Greatest Christian Challenge:-Overcoming Self

Small babies cry to demand attention and to get our attention. As they grow older, they are taught to know what they want to be and to focus enough to achieve it. Sometimes this creates in us some negative traits -a Go-getter attitude.

One time, a lady went to church for confession. She looked unsettled, and a parishioner noticed her and sought to help. She wasn't sure that she wanted to do a confession. She had been advised by a nun to come. She had sought help from her because she was expecting and the man had deserted her. Her friends had given her a solution. Get rid of it. She decided to consult a nun first. The parents had disowned her. She didn't have the means to take care of the baby.

 After sharing with the parishioner, she encouraged her to go for confession and speak to the confessor. She did the confession and got counselling. She was so simple and trusting. She later got a big job with an international company and then a big baby! 

Exodus 2 describes the life of Moses. He was brought up in the Pharaoh's house, so he was learned. He fled later in life and went to be a herdsman in the land of Midian. He got married there and got kids.  Having killed an Egyptian,  he had no intention of ever seeing Pharaoh again. But God had different plans for him. He was to guide the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Imagine the shock of having to see Pharaoh again,  and to oppose him. He very well knew how powerful Pharaoh was. But he submitted to God, trusted and obeyed after ascertaining that the voice was truly from God and that he would not leave him. He is one of the biggest Bible figures.

Hosea 1:2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 

Imagine,  what the villagers would say about this today. A godfearing man marrying a not so honourable woman!! Imagine the family, the church Community. All this from the voice of God? The woman did not change her behaviour after marriage.  Then God spoke to Hosea again,  

Hosea 3:1 The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

God, asked Hosea to go looking for the same woman, who was now living with another man, in search of worldly pleasures. He obeyed.

 Hosea and Moses overcame reason, and analytics, and human criticism, and disagreement from family members, and community, to obey God and do His will. Hosea could have gotten some bad disease. Moses could have been killed by Pharaoh. But they overcame their will.

Mother Mary is the best example. Because she was so young, she was set to have a beautiful family with a nice gentleman, of the line of King David!, who was godfearing. But God had other plans.. at the prime of her age, he turned the boat upside down. She found herself expecting a baby, she could not explain to the Pharisees and the Jewish community where she got the pregnancy from. But she followed the difficult will of God. There was no comfort or pleasure in her mission. She couldn't see the results at that time. She just trusted.

The young lady trusted the nun and the confessor. Her simple trusting heart, helped her to hear the voice of the holy spirit, and trust.

Would you trust God if you were asked to do such tasks above? Would you leave everything,  all you have invested in, relationships, personal boundaries, personal principles and believes, children, respect by the community,  to follow Gods voice? Could there be a purpose God created you for, that is not fulfilled because you have refused to submit? To put aside your plans? Your will? 

Think. Pray!