Sometimes we all get discouraged. And the world makes that so easy! We watch it all the time in TV and we hear it in songs, "I'm tired of being good! I need a brake!" and "I've been strong for too long, I just need to do what I want for a while." The world says that it's ok to embrace "the bad side". You've been the good girl/boy long enough, time to embrace your "inner bad girl/boy".
And that kind of stuff gets into your head sooo easily! It's the little uncertainties that the Devil uses to get to us, not the stark lies! He (Satan) feeds soo many lies into our modern society and we, sadly, have come to believe them. They are just facts now.
But God doesn't agree with that. He says to "keep fighting the good fight", to not give up, that He will give us the strength to continue.
Like I said, it's the little things that Satan uses to bring us down and keep us that much farther from God. Today, I had one of those little temptations pop up while I was doing school. I have read the first two books of a popular book series, but decided not to read the third because there was junk in the first two books. Right before I was going to do my devotion, I thought, "we haven't sold them yet, and they're still down in the basement. I might have just one last look at them before we sold them at McKay's. I then went to read my Bible and flipped to Galatians for some reason. I am not on any Bible reading plan, and today, that was a good thing.
Here is what I read:
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16-18
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:9-10 (emphasis added)
Gee, I wonder, what could that possibly mean? ;)
I love it when the Lord speaks directly to me! I love that command, "Let us not become weary in doing good," because it flat out contradicts what the world says. There are no funny words, no confusing phrasing, it plain as day states that we cannot grow weary in doing good. And if God commands that, than He will give us His strength so we can continue.
I have been struggling a bit with that, "taking a break" from being "the good girl" and trying to be good. Taking a break sound soo good! Just one little break! But Satan loves the "I just.." of this world. We have a saying in our house, "'I just' is disobeying". And it's true, we use that "I just" to try and excuse ourselves for disobeying.
So the next time you feel like you want to "take a break" from trying to be good, don't excuse yourself with "I just.." (because "'I just' is disobeying"), and know that the Lord commands you to do otherwise, and He will give you the strength to continue! Pray and ask for His strength, and He will be faithful to give it. That probably won't mean that you won't have to try as hard at being good, but you'll have the strength to do it.
