Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Overcoming Self

Of the many challenges that face believers today, there is one that is perhaps the greatest to overcome. Likely it has always been so. It is the struggle to overcome one’s self. In a world seemingly gone mad with terrorists and those that hate everyone for no reason, with money with little value, and with the general decay of moral values, it may seem odd for me to select this point. But it is this “self” in each individual that collectively becomes the issues we see on a global scale. If each of us can commit to changing that within us, or at least trying, then there is hope for us all. This struggle is well documented in scripture.

Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

But this started almost at the beginning. If we look at Adam and Eve we will see that even at the beginning we looked to ourselves, our surroundings, basically everything but God to get inputs on what to do or not do. The pattern of the church doing its own thing can be seen in Eve, the wife of Adam. The pattern of men being complacent (which is not loving) towards there wives is seen in Adam. This war has raged since before the fall. And the fall itself is evidence that man alone cannot win this battle. But there is hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

We are mere mortals when we are alone. But with God, we can become better. If we are willing to commit, husbands to wives, wives to husbands, children to parents, and neighbor to neighbor, there is hope. Alone we cannot change. With our Father Yahuah (Lord) we can change through the power given to us through our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Let us today add to the “all things” a genuine commitment to cry out to the Father to overcome self.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. We need You and Your kingdom here. We praise and thank the name Yahuah. Send us today Your overwhelming blessing, manifested in its fullness today, that today we might overflow into the lives of others. Forgive us our sins, and heal our hearts from the sadness they cause. Deliver us from the temptation to be caught up in self and in evil. Deliver us with a mighty hand from those that would take from us what You alone have provided. Release to us the wealth of the wicked that is stored up for the righteous today, that all men might know that Yo ualone are King. We ask these things in (Yeshua’s) Jesus’) name. Amen.