James 1:13-14

Good morning!
The sun is shining here for us, and it's a gorgeous new day. I have my coffee and a quiet place in the office this morning to take my time on today's study. I don't work today; it's so nice to not have a time limit some days!! :) I hope you're all enjoying the start of the day as well.

Verses 13-14 are very familiar to me, as they probably are to all of you. But for the first time today I found an interesting word there. "Dragged". To me, being dragged away symbolizes an unwillingness to go. Being unwilling to go with your own sinful desire...?
Once again this reminds me of the massive battle going on every minute between our Old and our New Selves. Barren, dark, loneliness in who we used to be, fighting the Christ, light and freedom in our New Person.

In a sense, we've ALL got split-personality disorders. haha

But really, to live like that, constantly arguing with yourself, shoving that "little (really not so little!) devil" off your shoulder every other second, can be exhausting! I've thought in the past that going through this means I'm weak in my faith. But it's important to remember that we're weak in our faith if we're NOT fighting our Old Self. If we're NOT harnessing God's almighty power to fight it.

Rather, it symbolizes strength of faith and desire to be close to the Lord when a serious war is taking place regularly.

Our lust, our discontent will put us in this situation our entire lives. I am so excited for the peace that will be experienced in heaven just from having the battle over with. Thankfully, the real battle is won already, even now. That's why, when I may lose in the daily fight against Old Self, I am still considered His daughter and dearly loved. Where would we be without that???

So girls, be encouraged: The fight, the constant convincing yourself back to what you KNOW by faith is better and right, is not in vain. In fact, it proves that you are ALIVE. It proves that you are growing, and that, by Christ in you, you are becoming a fruitful, blossoming tree of beauty.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine."  John 15:4

Have a lovely day, everyone! :-)
Stay warm in His love,
~Cait