American youth grow up under the assumption that we can
achieve the American dream. We go to college and we obtain job experience to
guarantee our future success. However, life often careens out of our control.
We pull our self up by our bootstraps and try all over again, shaking off the
depression and hopelessness nipping at our heels.
Time after time, life sends us debilitating storms. We end
up treading water, feeling like we will drown. There comes a time in everyone's
life that we eventually admit that we are ultimately powerless to overcome the
negative aspects of our life. Some people give up, and end up with physical and
mental illnesses; some turn to addictions; and some realize that we need a
savior outside of our self (Romans 7:18).
First, we attempt to trust in a person to bail us out. We
get into codependent relationships that seem to stifle us in the end. In order
to reinstate our sanity, we eventually realize that we must come to believe in
a higher power. Some people try Eastern religions, positive thinking or
something that epitomizes wholeness to them. This lasts for a little while, but
often fizzles out, because our spirit is still dead in sin.
Everyone ever born has an innate knowledge of God within
their soul, and they are yearning for their spirit to be reborn (John
3:1-21). Once we come to Christ as our Higher Power, He helps us to
clear our conscience of the dead works of unforgiveness, anger, resentment,
bitterness, etc. He is greater than anything this world has to offer (Philippians
2:13).
He also reminds us of people to whom we need to ask
forgiveness, and He helps us to make amends for the harm we perpetrated on
their life (Lamentations 3:40; Luke 6:31; Matthew 5:23-24). We can
obtain Christian counseling or find an accountability partner to continually
hold us responsible to walk in God's Truth (James 5:16; 1 Corinthians
10:12).
As we humble our self before the Lord, He replaces our
moral deficiencies with the fruit of His Spirit (James 4:10; Galatians 5:22-23). We come
to know Him intimately, and He progressively exchanges our carnal nature for
His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). God assures us of His love,
which transcends our human understanding. Filling us with His Spirit He slowly
and deliberately floods our entire being with Himself (Ephesians
3:19).
Prayer:
Father God, remind us that no one is perfect, and we can
forgive those who harmed us and ask forgiveness from those whom we have harmed.
As we pray and read Your Word, draw us closer to You, tell us Your Will for
each moment of our life, and give us the power to carry it out (Philippians
2:12-13; Colossians 3:16). Thank You for totally forgiving us for our
transgressions of Your law and for sanctifying us daily as we walk toward Your
perfection (1 John 1:9; Matthew 5:48).
Thought for the Day:
Nothing but living in service to Jesus Christ can fill the
void that continually haunts our life. - Romans 12:1
