As we get closer to Jesus, the things that illegitimately have influence in our lives get dealt with. Of course this is a process, and we go through it many times.
In some ways it is simpler, easier, and more comfortable to keep a certain distance from the Lord, especially if you intend to maintain compromise or are listening to and being influenced by other things. Selfishness is one of the chief motivators that makes us want to maintain a distance from the Lord. All of this thinking is based on the deception that you are better off without coming into complete surrender. This idea steals from us more than we can realize.
It takes courage to come close to the Lord, which causes turbulence and drags your stuff out into the light. For those who overcome this resistance and discomfort, the reward is beyond imagination. Take courage today.
great post..taking courage has more to do with our calling/identity than any particular endeavor or pursuit..its who we are (and Whose)..courage to be ‘led out’ into the wilderness of our current level of intimacy, courage to embrace the relational things we’d just as soon avoid, courage to let go of the ‘spiritual outcome’ we may envision in our response to His prompting in favor of letting Him determine what and how and where and..you get the picture. Courage to allow Him to define what this next step may be or where it may lead; courage to move/walk/believe in ways that ‘seem’ to be heading in an unfamiliar / uncomfortable direction than we’d prefer or into relationships or relational circumstances where our weaknesses may become exposed or we realize that in going where You ask may introduce us to a vulnerability that is new. Courage to trust Him (and others) in new ways, ways that bring revelation that blesses all & not just some. “Courage indeed!” says the fearful (if I’m honest) me.
My own selfishness…I struggle every day with it…most of the time I would like to live far away from people, centering myself in God without caring if people want or dont want to come to the Lord…some times the only thing I care it is the fact that I know the truth and there is no excuse for the rest of the people, then I relize that sharing our hearts with that rest takes us closer to God and it takes
courage to do it: “It takes courage to come close to the Lord, which causes turbulence and drags your stuff out into the light. For those who overcome this resistance and discomfort, the reward is beyond imagination. Take courage today.”, Lord help me to get the courage to accept and overcome my own selfishness.
good stuff bro’… I would like to see more on the subject and think we would all be edified by it.