An Oklahoma sky (unedited)
The betrayal runs deep.
It cuts to the core and devastates life as we envisioned.
A perfect future—gift wrapped and tied up in a neat red bow.
We know we are not perfect, so of course our life isn’t either, but sometimes didn’t you feel you were pretty close to that American dream? Good job, nice little family, good friends, good church?
Then Satan rears his ugly head and changes it all forever. The his work is slathered all over the following scripture:
Neither the sexually immoral or idolaters or adulterers or men who have sex with men or thieves or the greedy or drunkards or slanderers or swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
To say people can’t change from their former patterns means we think God is not powerful enough to help us triumph over Satan.
He will prove us wrong over and over when we say;
-An adulterer can never be faithful
-An alcoholic can never be sober
-Those addicted to pornography can never be freed.
And repeatedly he destroys the box we try to put him in because our small minds can’t grasp the immensity of his power.
Who are we to dare to predict the future? God’s future.
We fold up like a cheap tent at the impossible.
God thrives on ripping to shreds the impossible.
Matthew 6 tells us to live one day at a time and not worry about tomorrow for a reason. Our minds twist and turn and see no way out of our pit of despair. The days and months and years look bleak because our brains can’t comprehend a good solution for our future.
If we rely on ourselves to get out of that pit, we limit God and are making the choice to wallow instead of triumph.
Let me put it another way—We will never achieve the full life he wants for us if we refuse to let him save us from ourselves.
The Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial
Of all the things he asks us to do, this is probably the hardest for me. It’s that repetitive dream—I’m dangling from a cliff on a fraying rope. I’m frantically trying to save myself from certain death…
But look at that dangerous phrase—“trying to save myself…”
Vulnerability is terrifying so we grasp and crawl and claw to hang on to our protective shell. We will go to great lengths to protect our broken spirits and our broken hearts.
There is a risk in everything, walking out of our house, driving our car, but the greater risk is giving our hearts away. Before they have been broken, it is easy to open them up. But afterwards, we hold them close and try to protect that bruised and damaged organ.
To love deeply is the greatest risk of all.
But what kind of life do we have if we continue to let the perpetrator have power over us and hold back on the greatest reward we can receive…?
To love and be loved.
Witholding love is a desperate kind of selfishness.
Sometimes we try to punish,
Sometimes we refuse to forgive…
Most of the time fear is the catalyst to keep us frozen and living a half life.
As if we can control the heartbreak that this life doles out.
All he asks is for us to let go and get out of the way so he can work at mending the mess.
We have to ask, “What would Jesus do?”
Reach out
Forgive
And above all LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY.
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I Corinthians 6:11 A number of you know from experience what I’m talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you’ve been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit. (Msg)
-Has your heart been broken?
-Let go of grudges, hopelessness and unforgiveness and give it over to God and let him heal it as only he can.