This week my husband Jonathan and I
had a home efficiency company come to our home and evaluate what we (and when I say we I mean they) could do to make our home, well, more energy efficient. We had an appointment set up and late Monday morning they arrived. We brought them in and let them into the areas of our home that we don’t just show to anyone and everyone—they’re even places we barely visit ourselves—and it got me thinking…
“Just as I’m inviting and letting these men into the ugly, cold, hidden places in my home because they can identify and fix issues I may not know about, I need to proactively invite and let the Holy Spirit work in areas of my heart that are ugly, cold, and hidden that I either did or didn’t realize were there.”
My flesh (human nature) doesn’t want to relinquish the control I *think* I have.
My flesh wants to be independent and self-sufficient.
My flesh doesn’t want to have to go back and apologize for that thing that I did or said that I’ve convinced myself isn’t that big of a deal.
My flesh doesn’t want to fess up when I mess up.
My flesh doesn’t want to revisit old hurts that I haven’t forgiven because I was the one who was wronged.
The list can go on and on. I’m sure you can relate to some of and maybe even all of that.
Just as God will not force someone into having a relationship with Him in the first place, He will not force you or I to change the way we think, the way we behave, the way we treat others, our motives, or even the way we view Him. Only He can do that through working in our hearts as we trust Him, follow Him, spend time with Him, and know Him.
Brothers and sisters, no matter how little or how much time has passed since you first accepted Christ as your Savior, you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). No matter how good your “run” has been since you last really struggled or you’re in the thick of it now, run to Him. Let Him in to the places in your life you’ve closed off to Him, or simply ask Him to reveal any wrong within you. He is the true Helper (John 14:26) who not only reveals, but restores and reconciles.
My prayer is that you and I will see our desperate need for God’s help as David wrote in Psalm 139,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
– Psalm 139:23-24
In Christ,
Bethany
Office Staff