Anna Balsamo
Heart Song Worship Center
“Whatever you have learned or heard or received from me, put it into
practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:9
Do you feel discouraged because you keep struggling over certain sins in your
life? Does the Holy Spirit keep bringing to mind specific things you should
or shouldn’t do or say and no matter how hard you try, you keep doing them anyway?
It could be your inability to say “no” to that dessert or snack after
dinner when you’re not hungry at all or it could be the sarcastic tone directed
at your spouse when you’re tired. It could also be the gossip that flows so
easily from your lips or even the task you know God is placing on your heart
and yet you are avoiding it whether out of fear or just plain disobedience.
We look at other Christians who seem to be growing in their walk with the Lord
and we feel like we are just not as good a Christian as they are. Sometimes we
grow so frustrated in our failure to obey because it seems like we keep falling
into the same old habits, so we just give up. Sound familiar?
This was happening to me in a specific area of my life that I knew God wanted to
change. Yet for months (even after much prayer), I couldn’t seem to break free.
Dissatisfaction settled in my heart until the Lord brought the above verse to my
mind.
I suddenly realized He was showing me that change doesn’t happen all at once.
Yes, the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior we are saved – instantly, and
some of our bad habits are changed almost as quickly as the Holy Spirit delivers
us and He makes us new. (“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Cor. 5:17)
But other sins have been strongholds for years and practicing freedom, (“It is for
freedom that Christ has set us free” Gal. 5:1), and walking in it is a daily task until
finally we are walking in a way that is pleasing to Him.
So today, a little here and a little there, put into practice the things you have learned
from His word like “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger” (Eph. 4:31),
or “Do everything without complaining” (Phil. 2:14). When we commit to actually
doing the things we know He wants us to do daily, before too long they will become new
habits within us – ones we know will please Him and bring Him Glory - because we have
practiced them.
Listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit telling you what to do, and then
do it. When your husband wants a back rub and you are just way too comfortable sitting
on the couch, get up and do it. Show a little selfless love. Practice it. When someone
in the car next to you cuts you off and uses a gesture that isn’t too nice, “Bless
and do not curse” (Romans 12:14). Practice it.
Today when I really feel like gossiping with my cousin about someone at the family party,
I am choosing to obey and put into practice what I know is pleasing to Him. When my friend
needs someone to listen; really listen, I will stop what I am in the process of doing and
practice the art of listening to her.
Change doesn’t seem to come quickly, but when broken down into manageable obedient steps
daily, before too long we will be more like Him and then others will begin to see Him
in us. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway? Becoming more like Him!
Don’t give in to frustration. Just practice what you know to be true - moment by moment;
day by day. “And the God of peace will be with you”.
