Twelve Steps Of A.a. Step Six Entirely Ready For Defects To Be Removed (2)
Tuesday November 17, 2015
To allow God to remove all our defects of character is actually asking Him to take away everything that hinders our ability to live life to the full. We are precious to God. He loves us and has committed through His Word, to take care of us. We need to focus our lives completely on this enduring relationship of unfailing love and care.
The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. (Psalm 25:8-10 NLT)
To experience life to the full we must choose for God’s way each time His direction conflicts with what we think is a better way. Character defects are removed as we become willing to follow God’s principles instead of our own way. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 NIV) Any other conversation with God is defending, rebelling, bargaining, or engaging in a useless exercise of trying to manipulate the God of heaven and earth to consent to what we really want. God is faithful, therefore, we can trust Him to work all things together for good in our lives.
Becoming willing to have God remove all our defects of character is a bit like dealing with dirty clothes. We don’t put clean clothes on top of dirty clothes. That would give the appearance of change while we are just covering up what is dirty and living with poor hygiene. We deal with dirty clothes by removing them, then we take a bath, and then, we put on clean clothes. When sinful habits and defects of character are revealed, we give God permission to remove these, cleanse us fully, and then we put on our new self which has been renewed in the knowledge of God our creator.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. (Psalm 51:7-8 NLT)
Instead of anger and rage we can now receive healing, comfort, and strength to forgive. Instead of being touchy and super-sensitive we can make allowances for other’s faults while we set healthy boundaries for our own protection. Instead of responding to every lust and desire we feel, we can acknowledge the feeling, identify the basic loneliness or fear beneath it, and let God love on us with tenderness and companionship. Instead of telling lies and manipulating, we can receive strength to choose for truth that will ultimately set us free.
All defects of character will be removed and we will become new creations when we are entirely ready to surrender our lives to the God who loves and cares for each of us.
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