Tuesday August 25, 2015 Manifesting Change

(Jesus said) “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
I have always felt ill equipped for what God seems to be calling me to do. I want to say, “I Can’t Possibly do This or That!!!” What I had to realize is that I can’t do it alone. Then when that finally dawned on me… it opened up a whole new world. I am so fully human that temptations are my constant companion… and truly my flesh is so very weak. I, like the Pharisees can be judgmental, I judge myself as harshly or more so than I judge others but that does not make it right. I long to be all that God calls me to be but indeed my flesh is weak.
I love C.S. Lewis and he has great insights on this subject. “We all want progress, but if you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.” The only way I can realize I am on the wrong path is through prayer. When I seek out my Father and discuss with Him my thoughts, fears, challenges and doubts; then and only then can I manifest the about-face required to step forward and make progress.
The change that is needed may be dramatic or it may be a slight nuance but all change is hard. I know that I never want to admit I was wrong and make adjustments. I hate that I have wasted precious time and resources going the wrong direction. BUT I have learned that each misstep teaches me and every fall makes me more empathetic to the person I meet who is experiencing the same challenge. Every day God opens my eyes to new ways that I can be closer to Him if I choose to do so. It is only through watching closely and diligent prayer that I even notice these gifts of grace. He asks me to “BE STILL and KNOW that HE is God!”
Lord, open my heart to see the road I am on. Help me to make the changes that I need to make in order to reach my eternal destination.