Note* I realized that the very next entry in my journal went along with this post so I am re-publishing with that included.
Original Entry Date 3/16/2016: I was talking to God this morning about my frustrations. I’ve been pretty frustrated because it feels like I haven’t been hearing from Him much lately. Then I get bound up in worry.
I then pictured a molding coming over my face. It is then lifted off of my face and placed directly in front of me. I asked Him, “Why am I looking at my face?” My mind goes on to panic, thinking the worst, there must be something wrong with me!! I hear God speak to me, “Where is your smile?”
I then realized that my Joy was being battled for by the enemy and I had been allowing it.
I hear God again,”When you are weak how are you made strong?” I then answer, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
He also told me that I’ve been focusing too much on my perceived problems rather than focusing on the problem solver, Christ Jesus.
With the whole face thing I kept thinking of the passage in James 1:22-25 when he writes about being a doer, not just a hearer; comparing it to looking at your face in the mirror. Guess what the pastor preached about in church the following Sunday…same passage!
James 1:22-25 NIV:
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Commentary for the Scripture:
Anyone who hears the word but does not change his behavior is like a man who takes a fleeting glance in the mirror each morning, then completely forgets what he saw. He derives no benefit from the mirror or from looking into it.
Of course, there are some things about our appearance that cannot be changed. But at least we should be humbled by the sight! And when the mirror says “Wash” or “Shave” or “Comb” or “Brush,” we should at least do as we are told. Otherwise the mirror is of no practical benefit to us.
It is easy to read the Bible casually or because of a sense of duty without being affected by what we read. We see what we ought to be, but we quickly forget and live as if we were already perfect. This type of self-satisfaction prevents spiritual progress.
Updated Addition
Original Entry Date 3/7/2016: As I was writing the above entry, I heard the Lord shout out to me, “You are free indeed!”
Also, this morning the Lord woke me up from a deep sleep and said to me, “I have clothed you with the coat of durability.” It was so reassuring to hear His voice and to hear that He was covering me with His Power.
And just as I heard the Lord say, “You are free indeed!” We need to ask ourselves, if we are free, what is it that is holding us back?
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