The struggle doesn't have to be debilitating. Yes, you heard me right our struggles don't have to be debilitating. There is hope beyond the struggle. It comes through our faith.
There is a section of Ephesians chapter 4 in the New King James version of the Bible which has a heading of "The New Man".
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
I just want to say a few things about this passage. The first thing is in that very first verse where it says that we shouldn't walk as the Gentiles, "in the futility of their mind". Do you see that word futility? That is a strong word. Futility is what we feel when we feel powerless or that what we are doing is useless or meaningless, that is futility. This passage says we don't have to feel that way with God. Hallelujah for that!
The next thing I want to point out is a little further into the passage where it says, " who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." There is a lot for us to ponder in this section. I want to zero in on that phrase, "being past feeling." That is when Satan feels that he has you securely in his grasp. He wants the struggles of this world to overtake you into that sense of desperation to the point where you feel defeated and nothing more matters. It is precisely at this point when many give up and no longer even try to walk by faith. However, if we will reach out God will be there and He can and will restore our hope.
The final thing I want to leave you with is found in the phrase, "and be renewed in the spirit of your mind." The mind they say is a powerful thing, and scripture speaks to it repeatedly. If you are in the depths of struggle look for opportunities to renew your mind. What does this really mean? Change your way of thinking. The mind is the ultimate sponge with a tremendous capacity. Think about that sponge you may have under your sink or in your garage. When it has been in pure water and you squeeze it what will come out? Pure water. Likewise, when it has been run through the muck and the mire or muddy water what will come out under the pressure of that squeeze? Muddy, dirty water. Our mind works that same way. We need to begin filling it with the good, the pure, and the positive. We know that we are going to be put to the test, under pressure. If we will renew our minds by continually choosing to fill it with the good then as we face the pressures and challenges of life the old and dirty can be expelled in favor of the new, the pure, and the good. This is when we prove ourselves to be living like the passage is titled, "The New Man."
This week take bold steps to renew your mind and find "The New Man" within you. If you do, then you will Make Today Great!
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