by Andrew Wommack
God created us to live our lives focused on Him. His purpose from the very beginning was that we should be “God-conscious,” not “self-conscious.” Until Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were so unconscious of self, they did not even consider their own nakedness. But after their disobedience, they became fully aware of themselves and wanted to hide from God. Their focus had shifted from God to self.
Self-consciousness is just another way of saying self-centeredness, and self-centeredness really is the root of all grief. People grieve for a lot of reasons, but if they really took the time to analyze their grief, they would find that it is always the result of self being deprived of something it wants. So, the answer to dealing with grief can be found in dealing with self. If you can ever get a revelation of this truth, I guarantee you, it will set you free and change your life forever.
For example, there are times when there is a real financial crisis in someone’s life, but most of the time financial problems come from trying to live above one’s means, attempting to fulfill self-centered desires. If you were to look at your situation objectively, not as a typical Westerner but from a world point of view, you would find that at your poorest, you still have more than most of the people on the planet. It’s not that I am against prosperity. I’m not. But it’s important to have the right perspective. If you’re miserable or unhappy over the fact that you don’t have a bigger home, a newer car, or a wide-screen television, something is wrong. It’s our self-centeredness that turns a want into a need and then that need into a personal crisis, which causes us to grieve. Read the entire article.
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1 comment:
I had an email from somebody who thought this was an article written by a legalist or non-compassionate person. I didn't see it that way, so I pray that it is not read in that manner.
Of course we're to grieve loved ones dying. Jesus wept for Lazarus ... or maybe to share the grief with those who loved him.
I believe what the article says is that we aren't to remain in grief. When somebody dies, we realize that we are grieving for ourselves, since life is never going to be the same on earth without them. The problem enters in when somebody lingers there .. not being able to be happy because of things that have happened.
God's Word says He works ALL things for our good if we love Him. So ... every circumstance no matter how bad is for our good because God will make it that way.
The problem lies in not setting boundaries on the time to grieve. There is a season for everything ... "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (Eccl. 3).
When we instruct God on the parameters for our choice of being happy or sad, do we negate the grace He gave us through Christ?
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