Monday, October 13, 2008

The Old Me


I know I said I wasn't going to write this week, but I just have to share this..
Saturday night was movie date night. We went on a triple date with my brother in law and his wife, and one of our best friends and his date. We arrived at the mall where the movie was playing more than an hour early. The plaza was full of teenagers. I thought to myself this is the perfect place to hand out WeUsed2bu cards. I quickly pulled out about twenty cards that I had in my bag and immediately headed toward the first group of girls that I spotted.

I walked up all happy and said, “Hey girls check out our site! Visit out MySpace.” The first girl I handed the card to read it and said, “O this Christian ****! **** this!” She crumbled the card. I seriously thought she was going to throw it at my face. There was a young boy near by taunting and also making rude comments. I became so bothered. I immediately felt my old nature rise up inside of me. The old me tried to resurrect herself. I wanted to retaliate so badly! I managed to maintain my composure while I passed out the rest of the cards.

I walked back to our group so shocked, not only by the way the girls reacted but by how I internally reacted. The love that I felt when I walked up to them was overcome now by emotions of anger, rejection, hurt, confusion, disappointment, and nervousness. What happened to me? Here I am giving them cards that say WeUsed2bu; however what used to be me wanted to present its self all over again. Although I did not retaliate I wanted to. I hated that feeling. I felt guilty and ashamed within myself. This was a reality check for me that the old me will try to come back any time if I allow it to. I have to be careful of it.

We must never let our guard down because our enemies are real, the devil and our old sin nature. The enemy will try to set traps along the way to trip us up. He provokes the war within us between our old sinful nature and our new nature Christ gave us. If given the opportunity he knows that our old sinful nature will rise up and attempt to enslave us all over again. When we give in to our old nature we can make a mess of everything that God is trying to do in our lives. I do not need any unnecessary set backs because of lack of self control and submission to the Spirit of Love.

Thank God for the Holy Spirit who reminds us that we are new creations in Christ Jesus, the old has gone, and the new has come. We are no longer slaves to sin or our old sin nature. Therefore we don’t have to surrender to those sinful desires. We are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within us. Through the power of Christ we can live and act in a way worthy of those called to such blessings. (Romans 6, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:1, Colossians 3:10)

I thank God for giving me strength in my moment of weakness. It was truly by His power that I did not act out in foolishness. To God be the glory.

Lord, thank you for power to help us overcome our old sinful nature and desires. Without You we are weak and small. You make us strong and powerful. We are glad to be slaves of righteousness. May our lives always bring your glory. In Jesus name..Amen.

4 comments:

Karen and Gerard said...

At least you made the attempt to share. Not everyone is going to be interested, but we don't know who will be unless we try. Don't get discouraged, that would be just what Satan would want. Not everyone welcomed the disciples either and their instructions in that case was to move on. Don't take it personally.

Lisa C. aka Trophy of Grace said...

I know thanks..it just didn't feel too good. I just got caught off guard. It's all good though I won't stop giving out the cards, in fact it has only made more deteremined to keep going.

Anonymous said...

Hay Lisa,

I gave the message this Sunday at the men's Prison In Belle Glade I used Luke 23:33-43, about Jesus on the cross with the two criminals, one was taunting Jesus, and the other heard the criminal , and told him Jesus did nothing to deserve what the all were going through on the cross, and He asked Jesus if he could be with him in Glory, and Jesus told him this day you will be with me in Paradise. I explained how my life reflects both criminals, one not believing in the Lord for 28 years, and then the day I meet the Lord how he forgave me, and filled me with His spirit, and it was the Lord himself, not Pastor, Priest a ritual. And Praise the Lord it was a Criminal the Lord told first they will be with him in Paradise....
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Love you & All the work you do...Susan

Lisa C. aka Trophy of Grace said...

thanks for sharing Susan..

My God is Faithful!

My God is Faithful!
Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.