If you find that in the depths of your soul you don't really want to quit what you are doing, then pray for the strength to repent. Ask other Christians to pray for you. Pray, pray, pray, until you get desperate enough to let the thing go.

We continually are finding in ourselves attitudes and behaviors that are not in keeping with God's will. Therefore the true Christian life is one of continual repenting, of continually turning from what we are doing. Christ gives us the wisdom and strength to repent.

Perhaps our temptation is to take matters into our own hands. We are not content with our present situation. There is something we want or something we want to escape from.

What does the Bible say about this?

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment. (Isaiah 50:10,11—NIV)

I do not enjoy hearing ministers talk about what great things they are going to do for God. Haven't they ever learned to wait quietly for the Lord?

God is not asking us to do great things for Christ. He is asking us to trust in the name of the Lord, to rely on God.

God is very displeased when we light up our darkness with our own fires and then walk in our own light. The end of this behavior is torment.

Whenever God sets out to make a ruler He first removes him from the world, just as God separated Joseph from his brothers by permitting them to throw him in a pit. Has God separated you from your old friends?

Then He tests the man concerning the lusts of the flesh, as happened to Joseph.

The next checkpoint on the road to life, to full salvation, is prison. Joseph was kept in prison until he was thirty years of age. The Word of the Lord tested Joseph. Suddenly he was removed from prison and placed over the land of Egypt.

"Only in the throne will I be greater than you," Pharaoh said. So Jesus Christ tells His brothers when they emerge from prison.

What takes place while you are in prison? The crown of incorruptible, resurrection life by which you will govern the nations is formed in you.

The day will come when the massive door of your prison opens. There will be an honor guard waiting for you. You will mount your stallion and ride with your fellow officers toward Jerusalem, singing the war songs of the remnant.

All who are called to rulership are called to suffering. The cross of imprisonment and the crown of authority go together.

This is how we walk the road to eternal life. We are faced with the challenge of the Lord. We repent, turning in the desired direction. Then we are given to eat of the Tree of Life so one day we may be a tree of life to others. We have the crown of life and the rod of iron formed in us, as we languish in our prison, so we can rule with Jesus.

To be continued.