But God, I Don't Want To

Am I the only one who's been here before? God will keep tugging and tugging, sending you little conviction notes and reminders of what He needs you to do but you just don't want to do it? Sometimes it just doesn't even seem fair. Maybe you weren't the one in the wrong; maybe you actually deserve the apology. Or maybe you made the wrong move/decision/choice and God told you to correct it and make the right one. Whatever it may be, it takes some humility to do it.

I sure know this feeling all too well. Because I have a constant desire to please God and I love Him with everything in me, I am often the one who is convicted sooner or should I say, broken down by His word sooner. I am sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and I am grateful for that. I don't always want to follow the instruction right away though. I fight and  fight. I try to justify why I shouldn't have to do it. When all in all, I am likely just prolonging the process for what God is trying to do next.

How often do you think we hold up blessings, promotions, or prayers all because pride won't let us complete the one (humbling) task God is pushing us toward? How much do you think we hinder our own spiritual growth and bring to a halt some of the plans/ideas God has placed in our hearts to bring to pass, all because we cannot get past "it's not fair, I shouldn't have to..."?

I am currently reading in the book of James. Take a look at James 1:2-3 (really, open your bible and read it. Then you will be able to say you read your bible today...you're welcome :P). I am reading out of a bible featuring notes and commentary by Joyce Meyer. In her Life Point (commentary) she says the following:

The bible talks about purification, sanctification, sacrifice, and suffering. These are not popular words; nevertheless, if we are to be Christlike in character, we must sometimes go through difficult circumstances to learn His ways. I struggled with this process for a long time, but I finally realized that God was not going to do things my way. He placed people and situations in my life that caused me to want to quit this whole process, and He did not want an argument from me. He only wanted to hear, "Yes, Lord. Your will be done."

There's that tag line again. YOUR WILL BE DONE. And I wasn't even searching for it! I know I can relate to the way she felt about struggling and wanting to quit. Especially when you feel like you're always the one getting the slap in the face and having to turn the other cheek. In all though, we have to stand on God's promise to give us hope in our final outcome (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP).

So, as I am encouraged by the Holy Spirit and I encourage myself, I encourage you to pull yourself together, push that pride, fear, shame, etc. aside then go ahead and do what God is telling you, even urging you to do. Do it, so that you can move forward in the promise because He is definitely a promise keeper!

#ThyWillBeDone
#GreaterIsComing