The Tribune

By REV ANGELA PALACIOUS

We all know that there are wars raging on the other side of the world. There is the war on crime, poverty and family violence that is being fought on our shores, but there is a third war that needs to be waged and won on the inside of each one of us.

The Ten Commandments are intended to create a hedge of protection around us and members of our community. If we follow the guidelines of the first four commandments we will have God as our focus and foundation, the name of God as a sacred word in our mouths, and the Sabbath Day as God’s designated day to rest and worship. Having established our priorities on such governing principles, we are better able to treat our family members and neighbours with respect and consideration: the honouring of parents, and the refusal to murder, commit adultery, steal, lie or covet. These boundaries create a sense of law and order, of peace and harmony.

If we accept the need for spiritual guidance and instruction, then we will agree with the writer of Psalm 19, that : “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether, more to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb” (v 9-19). Before long, we will be seeking to achieve the goal of having the “words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in[God’s] sight” (v 14).

For many of us there is a desire to do what is right most of the time. The problem comes when we realise that we are not capable of helping ourselves on our own. The Apostle Paul captures the human dilemma so well, when he bemoans the war that goes on in his own spirit: “I do not understand my own actions…I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” (Romans 7: 15-19) Jesus Christ is the answer for him and can be for us as well.

The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to resist temptation more frequently, and to begin to think with the mind of Christ. Rather than learn things the hard way we may listen to godly counsel. What our parents warned still rings true: “If you cannot hear you will feel.” Disobedience has consequences that we feel for many years to come. It is obvious that “to know better is not to do better,” and so we all need help.

First, we have to admit that we need help before we will depend on the Lord wholeheartedly. One of our Lenten prayers reminds us of this: “Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves; keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul.” (Anglican Book of Common Prayer)

We do not know how the wars abroad will end, but we have been assured that our victory has already been won for us, by the blood of Jesus Christ. We have to allow the power of

God within us to take control of us : “Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace. And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God’s law, and in fact they cannot obey it. Those who obey their human nature cannot please God. But you do not live as your human nature tells you to; instead, you live as the Spirit tells you to—if, in fact, God’s Spirit lives in you.”(Romans 8: 5-9 GNT).

• Rev Angela Palacious, a motivational speaker and author of several devotional books, is an Anglican priest. She may be contacted at 393-9000 or by e-mail at angelapalacious@gmail.com.