James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Experience tells me that when the devil brings up the mistakes of my past, the Lord must be about to do a good thing in me, thru me, or to me.

I woke up in the middle of the night, tired. I took a sip of water to refresh my dry mouth and laid back down. A flood of memories over all the stupid mistakes I made in my early years came flooding over me. That is not of God. God reminds me of scriptures that encourage me. His truth holds me firm in our loving relationship.

Influence is the only weapon Satan has in whispered lies, distractions, and sensual appetites. I know from experience that whenever Satan is on my case, God is at work for good.

Experience tells me there is nothing I can do about my past but forgive. I have forgiven myself and I have forgiven others. That is all I can do about the past. Looking back gains nothing of value to further the Kingdom unless perhaps it might be used to glorify God.

Experience tells me I did not come to this point in my life alone. It has been a journey with my Comforter, my Companion, my Guide, upon whom I depend and not myself. I can look back and give glory to God for who I am and where I am because I chose to do things His way.

If life is what you make it, what are you building? Is it a tower of self-interest or a temple of the Most High?

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

If the wisest man who ever live said that, who am I to think I could do better.

Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Discipleship is a vital activity within the church. It must be done and it must be done properly. It is not enough to say I saw and I did. Hearing, learning, and seeing sound examples are important but the most vital of all elements here is receiving.

I can speak the truth in love but if you receive it as from a man where is the glory to God? There has to be a receiving from the spirit and a giving of the spirit. Discipleship is a spiritual discipline, not a human effort.

Matthew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Why does that seem to be lost on us who take on the task of discipling others? Is that how we were discipled? Were you discipled? If not, then you must learn to do it without a human example to lean upon.

Philippians 4:17 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

To properly understand this verse, think in this way. Did you take the train to New York or did the train take you to New York?

Being in Christ and being in the Spirit is like getting on the train, you do not take Christ or the Spirit anywhere, they take you, carry your, move you.

Our expression of that truth does not always reflect the actual exercise of that truth. In discipleship we are both on the train discussing our journey, ever mindful of the train more than what we see out the window.