A warm welcome to guest blogger, Julie McGhghy! We met while on a study tour of Israel in 2018. She is a writer, teacher, speaker, and associate in missions. After leaving her lengthy career as an attorney and privacy officer in 2019, she now devotes her time to writing and ministering with her husband in Costa Rica. Julie blogs at http://confidenceingod.com/ where she provides resources for building confidence in God.
As Christians we strive to do the right thing, to be honest, kind, generous, patient, loving. We strive to live according to God’s Word in a way that pleases Him.
And then it happens. Just like grape juice crushed out of the grape when pressure is applied, sometimes pressure in our lives squeezes our true selves right out of us, our carnal selves. And we do something we aren’t proud of and that wouldn’t please God. But we can have confidence God will keep us from caving in to our carnal selves.
Real Life Example
Several years ago, I experienced a situation that caused me great pressure. I needed to meet with a CEO. The meeting was arranged by two lower-level executives, but the president, who would not have supported the meeting, had not been informed.
The day before I was to travel to the meeting, someone arranged a meeting for me with the president. It was scheduled one hour before the meeting with the CEO. The pressure intensified! I suspected the president would ask me what brought me to the city. And I knew the implications of telling the truth. There was more than just my position on the line. There were two other executives involved, and both of them could suffer from this situation.
Preparation
I prepared to answer a general question the president might ask, such as, “What brought you to the city today?” I could explain the matter I was there to handle, but not necessarily tell him about the meeting I was having with his superior.
I also prepared myself through prayer. I asked a few of my friends to pray with me as well.
And I prepared myself by recalling the scriptures I often rely on when I need confidence. I remembered God guides me with His eyes while holding my right hand in his right hand, face to face (Psalm 32:8, Psalm 18:35, Psalm 73:23-24). Also, God will fill my mouth with the words He would have me say when I open it to speak (Psalm 81:10). The Lord is my confidence and will keep my foot from being caught (Proverbs 3:26).
Outcome of the Meeting
Ultimately, I saw the faithfulness of God and learned a new promise in His Word!
After a pleasant meeting with the president, he walked me to the hallway. While shaking my hand he asked, “Who else are you meeting with today?”
I am sure I turned white as a sheet. I had not anticipated that direct question. The pressure crushed my carnality right out of me. I was about to name the executive who had arranged the meeting. I knew I was not being honest, but the pressure I was under and the implication on three of us for having arranged the meeting was too great.
I opened my mouth, very ashamed for what I was about to say. To my surprise the name of the CEO came out! I told the truth! I did not have it in me to tell the truth in that situation! But I did.
Afterward, I asked God how that happened. He pointed me to Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
God is faithful! When I opened my mouth to speak, He filled it with what He wanted me to say. And He kept me from sinning against Him with the words I intended to say, which were false.
One Great Way to Avoid Sin in Your Life
Following these steps will help you be confident God will keep you from caving in to your carnal self:
- Before pressure ever intensifies, commit some verses to memory and pray them regularly.
- In the heat of pressure, ask trusted friends to join you in prayer about the situation.
- Remind yourself of God’s promises in His Word and pray them.
- Trust God. If you open your mouth to speak, He will fill your mouth with the words He would have you say (Psalm 81:10). Acknowledge Him as you take action and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:6).
Take these steps. When pressure intensifies you can be confident the spirit you walk in will be crushed out of you, not your carnality.
What wonderful encouragement for my readers! Families certainly are under pressure in this season, and I love the scriptures Julie shared from the Psalms – right there, remembered when needed. If you’ve had a “crushing” experience in which you’ve used these tools, please consider sharing in Leave a Reply below.