A Little More Intimate

I can't remember the last time I posted on my other blog (the "spiritual" one). I really don't want to have two blogs. Why not post my spiritual progresses/weaknesses on the blog that I divulge the rest of my life upon? Is not my walk with Christ the greatest side of me because of Him?

I just read a couple posts on Girl Talk, and am prompted to share a quote they spoke of.

God never places us in any position in which we can not grow. We may fancy that He does. We may fear we are so impeded by fretting, petty cares that we are gaining nothing; but when we are not sending any branches upward, we may be sending roots downward. Perhaps in the time of our humiliation, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress.
~Elizabeth Prentiss~

They are doing a series on the battles women face duirng hormonal times of life (PMS, menopause, postpartum). I'll admit that while I don't struggle with PMS to the extent most women do, I have a hard time with impatience and anger when "the week" is upon me. Especially on Thursdays of those weeks (odd, I know). But on Wednesday morning, Matt prayed aloud for me that I would have patience with Judah's vibrant personality, childishness, and testy disobedience. Yesterday, the infamous Thursday, was incredible.

There was a 45 minute span of time just before lunch that Judah was getting hyper and disobedient...while I was incapacitating by feeding Elijah. Those are the worst set-ups for me -- disobedience I can't immediately get to. I could FEEL the battle inside my heart and my head, so much that my feet got hot and sweaty as I sat there calmly talking to Judah while he was disobeying. The Holy Spirit was working quick and fast against my flesh. I'd feel the angry words about to yell out, then in a split second hear the still small voice say "Have patience...he is a child...he must learn...there is no reason for you to sin because of his sin...sin has no power over you...you have a choice...love him and teach him...he disobeyed and therefore needs correction...it's as simple as that...no need to make it a huge ordeal." It happened several times. I'm still in awe. Praise God for answering Matt's prayer.

To feel and know that kind of Power at work in me against my most binding sins -- impatience and anger -- is encouraging and empowering. I know the Spirit is always there, but so many times I don't listen and allow myself to get out of touch by not spending enough time in prayer and the Word. How much faster I could get down this road to Christ-likeness if I would be aware of His presence much more often than I am! The problem is always self. Self is in my way!

Following Christ is so very simple. And yet we make it incredibly hard.

This is why it can not be done without the Holy Spirit's help. If only we would let Him work!