NOT
BEING BLESSED??
I
have been going to put this post on with a list (at the bottom of
page) that changed my life. I believe the Lord was telling me to put
it on. Of course I was busy. That is my nature for sure. I am like
Martha and worry about so many things that need to be done, I forget
the important things.
But
as usual life causes us to stop and think and look to the Lord for
the answers.
As
Christians we are looking for God's blessings. You all know what I
am talking about the little things. The things that mean something
to us or we know God is right beside us, knows our trials, our
frustrations. He sends some little or big blessing that warms our
hearts.
For
example I have been trying to cut my grocery bill. But it seemed
that no matter what I did I spent more. I knew something was wrong.
So what do you do when something is wrong. You ask God to show you
what it is.
When
he shows you, you do what the word says and you confess to Him. Yes
you are right that is exactly what I have been doing. You admit to
God and yourself that your old sin nature is in total control.
For
me the thing I had been doing seemed like a “little thing” and
justifiable. But in reality it was a condemning thought process that
led me to accuse and belittle someone else. When God showed me I had
to admit it and say, yes I was doing this and ask His forgiveness.
I
had to take God's viewpoint not my old sin natures. I needed to
think and do as the Lord wanted me to do. I was thinking of myself
and only of myself in relationship to the matter. Oh the enemy and
our old sin nature are so good at diverting us and getting us in such
a mess.
But
once I did as the Lord wanted things changed.
At
the next shopping trip little blessings appeared. Those things I
needed were on sale. We were also even given some free things. All
this I knew was from the Lord. He was blessing my life again.
God
does not bless sin. Some of us forget how our old sin natures can
just take over and that we are not living in the Holy Spirit.
If
we want that close relationship and those little blessings we must
live in the Spirit. If we are sinning, no matter how little to us it
seems, we will be out of fellowship with our Lord.
I
was changed by a book I read with a list of the old sin natures
characteristics. Even though I have to go back to this list, as the
old sin nature is adapt at having me forget. I read it again and
again and know that the Lord does not want me living in it and being
His miserable child, whom he must discipline. I am glad he
disciplines me, as it always brings me back to His Grace and Love.
That is if I listen to Him.
Below
is the list (from a Christian Book) of how the old sin nature works.
The “I” in Romans 7 that Paul talks about.
Self-will
“We have turned every one to his own way.” The flesh wants its
own way and is determined to have it even if it defies and disobeys
God and over-rides others. “I will” is the alphabet out of which
self fashions its language of life.
Self-contentedness
“the sin nature” feeds upon itself. It is the beginning and the
end. Life presents little that interests or affects it except as it
relates to itself. It is the center of the world in which it lives
and moves and it always looks out for number one.
Self-assertion
“the sin nature” believes that everyone is as interested in it
and as fascinated by him or herself. So it protrudes and projects
self into the sight, hearing and notice of others continually. It
monopolizes conversations and the theme is always “I,” “my,”
and “mine.” It walks with a swagger and expects the world to
stop work and look at it. And it never dreams how offensive
self-importance is to others.
Self-depreciation
“the sin nature” is very versatile and sometimes it suits its
purpose better to clothe its pride in a false humility. It curls up
in its self depreciation and shirks a lot of hard work which other
people have to do. It magnifies its littleness and feebleness to its
own advantage, yet with strange inconsistency it resents others
taking its professed estimate of itself and treating it accordingly.
Self-conceit
“the sin nature” lives so much in it self that he, or she, does
not know how big the world is in which they lives and how many other
really intelligent people there are in it, so it has little regard
for the opinions of others, especially if contrary to his or her own.
It looks with pride and pity upon those less favored and gifted than
himself.
Self-love
“the sin nature” loves itself supremely, one might say almost
exclusively. It loves God not at all and its human love for others
is tainted more or less with selfishness, jealousy, envy or impurity.
Indeed “the old sin nature,” makes an idol of itself which it
not only loves but worships.
Set-indulgence
“the old sin nature” eats, drinks, and is merry. For it to
want anything is equivalent to having it. It pampers and coddles
itself; it can even indulge its extravagant, fleshy appetites while
others starve to death before its eyes.
Self-pleasing
“the old sin nature” chafes under discomfort and deprivation and
is grumpy and peevish unless everything in the life of its day
ministers to its real or imagined needs, it lives unto only one
person whose name is SELF.
Self-seeking
“the old sin nature” is on a quest: it is after whatever will
advance the cause of self. It seeks with feverish ambition and
activity praise, position, power, prominence, and anything that
checks its gaining them is attributed to others.
Self-pity
“the old sin nature,” love for itself often creates within
rebellion against its circumstances or relationships; it exaggerates
its own possible suffering, discomfort or sorrow and makes itself and
others miserable by its habitual murmuring.
Self-sensitiveness
“the old sin nature,” is extremely hard to live with because it
is covered with wounds and is continually being hurt afresh. It is
not very companionable because usually it is dissolved in tears,
shrouded in silence, or enjoying a pout.
Self-defense
“the old sin nature,” is very jealous of his rights and busy
avenging his wrongs. He indulges freely in lawsuits In pursuit of
its own vindication and justification. In case of disagreement and
estrangement with others it is blinded by it own sin.
Self-trust
“the old sin nature,” is very self confident and feels no need of
one wiser and stronger than itself. Trusting in its own powers and
resources it is prone to say “though all men shall deny thee, yet
will not I.” (what Peter said to Jesus).
Self-sufficiency
“the old sin nature,” is self confident, fosters an egotistical,
smug self satisfaction which leaves it stagnant. It has neither
desire nor sense of need for anything beyond what it already
possesses.
Self-consciousness
“the old nature,” never forgets itself: where ever it goes
it casts a shadow of itself before. It is constantly occupied with
photographing itself. It is chained to itself and as it walks one
hears the clank of the chains. It is often morbidly
self-introspective.
Self-exaltation
“the old sin nature,” is absorbed in its own excellencies: it
overestimates itself and its abilities: it thirst for admiration and
praise and it thrives on flattery. It secretly worships at the
shrine “Self” and it wishes others to do so publicly.
Self-righteousness
“the old sin nature,” loves to dress itself in the garments of
morality, benevolence and public spiritedness. It even patronizes
the Church and often assists in drives for raising money for
religious purposes, heading the list of donors with a handsome gift.
It keeps a double entry account book—both with the Church and with
the world and expects a reward both on earth and in Heaven
Self-glorying—perhaps
“the old sin nature,” resents this plain delineation of itself as
it really is and thinks the condemnation too sweeping. Immediately
it begins to enumerate its good qualities, its amibleness, geniality,
tolerance, self-control, sacrificial spirit and other virtues. In
doing so it takes all the credit to itself for what it is, exhibiting
ill-concealed pride and vanity.
THE
END
I
do not know about you-but I see myself in so many of these things and
that is when I am living in the old sin nature and not in the new.
Thank
you Jesus Christ that when you come or we die we will no longer have
this old sin nature. In the mean time continue to show us when we are
living in this old nature and not in your Spirit. So we can live
blessed and fulfilled lives.
