The Harder I Try… The Easier I Fail!
(Mark, my granddaughter Milena’s father, is back with another good offering.
P.S. She was born on my birthday in ’99.)
I have noticed an unusual pattern of events. It seems that the harder I try, the more difficult it becomes. I’m referring to any of several aspects of my Christian walk. I desire to possess a certain characteristic or do a certain activity, but the more I work, the farther I get from my goal.
“Witnessing” is an excellent example. I am commanded to, I want to, but I only seem to recognize an opportunity afterwards – using 20/20 hindsight. This disappoints me, so I concentrate even more. This would not be so bad if it weren’t for the number of areas in which I see this happening. Other areas include daily prayer, Bible study, generosity, stewardship,worship and so on.
I sometimes get the feeling I am pushing against a door that I must pull to open. I keep thinking that there must be a better way, that something in me needs to change. It could be a bad attitude, a character flaw, immaturity, or something I haven’t even considered. On the other hand, I know that true Christianity is likened to a battle or a race. Either one involves strenuous effort, training, and diligence.
I guess I would like to know if I’m working so hard at the right things, in the right way, and with the right attitude. If I am, I would just consider myself a planter rather than a harvester. If I’m not doing the right things properly, then God’s not happy, I’m not happy, and people around me aren’t getting an accurate picture of Jesus in me.
I do know, however, that God looks at both the product and the motive, the actions as well as the heart. I also know that God appreciates a broken, contrite heart, and that He can easily mold and shape.
I pray for the different problem areas in my life, but I also pray for the desire and ability to succeed in those problem areas. I desire to serve God properly and successfully, with God supplying the definition of “successful”. I want to learn to take God at His word, and to truly put Him first in all areas of my life.
This, with God’s help, I WILL DO!
Mark and I are both encouraged by the respone to his other pieces. Please click on the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the page. I’ll pass your stuff along to Mark.
papaspipeline.org 