Stubborn? Who Moi?
Who me? Stubborn? Nah!
Well, maybe a little. Occasionally. Sometimes. Okay, so I’m stubborn more often than I need to be.
I post a Bible verse weekly on my vanity which I try to memorize. I love thinking about this week’s verse and find The Message translation enthusiastically states its Truth in 1 John 3:1. ‘What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it – we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.’
Neat verse until a body begins to really think on it. I’m one of His children who totally enjoys all the good parts of belonging to Him – salvation, blessings, peace, joy, forgiveness, guidance, and endless other great things. Yeah! That’s some good stuff and exactly what I was thinkin’ on!
However!!!
This morning, it occurred to me I wasn’t carrying through on my end. I realized as a child of God, it is my responsibility to be more obedient than I have been. Oops!
Which leads me back to stubbornness.
I roll my hair daily in velcro rollers, and usually my hair wraps perfectly around the curlers. This morning, my hair was being belligerent beyond imagination and way past my patience! The sprig of hair pictured above was determined to go its way which was not part of the plan for today’s coiffure! I rewrapped the hair section twice. Finally, with three clippies, I manhandled that sucker to bend to my will!
And there is where my Bible verse, my failings, and today’s object lesson merged.
I belong to God = Fact. He wants me to obey what is in the Bible = Truth.
So, if for example I deliberately judge others which the Scripture forbids, I guess I am doing wrong. Okay. So I know I am doing wrong = Ugh! (James 4:12 NLT ‘God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?’)
And, let’s say as an illustration I happen to be REALLY short-tempered even if it is only in my thoughts and in my heart. I have to say instead of clippies, God will need to take out His pruning shears and do some serious trimming to help me change my wicked ways. ( James 1:19-20 NLT ‘Understand this. You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.’)
God has a plan for me which does not include stubbornly holding onto bad habits such as those I already listed or the bajillion other failings I selfishly cling to. Or I can just call my ‘stubbornness’ and ‘bad habits’ and ‘failings’ by their real name = SIN. ARGH! ‘Remember, too, that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.’ James 4:17 NLT I’ve known this verse since I was a kid. You’d think I’d have the idea down pat by now considering how ancient I am.
But I guess my personality is as stubborn as my hair. Sigh. I pray it will not always be so. May I bend to the Father’s will in all my ways. May it be so – sooner rather than later.
If you think this blog is a downer, please remember my blog is Katharses. I was going to say I use the blog to express my angst but when I looked up synonyms for that word, it said anxiety, dread, or mid-life crisis. At the last definition, I got the giggles. Oh, honey! I am WAY past mid-life anything! Which maybe will end this confessional on a funny note. Which we all need even when we are trying to live purposefully for God.
Blessings
Kara Beth
I just have to share the Bible Verse that came up on my screen tonight. Ephesians 5:1-2 The Message – ‘Watch what God does, and then do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that.
