Monday, May 09, 2005

 

Pick it up




By Ramone - May 8, 2005

On the 7th I had a recurrance of a struggle many men have -- with lust. I was tempted in the morning before work and gave into it for a moment. I wanted to know what happened, why I had fallen that time, and wondered if I should feel more guilty (akin to what we usually think repentance is). I doubted my repentance from the last time something like this happened. But try as I could, I couldn't feel guilty. Something else had happened.

As I was praying (after the slip) I saw this picture of a snake. I continued getting ready for work and didn't think about it again until lunch. While eating I like to read my Bible or a book, and as I looked at a few verses, God's love began to fill me and I knew His love was in me, and that I loved with His love. So I knew I was with Him! (1 Jn 3:14) But what of what'd happened that morning? I felt bad about that but confused. I didn't have peace, so I flipped over the paper placemat and began writing it to God. Here's what I wrote:

Lord God, You're here with me now. Thank You for being here. Thank You for Your presence. Stop. What does that tell me? I'm forgiven; You won't let me go. Help me sort this out, Jesus. Do I need to feel sorrier for this morning's fall? God, I am sorry. I was weak. And You showed me that little poisonous snake afterwards! Thank You! What does it mean, Lord? Please show me, Jesus.

"they will pick up snakes with their hands ... it will not hurt them at all" (Mk.16:18)

"As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert..." (Jn 3:14)
"God made Him... to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God"
(2 Cor 5:21)

"You... are from God and have overcome them" (1 Jn 4:4)

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come"
(2 Cor 5:17)

"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them"
(2 Cor 5:19)

Jesus, what are you telling me?

"Pick up the snake."

"Don't be afraid. You are from God. You are a new creation. You've overcome him already. I made My Son to be sin for you, for this..."

(God, can it be that You've taken my sin from this morning?)
How can I pick up this snake and squash it?

"Understand it also speaks -- and it's a liar."

It says it's in me, that it's in my heart. It speaks to tell me I'm guilty and I'm not made new.

"This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith" (1 Jn 5:4)

I pick you up, snake, in the name of Jesus Christ, and I believe God. I believe God. I've overcome you. You are not me. I'm a new creation. I've seen Christ on the cross, the bronze snake in the desert. I know who you are, and I pick you up. I will even lay my hands on the sick and they will get well.

"You know who you are. Pick up the snake."

I'm a son of God! I've overcome already. I choose to believe.
...I keep wondering - pick it up and then what?

"Take it out of the garden."

Like snakes, I'm afraid of lust... afraid of it will sting or bite me, that I can do nothing to stop it when bitten. It paralyzed me. Lust has been a snake in my life. And now I'm picking up the snake and removing it from the garden of my soul. I am bigger than this snake, and his poison will not harm me. I am a son of God. I will even lay my hands on the sick in His name. God is also taking away my fear of poisonous snakes! Haha! You will free me of fear of the cobra, too, Lord! Yes Jesus, in Your name, amen. Jesus, I love You. Thank You.

# posted by Ramone @ 12:54 PM
Comments:
Ramone,
that was SO powerful. I needed to hear that, to be filled with God's love, to understand God's sovereignty. Thank you for choosing to be vulnerable, choosing to listen and obey God, choosing to stand in your victory. it gives me encouragement to do the same.

I LOVE your paintings. Keep painting. The Lord is using them! Victory!

Leila
# posted by Blogger Leila : 5/17/2005 3:33 AM
 
simple and powerful. Thanks so much for sharing that. Really needed to hear that testimony too.

Love you bro.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 5/18/2005 10:22 PM
 
Praise the Lord for your victory! May God continue to Bless you and guide you.Keep up the good work with the pictures. NML
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3/19/2006 8:18 AM
 

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