Wrecked

Live Free Thursday, Suzanne Ellers: The prompt is wrecked

Shipwrecked is what I thought when I saw the prompt wrecked. In 2 Corinthians 11: 24-26 we see Paul’s life as he shares what he endured for Christ as he had counted the cost. Read with me the verses.

Paul’s Sufferings and Service
Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren.

Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:19 to cling to your faith in Christ, keep your conscience clear. How does one do this? How do you cling to your faith? How do you keep your conscience clear? The verse shares that by not keeping you conscience clear and by not clinging to your faith, your faith is shipwrecked.

Suzanne Ellers used the word wreck in a positive sense. So here is the way my faith works. As many of you know I am an encourager for Freedom In Christ. walking many women through The Steps to Freedom has been my ministry since 1996. The Steps wrecked my being in the world in a good way. In Step One, a person renounces worldly associations such as things that are counterfeit to true Christianity.  I am not able to listen to secular music and read romance novels filled with passion that is not real. In Step Three, a person forgives. I am wrecked because I walk in forgiveness. I no longer hold grudges. In Step Six, I renounced habitual sins such as having a critical spirit. So, I am wrecked, if I discover that I am struggling with perfectionism, I pray and I renounce being prideful. So I strive to not have my faith wrecked. I do this by walking in freedom, praying and reading God’s word.  Galatians 5:1 says,

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

How can you cling to your faith? Do you have a daily quiet time? Do you read God’s word and pray daily?

Beloved, I am here and I hope so……