Many of us would say: what is going on around us.
Our job, our family, our future, our finances, our economy, our community, or our relationships; the storm raging "all around me".
And rightly so ... there will be many battles that we will fight "around us". But in the face of lifes challenges and in the face of these battles, the primary battle that we will fight will not take place in the storm raging around us, but the storm raging within us; The Storm that takes place within our own heart and deep within our own mind.
The "battlefield of our life" isn't ouside of us ... rather it is within us.
The "battle" isn't other people, unfortunate circumstances, or tough scenarios; The battle is "me".
Stop for a moment, and before reading any further ask yourself: How do I see my life? Is my life focused around my desires and my wants for my greatest good OR is my life focused on what God wants for God's desire and God's greatest good in fulfilling His purpose and plan?
You might say, "I could careless about what God wants" or "I don't believe in God ... so I'm trying to milk my life for all its worth", but reflect on your answer ... and see what it reveals of you. I know before "knowing Jesus Christ" I had dreams and aspirations that were centered around "me" and that focused around "maximizing my benefits through life". The problem with our thinking is "its all about me!". "What do I want" is usually completely contradictory for "what does God want for my life?" And within that statement lies not only the problem but the solution: Our life isn't about us; We (our sins) are the problem. Our life is about loving and glorifying God in a relationship; Jesus Christ is the solution.
The problem within the hearts of all people is sin. Sin is "me" centered thinking; Sin is choosing what I want, whats best for me, and my way over God's way, what's best for His purpose, and what He ultimately desires for me.
Sin divides the mind. Sin removes all peace and purity within the heart. Sin leaves us empty ... and chasing after more and more and more. Sin is a fruitless journey that leads to confusion, destruction, and demise.
So ... moving on to application. What should we ask? What should we do?
Ask: Is my life driven by my desires Or is my life driven by God's love and what He wants of me? Is my life driven by my way (sin) or by God's love (surrendering).
Do: I can't tell you to do this or do that ... but this atleast I know: Christ showed us the way to victory over this life ... and it starts within us.
Transformation of our heart, our mind, our body and our Spirit ... "IN HIM"; IN the LOVE OF Jesus Christ.
Jesus not only shows us the way ... but He invites us to ...
(Jesus said), "Come ... follow me ..."; "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (in Him). " [Matthew 11:28]
Victory over "the sin within" comes only through a choice to surrender your heart and follow Jesus Christ in love. For the victory we all seek can only be found "In Him" ... in the transformational love of God -- Jesus Christ.
When we choose to remove ourselves, our desires, and our ways and CHOOSE to allow Christ to sit atop of the throne to our hearts, focusing on "love" and "eternity", ... we will no longer struggle with "our sin within" ... but we will begin to finally "live" with God, for God, and in the love that He has for us.
Ending on this ... You might ask ... "Why do I need to be tranformed from within ... I'm fine the way I am?"
Am I right? The truth of the matter is that God reveals to us that ... "we are far but fine ...that we are diseased, that we are saturated in Sin ... The awesome thing about this is God is prepared. He reveals to us that this life is only the "preface" to His great story of your life ... a story about hope, redemption, and eternal love and relationship with Him.
The beginning of the 1st chapter to the rest of your life .... begins with Jesus.
The answer lies in "the kingdom of God" ... what we all were destined for!
Jesus says that "the kingdom of God is not here nor there ... rather the Kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21); A choice of Faith in Jesus and Love for God.
The reason why we need to be tranformed within, is to wash away the old and allow God to make us into something new. For instance a caterpillar can't even begin to imagine what it will be like to "fly" the heights as a butterfly ... until the caterpillar is tranformed. When you were in the womb of your mother, you may have been only inches away from the world that awaited you upon your "transformation" (your birth) and there was no possible way for you to conceive all the glorious things that God had for you, that awaited for you once you were born.
That's why Jesus callx this transformation process ... "being born again" ... washing away the old ... and living life transformed in a way unimaginable ... living life through Him and with God :)
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" [Mark 1:15]
20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." [Luke 17:20-21]
Jesus transforms lives. Jesus gives eternal life to all who believe ... starting the moment they believe. Jesus is the victory on the battlefield of life ... over the greatest battle we will ever face ... ourselves (our sin). :)
[John 3:16]
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
[2 Corinthians 5:17]
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