“Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ Proverbs 9:6
Living the Christian life isn’t an easy thing.
Has anyone ever told you being a Christian is easy? Did you laugh in response? If you have been a believer for more than fifteen minutes, you probably have realized it’s not.
Becoming a Christian seems simple enough — accept the fact that you cannot save yourself or ever earn your way into Heaven. Instead receive the free gift Christ already purchased for you. And yet, for many it becomes so very difficult because their pride, skepticism, or feelings of unworthiness snag them.
In a strange way, the world’s method is the simpler one. The world says you have to “make it on your own” with blood, sweat, and tears. “Every man for himself.” “The one with the most toys wins.” “Be all you can be.” “Just do it.” You know the slogans.
But Christ tells us to open our hands and hearts to receive that which his blood, sweat, and tears already provide. Be servants, not masters. Put others first. Die so you can live. In your weakness, there will be immeasurable strength.
And the world scratches its head and claims this is either too foolish or too hard.
Paul understood the dichotomy way back in the first century.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).
How about you? Will you give up the simple ways to embrace the deeper, richer foolishness of God? You may find it is the wisest decision you ever made.
Dear Lord, you know how hard it is to swim upstream against the currents of culture. Help me to lean on your strength and not my own limited understanding. Teach me daily to embrace your wisdom and insight instead of the simple lies of the world. Amen.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the behaviors or habits in your life that are unwise. Ask him to help you understand his calling on your life and to walk in obedience, especially when you face temptation to turn away from him.
By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission
We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is another suggested prayer:
“Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now and trust Him to do so.
Further Reading
• Spiritual Oxygen: Are You Getting Enough?
• How you can Walk in the Spirit – printable lesson (pdf file)