Lately, I have noticed several advertisements on social media that all deal with how a specific product or service can make life easier for us. Let's be honest with one another - we are all busy, busy, busy! Ways to order food, groceries, basically anything right to your door - sometimes within 2 hours - seems amazing! Especially after a long day, bumper to bumper traffic, busy grocery stores, rude shoppers, and the list could go on and on.
We are a fast-paced society and are seemingly moving from one activity to the next. So, anytime I see, "Download our app today for same day delivery," or "Subscribe today for automatic restocking on (insert product name here) next month and save", I'm intrigued and have been guilty of clicking the link to see what I can do to make our life a little easier. Easy sounds so appealing and incising!
Let's pause for a moment before we hit that "easy" button and consider that easy isn't always the right choice. I'm not saying that "easy" things are wrong. Store bought flour is much easier than raising a crop of grain to then dry it out and grind your own flour. Automobiles are easier than a horse-drawn wagon. But let's look for a moment at some things that are easy vs. hard where the hard choice is what could have eternal victory:
Anger is easy. Self control is hard.
Worry is easy. Peace and trust is hard.
Self pity is easy. Songs of praise are hard.
Gossip is easy. Holding your tongue is hard.
My way is easy. God's way is hard.
Complaining is easy. Contentment is hard.
Greed is easy. Giving is hard.
Binging a season of a TV show is easy. Having your quiet time with the Lord is hard.
Talking to a friend about your troubles is easy. Taking your troubles to God is hard.
Speaking lies is easy. Speaking truth is hard.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."
Galatians 5:22-23
Another translation uses the words, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." These are all things that, apart from Christ in us, are honestly not 100% attainable. It is because of Christ working in us and stretching us that we are able to step into the hard things - the eternal things, like the traits mentioned in the Fruits of the Spirit passage above.
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:11-13
In this passage, Paul isn’t saying that God gives him the power to do anything and everything he wants to do; he is saying that Christ strengthens him to be content in any circumstance, in times of “plenty and hunger, abundance and want.” Paul wasn’t referring to God’s power like a genie lamp that would provide his every wish. Rather, he relied on God’s power to be satisfied with Christ during times of poverty and hunger - the hard things.
What easy things are we all too often running to? Think of an example in your own life and ask the Lord to guide you to reliance on Him and His power. With Christ on our side, we can step into the hard things and He will do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us!" Ephesians 3:20
Prayer Points:
Thank You for Your faithful love towards me.
Help me to abide in You instead in my own strength.
Forgive me for my own selfish desires and plans that are not part of Your will for my life.
Give me the confidence that I can find in only You to choose the right paths and make the right decisions - no matter the signficance.
Dear Father,
I come before You in the Name of Jesus and thank You for Your goodness. Thank You for making a way for me to be more like You. Help me to abide in You and Your power instead of my own abilities. I know that I can't do it without You. Forgive me when I rely on "me" instead of You. I trust You and I love You, Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
Because of His Grace,
Amanda Dyson
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