Psalm 52 - Duality

As I read this psalm, I think I was thinking about duality within us and although the psalm doesn't describe the duality of one person, i saw it that way....

So do you ever find yourself filled with thoughts that belong to your sin nature. Thoughts that don't become acts because of the Christ in you...but you think them, feel them, and sometimes wish for them...but are stopped by your sense of right and wrong.

Maybe I am the only one who experiences such a thing...I hope so, but I doubt it.

I definitely find myself wrestling with desires that the duality in me struggles with. The desire to let myself go with abandon and pursue pleasures that could become very destructive but they run up against the wall of righteousness and my desire to live a long and healthy life.

It can be a difficult thing and a real struggle.

Look at these verses from the psalm:

 ² All day long you plot destruction.
      Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;
      you’re an expert at telling lies.
 ³ You love evil more than good
      and lies more than truth.

⁸ But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
      I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
 ⁹ I will praise you forever, O God,
      for what you have done.
   I will trust in your good name
      in the presence of your faithful people.

In these two portions we can see both the evil plotting and  the strength of living in unity with God. While it wasn't describing just one person, I can't help but wonder. I think of David and his anger towards the people who persecuted him and his commitment not to return evil for evil, but I can only imagine that he must have been tempted. And then I remember how he got Bathsheeba. David certainly had a duality as well.

So how do you fight the duality in you? Is it a daily struggle or just an occasional battle?

Ephesians 6 - A Full Faith

What happens if you leave off a piece of of your cold weather clothing when you go out to have a snowball fight? What if you had no gloves...or no hat...or you didn't wear snow pants?  The cold would see in and even though you are wearing the other pieces, you are unprotected.

So let's consider this is our faith...what it you don't one of the basic potions of God's truths for you? What if you believed you were not saved. Maybe you feel unworthy or like God doesn't really know you and couldn't possibly save you. Or maybe you question God's righteousness. You aren't sure that God is good and that God is doing good things on your behalf. Perhaps you don't trust what God says as truth. You feel like you can't count on God's word. Maybe you can't find peace in what God is saying and worry overtakes you or you just struggle to believe...

What happens if one of these things is true? You could be firm in the others, but what if one isn't true? You have a whole in your armor. In spite of all the other pieces, there is a place for Satan to wound you and you are vulnerable.

In this chapter, Paul talks about wearing the full armor of God.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Each piece is important and each fits into the others to provide a full protection. Now, the truth is we all struggle and will have places of weakness and this is why Paul follows up these verses with:

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Prayer stands in the gaps of our weaknesses and brings God's strengths into fill those places.

So, yes, we need to build a full faith to resist evil and be strong and protected. We need to find ourselves in times of communion with God through prayer and meditation, the Word, and Christian fellowship. And yes, we need to recognize that we have our weaknesses and invite God into those places to help and build us up.

What do you need to do today to start building a full faith?