living beneath the privilege

I have a friend who is (self confessed) dominated by fear and guilt. She is a Christian and desires to know God, but these emotions are her constant companion. While this does not "steal" her salvation, they rob her of her joy, the provision and privileges of being in harmony with the Heavenlies. However, she is no different than most of us who live beneath our privilige as a child of the King.

We are adopted into our Father's family. We have been invited to come and live with Him in the big mansion on the hill. However, we listen to what the world tells us about ourselves and how we dont deserve to live in that mansion (satan's message to us using our own voice) and so we are often more "at home" being the orphan we were before we were adopted. The garbage heaps of the ghetto (fear, shame, blame, guilt, pride, etc.) too often feel more like they fit us than the clothes and banquest feasts provided in the mansion on the hill. So we keep returning to what seems more comfortable, leaving temporarily all the Father has to give us, freely with no obligation (that's Grace).

I want my friend back but God wants her way more. In fact He wants us all to remain with Him for our provision, going into the city ONLY to tell others what a great Father He is who lives in that mansion on the hill :-)