Wednesday SHINE.....

Today's Reading: Mark 8:27-38

Happy Worship Wednesday, SHINE girls! Turn up the praise music and sing to the Lord today! Give Him ALL your praises, in ALL you do today!

I sing praises, although I am sad. I sing praises, although I do not understand why people do such evil things. I sing praises, although suffering is happening all around me. I sing praises because He Is, and He forever will be...King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

We weren't made for this world, that is why we don't understand it, girls. We were made for Heaven.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

Philippians: 3:20-21

I often struggle with this earthly fleshly body that He has encased me in. It's true.

I struggle with the flesh on a daily basis. Many days, the flesh wins. 

This past weekend was one of those times.

I've shared with you girls a million times in the past that I struggle with fear from time to time. This struggle has drawn me close to the Lord. On my knees, face to the floor, close to the Lord.

He knows fear can be a struggle for me. 

He's taught me to stay away from certain "trap doors", as I like to call them. 

Everyone has a trap door. It looks different for each of us, but we all have them. 

Trap doors for me are things that draw me in and make my mind more fearful. Certain books, news programs, TV shows, Internet surfing, certain conversations with friends....the list goes on.

The Lord has clearly  told me {like, a million times} to stay away from these particular trap doors that only lead to despair and fearful thinking.

You would think that by now I would have learned my lesson. Yeah, not so much.

Sometimes, we get curious. We think that just a little peek into that trap door will not hurt us. We are strong! We can handle what we see! We are mature enough spiritually to fight off any temptation to suck us into that trap door.

Let me just say for the record? When you peek into that trap door, you fall.....way down. Down, down, down. 

This is what happened to me on Sunday.

I knew to stay away from the "trap door", but I didn't obey Him. I wanted to see for myself. I wanted just a little taste just to make sure it was REALLY  a trap door. I mean, how bad could it be? I was curious.

After my fall into the trap door, I was angry. Angry at myself for allowing that temptation of curiosity to get the best of me and make me fall. Again.

This is the absolute truth: As soon as I got those old familiar fearful feelings, I pictured Eve in the Garden of Eden. I pictured her contemplating that apple. She was curious. She wanted to see for herself if it was really that big of a deal. Surely, she could handle it. She was strong. She was God's first daughter, for goodness sake! 

Clearly I heard the Lord say to my heart: "Just like Eve, you didn't listen to Me. You knew to stay away, but you just couldn't resist the temptation. Just like Eve, you believed the enemy's lie that knowledge is power. I set up these boundaries to protect you. When you stay inside of them you are safe."

I played the part of Eve and I played it well that day.

 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

Genesis 3:4-6

The Lord told me as I was mopping my floor yesterday to share this story with you. I struggled with Him, because it's personal. It's humiliating. I know better than to go near those trap doors, but yet---I opened it anyway. 

After falling down deep into that trap door, I looked up and saw His hand stretched out to mine. I knew I could wallow in my sorrows with regret and self-pity for being so dumb. However, I knew I didn't belong there. 

I got up, wiped the dirt, dust and mud off of my heart, and walked away from the trap.

Will this be the last time I fall into that trap door? Not likely. Time will pass, and I will soon forget the lesson of this once again. Or maybe, the next trap door will be so well hidden that I don't even see it coming. 

This is why we need to hang on tightly to the Father's hand. Letting Him lead. Obeying Him when He tells us to stay away from danger. When He walks before us, we are safe. When we run in front of Him, we are not.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

Galatians 5:16

What's your trap door, sweet friend?

fear?

loneliness?

shopping/spending addiction?

sexual sin and/or temptation?

anger?

sadness?

discontentment?

worry?

food addictions?

people pleasing?

Every sin and struggle has a trap door. Something tempting us to just take a peek. 

Be aware of it. Look out for it. 

It's the enemy, loud and clear. 

If you happen to fall in {like me}, get right back up and grab the Lord's hand. He's always there waiting.

still wiping off the dust,

jill