Spiritual Growth Articles for
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You begin to make unhealthy comparisons between your life and the lives of those who are seemingly living the ideal that you want.
Because you are weak-willed, instead of placing your faith in God, you place your faith in man, specifically a man or woman who is strong willed—someone who also wants to make the world an ideal place by molding others into their image of what the “perfect Christian life” looks like.
You are more susceptible to man’s influence because of your insecurity and your weak will. Because your intellect rules you, instead of the Spirit of the Lord, you lack the spiritual discernment to sort through what is truly from the Lord and what is man’s as you read others’ writings.
and get everyone else around me to buy into this,
I’m sure all of our lives would be so much happier.”
You begin to “put on” outwardly what someone else tells you is Godly.
You pick the “orange” from the “Tree of the strong-willed person’s life”—an orange that is good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise (Genesis 3:6).
Then you fasten this beautiful-looking orange to your Tree so you can have the fruit you think you desire.
even when I’m trying so hard?” |
But you just can’t seem to get it to work the way others do. Maybe for a while your manipulation works, but it’s not lasting. Those “oranges” actually begin withering away. Not even you can keep up with the good show of “oranges”; you yourself can’t continue to do what these people tell you works, let alone get others in your family to cooperate.
And so you wonder,
- Why doesn’t my husband behave like their husbands?
- Why don’t my children obey me like their children seemingly obey them?
- Why aren’t my children motivated to become excellent?
- Why am I not a spiritual giant like the women whom I idolize?
- Why doesn’t my life look like theirs?
You continue to read strong-willed people’s writings and interpretations of Scripture and follow them, trying really hard to live like they do.
Why? Because your eye is not set on the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Instead, your eye is set on the prize of the strong-willed idealistic person. You share their idealism and admire their ability to live within their idealism. So you follow them.
To where do you follow them? To the image of their idealism.
They seem to know more than you do, and so you place your faith in man, exchanging your current lifestyle for their image. These strong-willed people want to mold you into their ideal of the perfect Christian life, and your weak Will lets them. They seem secure; you want that security.
But where is relationship with God in these images you’re trying to put on?
The creators of these images sprinkle in Scriptures to support their interpretations and strongly advocate that others follow their created images. Personal relationship with the Living God is added on superficially, if at all.
These images focus on worshiping the Word of the Lord, rather than worshiping the Lord of the Word Who freely gives abundant Life.
because you think that in them you have eternal life;
… and you do not receive Me;
if another shall come in his own name,
you will receive him.
~John 5:39-40, 43
Yes, the Scriptures are profitable (II Timothy 3:16), but they do not give life. Only Christ gives life (John 10:10).
when you try to put someone else’s “oranges” on your tree?
and what you do: | |
| “Submit to your husband in the same way I do to strengthen and/or save your marriage.” | Manipulate your husband to fit your image of what a marriage should look like. |
| “Bombard your children with numerous academic experiences, so they will get into good college.” OR Keep your children away from academics because certain knowledge will destroy their faith.” | Press them into a mold so they will make you look like a good parent to those you want to impress. |
| “Your teenaged children will be drawn away by the world if they are out from under your careful watch.” | Act upon your fear and bind your children in fear, like you are bound. |
| “Teach your teenaged children about their proper place/role so they look Godly.” | Oppress their individuality so they fit an image of which you and others in your circle approve. |
| “If your life doesn’t look the way you want it to look, change outwardly. Do what I do!” | Exchange one image for another. |
for trying to fit within an image of man are:
- looking good to others,
- being a model Christian or a model Christian family, and/or
- fear.
Instead of pointing you to the One who can lavish His abundant Life upon your desperate soul, these teachings point you to an image that outwardly works for strong-willed people.
Their image can prop you up for a while; but your failure to live within those images are the very circumstances God uses to turn your heart to Him. “Putting on” on an image of man simply props you up rather than transforms you.
From the desperation of your failure, God’s still, small Voice is calling you. He wants to embrace you, like the father of the prodigal, and carry you from your despairing failure to the abundant Life He has waiting for you. Run to Him and away from the images that bind you. Be transformed!
—not man’s lifeless images—
will transform you!
with little, if any, Godly fruit?
If so, find some insights in Part 2 of this article—insights that will release you receive the love of God. He is waiting for you to turn to Him.
and I will give you rest.
~Matthew 11:28
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