Live What You Learn

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 2 Timothy 3:14 (New King James Version)

I learned something about sources earlier this week. We had an on going battle in our home against large, black ants in our kitchen. They seemed to be coming from the refrigerator area but we couldn’t find their point of entry. The mystery was solved when I happened to look at the top of our refrigerator and discovered several open packages of honey! There, like a multitude of cattle around a watering hole, were at least thirty ants with a dozen more making their way up and down the side of the refrigerator. I promptly removed the source of enjoyment for them, along with their lifeless bodies, and the problem was solved. Until I removed the source, it would have done no good to just kill the ants.

God used this experience to enlighten me on a principle that I needed to apply to my life. All areas of struggle have a source. Until I discover the source and deal with it, I will not see victory in those areas of struggle. “Stomping” on the symptoms will not be good enough.

This was a timely lesson for me because within the day I was to see my own source that needed to be admitted and removed. For me, it was a lie I had come to believe. The result was that I walked in condemnation of myself and another person, felt an internal weight that would not go away, lacked real joy on most days, harbored negative emotions, and could not seem to move forward on my journey. People who knew me saw the struggle as well as the result of self-deception. They urged me to walk in the truth and prayed that God would help me to do that. But my biggest hurdle was that I could not see that the lie I was believing was a lie so it stayed secure in my mind. It was only recently that I was finally convinced of the truth and was able to call out the lie! With the removal of the “source” of my struggle came a removal of the daily symptoms.

And this morning God is inviting me to continue living out the lesson He has taught me! It was not a one time event in His eyes. Continuing will mean whenever there is a struggle I am to seek the source and get rid of it! I am convinced it will work every time if I will just do it! It is my responsibility and joy to live what I have learned.

Father, I stand in awe of the way You work. Amen.