How do you protect yourself against false teachings? How do you know if it's the Holy Spirit revealing truth to you or if it's your own heart, mind, or a deceptive spirit speaking these things to you? Can you know for sure?
Early in my walk with Jesus I fell prey to deceptive spirits, or thoughts. I believed in Jesus and would confess him as Lord and Savior, but I didn't have much knowledge or understanding of the scripture and spent very little time familiarizing myself with them. This makes a believer extremely vulnerable. I soon started to believe whatever I heard about God that made sense to how I perceived His character to be. I started to rationalize in my mind about God, things like a loving God would never send good people to hell just for not believing in Jesus, or it's okay to lie to protect someone's feelings because God wouldn't want me to hurt people, or its okay to not change my ways after accepting Jesus because I'm saved now and He loves me just as I am. These among others were all really comfortable thoughts, but not truth.
Repeatedly we warned by Jesus and his apostles to beware false teachers and prophets who claim revelation that is contradictory to the gospel, to the word of God, but how do you know, how do you recognize? First, you must be reading His word for yourself, you have to know the word to know when someone isn't telling you the truth of what's in it or if they are abusing and misquoting it. Second, realize that God is unchanging (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) if He said it, it is truth, and it is an unchanging truth from an unchanging God. This means that when God says things like He did in Jeremiah 29:11; or in John 14:23-24 He means those things.
I paired those two verses together because of this, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans and it's for our good not evil; that is easy enough to accept and very comforting especially when you going through a struggle! But here's the trickier part, believing in the truth of the gospel means believing in the whole thing and not just the easy, comforting parts. John 14:23-24 reads 'Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.' I bolded parts of this verse because I want you to really read and understand the verse and not just skim over it. Jesus is saying we must keep his word, that means we must be obedient to it, we must be obedient to God who sent the word among us. That means we have to do what the word says, which means we have to know what it says.
So, to summarize so far, we can protect ourselves from false teachings by reading the Bible, understanding it and accepting it as truth, even the uncomfortable parts. This way when our hearts, minds, or someone else tells us something that is contradictory to it we know. We are also told to test the spirits to know if they are of God, and to look at the fruits of the teachers (1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:15-20). Now, when the Bible tells us to look at a teacher's fruit it isn't talking about how blessed the person is financially, or how gifted a speaker they are, but He wants us to look at how well they are representing Christ, do they genuinely display the fruits of the spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23; and as for those pesky deceiving spirits they may know Jesus is the son of God, but they won't accept him as the Savior, as the only way to heaven because of their rebellion.
I could honestly write on this topic all day, giving you tons of scriptures and examples from my life, and other people I know, but I am going to stop here. I hope this has helped anyone who may be questioning what to believe because of things they are hearing or reading. I hope this helps anyone who had been questioning things in their own hearts too. Always check things against the word, and take your questions to God, through the teacher He left with us, the Holy Spirit(John 14:26), your answers will be revealed. Shalom!
Jeremiah 5:30-31
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
2 Peter 2:1-3
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 John 1:7-11
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Rocks Cry Out
A couple days ago when I was driving into work they played a sound bite on the morning radio show I usually listen to, the sound bite was of a comet, something that had just been released by NASA. The audio was crackling but among that you heard these clicking sounds, which they said was coming from the comet. It was completely fantastic! I thought it was so neat that God created these comets to make a sound that we, without technology, would never be able to hear, but I didn't put much more thought into than that.
Then, yesterday a woman called into the radio show to tell the morning show people how much of an impact it had on her, because of something her 11 year old son said. Since than I have been thinking a lot about the sound of the comet, and why God would have created it in a way to make a sound when we would never hear it, and the woman's thoughts on this.
The woman, whose name escapes my memory, said that she and her son had been listening when they played that comet sound, and thought it was really cool. She, like myself didn't give it too much thought other than praising God about the sound because it was so neat. But her son put more thought into it. He said to her, later that day I believe but I am not certain, that there must not be enough people worshipping God if the comets are doing it. He asked her 'didn't Jesus say that if we were silent the stones would cry out, isn't the comet a stone?' She said at first she was stunned by her sons words, then she prayed to the Father that she never be so silent with her praise and worship that she be replaced by a stone.
What her son reminded her of is Luke 19:40 ' “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” ' Jesus spoke those words to the Pharisees who wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples who were worshipping him as he rode into Jerusalem, and I've been thinking about this, especially after reading the verse in the complete context this morning.
Here are my thoughts, and I am quite happy to read and discuss others as well. I used to read that verse as just part of the story, I never honestly gave it much thought before, and when I did I imagined cartoony rocks in my head singing Psalms if the people that day hadn't worshipped. But now I feel like that 11 year old may have a better understanding of that verse than I did. One thing I have realized about all that red print in the Bible and statements that were made by God in the Old Testament, is that they tend to not only deal with what is going on in the particular story they are found in, but are timeless statements from a God that is outside our understanding of time. Jesus wasn't speaking about just in that moment but of now and in the future as well as more fall away, the rocks in the skies are crying out now, just as Jesus said would happen if his disciples were quiet.
The woman prayed that her praise and worship never be so quiet that she be replaced by a stone, and I totally get where she's coming from, and I understand now why God created rocks in the sky to make noise that no man would hear, because it was never meant for us, only because of us. We are failing to offer the praise and worship that Jesus is deserving of and because of that the rocks are supplying it. This breaks my heart to think about, because it shows the lack of the faithful in the world. I never want to be replaced by a stone, I want to sing and dance before my God, I want to praise Him always, as I hope you do too. I hope this story today made you think, and I hope you bring praise and glory to the Father today and everyday. God bless you.
Luke 19:37-40
Psalm 96:11-13
Then, yesterday a woman called into the radio show to tell the morning show people how much of an impact it had on her, because of something her 11 year old son said. Since than I have been thinking a lot about the sound of the comet, and why God would have created it in a way to make a sound when we would never hear it, and the woman's thoughts on this.
The woman, whose name escapes my memory, said that she and her son had been listening when they played that comet sound, and thought it was really cool. She, like myself didn't give it too much thought other than praising God about the sound because it was so neat. But her son put more thought into it. He said to her, later that day I believe but I am not certain, that there must not be enough people worshipping God if the comets are doing it. He asked her 'didn't Jesus say that if we were silent the stones would cry out, isn't the comet a stone?' She said at first she was stunned by her sons words, then she prayed to the Father that she never be so silent with her praise and worship that she be replaced by a stone.
What her son reminded her of is Luke 19:40 ' “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” ' Jesus spoke those words to the Pharisees who wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples who were worshipping him as he rode into Jerusalem, and I've been thinking about this, especially after reading the verse in the complete context this morning.
Here are my thoughts, and I am quite happy to read and discuss others as well. I used to read that verse as just part of the story, I never honestly gave it much thought before, and when I did I imagined cartoony rocks in my head singing Psalms if the people that day hadn't worshipped. But now I feel like that 11 year old may have a better understanding of that verse than I did. One thing I have realized about all that red print in the Bible and statements that were made by God in the Old Testament, is that they tend to not only deal with what is going on in the particular story they are found in, but are timeless statements from a God that is outside our understanding of time. Jesus wasn't speaking about just in that moment but of now and in the future as well as more fall away, the rocks in the skies are crying out now, just as Jesus said would happen if his disciples were quiet.
The woman prayed that her praise and worship never be so quiet that she be replaced by a stone, and I totally get where she's coming from, and I understand now why God created rocks in the sky to make noise that no man would hear, because it was never meant for us, only because of us. We are failing to offer the praise and worship that Jesus is deserving of and because of that the rocks are supplying it. This breaks my heart to think about, because it shows the lack of the faithful in the world. I never want to be replaced by a stone, I want to sing and dance before my God, I want to praise Him always, as I hope you do too. I hope this story today made you think, and I hope you bring praise and glory to the Father today and everyday. God bless you.
Luke 19:37-40
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Psalm 96:11-13
11Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Joshua 24:27
"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."
"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Grateful for my Pain
Yesterday I visited my parents and grandparents before taking my little sister for some girl time together, this is a usual practice for me, something I do just about every week. While we were visiting we got onto the topic of school, home-schooling, and bullying. Bullying is a big issue today in schools and truly seems to be getting worse to me, I can't remember now what brought this topic up, but as we discussed it I realized for the first time yesterday that there is a part of me that is actually grateful that I was bullied in school.
Yes, you read that right, I said there is a part of me that is actually grateful I was bullied. Looking back I will be blunt, school was absolutely hell on earth for me. I used to beg to be home schooled, or sent away to some boarding school to escape my tormentors. Neither of which ever happened. I went everyday and had to face the fat jokes, the laughter, the mooing when I walked through the hallways, the terrible rumors, fakeness from peers who wanted to use me, name calling, and feeling like I was a total outsider, completely rejected. I was hated, and to this day I still don't really understand why they hated me, but I am glad now that they did, I am glad that I endured through that pain and was made stronger by it.
I know that seems really strange to say but as I spoke with my dad and grandparents yesterday I realized that enduring the bullying had been like walking through the refiners fire for me. Now, at 26 I am not afraid of the opinion of my peers, the opinion of other people because I have already endured and overcome it. People can say nasty things about me, but it wouldn't be anything new, o I'm able to let it roll right off my back. I am not ashamed to talk about Jesus now, because I don't fear what others think about me. I have worked for secular and Christian businesses and been laughed at behind my back by my co-workers, but it doesn't bother me the way it used to, because I have accepted that the world will never accept me, but Jesus does. Because of what I endured then, I can now let go of the things people say.
Today I am grateful for being bullied in school and well, I guess technically at one of my previous jobs too. I am grateful that I learned to withstand the opinions of others without conforming to who the world wanted me to be. I am grateful that Father has used something that the world tried to use my destruction for His glory by allowing me to write about Him and His word. I see now that He allowed me to endure all that pain and heartache because it would make me strong against the world's opinion. This is just one of the things that amazes me about God, there is always purpose for the pain, beauty for the ashes.
Please know that whatever pain you have endured, whatever suffering has happened in your life, it happened for a reason. If you surrender yourself to God and give Him your pain He will heal it and use for His glory, the suffering will make sense in hindsight when you realize it has brought out strength, or patience, or love or one of the many other wonderful attributes that He choses to build in you. No suffering is without its reward when you trust yourself to God and allow Him to use it. Be blessed.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Yes, you read that right, I said there is a part of me that is actually grateful I was bullied. Looking back I will be blunt, school was absolutely hell on earth for me. I used to beg to be home schooled, or sent away to some boarding school to escape my tormentors. Neither of which ever happened. I went everyday and had to face the fat jokes, the laughter, the mooing when I walked through the hallways, the terrible rumors, fakeness from peers who wanted to use me, name calling, and feeling like I was a total outsider, completely rejected. I was hated, and to this day I still don't really understand why they hated me, but I am glad now that they did, I am glad that I endured through that pain and was made stronger by it.
I know that seems really strange to say but as I spoke with my dad and grandparents yesterday I realized that enduring the bullying had been like walking through the refiners fire for me. Now, at 26 I am not afraid of the opinion of my peers, the opinion of other people because I have already endured and overcome it. People can say nasty things about me, but it wouldn't be anything new, o I'm able to let it roll right off my back. I am not ashamed to talk about Jesus now, because I don't fear what others think about me. I have worked for secular and Christian businesses and been laughed at behind my back by my co-workers, but it doesn't bother me the way it used to, because I have accepted that the world will never accept me, but Jesus does. Because of what I endured then, I can now let go of the things people say.
Today I am grateful for being bullied in school and well, I guess technically at one of my previous jobs too. I am grateful that I learned to withstand the opinions of others without conforming to who the world wanted me to be. I am grateful that Father has used something that the world tried to use my destruction for His glory by allowing me to write about Him and His word. I see now that He allowed me to endure all that pain and heartache because it would make me strong against the world's opinion. This is just one of the things that amazes me about God, there is always purpose for the pain, beauty for the ashes.
Please know that whatever pain you have endured, whatever suffering has happened in your life, it happened for a reason. If you surrender yourself to God and give Him your pain He will heal it and use for His glory, the suffering will make sense in hindsight when you realize it has brought out strength, or patience, or love or one of the many other wonderful attributes that He choses to build in you. No suffering is without its reward when you trust yourself to God and allow Him to use it. Be blessed.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Monday, November 17, 2014
A New Heart
Sometimes I used to pray for a heart like king David's, a heart that loved the Lord so much he was called a man after God's own heart, and right now thinking about that prayer I am disappointed in myself. I should not have been coveting David's love for God, but pursuing a relationship whole heartedly in that example. I should have been praying for a heart like Jesus! I should be praying for a heart filled with obedience and agape love! I should be praying for more of Him, and less of me.
I can't say for sure what brought me to this thought this morning but as I re-read what I wrote above I believe it may have been the Holy Spirit leading me. Leading me to see my error and correct my course, God is amazing like that! If we pray for a new heart in Jesus's name it should be His, we should be asking to have a heart like His so we can be more like Him and learn to love like Him, and this is scriptural, John 3:30 says 'He must increase, but I must decrease' and 1 John 2:6 reads 'Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.' And we see it again in Galatians 2:20 where it says 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' Each one of those verses say the same thing, we must walk in the ways of Christ by decreasing ourselves and increasing Him.
This is not a suggestion, this is a repeated command. We must repent and walk in the righteousness of the Lord and it is impossible for us to do that without Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:12 makes that clear as we read what it says, 'Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.' It's not talking about our earthly temporary life here, but everlasting life, Jesus is the source of life that life, of all life really, (see John 1:1-18).
This morning as I read scripture and pray while I writing this I am very aware of the words I am sharing with you, and I hope you feel the weight of them. This is important, following Jesus, being a Christian, it isn't about going to church every week, or singing worship music, it's not about learning the words of the Bible, but about learning God's character by the reading of the word and prayer, it's about exemplifying Jesus by our character and bringing Him glory. We aren't going to be perfect at this, as Paul wrote 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,' and God knows this, that is why He gave us the perfect sacrificial lamb in Jesus Christ and why we have His Holy Spirit, the helper. By acceptance of Jesus's sacrifice we are able to be cleansed and enter into the kingdom of God. I pray that today and everyday there be more Jesus in our lives, in our words, in our deeds, and especially our hearts, more of Him, and less of us. Let us go forward each day more God-centered than the day before, in Jesus name, Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
1 John 3:9
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
I can't say for sure what brought me to this thought this morning but as I re-read what I wrote above I believe it may have been the Holy Spirit leading me. Leading me to see my error and correct my course, God is amazing like that! If we pray for a new heart in Jesus's name it should be His, we should be asking to have a heart like His so we can be more like Him and learn to love like Him, and this is scriptural, John 3:30 says 'He must increase, but I must decrease' and 1 John 2:6 reads 'Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.' And we see it again in Galatians 2:20 where it says 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' Each one of those verses say the same thing, we must walk in the ways of Christ by decreasing ourselves and increasing Him.
This is not a suggestion, this is a repeated command. We must repent and walk in the righteousness of the Lord and it is impossible for us to do that without Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:12 makes that clear as we read what it says, 'Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.' It's not talking about our earthly temporary life here, but everlasting life, Jesus is the source of life that life, of all life really, (see John 1:1-18).
This morning as I read scripture and pray while I writing this I am very aware of the words I am sharing with you, and I hope you feel the weight of them. This is important, following Jesus, being a Christian, it isn't about going to church every week, or singing worship music, it's not about learning the words of the Bible, but about learning God's character by the reading of the word and prayer, it's about exemplifying Jesus by our character and bringing Him glory. We aren't going to be perfect at this, as Paul wrote 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,' and God knows this, that is why He gave us the perfect sacrificial lamb in Jesus Christ and why we have His Holy Spirit, the helper. By acceptance of Jesus's sacrifice we are able to be cleansed and enter into the kingdom of God. I pray that today and everyday there be more Jesus in our lives, in our words, in our deeds, and especially our hearts, more of Him, and less of us. Let us go forward each day more God-centered than the day before, in Jesus name, Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
1 John 3:9
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Grateful For The Lesson
A while back I shared a quote that someone else had originally shared, it said 'Don't ask God why He's allowing something to happen. Ask Him what He wants you to learn and do in the midst of it.' Well, today I think I understand why it moved me the way it did. For a while a certain, very angering, situation has been repeating it self, every time I think I am doing well and getting ahead, and being careful about it suddenly I will be set back again. This has been happening for years now. My typical response to this situation is to get angry at myself and take it out on whoever has the misfortune to speak to me, I know it's wrong and always feel bad about it afterwards, but until today I was never able to stop myself and think my behavior through before reacting.
Today when I found out that the situation had happened again I started to get angry, started to lose my temper, and got mad at God, asking Him through tears 'Why does this keep happening? What else can I do! God why do keep allowing this to happen! Why do I have to keep going through this despite all my prayers and my efforts to be careful and obedient?' Then that quote popped into my head, and a story someone had shared on Klove months ago. I realized instead of questioning God, getting angry, and seriously throwing a fit like a three year child I should be asking God what it is He wants me to learn.
When I realized this I was able to let go of my anger, in seconds I was completely calm, cool, and collected again. I prayed about it and now I realize that at least part of what He was trying to teach me by allowing this to happen over and over again is that I needed to respond better to the situation in the moment. I realize now that I needed to let go of my frustration and anger and think things through with a heart that was trusting the Lord instead of pouting that things didn't go my way. I realize now that from the start I should have responded calmly asking God what I needed to learn, do or change, instead of lashing out.
Now, looking back on things I am grateful. I know that probably sounds weird, but truly I am actually grateful for the lesson that I learned today and I wish I had learned it sooner so I didn't have to repeat it so many times. I am sincerely praising God that He is so good to correct me, that He loves me enough to teach me how He wants me to be and how He wants me to respond! This is one of the many beautiful things about our Lord!
I hope you that if you have been feeling like I did today that you don't make the same mistake I did, I hope you will ask the Father for forgiveness because of your behavior and ask for the lesson in the situation instead of lashing out and having to repeat it so many times. I hope you can respond in love and trust, rather than anger like I did. I hope you will understand and remember that everything that happens, happens for a reason, and that God never allows things to happen to us that won't build us into better more Christ like people. When bad things happen give praise for the lesson and trust that God will use it to make you better and stronger I faith.
Psalm 7:17
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Psalm 118:28
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
Today when I found out that the situation had happened again I started to get angry, started to lose my temper, and got mad at God, asking Him through tears 'Why does this keep happening? What else can I do! God why do keep allowing this to happen! Why do I have to keep going through this despite all my prayers and my efforts to be careful and obedient?' Then that quote popped into my head, and a story someone had shared on Klove months ago. I realized instead of questioning God, getting angry, and seriously throwing a fit like a three year child I should be asking God what it is He wants me to learn.
When I realized this I was able to let go of my anger, in seconds I was completely calm, cool, and collected again. I prayed about it and now I realize that at least part of what He was trying to teach me by allowing this to happen over and over again is that I needed to respond better to the situation in the moment. I realize now that I needed to let go of my frustration and anger and think things through with a heart that was trusting the Lord instead of pouting that things didn't go my way. I realize now that from the start I should have responded calmly asking God what I needed to learn, do or change, instead of lashing out.
Now, looking back on things I am grateful. I know that probably sounds weird, but truly I am actually grateful for the lesson that I learned today and I wish I had learned it sooner so I didn't have to repeat it so many times. I am sincerely praising God that He is so good to correct me, that He loves me enough to teach me how He wants me to be and how He wants me to respond! This is one of the many beautiful things about our Lord!
I hope you that if you have been feeling like I did today that you don't make the same mistake I did, I hope you will ask the Father for forgiveness because of your behavior and ask for the lesson in the situation instead of lashing out and having to repeat it so many times. I hope you can respond in love and trust, rather than anger like I did. I hope you will understand and remember that everything that happens, happens for a reason, and that God never allows things to happen to us that won't build us into better more Christ like people. When bad things happen give praise for the lesson and trust that God will use it to make you better and stronger I faith.
Psalm 7:17
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Psalm 118:28
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
Thursday, November 13, 2014
With All Your Heart and With All Your Soul.
Yesterday I wrote about how I had prayed for over two years about a situation and how suddenly things are moving rapidly in a better direction, I did my best to encourage you to stay in prayer and to seek God through the struggle, while sharing my experience so that you could see and understand that God is STILL a God of miracles who answers prayers, He is a God who loves you and will fulfill any promises He makes to you in His perfect timing. I didn't write that to brag on my relationship but to encourage you in yours, to encourage you to seek God, because if you are not looking to God and are instead relying on man you are doomed.
I feel like I need to say this again, do not rely on me or anyone else to teach you who God is, seek Him, He wants a personal relationship with you. Reading devotional blogs, books, and listening to sermons are all good ways to gain understanding, but if you are not reading the word yourself you are missing a vital part of a relationship with God. I know I go back to this every couple of days but it is extremely important! I really feel in my spirit too many are relying on writers and preachers to tell them or teach them who God is, and He is telling you 'Seek me, and I will provide you with the answers you need!'
I just can't get rid of this feeling that I need to keep repeating this, you have to seek God for yourself, you have to be reading His word for yourself, there are many wolves out there and if you are not in God's word reading it and praying over it yourself you will not be able to recognize them when they come. If you are not spending time with Him everyday you are leaving yourself vulnerable to any lie someone may hand you. To know the truth you must get it from a source that doesn't lie, people lie, thankfully God does not and is your best source for learning who He is through the Holy Spirit upon genuine acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
I want everyone who reads these post to seek to honor, glorify, and personally know God. I pray everyday before, during, and after the writing of these post that people will turn to Him. It is His desire that not one of His children should perish, but that we all receive eternal life with Him in heaven, but we can not enter into the gates if we do not know Him! Being a good person without a life centered on God is like drying your hair before you get in the shower, pointless because it accomplishes nothing. You must have a relationship with God and have accepted Jesus Christ not only in words but in spirit.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
John 15:5-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
I feel like I need to say this again, do not rely on me or anyone else to teach you who God is, seek Him, He wants a personal relationship with you. Reading devotional blogs, books, and listening to sermons are all good ways to gain understanding, but if you are not reading the word yourself you are missing a vital part of a relationship with God. I know I go back to this every couple of days but it is extremely important! I really feel in my spirit too many are relying on writers and preachers to tell them or teach them who God is, and He is telling you 'Seek me, and I will provide you with the answers you need!'
I just can't get rid of this feeling that I need to keep repeating this, you have to seek God for yourself, you have to be reading His word for yourself, there are many wolves out there and if you are not in God's word reading it and praying over it yourself you will not be able to recognize them when they come. If you are not spending time with Him everyday you are leaving yourself vulnerable to any lie someone may hand you. To know the truth you must get it from a source that doesn't lie, people lie, thankfully God does not and is your best source for learning who He is through the Holy Spirit upon genuine acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
I want everyone who reads these post to seek to honor, glorify, and personally know God. I pray everyday before, during, and after the writing of these post that people will turn to Him. It is His desire that not one of His children should perish, but that we all receive eternal life with Him in heaven, but we can not enter into the gates if we do not know Him! Being a good person without a life centered on God is like drying your hair before you get in the shower, pointless because it accomplishes nothing. You must have a relationship with God and have accepted Jesus Christ not only in words but in spirit.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
John 15:5-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Never Stop Praying
Prayer is extremely powerful, it may not work the exact minute you pray but trust me it works! I have been praying for a situation for about two maybe two and half years now, and there were times when it seemed hopeless, like my prayers would never be answered, and when I did get a flicker of hope the rug would be pulled out from underneath me again leaving me looking up to God and wondering why. Now though, after all that time the battle is ending and my prayers are being answered, things are moving rapidly in a positive direction and my heart is filled with joy and praise for my heavenly Father!
I shared that short praise report with you about what God has done for me because I want you to be encouraged. I know first hand how hard it can be to stay in prayer for something when in the natural it looks like you are taking two steps forward only to take one step back again, but even that is progress; as painfully slow as it is! And trust me, there were many times where this situation felt like it was so painfully slow that I would cry uncontrollably and beg God for comfort, beg Him for a reason to hope. But I never gave up praying and that's the important part.
No matter what happened, no matter how hard or unfair things felt I kept praying and kept believing for restoration, I kept in the word. I kept telling myself and saying often out loud to God that I knew this struggle had purpose, and I knew my prayers would be answered in His perfect timing. I had no doubt that it would happen and persisted and pushed myself in faith to stay in prayer. I sought Him more each day in His word, and thanked Him for answering my prayer without proof or reason to. This was all part of the process, and an important lesson in the power of prayer, God's timing, and His ability to completely flip a situation when the time is right, which is exactly what happened in my situation.
If you have been praying for something and are struggling to hold onto hope that your prayer will be answered I urge you to keep praying, keep believing and dig even deeper into the word. Give thanks without evidence, and reassure yourself through time alone with God in prayer and reading the Bible that God will answer in His perfect timing or open up an opportunity that's even better! Push your faith beyond the limits of what you imagined you could handle and you will find God supplying you with more than you expected, I am not talking physical things here but spiritual, you will find more faith than you thought you had, more patience than you expected, and more strength and grace to face the struggle than you could have imagined. This is just one way how God exposes His divine glory to you and through you.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 107:28-31
I shared that short praise report with you about what God has done for me because I want you to be encouraged. I know first hand how hard it can be to stay in prayer for something when in the natural it looks like you are taking two steps forward only to take one step back again, but even that is progress; as painfully slow as it is! And trust me, there were many times where this situation felt like it was so painfully slow that I would cry uncontrollably and beg God for comfort, beg Him for a reason to hope. But I never gave up praying and that's the important part.
No matter what happened, no matter how hard or unfair things felt I kept praying and kept believing for restoration, I kept in the word. I kept telling myself and saying often out loud to God that I knew this struggle had purpose, and I knew my prayers would be answered in His perfect timing. I had no doubt that it would happen and persisted and pushed myself in faith to stay in prayer. I sought Him more each day in His word, and thanked Him for answering my prayer without proof or reason to. This was all part of the process, and an important lesson in the power of prayer, God's timing, and His ability to completely flip a situation when the time is right, which is exactly what happened in my situation.
If you have been praying for something and are struggling to hold onto hope that your prayer will be answered I urge you to keep praying, keep believing and dig even deeper into the word. Give thanks without evidence, and reassure yourself through time alone with God in prayer and reading the Bible that God will answer in His perfect timing or open up an opportunity that's even better! Push your faith beyond the limits of what you imagined you could handle and you will find God supplying you with more than you expected, I am not talking physical things here but spiritual, you will find more faith than you thought you had, more patience than you expected, and more strength and grace to face the struggle than you could have imagined. This is just one way how God exposes His divine glory to you and through you.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 107:28-31
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Philippines 4:4-7
Philippines 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
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