I begin each day with a resolution to walk in obedience to God, bearing the likeness of Jesus in my attitudes, words, and actions…
Then, I get out of bed and it all goes downhill from there.
Sly temptations tug at the rug beneath my spiritual feet as I journey through the day. Sometimes I recognize those familiar attacks, since the enemy lacks the creativity to concoct fresh slander. Sometimes the lies trip me as if I’d never stepped past them before.
Insecurity and fear remain the underlying themes of my derailments. Pride rears its ugly head as an offshoot of insecurity, too. I tried to impose humility on my thoughts as an antidote. Both my email addresses begin with “humble” to serve as a constant reminder. Yet, forced humility distorts itself into false humility, or even more often into self-denigration. Turns out, the opposite of pride isn’t humility.
Nor does self-assurance unseat fear. Each time I’ve tried to bolster confidence in myself or a favorable outcome in my circumstances, the emptiness of self-assurance soon caves beneath me like quicksand.
Praise the Lord, for He’s always good to provide the true solution to our sufferings, temptations, and shortcomings. In fact, He IS the answer. God defines Himself as LOVE. Divine love resolves the temptations of fear and its illegitimate offspring of pride. Dwelling in the love of God protects me from anything which would tempt harm to my everlasting well-being. The more I contemplate the Love of Christ, the less insecurity sticks to my ribs. Deepening my passion for the Lord repels pride.
He provides reminders of His solution to my fears in Scripture.
“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you” – Isaiah 43:4-5
“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” – Psalm42:8
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:9-13
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:18-19
This Lenten season, I’m laying aside selfish insecurities and resolving to dwell in His Love. I’ll obey from a heart of passionate worship, give from a love that He first gave to me, and pray from a craving to remain in His Presence. With Christ’s help.
May Divine Love guard your soul, saturate your mind, and gush from your heart today.