Tuesday, April 9, 2013 -- What's Wrong (2)

The exact nature of our wrongs is that we think God is absent or surprised by our circumstances, particularly when they are bad, and suppose we have to fix the problem ourselves.  People treat us badly and we are justly frightened and wounded by their wrong treatment of us.  To protect ourselves we think we need to be angry or show resentment that keeps us at a ‘safe distance’ from harm.   God has always been with us, whether we knew it or not.  Only God has a safe plan for help and healing for us. That plan is rooted in our surrendering to His good care and trusting His amazing promises.  God has prepared a wonderful solution for whatever fear and pain, guilt and shame we hold from past experiences – both those done to us and those done by us. 

We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.   God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.  (2 Peter 1:3-4 CEV)

The exact nature of our wrongs is rooted in the lie that the problems are what is around us rather than what is within us.  It’s time that we admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being that our ways of reacting to problems not only didn’t solve them, but actually created greater problems for ourselves and others.  It’s time we admitted that we cannot do life on our own and that God has to be first, and God’s way of thinking and behaving has to be our first choice every time rather than just our “choice of last resort.”  We don’t know enough and we need to learn from God’s word, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and others who have walked with God for a while, in order to know what God has said and how that applies in our daily living. 

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:105, 11 NLT)