a rough spot...

I've hit a rough spot lately. A spot where right seems wrong and wrong is said to be right. A spot where I'm more confused than encouraged and fear of man seems to eclipse my fear of God. My bad...or should I say sin. (I might as well call it what it is!)

But after I listened to Pastor Bordwine's sermon yesterday I felt that small voice yelling louder to my heart. Maybe I was just being quiet enough to hear it. I thought on and off for the remainder of our Lord's day about man's dependence on God as a result of the fall and the destruction of harmony between the Creator and creature. I was feeling rather worm-like. I needed a reminder of the gospel in my life.

As I went to bed I shifted through the books on my nightstand. I wasn't feeling much like reading my current book, Les Miserables. The fight for the barricade just seems to be dragging on and everyone is being killed or maimed. The beginnings of revolution are not uplifting. So I picked up The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges. As I began to read, the power of the familiar gospel was a balm for my frustrated soul.

He talks about our sin and what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. As I read the following list I was reminded of my focus as a creature of God and how my first priority needs to be loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind.

• Your love for God transcends all other desires. Exodus 20:3
• Like David, you long to gaze upon His beauty and seek fellowship with Him. Psalm 27:4
• You rejoice in meditating on His Word, and like Jesus you rise early to pray. Psalm 119:97; Mark 1:35
• You always delight to do His will, regardless of how difficult it may be. Psalm 40:8
• A regard for His glory governs and motivates everything you do. I Corinthians 10:31
• You are never discouraged or frustrated by adverse circumstances because you are confident God is working all thing together for your good. Romans 8:28
• You recognize His sovereignty in every event of your life and consequently receive both success and failure from His hand. I Samuel 2:7, Psalm 75: 6-7
• You are always content because you know He will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
• The first petition in the Lord's Prayer, 'hallowed be your name,' is the most important prayer you pray. Matthew 6:9

Suddenly my fear of man is diminished and I realize my woeful place before God.

I'll go and repent now...