Job 29:16b
“….and the cause which I knew not I searched out.”
Are you tired of committing the same sins repeatedly? Have you been trying
to figure out how to get out of the spiritual rut in which you have found
yourself? What has been the pattern in which you have been handling your
problems? If you are not moving ahead in your walk with the Lord, then
you have obviously not set forth a pattern for change!
Philip. 2:12
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling.”
Ladies, one of the things we must do after salvation is allow God to work
in us. In fact, He can’t work through us until He works in us… Hence,
we must work out our own problems using the scriptures. A problem met
by a Biblical response leads to a solution which further strengthens your
ability to solve new problems. Doesn’t it make sense that you can’t solve
new problems with old patterns? Otherwise, why would find yourself in
a spiritual rut to begin with?? God wants us to become like Christ, to
be conformed to the image and likeness of His Son… This will never occur
using fleshly solutions! No, we need the Bible and the power of the Holy
Spirit to bring about godly changes in our personality. Old dogs like
us can learn new tricks - when we face God’s will…
1 Thes. 2:13
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received
the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of
men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh
also in you that believe.”
Yes, the same Word that brings us salvation also enables us to live for
Christ! However, we must receive it as God’s solution to that which we
are struggling with and apply it to our lives without reservation. This
is the new habit you must work out now as a child of God. Unfortunately,
God’s people are in the habit of primarily seeking human counsel or opinion.
Words of men hold more weight in their lives than the guidance of their
Creator and Redeemer! Open your Bible; search out what you don’t know
and allow the truth to expose and correct your wrong behavior patterns
and establish new behavior patterns in your life. Conform yourself to
the ministry of the Word...
Philip. 3:10
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
Like you and I, Paul longed to experience true changes in his life as
a Christian. He was not content to remain in a rut. Here is the way you
carry out the Biblical process of being made conformable to Christ...
Take a sheet of paper and divide it into four columns. Across the top,
label each column accordingly:
1. WHAT HAPPENED - In this column describe your problem.
2. WHAT I DID - In this column describe your response.
3. WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE - In this column record the Biblical response
that should have been taken, citing and explaining scriptural references.
4. WHAT I NOW MUST DO - In this column describe the Biblical steps that
must be taken to rectify matters.
In closing, it is through this practical scriptural process that we are
counseled of the Lord in problems of daily life. Rather than requiring
somebody else to always do the work for you, do it yourself; work out
your own salvation, says God! Put some of your own sweat behind your longings.
In taking this approach, we labor to establish new patterns that will
produce godly changes in us. Afterward, when you have obeyed the Word
of God, you will see the inwardness of your sin, lose your own pride,
and gain the righteousness of Christ! Spiritually evaluate yourself today
with the Bible, won’t you, dear lady? True knowledge of Jesus alters our
judgments; our manners, even our motives, and all things are become new.
Out of the rut you’ll rise!
2 Cor. 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello
