By: Sherry Pryor
The word “loser” invokes negative thinking. If I am a loser, then I am less than a winner or person of good standing. I am a person who did not finish first. But, what if being a loser was what it took to come in first with God? Would we strive to be first in line to be a loser?
It can be very distressing to lose all of what we know of ourselves, as we were comfortable with our old self. People questioning the integrity of our transformation can sometimes take away our ability to imbue within us the feelings we captured and want to maintain as a person trying to sin less and live for the glory of our Lord and Savior.
To allow ourselves to be a loser of our will and to embrace with gladness God’s will that He has for our life, without hesitation, leads me to the Scripture in Isaiah 35:4 (ASV): “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you.”
It also requires being a loser of all pretense in our thoughts, words, and actions. I ponder on the word “pretense,” which means to try and make something that is not true appear that it is. For there are many deceivers who would have us believe they are part of God’s flock but are really wolves in sheep’s clothing.
“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:3 NKJV
But, there is also the feeling of pretense for those of us who are walking new in our faith. The cloak of newness doesn’t seem to fit just right, and we may feel as though, maybe, we are not completely pure in all we are doing and saying and that it is truly for the glory of God and not for ourselves. These moments of doubt allow Satan a window into our minds to destroy what God is building in us. When this doubt is raised, it is good to read Psalm 147:1 (NKJV), which says, ”Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.” Praise will confuse the enemy and center us.
I remember a specific time when I was new at being an adult. I secured a job and obtained my first apartment, and of course as any new exciting event in your life, I wanted to share it. I had a friend over, and I was serving tea and some dessert, and it felt like I was just pretending, like I did when I was a little girl and had a tea party. Being an adult and having a ‘grown up’ visit from a friend felt like I was being someone I wasn’t. But my heart was pure in the gladness of the person being there and the joy of being able to share in my accomplishment. I soon learned it was me, I just didn’t know or recognize the new me yet. I was growing into the new me.
It is the same with becoming a disciple of God. I now realize as I am walking in my new life with God that I am learning who this new me is that He is transforming me into being. So my new walk with God is like a new pair of shoes. I need to wear them a lot to break them into the perfect fit for my unique walk. God is doing just that. With each meditation, devotion, and prayer, He is breaking me down and molding me into the perfect fit of who He already planned for me to be. I love that I am becoming a ‘blessed loser.’
My prayer is for God to continue to walk with all of us divaricating from our old skin to our new skin until we finally no longer miss or long for the pieces of us that were lost. May they all be replaced with Holy Spirit, our supporter and reminder of God’s plan.
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17 NLT
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—” John 14:16 NIV
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