No Dirt Baths for Me

 I really had no idea people really take dirt baths!

I have something I need to talk about it’s been on my mind and I need to share it. I’m no saint, never claimed to be and never will be. I’ve fallen down many times but thank God I’ve always gotten back up with the help of the Lord. We all sin…we’ve all made mistakes but thank goodness when we confess our sins Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness…he helps us to live right before God and helps us to move on. The goal in a Christian’s life should be, ‘to be, transformed.’
I said that to say this…sometimes no matter how hard you pray, no matter how much you cry, and beg God to help you…sometimes you just wallow in self-pity…
I was thinking about how a pig loves to get in the mud and wallow…for one thing they don’t have sweat glands and so the mud keeps them cool and they like it.
Then I thought about how a horse will lie down in the dirt and thrash all around. A big horse wallowing in the dirt is a something to see…it just simply feels good…

Sometimes self-pity, just feels good…it feels good to our emotions and to our flesh…we can cry and lament and tell everyone who will listen how bad we’ve got it…and how miserable we feel…we lie down in the dirt and wallow until our dirt bath covers every inch of us. But then we begin to stink…and itch and it begins to hurt…people see us coming and they run the other way…they are tired of our wallowing and bellyaching…no one wants to hear our drama over and over again…especially if we aren’t going to change.  Even God doesn’t want to attend!
When we realize our friends and family aren’t going to listen to our pity-party any longer and we find ourselves all alone listening to our own mess…we realize it’s time for a real, bath…a bath in the water of the Word…and until we decide to get out of our flesh and self-pity we are going to be most miserable and stink to high heaven…
So I’m telling you all this for a reason…as Christians we can’t afford to keep taking those dirt baths…time is short…we have to step up and set a better example…
We can’t afford to live, life, like the world. Be in the world but not of it…
We have to come up to a higher standard…we’ve been taught what to do…we know the word of God and we are supposed to have a relationship with Jesus the King of Glory. There’s no time for self-pity…no more taking the milk of the word like immature babies…we should be feasting on strong meat…those who are mature and have been in the Church World for many years should know better…People are watching…unsaved people are watching and saying, “If they’re Christians and live just like I do, why should I change? Why should I even think about becoming a Christian? They’re no different than me.”
If we say we love God but do not do, what He asks us to do…where is His love? If we are constantly complaining and whining…where is His peace…? It’s time for a real bath…not a sponge bath…not a sprinkle…we need to be submerged and use soap…and get in all the crevices. Go to the well of forgiveness and wash in the waters of life!
I’m not saying this to cause condemnation…I’m saying it to cause conviction…and repentance…I’m saying it because someone’s got to set an example…I’m saying it because Jesus expects us to exhort one another in love and honesty…so we will walk in His peace, free from self and anxiety which causes health issues and soul issues.
I’ll be the first one in line to say, “Lord, I’m sorry and I mean it. Lord, please forgive me for anything that does not line up with your expectations. Help me to walk like you walk. Help me to talk like you talk and think like you think. Lord, help me to set the example of your love and be sanctified by the renewing of my mind to put on the Lord Jesus Christ so that others will see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Amen. If I’ve offended anyone please forgive me. If I’ve been a stumbling block to anyone forgive me. If I have not pleased you Jesus, please forgive me. Let me live by faith and not by sight and Lord let my words and my heart and my actions line up with who you are. So that I will walk in integrity and in honor of whom you are so that I can come boldly before you to be clean and real before you, so that you will hear my prayers when I cry unto you, Abba and you will answer. Self-pity has to go in the name of Jesus. Help me to be quick to forgive and surrender to your will so that souls will see and know that I am not playing church and that they will see you, in me, Jesus. That you will be exalted, high and lifted up, I must decrease so that you will increase. Amen and Amen.
Lord let my heart be humble before you, let me not fall into the pitfalls of the enemy…let my words be pure and true and bring honor and glory to your name. Let me walk as a daughter of the King, a servant to all people and never let me dishonor you Lord. No matter the peer pressure, no matter how difficult the trial or test…Lord help me to remember I CAN DO ALL THINGS BECAUSE YOU, STRENGTHEN ME…That the principalities and powers in high places will know, I am not one to get in a fight with, because I know in Whom I believe and that I am a child of the King of the Most High God…and that Jesus has given me authority and has filled me with the Holy Spirit of Promise and that I am sealed by the blood of Jesus…when I pray let it be in power and truth…when I pray let me stand forgiven and sober with a sound mind and a willing heart…so that I have my wits about me to cast out demons, heal the sick and Lord if it be your will, to raise the dead…all for your glory…most of all let me love as you love.
Let me never bring disgrace or dishonor to you Jesus…I ask all this in your precious Holy Name…SO BE IT!!!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 7, 2017
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3 King James Version (KJV)
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16 King James Version (KJV)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 New International Version (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:25-32 New International Version (NIV)

 

Marla
I love the Lord Jesus Christ and am passionate about writing. I hope you enjoy the blog and come to visit often. Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2: 2-4

2 Comments

Comments are closed.