Is More Knowledge The Issue?

For years, I believed that more of what I already had was the answer: "I just need to read more of my Bible...listen to more sermons...read more self-help books..."  Then I would get a grasp on a "good prayer life," "victory over lust," etc...

The problem is accumulating more of what I already wasn't using was simply insane.  To think that all I needed was more Bible verses, more self-help books, and more seminars is just crazy.

Here's what I preached to myself this morning.  "You don't need another sermon!"  Put the MP3 player down!  Put.  It. Down.  Walk away.  Pray.  God has not left you alone.  You were created to be part of a body.  Who are you connecting with?  Who knows about your current need?"

Then I start to preach the gospel to myself.  And then I realize over and over again that more knowledge is not my issue.  It's completely coming clean before God and admitting where I'm off.  Confessing where I've violated his Word.  Owning my poor choices and messed up priorities.

If I had a cup with poison in it.  I wouldn't add more water to fix the solution.  I'd dump the entire thing out and ask an trustworthy person if it was clean and clear to re-fill and drink from again.

Let's get practical now.  If I was struggling with loving my wife, I'm not going to listen to a sermon series on how to love my wife!  I'm going to God before the people he put in my life (including my wife) and coming clean as to the root cause of the lack of love.  My anger and lack of love is never the result of someone else's actions.  My anger (displaced, internal, deflected, etc.) and lack of love is a choice that was most likely made fertile through other sins that were also choices.  In other words, I am responsible for all of my sin.  All of it.  So I will go before the believers He has placed in my life and come clean through "confession."

Almost every time I am confused as to why I'm acting why I'm acting, a fellow believer will come alongside and held me see a blind spot.  And then hindsight will be 20/20 and the "light" will go on in my mind.  Why didn't I see that before!?

Maybe because we weren't created to be isolated.  Maybe we were created for relationship...

When I forget this in the future, I'm thankful and full of faith that God will once again, graciously remind me through someone who love me and cares more about obeying God than offending me.