Jay Younts, who blogs here, posted this comment yesterday morning, and it’s been a blessing to me. Maybe I needed the extra push to fix my mind on Christ.
I don’t always think about my children’s childishness as temptation and my irritability as a weakness. It seems just “regular life” that I must deal with, not a spiritual battle. I smile as I write this, because those statements reveal my need to renew my mind. I wasn’t thinking about life from God’s perspective. It was secular thinking that needed to be challenged and changed.
Thanks, Jay.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Heb 2:14-18
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb 4:14-16
Michelle,
I find that when I get irritated it is usually because I have lost sight of Christ and how he suffered specifically so that he could help me when I am irritated and short with those whom I love. As my appreciation for Christ grows smaller, my irritation with others tends to grow. These passages along with Psalm 46, 73 and I Peter 2:18-25 help me regain my focus and deep gratitude for the sufficient love of Christ in my life. They help remind me that Christ has to “put up” with a lot more from me daily than I whatever it is that I think have to “endure” from my children and others in my life. Jay
Has God recently used others to challenge you from His word?
Kelly’s post is somewhat related, even though it’s not on a Wednesday. This was a blessing to me, Kelly.
God used my daughter Ella Grace greatly in two instances to challenge my thinking and response biblically. We went to a gymnastics class yesterday and we got there realizing she was too young for it. (I had built it up and got her prepared for it since she had never gone before. She was really excited.) She was devastated when she couldn’t participate. Today, we were prepared to go to story time at the library and much to our dismay, it was not today. Another huge dissappointment. My first reaction both times was just to tell her not to be sad, that is was “ok.” But I knew that I needed to tell her God’s truth.
“Ella Grace, there is only one person who will never dissappoint us. Do you know Who it is?”
“God.”
“Yes, He will never fail us. There is only one thing that will never let us down when everything else will. It’s His love. We can hope in Him. He will make us happy when we are sad.”
“We can trust Him for everything- even when we don’t think it’s fair.”
“Do you think icecream will make you happy right now?”
“Yes!”
“Will it make you happy forever? ”
“No, mom.” ( Smiling)
“Who will?”
“Jesus.”
“Yes, Jesus never dissappoints us.”
This is the verse we have been memorizing. It was so appropriate to share. Romans 15:13
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him