Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
* Singapore
November 15, 1995
Good Morning!
TODAY, MANY OF US ARE PLAGUED BY A MALAISE
DEEP WITHIN OUR SOUL
Beneath the surface of our lives there lurks a subliminal sense
of disquiet...a despondency; perhaps a lingering struggle with
depression...even to the point of despair. Let me suggest
four reasons as to why:
#1 PRIMAL WOUNDS OF THE HEART
MOST OF US ENTER ADULT LIFE DEEPLY WOUNDED. So
unless and until we assume responsibility for the past,
and allow Jesus the Healer to bind up our wounds, thereby giving
us the grace to forgive, forget, and move beyond
the past, we will continue on as spiritual and emotional cripples.
"Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so
do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He inflicts
pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also
heal." (Job 5:17, 18)
#2 CYNICISM OF THE MIND
SECRETLY, MANY OF US LIVE IN TWO WORLDS. Intellectually
we believe the word of God to be true. However,
when Jesus calls us to steps of faith demanding vulnerability,
we often respond with, "I can't,"
or "I won't." And by our refusal, we demonstrate
our spiritual cynicism that God really cannot be trusted.
"But my righteous one shall live by faith; and if he
shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him." (Hebrews
10:38 Philips)
#3 PARALYSIS OF THE WILL
- MANY OF US CHOOSE TO CONTINUE TO BE VICTIMIZED BY OUR PAST, OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, AND OUR FEARS. Our motto is "I can't help it," or "I can't do it." So the freedom, the joy, and the victory available to us in Christ remain a distant illusion that recedes with each passing day.
" But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
#4 OVERCROWDING OF THE SOUL
WE ARE EXPOSED TO TOO MUCH NOISE, ACTIVITY , INFORMATION,
AND PRESSURE. Too little time is taken for meditation,
rest, contemplation and prayer. So the jostling encountered
by today's typical urban professional is usually unkind
to the inner life of the soul.
"And the work of righteousness will be peace,
and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence
forever." (Isaiah 32:17)
The enemy's objective to "steal, kill and destroy"
(John 10:10) the abundant life of Christ within us is being
realized if we fail to address these critical areas of life.
Ultimately, the choice is ours.
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
*Pastor Edmund Chan of Singapore gave
me the seed thoughts for the above discussion.
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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