Self-Awareness

August 19th, 2014 by Dave Leave a reply »

Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28

God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.

Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.

 

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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
This business of Coming to You. It seems like it should be so simple … and maybe someday it will be. But stumbling away from you, pursuing some project or thought or stress or emotion … it’s so easy. And I find myself away and with you nowhere in my thoughts. Then I jerk my mind back to you but it only stays fixed on you for a period of time… then wanders off again. I must be doing something wrong.

You are describing exactly the self awareness and self analysis that Chambers is referring to in the devotion today. It will rob your joy and send you in a tailspin of analysis … in which you will never measure up or be “good enough” Look at your dog. And live like him. at least in this aspect. He lives in the moment. He does not analyze himself to see whether he has been thinking about you enough. Or whether he is being an adequately “good dog” When he sees you, he’s instantly ready to go. Throw a stick. There’s no analysis about the trajectory of the arc or whether getting the stick is an A, B, or C priority. He just lives in the moment and goes all out, going after the stick.

Of course there are some add-ons to the metaphor when we move it from dogs to humans. But analysis and continual self criticism is not one of the human capabilities that leads to a happy, peaceful life. Simply dedicate each day to following me and watching for clues and just live in the moment, giving 100% to the tasks at hand. Stay curious and I will lead you. If you dedicate your life and your day to me and you dont sense me for a time…. perhaps I’m taking off the training wheels and watching to see how you do. Dont worry, I have not left you. I will never leave you or forsake you …. even if you dont feel me always.

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