Self-Controlled Choice

This is an entry I wrote in my journal today and decided that it is so profound. That I should share it with you all.

9/12/2009 (1:33 P.M.)

I also had another revelation this week, and that is that every morning when I wake up I won’t feel like praying, I would rather curse God. Also in the same effect, I would rather burn the bible instead of read it, and when I do feel like reading the Bible or praying, then it is simply by His grace and mercy that I have the feeling of desire to read that day.

What I am saying is that, in my flesh, I am so wicked that I would not want to spend close, quiet time with God. But rather, I would want to do the exact opposite. Therefore, I must make a self-controlled choice and decision to wake up and spend time with the Lord, no matter what I feel! Paul explained this struggle like this: “I die daily.” I must choose to put to death my selfish sin nature and walk out His Divine Holy nature that dwells inside of me. (Read 2 Peter 1:3-8)

This revelation and understanding came about when I heard a dear friend of mine saying, “if you don’t have the desire to read the Bible then there is something wrong with you and you must repent.” The truth is that there is something wrong with all of us…it is called SIN! We have something called GRACE which enables us to chose to either walk in our sin selfish nature or our new divine holy nature, which is given through the sacrifice of Jesus.

My brothers and sisters, do not fall into condemnation or self-righteousness, but know this, that our desire is not based on our feelings, but our choice. We must live a lifestyle of repentance and learn to dwell in His grace. Romans 5:20-21 says: “The law came in so that the transgression (sin) would increase; But where sin increase, grace abound all the more. So that as sin reigned in death even so grace would reign through righteousness in Jesus Christ which leads to eternal life.” This is basically saying that we cannot out sin God’s grace. In proper context this is not saying that we have a pass to continue on sinning. Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue on in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!!! For how can we who have died to sin still live in it?”

In closing, let us be encouraged to rest in the grace of Jesus Christ our King and God. The choice is yours. Please choose to walk out His divine nature that is in you and not the selfish sin nature that is also in you.

MAKE THE CHOICE AND REST IN GRACE!!!!

Love,

Jeremy Vanderloop