Struggle

This morning I was reminded
of a struggle that I had with God some years ago....    

Jesus said when told his family was calling for Him 
'My 'family' are those who hear God's word 
and obey'..... ref Lk 8:19-21 

Jacob struggled with God
at the brook Jabbok
and in the end the Angel of the Lord
'touched' his hip
and put it out of joint.... ref Gen 32:24-28

What is it in me
that want's my own way?
I have chosen to be a 'bond servant' of Jesus...
I have relinquished my 'rights'
I KNOW that God's ways are GOOD...

But I struggle with that.
And I am beginning to understand
that is Normal this side of Heaven.

That Choice
and Self
and
the Flesh
and the Spirit
are in opposition
and that's not going away
anytime soon.

Sooo....
I Choose
to enter in
to not be surprised
to guard
to make provision for the struggle
so that;

Phil 3:10 I want to know Christ
and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death,
11 and so,
somehow,
to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this,
or have already been made perfect,
but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers,
I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead,
14 I press on towards the goal
to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenwards
in Christ Jesus.

Thank You Lord Jesus
for reminding me
that this is a battle
and that victory IS worth the struggle
and that You will give me
everything I need
to DO this.

Yeah.

PJ