1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
HEBREWS 12:1-3
[New International Version (NIV)]
Wow, God is truly awesome! HE knows just want I need better than I know myself! When I arrived to work on August 6, 2012, I received a copy of a devotional newsletter called, SPECIAL DELIVERY FROM HEAVEN and the topic of the WORD was “You Can’t God Back.” Just this morning prior to the receipt of the newsletter, I was engaged in a conversation whereby I compared the “Old Testament” and the “New Testament” in an attempt to explain what is meant by our old ways.
Coming into the world, we had to crawl before we could learn to walk. And unfortunately, we were taught a number of things that weren’t true. Over time, some of us were fortunate enough to unlearn to relearn and replace false doctrine (old ways) with that which was true while some of us still live in darkness thus holding unto the past (our old ways). A number of things that were done in the “old testament” were rewritten by the “new testament.” Meaning, change took place to bring us into a new way of thinking and doing things differently. As we come into the knowledge of that which is true in comparison to that which is false, we should restructure or reposition ourselves to let go of any potentially harmful information stored in our minds from misguided teaching. It’s like evicting a thought or person from our mind that only serves to take up space to put up road blocks in trying to keep us from the truth. It’s like letting people, places and things getting between us and God …. thus hindering us from spiritual growth.
And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God
or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing,
God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper
or decent but loathsome,
~ Romans 1:28
[The Amplified Bible]
The challenge or struggle that many of us face is finding the will or desire not to fall captive to our old ways of doing things in attempting to justify those old ways with excuses for our continued disobedience. There was once a time when I felt a particular way of doing things couldn’t be all that bad for me. Especially, if it felt good or brought me pleasure and if everybody else was doing it! Like fornicating if I wanted my mate to continue to like me or love me. Why? Because I didn’t know what real love was at the time! I thought showing love and being in love was more physical than anything else. But I later learned that being in love and showing love was more of a state of mind and action than reaction or just saying it with no real truth. If a man really truly loves me and he knows the LORD then he would not attempt to initiate or coerce me into doing anything that would fall outside of the will of God. So, I needed to learn to love myself enough to not want anything less than I deserved. And when I came into the realization of the love God had for me (to include all of us), I decided I would no longer settle for anything less than what God wanted for me. In addition, I decided I would also not put myself in a position to be tempted by anything or anybody.
I can already hear your next question:
"Does that mean I can't even trust what is good
[that is, the law]? Is good just as dangerous as evil?"
No again! Sin simply did what sin is so famous for
doing: using the good as a cover to tempt me to
do what would finally destroy me. By hiding within
God's good commandment, sin did far more mischief
than it could ever have accomplished on its own.
~ Romans 7:13
[The Message Bible]
As of this date, I no longer date or consider getting involved in a relationship as defined by the world. If anything was to take place, it would have to be according to the definition of what God deems as building a relationship. That would be on the basis of a courtship with no physical intimate contact outside of marriage as intended by God. That would be me waiting on God to deliver my BOAZ to me. That would be me waiting on a man who was willing to love me like Christ loves the church. That would be me waiting on a God-fearing man who was willing to take his rightful place as being the head of household - seriously. That would mean a man who was willing to make sacrifices for his family and the protector and buffer for his wife and children. That would mean a man (husband) who was not willing to defile our marriage by being unfaithful and allowing outside people to interfere. That would mean a man who was willing to honor his marriage vows in every way. A man (husband) who knows the true meaning of a union or partnership in sharing in the responsibility of raising his children to be God-fearing while displaying integrity for them to imitate. That would mean us not playing house, but living according to the principles in making a house a home. A man who knew the nature of living his life according to a spirit of excellence in not lifting his hand to strike me, lift his voice to belittle me, or conduct himself in any manner to shame me! But loving me …. all of me whether fat or thin … with hair or without … through sickness and in great health while we work together at staying whole along with the FATHER as our compass.
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting,
God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along.
If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter.
He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless
sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves,
knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.
That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our
lives of love for God is worked into something good.
~ Romans 8:26-28
[The Message Bible]
Ladies (single)! Why do we sell ourselves short by wasting our time on those who don’t love us? Why do we put up with so much foolishness from those who do not deserve us? Why do we keep giving our hearts to be hurt over and over again to those who don’t know what to do with it? I don’t know about you, but as I look around at others, I see them doing things I know falls outside of the will of God for our lives. When I was younger, I struggled with not following their lead even if I perceived their actions as being “somewhat” harmless. Why should I follow what seems to be the norm just because the majority are doing it? And when I know to do better, shouldn’t I do better - even if it means being an outcast? You can go back, but I refuse to go back! I won’t go back! I’m tired of wasting time! So I vow to do things differently and wait for HIS return to take me home for I want HIS best! I want HIS perfect will for my life!
I am a jewel; a diamond in the rough! Not wonder woman or super woman, but a woman of substance with value that was wonderfully made and created by God to be cherished! For I am God's virtuous wo-man! Guarding my heart as HE prepares my temple!
Just sharing my thoughts!
Written by Ann Gwen Mack
Revised on June 14, 2013
Posted on July 20, 2013
Posted By: Ann Mack
Saturday, July 20th 2013 at 10:11PM
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