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Quiet Time
by Kasia Kedzia
Luke4:24 (the message) Well, let me tell you something: No prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown.
I went home this past weekend and Luke4 rang in my head. But there is nothing like going home to humble you and make you grateful for how far God has brought you, or in this case, how far he has brought me. I can’t go home with out facing my demons, mistakes, and remembering how hard things really were. Life is pretty good now. I tend to lose this perspective way too quickly and forget what it used to be and harp on nonsense. But a good trip home quickly jogs the memory.
I was not the only one who went home this weekend, one of my best friends also took that trip and we both were faced with an interesting question to help us on our journey: How is a trial different from a temptation? See this is an important question as I examine my heart and reflect on my life; in the past I faced many trials but often now I am merely facing temptation and calling it a trial. This mislabeling can be very dangerous.
Temptation: “watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak” Mtt26:41
Mark 7: 20 “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean’. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’”
Temptation – something that seduces or has the quality to seduce. The desire to have or do something that you know you should avoid.
Trial: “we ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” 2Thes1:3-4
Trial- the act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof, denotes distress or suffering that severely test resilience and character.
Temptation appeals to our sinful nature, where as trials force our faith and life into the open. Trials we can often not avoid. While one can not be tempted by something they do not want in the first place. Although trials are beneficial to building character and faith I haven’t met a person yet who looks forward to them. I would agree with one of my friends who concludes this is because ultimately we do not want our faith life forced into the open. I don’t want my lack of faith or sinful nature exposed.
Going home, I was reminded of the trials I have faced and overcome through the years – it’s been over 8 years since I became a Christian. I know there will be many more trials and I cringe at the thought- I haven’t gotten to the James1:2 attitude yet, of seeing it as sheer joy, so I force a smile through a locked jaw till I get it. But temptation I can fight. I can fight the temptation to be ungrateful and unwilling to give up the things I have, but more importantly give up and surrender the things I don’t yet have that I desire and am not willing to let go of. I must give them to God- this is turning away from temptation. I have to turn away from being tempted to hate, or be bitter, or be arrogant. Remembering where God has brought me thus far, humbling me, reminding me that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philip1:21).
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Since those first days, I have made it out of the Projects, finished my Masters degree in International Development, and moved to DC to work in my field. As a young single Christian woman my struggles today are a little different than they were when I first came to know God, but who am I kidding, not much. It's the every day battle for my heart to be pure before God, to strive to please him, and help others to seek and know Him.
Over my years of a faithful walk with God I have received much grace and compassion and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Through out it all one thing has stayed consistent: God's word. Through His word I have been inspired and it has kept me faithful even when faith seemed like a foreign concept and God seemed deaf to my prayers. I started emailing my Quiet Times which helped me stay accountable as I shared my struggles and fought for understanding. Some wrote back and said they too were inspired and could relate. I hope some of my times can help inspire others who are seeking and fighting just like I am, to get to heaven and take as many as possible with me along the way.
Like what your read? Check out my blog: http://stronggirlforlife.wordpress.com/
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