The day my natural self was vanquished is a vivid memory seared into my mind’s hard drive and tightly attached to the walls of my now-free heart.
Instead of trying to manage and control the “bad things in life” that produce pain, God helped me learn to view those events as on-ramps to glorify him. The door to discerning his will. The ticket to trigger what it means to walk with Christ.
I learned to ditch reliance on my smarts and, instead, depend on God alone so I could feel his peace when mudslides crush my life.
Of course it’s easier to trust God when things are smooth. But even when we encounter turbulence, God gives us a way out by imploring us to claim his promises. To know that he will be there for us every step of the way. And to rest in the truth that he knows how hard it is for us to play second fiddle.
I have learned to never trust feelings during those turbulent times, even though it is so tempting to use reasoning to navigate through the storm. There’s only one problem. My track record of success with that approach is miserable.
The instant we start thinking that our feelings are overshadowing God’s truths, it’s time to RUN toward him for his calming clarity and direction.
That alone makes trusting our feelings a losing proposition. But it gets worse. Each time we let our feelings rule, it takes another step away from embracing God’s truths and discovering his plan for our life.
Every minute we spend trusting feelings and acting as the boss of our life is time living with diminished joy.
I ask God to take away my urge to play the role of boss. To help me identify the early warning signs that announce the arrival of my natural self. To send me to his powerful presence and soak me in his divine direction.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is your natural self “hanging around” today? How often do your feelings lure you away from seeking God’s truth?
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
