Who Are You When No One's Looking?

This past week as I was driving home from my parents one night, someone abruptly pulled out RIGHT in front of me. I tried to hit the brakes and give myself time to stop. I avoided hitting the car but just barely as there was also oncoming traffic. As I got much closer to the rear of this car than I would have liked, I could see the driver throw up a not so friendly gesture. I then noticed that right there on the back of their car was a sticker for the Church they attend. I thought to myself....Hmmmm yeah some Christian you are! Then I caught myself, oh not you don't. Seriously how many times have I acted the fool and been "not so Christian like" by the way I have acted or things I chose to say.

What we do in the privacy of our home, car or anywhere else, is always being observed. Lovingly, the way a parent watches their children make bad choices and cringes at every one. You want them to make the right choice, but you can't make those choices for them. In the same way, God is waiting to see how we react. Not wanting to see us fall and struggle.

Are we living out what we preach in public AND at home. I know for me it is a struggle. I think it is for all of us. After all we are only human. However, if we portray a near perfect existence to the outside world, yet go home and act like the devil we are just as guilty as if it had been televised on national TV. It makes no difference to Him. This a tough one because whether we are willing to admit it or not, we are all guilty. I am just as guilty as the next person.

I think this is why our walk with Him is so important. We have to stay in communication with Him. God desires ALL of us. If we read His word daily and stay in Communion with Him we have more of an awareness of His presence and, when the temptation to act out inappropriately arises we will think twice. This has been so tough for me lately. I was in a really bad place for about 3 weeks. A lot of it had to do with my stubbornness and resistance to just communicate with Him. To really get real and honest, not just pray half heartedly. Once I did the fog lifted, the bitterness and depression subsided, and life became SO much more bearable.

It is not required that we walk a perfect road all of the time. But, it is His desire to see us succeed and excel in life, to resist temptation and compromise. I have come to learn the hard way that the best way to accomplish these things is to stay close to Him. He never leaves. WE choose to turn our backs. We could avoid so much pain if we would just make time for the One who gave us the breath we breathe.