“Our Lord finds our desire, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
It went on to say…”It’s almost like we have forgotten that spiritual transformation is possible. It’s possible that Christ can be formed in us. It’s possible to love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived. It’s possible, but first we must want that. We must want that more than we want anything else in this world.” ~C.S. Lewis
I believe that on this side of eternity, a temptation to exist in a watered-down state will be there on the sidelines of the “straight and narrow” path attempting to lure us away. I have been contemplating what it means to seek HIM first, to taste and see that HE is good. What is required of me is the decision to come to Him first with a desire to know Him. He is constantly drawing me to Himself. As I seek Him, I find Him. As He draws me to Him, the subtle delicacies of this world hold less and less appeal. I am encouraged that as I continually offer Him the sacrafice of my praise, the empty spaces, the broken pieces, that He gives me the strength in my weakness to overcome. He promises to change me from glory to greater glory. I have a living Christ that makes intercession for me, a living God that is doing a work that only He can do….taking down the walls I have built stone by stone and building a memorial alter that says, “Look what I have done.” May He be given the glory for it all.
I am glad to read that through your faith your are turning the walls you built up into an alter for the glory of your God.
Faith works by transforming the negative emotional power of lust and addiction, into the positive energy of love.
For the Christ Follower to live as Jesus commands, with love, requires passion. If we try to block off our emotions out of the fear that they will lead to sin, we also block off our ability to love with passion.
It is better to acknowledge our addictive behaviors, then transform the negative ones into the positive emotion of love.
The kind of spiritual transformation C.S. Lewis speaks of may be the most important work we do.
Ed, it is so true that love be the motivating factor. Love for humanity.
Thank you for your insightful response.
AMEN!!!
“Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.” ~James 4:8
love you Michelle!
May I just say that I’m blessed every time I read your blog. Thank you good lady.
I just read a few novel excerpts, and my heart is heavy for Sara. The imprisonment you paint for her is etched in my mind. I’m looking forward to purchasing the finished work.
The excerpts inspire me to attempt my own novel, but more than that they inspire me to keep writing. The vision to write religious non-fiction continues to propel me off and on as days go by.
My discipline wains like the ocean waves, but it’s amazing to me how the desire doesn’t.
I’m going to go make some espresso and continue writing.