photo by: Darrell Eudell

This week's guest writer is Larissa Carter, Chaplain of the CME Connectional Young Adult Ministry. This is her first post. 

“The first step is to admit there is a problem” ~ Anonymous

There is a saying, coined by many groups focused on healing and recovery, which states, “The first step to getting over or conquering a problem, is to admit there is a problem”.  In our Bibles, from the very beginning, we see that once the forbidden fruit was partaken of, we had a big problem on our hands.  Later in the Old Testament, the struggling Israelites were promised the Promise Land, redemption, acceptance, and blessings as long as they did one thing… Obey God (Deuteronomy 8:29).  However, they would act right for a few years, depending on who was king, and sooner or later they would fall back into old habits. There was a problem: a sin problem. 

Entering into 2013, the sin problem is still evident and present.   We live in a carnal word, and as much as we aim to please God, we sometimes take on attributes that occur around us, including small curses we heard in a song and white lies to spare another’s feelings.   After a while, larger sins become easier to commit, the remorse now a distant emotion, and soon we are just like the Israelites. It is what Romans 3:23 states, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We, in fact, have a problem.

So now that we admit we have a problem, we can provide healing for it, and the only way to conquer this problem, is through Christ.  In the New Testament, Jesus was asked the question why his disciples never fasted and prayed. Jesus said, “I walk among them now, but there will be a time when I am not physically among them and they will fast.” That time is now. Fasting and praying brings us closer to Christ because it draws out a relationship that is reliant on God.  As we approach the end of this season of lent (beginning February 13^th until Easter Sunday), I encourage us to admit that we need a savior, and then focus on ways to draw ourselves more towards him.

This week, consider taking time out for sincere mediation and reflection, being honest with yourselves and God.  Moreover, consider laying your struggles at his feet; then go one step further in your fast by choosing one more thing, something that is not convenient, but will draw you closer to him, and will require his help to overcome.