Yesterday morning it was time for me to read Lesson 2 in the Thin Within workbook. I have to admit that I wasn’t very excited. In spite of how God used last week’s lesson in a fresh way, I still approached this week’s lesson with skepticism. Hard heart. The desert of my heart was evident. Sadly, though, I didn’t find myself longing for life-giving water. I longed more for my bed, I guess.
I prayed that God would do a new thing–cause me to see His truth afresh…then, I proceeded to scrutinize and criticize (and other “ize-ing”) as I read. (This is one drawback to having been involved in the writing of the TW book and workbook…)
As I began Week 2 Day 1 exercises in the workbook, I was really thrown for a loop. Relative to 1 Corinthians 6:18: “You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body…” I was asked “Do you see your body as honoring to God?”
For some reason, this totally flattened me. Why, after all God has done, am I not able to answer with a resounding “YES”?
I am still, a full day later…reeling over this realization. In my head, I know that God has chosen to indwell me with His Shekinah glory. My body was purchased by Him for His chosen dwelling place on earth. Period. That is the fact.
So, why don’t I *feel* like my body honors God?
I have to think this is likely an issue of belief rooted in my past.
I am seeking God to show me what this is about. If it is because of current sin, I want to know that. It seems strange that I might not know the difference between conviction of the HOLY Spirit, and condemnation and accusation of the UNHOLY enemy.
Something seems really wrong!
True confessions.
Lord Jesus – please be with Heidi as she works though this issue. Show her why she doesn’t feel like her body is Your temple. Bath her in the truth Lord, help her to see accurately – that You indwell her, that You are working in her – that her body is Your temple. Dear Jesus, please help that translate from her head to her heart. Amen
Thank you, Julie, for your prayer. I think I recognize and even believe that my body is a dwelling place of the Lord God. Definitely. This is the strange disconnect about it, though…the question asked if I see my body as HONORING God? That is where I seem to get hung up…in the HONOR God part. Is God HONORED by my body? I just have trouble with this. Yikes. I still wonder if this is about conviction of sin…and if it is, I want to respond with a soft heart. Or condemnation and accusation…eek. You would think I would know the difference. I know I am not sinless, certainly! But could my missteps actually keep me from believing that I honor God with my body? I don’t know what is up…Thank you for your prayer. I know God is taking it and using it precisely the way He wants it to be applied!