Mirror Madness

How many of you look in the mirror while getting ready and 5 minutes later feel the urge to look in the mirror again while you know that no changes have been made since the first time you looked? It's something to think about while I share my new insights of a few verses in the book of James...

I'm currently studying the book of James through a Bible study titled James--Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore. I have to say that I'm seeing an all too familar book with new eyes. When I first came to know the Lord, I can remember Melanie Porter suggesting that I start reading the book of James as I take my first steps as a new christian.  So, I can't tell you how many times I have read James (partially because it's such a short, to the point, easy to comprehend text) but this time around it's like I'm seeing it from a whole new point of view.  The Lord is forever faithful and so good to do this for me.

On to my new insight from Him.  I'm sure if you are a regular church attender, you have read/listened to the illustration of a man looking (intently) in a mirror and totally forgetting what he looks like as soon as he turns around.  Beth asked us to draw what this might look like, and folks I'm no artist but I'm going to show you what comes to my mind when I read this passage:

James 1:24 "For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was."

This illustration has come alive for me today and I'm going to tell you how.  First let me share some questions that I've been asking myself lately.  Why am I still here in this? Why am I still struggling with this? When is He going to deliver me from this stronghold?  Now I want to tell you that I go to church every Sunday. I take notes. I listen very intently. I pay attention to the Spirit's calling and gentle whispers. I hear Him. I hear Him when I read my Bible, when I pray, when I listen to my pastor share the Word. I hear Him.  I can remember many times while in a Sunday or Wednesday service when tears just roll down my face (while I'm trying to conceal it) because I can hear and FEEL His words in my ears and heart. I hear and sense Him alot.

I want to share a quote from Beth now before I go any further:

"We can underline our Bibles till our pens run dry without a drop of ink splattering our lives.  The self-deception slithers in when we mistake appreciation for application or being touched without being changed.  The tricky part is that hearing all by itself really does lend a certain satisfaction."

I have been deceiving myself!! I can't tell you how many times I have "appreciated" God's words for me without applying them or have been "touched" by His gracious hand of forgiveness yet didn't change.  He has been forever faithful on His part and it breaks my heart to know that I have not.  I no longer wonder why I am still in this stronghold.  I've known how to break away from it for quite some time now and the freedom door has been wide open.  I know now that I must perservere and remember what He has said to me when I turn around from studying and hearing His word.  As a teacher, I know the best way to remember somthing I've heard is to put it into action.

I want to close with His Word:
James 1:22-25 "But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works--this person will be blessed in what he does."

And don't we all wanna be blessed?