“Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.” (Romans 8:6-7 MSG)
Self-control has its limitations. It is easily influenced by circumstances. Many of us who are able to resist temptations to eat unhealthy foods will succumb if we are really hungry. Yet mastery of the self is considered one of the ultimate virtues. We depend on self-discipline, self-reliance, and self-focus to achieve self-fulfillment. When we are focused on how to make our lives better, happier, and more fulfilling--our journey ultimately leads to a dead end. This is a sad truth that most of us cannot accept.
As long as our attention is focused on ourselves, we are unable to focus on God. We are either controlled by Self or by God. Our thoughts, our joy, and our contentment can be influenced by God instead of being manipulated by our reactions to circumstances. Once we extricate ourselves from our self obsessions, we are free to allow God’s Spirit to take over our minds and lead us into a spacious peace that is beyond our earthly circumstances.
No comments:
Post a Comment