Denial - Part 1

That word "denial" has been running through my head for the last few days. Why? I have no idea. I would like for it to STOP!!! But, there it is floating around. Do you live in denial? There are times that I really try to live in denial, but it just doesn't work out very well.

Denial can come in many different forms. There are days that I like to deny the need to get out of bed. My kids at times like to deny that I told them to clean their rooms. I would much rather watch a Hallmark movie while denying that there are dirty clothes in piles on the laundry room floor waiting to be washed or piles of laundry that need to be folded.

Sometimes, I would even like to deny that those kids acting really bad while out in public are mine!

For years, I have tried to deny that I am getting older. I have tried really hard to stay 16. That was such a good year. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when that birthday rolled around. I can't pinpoint why that was such a wonderful year; but for some reason, I have tried to hang on to it. Now, 30 plus years, a husband and three kids later, that's a little hard to do. When I am out in public and look around, I can see there are other women trying to do the same thing! It obviously isn't working for them either.

Denying something doesn't change it. I do have to get up every morning and see to my children, the laundry does have to get washed (folding is optional!), the kids are really mine and they do eventually have to clean their rooms, and every year - same day - I have a birthday and get a year older.

Living in denial or not, life doesn't stay the same. Thank goodness! I am so glad that I am not the same person that I was back when I was 16. God intends for us to move and grow and change - for the better. In doing so, God intends for each of us to become a new person and that does require some constructive denial. Jesus tell us:

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Matthew 16:24-27 NIV

The choice is mine and yours. What kind of denial will you choose - denying you need Jesus or denying who you are and accepting Jesus?

My prayer for you is that you find JOY in denying yourself and seeking after Jesus.

Tami