Trying to live the Word is no small task these days, and I imagine it was not less daunting for those that have gone before us. I read one of those - if you do this, things will go better- scriptures in the Bible and think, Hmm, I'm going to do that. Well that's where the trouble starts.
First thing that happens is I forgot that I'm going to be doing it. The day goes on and all of a sudden I remember it, but it's to late, I have already done it. "Well ok", I say to myself, I'll try again tomorrow. Tomorrow rolls in and I carry this resolve around with me all day. Sometimes it works, but not without a fight.
I pray "OK God you put this trip on me now I need your help, please give me the strength, knowledge and wisdom to overcome this". What happens? Not only do I remember that I'm going to incorporate this into my life, but it seems that I'm hit with a great number of events exposing this very weakness that I'm trying to overcome. Why is that?
On my way into work one-day the thought occurs to me that in order to gain strength we need to exercise our muscles, and the same principal applies to growing spiritually strong. So when you ask for strength standby because God is going to lay some weights on you. Oh, by the way, if you don't ask for strength guess what happens; nothing, And Satan smiles.
Working my way through Galatians 5:22 and stumble on the very first fruit of the spirit; "Love" (I count 11 more). You can read in the bible where we're supposed to love everyone. Is that really possible I ask myself? Can I really love everyone? Then I get off on this list, and it's along one, of those types that I would not have anything to do with.
Well, like I said earlier, who do you think I meet up with within the first 2 hours of the day? Yes, you guessed it, one of those on the list. Well thank God there's all sorts of "job aids" in the Bible to keep us from being caught in the junk listed in Galatians 5:19; kind of the flip side of Galatians 5:22.
This is an understatement but I'm going to say it anyway. There's a huge strength in the Word, and what really makes it that way is being able to walk that walk by absorbing Gods word into our lives. Living those principals requires constant oiling from the Word. Why? Because living Gods Word in our lives is going against the "natural man" who is an enemy with God. Don't get me wrong, we cannot live anywhere near the perfect life. Take the 12 principals found in 5:22 and let me know if you can follow any one of them for 24 hours, let alone all 12. No, God is working in us. And if we allow Him to we will become better people that we may glorify Him, not ourselves, but Him.
There is a strength to be gathered from God, through living His word, that obviously cannot be equaled by anything or anyone. You can search the highest mountain, sail every sea (that's sounds like the words to an old song, better get off that) and not find it. Buy the way; no one is going to hand this to you. You have to want it.
You thirsty for a refreshing never ending strength in your life? Read the owners manual, the Bible.