RE Verse reading–Mark 1:16-18, 8: 27-33, 14:26-31, 66-72, 16:5-7 (day seven)
“Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (8:33) Stress makes me stupid. I don ‘t know why. It just does. Put me in a threatening situation and my inner fears take over. I “close down the shop” and become a committee of one. . . trusting my own counsel, making my own decisions. Obsessed, afraid, and empty. Not a pretty picture. Rather than trusting the Lord, I try to control Him, dictate to Him. Peter and I are similar in this tendency. My wake up call is also like Peter’s. The Lord turns away from me. His Spirit is grieved, quenched. Recognizing that I have closed Him out, He warns that He will go on without me if I continue in this posture. Painful? Yes. Necessary? Yes. “Those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines” (Hebrews 12:6) One way is to leave us behind.
As I went to bed last night I prayed for you along these same lines. Praise be to God that He fully intends to help you.
I am with you on how hard this whole thing is (or seems to be, Jesus said His burden is light and His yoke is easy so I am probably missing it somewhere). It is my frequent struggle as well. I am working hard at trusting only in Him and leaning not on myself but only on Him. I notice I often reference myself…. do I have enough strength, resources, wisdom, courage, etc…. when that is wrong thinking. I should be looking to Him in all situations to see what He is doing and if He has enough…. which of course He does…. then allow Him to flow through me.
I understand we probably see this passage differently. I actually believe He was literally acknowledging that in that moment satan was trying to function through Peter. We are told “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” My understanding is that we have two choices…. sin/self/flesh/satan (all the same really) or God. We are vessels meant to contain and pour out that which we contain. I understand, however, that not everyone sees it this way.
I know that my God has said, ““Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” so I am not sure of what you are hearing from Him. I do not believe He “leaves” us, but that we leave Him. However, my heart was moved with compassion over your post and I promise I will pray diligently this week that the Lord will indeed complete the work He is doing in you.
God Bless you!