Thursday | Week 4

Thirty-eight years is a long time, and for a long time my self-image mirrored this lame man. I had a “tendency for dependency”, and not the godly kind. For too long I yielded passively to the desires, demands or opinions of others and depended on my own lame excuses.

Years ago I had a job that required all my time and all my attention, or so I thought. By investing those two God-given commodities in a job, I was completely empty when I left that job. At first, I felt lost. Because I had always loved studying scripture, I began to read the Bible, but suddenly seeing it in a whole new light. Jesus took this opportunity of my emptiness to fill the void with Himself—before something else had a chance to! He began the process of lifting me up and out of a crippling, and at times paralyzing, mindset. Just as this man had been lying by the pool, I had been lying to myself, thinking there was something noble in living life as a victim.

Just as the man had to stand up, take up his mat and walk, likewise, I had to stand on my own two feet, stop blaming, and stop being afraid to own my stuff! My challenge came in standing and not shrinking back when I encountered authoritative or opinionated personalities.

Will I submit to the demands or opinions of others or to Jesus? I choose Jesus.

Jesus views a life of blaming, lame excuses, and depending on the opinions of others as sin. I didn’t know that, but I do now. Over time Jesus transformed me by His grace and His word. I can still have “tendencies”, but my new normal is one of power, love, peace and a sound mind. Standing on and for what Jesus says brings true healing. I owe Him my life.