1st of many

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Okay not really, but every year around this time I start to ponder what the future could hold and to me that is what Christmas is. Christ coming to earth was not the whole story but just the beginning of His journey to the cross, his death, and the ultimate glory of his resurrection.  So last year when I began to pray about 2012's direction (spiritual theme) the word journey kept coming to mind. In the past 9 months this word journey has definitely proven itself to be a common theme in my life. 

In February I had a revelation that like Christ, we all on a journey to the ultimate purpose of glory. It's not my own glory that I seek but Christ's. Because of this I have fought against so many spiritual sins this year. Each battle has proven that I am surrounded by God's gracious hand leading and directing my journey towards indescribable blessings and transformation. In fact, I have learned that the connection between battling your sin and receiving tremendous blessings from the Lord goes hand in hand.

Battling ones sin and accepting God's grace can sometimes cause a tension within those of us that desire to bring ourselves into alignment with glorifying Christ in our lives. The pendulum seems to swing between a strict approach and a lackadaisical approach to dealing with the sin in our lives. We want to experience the joys of walking with Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit, but we don't want to have the discipline it takes to make room for the inner workings and transformation that should occur as a result of His very presence in our lives. 

I'm not talking about the sin that has become somewhat cultural to avoid or judge others for participating in like smoking, drinking, or even taking one political stance instead of republican. :) It is more the stuff that Jerry Bridges talks about in his book Respectable Sin. Ungodliness seems to run rampant in our lives because we struggle to see the sinfulness of anxiety, frustration, discontentment, unthankfulness, pride, selfishness, lack of self-control, impatience, irritability, anger, judgmentalism, envy, jealousy, and even our tongue. The list could go on but as I begin to ask God to help me wrap up this years spiritual transformation I have a feeling that my journey is leading me down a path of tackling some of these. 

These sins seem to only become more prevalent as we head into the holiday season. Although we have three more months in this year I know that the journey that God has me on is not going to end come January 1. This year has marked the beginning of something great in my life and has I continue to strive to bring God the most glory with my life I know that the journey is not going to be one of ease. But it is more than worth fighting for. 

Jared Anderson has a song that has meant a lot to me over the years. 

This Is Life

Brace yourselfThis is going to take every part of youThis is going to make God believe in youAnd you believe in Him
Pace yourselfEternity is not a fairy taleThe in between can be your heavenOr just another day in hell
'Cause the road we walk is straight and narrowAnd the times we have they're ours to borrowSo give a little understandingThis is life and it's hell if you only live[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jared_anderson/this_is_life.html ]Calm yourselfThe fear that's in your heart must surely dieYou always say its hard and you don't know whyWell welcome to everybody else's life
And lift yourself 

You're bigger when you're on your knees againJust look above and look withinDon't look around its all just been
'Cause the road we walk is straight and narrowThe times we have they're ours to borrowSo give a little understandingThis is life and it's hell if you only liveOh, give a little understandingThis is life and it's hell if you only live for yourself

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jared_anderson/#share