Bondman

PRACTICAL NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

MESSAGE #42


THINGS THAT GET A GIANT HOLD OF US


These may include:

.. Hurts, including and maybe especially from others
.. Upsets, ditto
.. Unfairness, ditto
.. Wrongs, ditto
.. Nastiness, ditto
.. and more.

NOTE: Hardships and things in life that we may be finding difficult to cope with are NOT part of this.**

I'm certain you've noticed how they seem to grab you and get a tight grip on you!

I'm certain you've noticed how they can be sooo hard to get out of!

And note that the WEAKER you are in SPIRIT and/or BODY the greater the hold they will have on you. Fact is you're simply that much more susceptible in this state, and must ask for prayer support from others who care, and love you.

Despite what many teach I do not believe this is the devil per se. HE gets used as the excuse for SO many things!! Oh sure, he WILL get as involved as he possibly can, but I have little doubt that:

The BASIS of this is our sinfulness, with these 3 things: the I, I, I of our lives *smile* - INSTEAD of the other good 3: Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit. That is, it's part of OUR self-centredness - which is in full swing in us when we're not properly connected with the FATHER, JESUS and the SPIRIT. And certainly it's never gonna be part of walking in the Spirit, that we all need to very seriously learn to do!!

I know of only one ANSWER to this awful 'stuff'. And even this answer we can find so incredibly hard, cos - and please check me out on this - often it seems like we don't really WANT to give it up and let it go, even though another part of us may DESPERATELY want to! Such is the battle within each one of us, between what the NT calls the old man of sin (the 'ME' that's still in us) and the new man that's been renewed by the Spirit (and is constantly BEING renewed, praise His name!)

THE ANSWER SEEMS ALL TOO SIMPLE: get down to prayer, and GIVE IT UP TO THE LORD! Yup, your inner man may say this is 'impossible'! But ya gotta do it anyway!! In faith, put it into HIS hands - and hey, don't take it back!! The very moment you manage to do this, you'll feel a great sense of relief steal over you. To me it can be an almost euphoric feeling!

So... give up, give in to God. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. No 'pity-parties'. Get back to the Lord and your relationship with Him! I have no doubt whatsoever that this is what He wants for you!

Blessings!

- BM, with his Lady

________

** Because almost all of these are things that God wants for you to experience, Hebrews Ch 12:5-11). These we accept from His loving hands determining to ENDURE them in HIS strength, that we may grow towards Spiritual MATURITY!

If the hardship is from Him then you should NOT feel like it's something that's got a HOLD of you that you want to throw off, and should, but for the moment cannot manage to!



EDIT! Feedback on this will be appreciated. I know how it works for me, but it may not be the same for you. Especially the matter of the separation of what God's sent to us to endure, as opposed to what we've allowed to 'GET' us, and must go to God for His help to get out of.

__________________