Well, my toes are smashed!

Pin It Ever had one of those days? Getting up, rushing through the morning routine, dragging the kids out of bed, bribing them with doughnuts if they will JUST stop fighting and get dressed, rushing to church, and being certain that your heart isn't in it is written all over your face? Not being prepared for worship whatsoever, instead thinking of the relief it will be to drop the kids off, and how nice it will be to visit with friends, and thinking about what to do for lunch in the back of your mind?

Then, TRUTH steps in. Or, more likely, steps all over your toes.

This describes my morning. Why is it that I rush through my day, going from one task to the next, mechanically doing what needs to be done, and totally missing out on an encounter with the Living God? And how is it that when I do have an encounter with God, that I can walk away unchanged? Let's take it even further - why is it that I struggle with the same sins over and over, and feel like I'm leading a life of defeat rather than a life of victory? Why do I feel like I'm just missing the point, or at least missing something big from the point?

Well, that would be because I am. Oh - I love the Bible. I love the parts that say "prosper and not harm" and "rejoice" and "His grace is sufficient" and "present your requests." We all love those parts.

Then there are the less popular parts, which for me, can be summed up in one word. The ugly word that if I were writing the Bible, I'd probably just leave out. Of course I would, I usually manage to leave it out of my life. It's a little word, couldn't possibly be that important. Of course, a person cannot live a victorious Christian life without it. It is absolutely imperative to seeing God move in our lives. The word?

submit

1 Peter 2:13-23 - Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

You can continue reading in 2 Peter for more along the same theme, all the way to the end of the book.

How often do you insist on your rights? "I have a right to be happy!" "I'm not going to stand for this treatment!" "I'm well within my rights!" "You've got to stand up for yourself - show some backbone!" One or two of these statements slips out of my mouth, or at the very least goes through my mind, on a daily basis. This is how we're brought up, and the very idea of submitting to a boss, or a husband, or anyone really, is totally foreign to us.

How would God have us live? Could it be that the reason my life is defeated more than it is victorious is my unwillingness to submit? To give up my will totally? To entrust myself to the One who judges justly? Because not only does He judge me justly, He judges everyone else justly too. I love the verse that says "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) but I never noticed that just before this are the verses about humbling ourselves, and submitting. Could it be that He knows that submitting and humbling ourselves will actually cause anxiety for us? Of course it will. For me, to do this will mean making major changes in my life, and I am actually anxious about it. I have a choice though - I can learn to submit - to God, to my husband, to everyone - I can learn to have a gentle and quiet spirit, and I can see God move in my life, and be taken to a deeper knowledge of Him (His Word says His glory revealed in us!!) or, I can continue in my usual stubborn pride and wonder what it is that I'm missing, why my life feels defeated and powerless.

Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened. -Winston Churchill.

I stumbled over truth today. What comes next?