Don’t be yourself
Yes, you read that correctly. Don’t be yourself. As a follower of God, I am commanded to go against the world’s mantra of “just be yourself”. There have been times that God has put it specifically on my heart to NOT be myself. Speaking those exact words to my heart. Honestly, I understood what God meant and I wasn’t surprised.
Being myself is being in sin. It’s living in the flesh and not in his Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Excellent. Yes, sounds great! I’ll take new. But why is being made new so appealing? I believe it’s because even though I still have my sinful nature, I am actually a new creation. And that creates a battle within me. And that battle isn’t a good feeling. It’s a very real struggle against my sinful self. So something new sounds glorious and wonderful. And the more God works in my life the better it gets. And I want more of God’s new me.
Galatians 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
I want to shout out NO! NO, I do not want to be under the principles of the world! I want to live in you God!…However, I struggle very much with the execution of this. How? How do I live in God’s Spirit throughout the day? Unfortunately, I can tell you I’m pretty unsuccessful at doing what God commands. Why? I love God, I want to do as he commands.
Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Yes,…I love this verse. This is me. I’m so grateful for verses like this because at least I know it’s not just me who is failing. Thank you God. But what do I DO. I need action steps. I need a list (insert smile here). I’ve talked a lot recently about my need to focus on God and ways to keep growing with him. Yes, absolutely I need to keep doing all of those things. That’s quite evident if you read my other entries. But I’d like to take a different approach in this entry. God, what is it? Where is this entry going?
Perhaps I need to stop trying so hard. To stop trying my best. This seems very counterintuitive, but I think maybe it makes sense. Because trying my best at something I cannot achieve is exhausting. Literally exhausting. And I’m not created to do God’s work on my own efforts. I’m created to have God work in me.
But honestly, how in the world can something be achieved if I don’t try? I mean that really just doesn’t make logical sense. And if I’m not trying, then what am I supposed to be doing? How do I get out of my former self and into God’s Spirit in the way I live my life each day? The truth is, that I AM in God’s Spirit as his child. But how do I LIVE in his Spirit? How do I live in God’s freedom and not in the evil of the world and my former self?
I must say, this is looking like another entry that is heading towards being full of questions and not full of answers. It makes me wonder, how are these entries helpful when I really do not have the answers? My prayer is that others also feel the way I do and can at least relate to it. And to be encouraged that walking with God is not a perfect walk. That is my hope for the blog.
My other hope for the blog is for it to glorify God. And I pray that is happening. Actually… maybe I can make a list (yes, it’s just gotta happen)(insert smile here)! I can list and share the things that I love about following God. I’ve definitely shared so many of the struggles. But there are true JOYS of following God. And even though it is not easy, following God is so incredible. It’s beyond anything I could describe in words. However, I am going to attempt it (and just go for it)!
Most certainly, it’d be best to start with God’s words as a guide. His words go far above mine. And Praise Jesus there’s a wonderful few verses with a list that I can use to do it! God always provides a way…
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
love…Seeing love how God defines it in my life is a glorious thing
joy…It is true joy to walk with God and help others
peace…Experiencing God’s peace has been one of the best parts of following God for me
patience… Definitely an area of struggle for me, but I do see God’s work in this area and am very grateful for it
kindness…Sharing my baking with people has been an incredible blessing to me and to see how God is using it is incredible
goodness…Well…sharing God’s goodness is the goal of this website and baking ministry
faithfulness…The fact that God has put it on my heart to write each entry and is helping me do it is the first thing that comes to mind (as you know, I am not a writer and I actually feel it’s a weakness of mine)
gentleness…I see God at work in this in my relationships and how he has helped grow and bring healing to them
self-control…Also an area of struggle for me in some ways and thankfully I do see his work in helping me with this
The fruits of the Spirit are a gift from God as He works in the believers life. I find such comfort and hope in those verses, and I feature them on the main page of the website for a reason. So that anyone who visits the site can clearly see the wonders of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. And to bring happiness to people like me with a love of lists (I just couldn’t help myself).
I believe I should keep the title of this entry.
Don’t be yourself.
So here it is.
Blog entry Nineteen
Follow God and Bake from your Heart,
Ellie