Full disclosure: I actually wrote this on the 26th.

Everyone is still asleep in my house so I thought I would take the time to journal. I’m reading through Paul David Tripp’s book, Come Let Us Adore Him. This is my 7th time through. i read it 3 times in 2017 and once each year since. It is a daily Advent devotional that I have used to prepare for Christmas. I read the December 11th devotion today. His opening prep statement says this:

The baby in the manger comes as a conquering King to dethrone us and then to enthrone Himself in our heart and lives forever and ever.

The whole devo is about the tug of war that goes on between us and our offspring and us and God. Our son doesn’t fight us about what to eat because he read a book on the Paleo diet and our daughter doesn’t argue with us about her bedtime as a result of an in-depth sleep study. They fight with us because it’s about kingdoms-theirs and ours.

We disagree with God because it’s a battle of kingdoms-His vs ours. Tripp makes a great point about why I get angry when driving. I get angry, not because they have broken God’s laws, but mine. In reality, it’s that way all the time. My way or the highway.

Jesus came to take the throne. He won’t take it forcefully, but He does want me to lay down my life willingly. Only when I’m willing to do that will I find salvation, peace, and contentment.

“Lord, may I willingly lay my life down and give you the throne.”