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Thank you oh so very much for your excellent post!!! I strongly agree with you that we are own worst enemies.

We both know of people who go to a good church, who say all the right things, who know the "lingo" of Christianity, and claim they actually believe it; but who's lives don't relfect anything but that of a selfish, egotistical, vain person who is ultimately out for only themselves and what they can get away with. Christianity is just a means to an end for them, not a lifestyle.

So very true, Ronzo! I'm pinging Thermopylae because she has experienced the same kind of situations.

On a previous devotion, I posted a meditation which is relevant to this thread concerning the Holy Spirit - more specifically, that to stay in His Light we must become transparent by surrendering self-will to His will. For anyone interested, here it is again:

Several months ago in meditating on the Cross, I had mentioned on another thread a “vision” I received in the Spirit – that of a great Light emanating from the Cross reaching to “all that there is” – all space, all time, every where, every thing – and bubbles, myriad tiny bubbles rising from the darkness [and disappearing] into the Light. It was not an interpretation of Scripture, it was an impression in worship and meditation - something that I might have painted, were I an artist.

This past weekend, that meditation continued. I was compelled to understand that the glory is the Father's, that Jesus is the brightness of His glory and that the Holy Spirit brings His glory through us. We must stay in His Light at all times.

On personal experience I would add that we must be transparent in His Light, without selfish motive. And I believe this is accomplished by "praying without ceasing" – never drifting, never becoming opaque.

Here are the passages in the meditation:

…For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. – Matthew 6:13

Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; - Hebrews 1:3

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. – 1 John 1:5-7

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. - 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. – 1 Peter 2:9-10

If we live in His Light and the Spirit shines through us, the Spirit Himself will bring forth fruits for the Father (John 15):

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23

All of these fruits are counter-indicative to ego, vanity and pride. As you say, we are our own worst enemy.

What I beautiful meditation Alamo-Girl! I especially like this part:

I might go so far as to add that we must choose to stay in his light at all times! God will not force us to be in that light if we don't want to be.

When talking with a friend yesterday about Christianity, she asked a really profound question: "Why wouldn't someone want to be a Christian? It's such a wonderful experience!" Realize that my friend who said this is a widow and a mother of a wiley teenager. She has been through hell and back, and yet she has never found anything better than Jesus. She just overflows with thankfulness for all that he's done for her, and refuses to wallow in bitterness over all the difficulties she's been through in life, and, is still going through!

When the real, simple gospel message is presented, it's a powerful thing! Who would say no to it? But then how often do we hear the simply message of the gospel being preached???