Vanilla - Lee

From the Message: Galatians 6:4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

This is really really hard for me right now. I am constantly comparing myself to others. I compare myself to total strangers, and I compare myself to those closest to me. Sometimes I like to feel really impressed with myself and feed my own pride. Sometimes I compare myself and feel totally worthless. That's how I'm feeling today. I feel like God's Word should be freeing and joyful, but it doesn't feel that way for me right now. I feel like I don't read enough, but it's not always interesting. I feel like I should do this, should do that, should be this way, shouldn't be that way.

Galatians 6:14-16 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

Wow God, I want that new, free life. I want to walk like that. I want to talk like that, live like that, love like that: new and free. I am tired of being stuck the way I am. I feel so tangled up inside. I just want to rage and thrash against the brokenness in me. My behavior isn't bad; that's not what I'm talking about. I want to be epic and passionate. I don't want to be vanilla; I want my life to have some real flavor.

Lee