One of the things I'm doing to rectify these gaps is reading Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline. He says something very profound that really impacted me. "Whatever may be the issue for us-- anger, fear bitterness, gluttony, pride. lust, substance abuse-- we determine never to do it again; we pray against it, fight against it, set our will against it" (pg. 4).
Isn't that so true. The gaps in my life have been caused by things listed above--gluttony, pride, and lust. I have determined many times, thousands of times, to never over eat again, and after lunch I'll make a new commitment which will last until dinner.
Why is sin so hard to deal with on our own? Why have we convinced ourselves that our problems aren't really sin, they are just issues to manage?
I know I'm not alone in this thinking, but I can't change it in my own life, why in the world would I undertake to change it in others?
I have to remind myself daily, no hourly, that the power to change me lies outside of myself. It lies in the one who created me, only he can change me. Praise God.
Foster quotes Heini Arnold when he says, "As long as we think we can save ourselves by our own will power, we will only make the evil in us stronger than ever" (pg. 5). Wow that's strong...
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