Two steps back …one step forward

Ever feel that way?

Seems like I do all the time….no matter if what part of life I’m referring to…sometimes we seemed trapped in our circumstances and having to fight to get out.

Right now I fighting against my hate for getting up early and exercising (just one example;  I could go MUCH deeper and serious than that!!),  but we all battle depression moments, or so my guess is, or just laziness and the desire to give up and just let life flow without self effort….why cant i just learn to love the stupid elliptical machine…it would make things so much easier.  Why cant I seem to break the 185 mark?

The first thing that came to my mind was Philippians.  An encouragement in times that all persecuted Christians parties had to be battling depression including the writer himself (no matter how minute).  Instead he encourages others instead of staying self-involved; he reaches out to to Phillippi and encourages steadfastness, unity, humility,  and compassion for God, his people, and his message.

I used to be a spiritual midget and all-in-all it wasn’t that long ago.  I recognize that I have come a long way but I also recognize that I am FAAAAAR from being what God’s vision for me is.  I always have to battle before I grow.  I always have to battle against myself and my pride before I grow.  And when I fight the battle I have to both encourage others and seek encouragement from others………..

I have to depend on Christ and others to battle myself…..(hmm…go fig…didn’t i know that already?  Seems so)

I’ve read several posts lately of Pastors battling themselves over how they handle criticism from others.  I understand the battle of wanting to react vs doing the right thing.  Doing the right thing isnt always easy despite what I tell my kids sometimes,  sometimes it may not be even rewarding in the short-term.   It can seem like two steps back…on step forward.

So WHEN you struggle against the blues and the desire NOT to do something you know you need to do; seek to battle yourself…seek to encourage others….seek to hold true to the right thing….(I often wonder if Paul was preaching to himself as much as his audience sometimes…I know I do that)

Some Favorites from Philippians:

Philippians 1: 9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others

3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

4:12-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

When you think about the circumstance and think about how you would be feeling if you had been in Paul’s shoes; Phlippians is an absolute powerful book to get you by when in battle.

~ by mccrit on June 5, 2008.