A Daily Devotion for Wednesday, August 12

Ephesians 4:17-24

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

This is a well known dynamic for us humans. When we are upset and confused, we return to the old and comfortable to feel settled again, or at least to feel “normal.” Sometimes we forget everything we have learned and go way back to something inherently unhealthy. We need to really pay attention and concentrate when we are put to the test to use our new, more effective skills. I can think of many times in my own life when I have missed the mark in such situations. God does not have this problem, however. If I can remember to look to God, to remember Jesus, I will be reminded of the better way. The Holy Spirit is always pointing me in the better direction, if I just stop to listen.

Holy Lord, help me today to choose the better way to handle conflict and uncertainty. Help me to remember all that I have learned, and if I forget all of that, help me to simply turn to you for direction. Amen

Becky, transforming