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<\/a>Courtesy of SJ Carey | Creative Commons<\/p><\/div>\n
No matter what you do, or how much you walk, you are trapped with no escape. Lost and desperate, you look up and all you see are dead branches.<\/p>\n
You look down at the murky water, with the\u00a0hopes of\u00a0finding life, only\u00a0to be met with a distorted reflection of someone you once knew, looking back at you.<\/p>\n
* * * * * * * * *<\/p>\n
Our hearts are preoccupied with self, and our minds are polluted with the cares of this world.<\/p>\n
The swamp is our souls.<\/p>\n
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8<\/em><\/p>\n
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the\u00a0renewing of your mind<\/strong>, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
How do we drain\u00a0the swamp?<\/p>\n
It’s simple, but requires a commitment. That is, reading the Bible every day without fail. Not only reading it, but praying, studying, journaling and meditating on it.<\/p>\n
This is how the excavation begins. The draining, digging, cleaning out of the old and replacing it with the new.<\/p>\n
When negative thoughts flood your mind, like a tsunami, and you feel hopeless, think of Jesus.<\/p>\n
When the pain suffocates you, and you feel like giving up, cry out to Jesus.<\/p>\n
When nothing makes sense, and there are no answers, pray to Jesus.<\/p>\n
When you feel\u00a0lost, alone, and no help can be found, call on the name of Jesus.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Only Jesus can save us from ourselves. He\u00a0is our only hope in the midst of whatever we are going through.<\/p>\n
“Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6<\/em><\/p>\n
“But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Luke 12:31<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We must seek Him like hidden treasure.<\/p>\n
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” Matthew 13:44<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Jesus is the answer. He possesses the keys to\u00a0any problem or situation we face. He\u00a0alone can drain our swamps\u00a0and set us free.<\/p>\n