Winter... again!

What a year this has been for me! It has been a while since I have blogged. But I am thinking it's time to take it up again.

Have you ever been convicted? What's it like? Can you ignore it? Or do you ask God to show you what is wrong, and how to make it right? I would hope that we would all do the latter, but I know (from my own experience) that this is not always the case. So what keeps us from listening to that conviction? Is it pride? Anger? Sin? Shame? Proverbs 15:32 says "If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding."

I know that with this latest conviction my pride and human anger has really been fired up. But I know God is asking me to throw off that pride, and take the path of humility, Christlikeness, and seek/give forgiveness. My excuses have been numerous- from "I didn't start this, so why should I have to seek forgiveness first." to "What if this person won't forgive me, so why even try?" But God brings me back to humility everytime that part of me starts to get fired up.

What is that part of me? I believe it is my sinful, human, worldly self. That self, It tries to get me to do the opposite of what God is asking me to do. So which one do I listen to? Of course God. Is it going to be easy? Not really. It's never easy to "swallow your pride" and take the path of humbleness. But the result is SOO much more beneficial and freeing! Proverbs 16:18,19 says this about pride "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud." Entire kingdoms have come to ruin because of pride! But in regard to humility Proverbs 22:4 says this: "True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life."So it like actually has physical benefits too? Cool! But should that be my motivation? Uh... No. Listening to my conviction, and doing what God is asking should be/ and is my motivation.

I believe when God convicts us it's kind of a form of discipline. He's saying look this is wrong in your life, and let's take some time to fix it, and make it right. I also know he disciplines us because He loves us. His correction is good. I mean if we went uncorrected, undisciplined, not convicted the result would be umm... uh... eeee!! It wouldn't be good. We would be a world of hurting, angry, hate filled people. Sure discipline is not so pleasant at the time, but again it's one of those things that benefits us in the long run. Like humility. And forgiveness. And compassion. And gentleness. etc.

As Christians this is how we SHOULD operate. I say should because we are still human-- Annnnddd we do still mess up, and on occasion let those self/sinful emotions/feelings take control. Anywyay, this is what we should do. Colossians 3:12-14 "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowances for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony."