Thursday, October 13, 2011 - Addiction
I was reading again in DeMoss's Brokenness book and a story caught my attention as the man described his addictions holding him back from brokenness. I recognized that my current issue of surrender could be seen as an addiction. I am addicted to thinking that my way is best more than I have a submissive heart that lives a life of surrender to the Way of the Sovereign Lord.
My natural pattern that I have gotten addicted to is to justify my thoughts and actions. It is a natural, fleshly pattern, not "natural" as in "healthy" spiritual habit.
It's as ugly as the addiction of cigarette smoking -- cold turkey, Jill -- be done with it, don't flirt with the temptation by justifying sometimes. You hang on to addiction because you feel some benefit. The only benefit of your "Self-Will" demanding its way is that it feeds and comforts your bloated pride. That's it - I haven't wanted to completely let go of justification & my Self-Will because it has been a protective covering of my pride. When I see it for what it really is, its root and its why, it is easier to see the ugliness of the SIN (call it what it is and don't JUSTIFY it!) and its offensiveness to God Almighty!
For a list of all the daily lesson titles in the 40 Days of Surrender in one place, Click Here.
That's a challenge we all face, I think. We magnify some sins and minimize others. I'm trying to weigh if I'm minimizing a sin right now, which can be especially challenging when another person's sin is thrown into the mix. Is my sin the cause or the effect of her sin? Do I need to confess this, or can I let it go? And is "letting it go" a way to - again - minimize the sin and exalt myself? *Sigh.* This is hard work!
ReplyDeleteUgh! Hard work in discerning indeed!
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