Inner Turmoil

Hey... you..., yeah... you,

I love this sculpture - it's called "Inner Turmoil" by an artist named Gregory Reade.

Each one of us has 2 natures. The sinful nature that we're born with, and the new nature that we receive once we're born again. From the second we accept Christ, we try to break free from who we were and try to live out who we are in Christ.

Although the Bible says "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17) we still have to contend with out old habits, our old memories, old friends, and an "old" world system that hasn't changed just because we have.

It's a struggle. Part of the struggle is with ourselves, part of it is with spiritual forces that don't want us to fulfill the purpose that God placed us here to accomplish.

In Romans 12:1-2 Paul says:

I beg you, because of everything God has done, dedicate your body as a living sacrifice holy and dedicated to God, which is the least you can do - offer to serve him. Do not conform to the time you live in, be changed - renew your mind. Embrace these new ideals and attitude so you can prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable perfect will of God.

The renewing of the mind is the inner turmoil. This process will take you to some uncomfortable places. there are a lot of temptations in the world. Aside from the temptations, doing the right thing might be hard. Friendships may be tried, family may get angry.

I know on a daily basis, I struggle with the decision to do what's right. Sometimes it's harder than others. Sometimes I forget to use all the resources that God has given me and try to struggle through on my own. In the heat of the battle it's hard to forget about prayer. It can be embarrassing to ask for help from other Christians.

I'm not trying to be mean, self righteous, or pious, but if you aren't experiencing any struggles... any inner turmoil with doing what God wants us to do - then maybe... you should spend a little more time in His word and in prayer finding out what he wants you to do.

In love,

A fellow struggling Christian.