has given us as we walk circumspectly.
God is gracious, merciful, and patient in convicting us of sins. Our eyes are opened to our sins one by one and we begin to realise how interconnected they are with our unbelieving and selfish hearts. Through repentance and faith in Christ we are given victory over sins which continue to pester us for seasons throughout our lives. Sinful thoughts and deeds are so natural to the flesh they can stealthily cohabitate inside us for some time until God's Word or bad feelings tip these squatters off. This is part of the battle we are responsible to fight, to bring thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ and see they are bound and arrested. No one should be more joyful or at rest than a Christian for who God is and all He has done and promised to do--but sin seeks to rob us blind.
Just today I found myself battling anger which welled up quickly and threatened to overthrow self-control. The LORD helped me to take stock of why I felt angry and stressed: I felt frustrated by people, feeling stress because I have a lot to do but not much time, and how unexpected expenses keep piling up. Then I considered, hasn't God promised to provide for all my needs? Are not my times in God's hands? Is it hard for God to change the hearts of people--even my own? It is written in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." God used feelings of anger to cause me to stop and consider Him, to turn my heart back to Him again rather than focusing on all that seems to go wrong.
Giving vent to anger doesn't change our circumstances or other people: sowing to the flesh through outbursts of wrath further corrupts us. God's love, on the other hand, edifies us and others. Horses wear blinders to force them to look straight ahead, and sin is like blinders fitted on us which focuses on ourselves and the faults of others. We are to walk circumspectly as children of light giving thanks to God for all things as it is written in Ephesians 5:15-17, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." God has taken off our blinders and revealed His will, given us the Holy Spirit without measure, and may we make the most of the time He has given us as we walk circumspectly.
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