Yesterday I was faced with some sort of crisis.  Nothing major.  I could allow it to fester into something major.  But I have to make a decision… to allow this thing to bother me (or) to look at this thing through eyes not my own. 

Truth be known – I would love for this situation in life to get better.  But at times the hurt inside wants to be fed.  So I’m faced with a dilemma.  To live in Jesus or to live in hurt. 

Paul was once faced with a decision about life at a much different level.  He said in Philippians 1:21-25a, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.  Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!  I’m torn between the two:  I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is by far better; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain…” NIV.

My son, Walker, loves to watch Spider-Man 3.  He has both of the costumes the red-blue and the black.  I watched a portion of this movie with him last night. It’s interesting to see Peter Parker sit there and decide which suit he was going to put on.  In this scene he chooses the black.  The anger, bitterness, and revenge drove him to put this one on.  In the midst of living out the dark-side of himself he realizes what he is doing… he repents so to speak and washes himself clean of his sin.

I just read today’s Oswald Chambers devotional.  “If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.”

It’s tough to deny the flesh sometimes.  The great thing is this… once the decision is made to deny the flesh and follow in the steps of Christ the joy that follows is more than worth it. 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20, NIV.