Monday, February 16, 2009

Struggles

I should be getting on the road right now; but after reading this, I knew it was one that should be shared. What a great message this is. It really made me stop and think. Rick Warren is an outstanding man of God with some great words of wisdom. This comes from The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional

Worship: The Barrier of Prideby Rick WarrenIt is not that we think we are
qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2
Corinthians 3:5 (NLT) *** *** ***

***Life is a struggle, but what most people don’t realize is that our
struggle, like Jacob’s in Genesis 32:22-32, is really with God! We want to be
God, and there’s no way we’re going to win that struggle, but we try
anyway.

A.W. Tozer said, “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking,
still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end
of themselves. We’re still trying to give orders, and interfering with God’s
work within us.”

We aren’t God, and we never will be. We’re humans, and the times when we
try to be God are the times we end up most like Satan, who tried to be equal
with God, too.

We accept our humanity intellectually, but not emotionally. We give mental
assent to the idea, but when faced with our own limitations, we react with
irritation, anger, and resentment. We want to be taller (or shorter), smarter,
stronger, more talented, beautiful, and wealthy.

We want to have it all and do it all, and become upset when it doesn’t
happen. Then, when we notice God gave others characteristics we don’t have, we
respond with envy, jealousy, and self-pity.

What it means to surrender. Surrendering to God is not
passive resignation, fatalism, or an excuse for laziness. It is not accepting
the status quo. It may mean the exact opposite: sacrificing your life in
resistance to evil and injustice, or suffering in order to change what needs to
be changed. God often calls surrendered people to do battle on his behalf. It’s
not for cowards or doormats.

Surrendering is not putting your brain in neutral and giving up rational
thinking. God would not waste the mind he gave you! God does not want robots to
serve him. Surrendering is not repressing your personality. God wants to use
your unique personality. Rather than being diminished, surrendering enhances
your uniqueness.

C. S. Lewis observed, “The more we let God take us over, the more truly
ourselves we become – because he made us.He invented all the different people
that you and I were intended to be. It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up
myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my
own.”

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake
Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition,
Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The
Purpose Driven Life
and The
Purpose Driven Church
, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that
changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet
community for ministers.

Resource

Warren, R. Feburary 16, 2009, Worship: The Barrier of Pride, Purpose Driven Life Daily

Devotional, http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/Home/home.htm

15 comments:

Cinder Rail'lee said...

I needed this today. THANK YOU Tammy!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

i like rick warren and have his books and totally enjoy reading them!

Anonymous said...

Amen! There is only one God who is more powerful than we will ever think about being. We can try as you say, but it will not work! AMEN! Thank you for your birthday wishes! Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Another important post at 'As one of Seven.' Please go an read it.
Thanks!
Lauren Ann

Jules said...

I SO needed this today, thanks for posting this , Tammy! :)

Anonymous said...

I have writen another post, and all current followers NEED to go over there. I am sorry, but yes, this is a copyied message. Even if you follow blog, I still need you to stop following 'As one of Seven'. That way I will delete it sooner.

Lauren Ann

Unknown said...

We aren’t God, and we never will be. We’re humans, and the times when we try to be God are the times we end up most like Satan, who tried to be equal
with God, too.

Amen.

Peace - Rene

Grace said...

Thanks for posting this, Tammy. I am greatly blessed. I think the next time we go to the bookstore, I will look for his books.

Omah's Helping Hands said...

Tami, You are very welcome. I too needed that one. Happy to see it helped someone else. :) Have a blessed week!

Omah's Helping Hands said...

Laura,

We too have many of his books and I want to get more. He is an awesome writer. In fact, it's his Purpose Driven Life book that brought my husband to the Lord and our son and myself back to the Lord.

Omah's Helping Hands said...

Valerie,

You are so right! Amen! You are welcome. Hope your birthday was a wonderful one.

Omah's Helping Hands said...

Lauren Ann,

Finally got to it. Sorry it took me so long, but I was out of town and had no internet access. Good luck with all that you are doing!

Omah's Helping Hands said...

You are very welcome Julie. Glad to see it was well received. I know it sure helped me. Have a great week!

Omah's Helping Hands said...

So true Rene! My mother & were just discussing this very subject last night. The message really got me to thinking. Sometimes we just don't realize what we are doing.

Omah's Helping Hands said...

You are welcome Grace! Rick Warren's books are very good. In fact his Purpose Driven Life is what saved the three of us and helped my little sister a lot. I think you too will enjoy his work. Have a great week!