A relationship with God is the answer to all we seek. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). We need to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness, not to be good and holy, but to live well. We are made right with God through our faith, believing in His works, and not of our own effort. God accepts us on the basis of what Jesus did, and we are declared perfect and righteous by Him (See Romans 10:4).
Normalizing spirituality: Getting righteous and being in alignment with the ways of the kingdom and getting healthy is one and the same thing. To have “all these things given to you” requires us to seek righteousness in another way. To become people who are not only righteous in the eyes of God, but also we need to live out that righteousness in your everyday life. When most people look to God to improve their life, they look at what He is going to do for them. If they struggle at work, they ask God for a new job. If they have struggles in their relationships, they ask God to change the other person. If they are sick, they ask for healing. While God does bless us with better jobs, heals our relationships and more, He also wants to make US better as well. Righteous living with a kingdom mentality and a healthy, successful life are one in the same.
Doing our part: As we partner with God, we grow and become more mature. We want the results from God, that is, the fruit and His blessings. If we do not possess these things, the reason may be that we are not changing and growing in the needed ways. For example, you may need a new job, but if you are not becoming more responsible, you won’t get one. God often gives us the things we are mature enough to use. So until we grow in character that reflects God’s attributes, we will not have them. God develops our character as we face the truth. It is very painful to face the hurtfulness we have experienced, but when we do, we get our lives back. We can feel again and begin to trust people and let them in closer to our hearts. We become more sensitive to the struggles of others, and begin to have more empathy, show them kindness and understanding. This is the righteousness Paul is talking about in Ephesians 4:25 where he tells us to put off falsehood and be more honest with each other.
Commitment to God: Change means we stop doing the same thing over and over again and begin to do things God’s way. We have to be honest about ourselves and our feelings. We have to stop hiding the hurt. We have to become more responsible. We have to learn to confront people or to stop controlling others. We have to learn to delay gratification. The point is to have the growth and life we want, requires us to do things God’s way. Doing things God’s way first requires repentance. We put off the old ways of doing things and turn to the ways God does things (see Ephesians 4:22-24). Next we are to seek more and more to understand and gain insight into what is best (see Philippians 1:9-10). And then we are to commit to the pain of discipline in order to grow (see Heb. 12:11).
Everyday living: Seeking God first means that we know Him as the God of grace and who is for us. He is the one who will provide for you what you need. We must give up our own self-help program. But we can’t just have Him and have it all done. We also have to be changed into people who can produce the fruit of the life we desire, and we do that by finding His ways and learning to live them.
September 26, 2011
September 21, 2011
Pain helps us Grow
“No pain, no gain.” When we exercise, we have to push through. The runner feels as if he or she cannot take another step, but keeps going to reach another level. The weight lifter does not think he can take another repetition, but continues to press to get to another level. The same thing is true in character growth: we stretch to grow. We push through the vulnerability, fear, and the pain. We embrace suffering to reach a higher level. Maturity and completion is our goals. Pain is good when it leads somewhere. Pain can bring health. Pain is good when we learn from it and it results in growth & maturity.
Bad pain comes from repeating old patterns and avoiding the suffering it would take to change. Many times people suffer because of their own character faults. Other people offer comfort and a spiritual pep talk how God is with them in this time of testing. They frame the experience as the testing of an innocent person: “Keep the faith and God will reward you for persevering”, they say. The problem is that these people don’t tell those suffering that their suffering is the fruit of their own character and it is of no value unless they see it as a wake-up call. Bad pain is wasted pain. It is the pain we go through to avoid the good pain of growth that comes from pushing through.
Suffering is the path Jesus modeled for us, and He modeled how to do it right. He went through it all without sin and with obedience. This is the difference between those who suffer to a good end and those who suffer to no good at all. Peter came to see suffering as armor. He came to see suffering as protection against sin. We can arm ourselves with this same attitude. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1Peter 4:1-2). As we learn to embrace suffering as something to learn from, we are able to break away from harmful patterns that ruin our lives.
The first way to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ is “empty” ourselves. Jesus emptied Himself by giving up “equality with God” (see Phil. 2:5-8). We cannot be in control of everything, be the boss or the judge, write the rules, or any other aspect of God’s roles. Assuming the humble position of bowing to God instead of trying to be Him starts the process. We first obey the Spirit of Grace by accepting His love and forgiveness. We then continue by humbling ourselves to obey the rest of His desires and will for us.
The second way to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ is to submit to God’s will. We can identify with Jesus’ suffering by identifying with what Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed to be to God to be relieved, yet He said, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Often we choose to do things our way to avoid pain and suffering like sex, substances, performance, and materialism. While these do offer temporary relief, they cannot carry the weight of the problem. To choose to do God’s will, and not our own, is to turn away from those options directly to the problem themselves.
The third way to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ is to not retaliate. Ultimately, we are only as healthy as our ability to relate as God relates. He is honest, loving, and forgiving. Good relationships equal good health. So if I can be drawn into unhealthy patterns, then I am not healthy. I become dependent and at the mercy of whatever treatment I am receiving at the moment.
Bad pain comes from repeating old patterns and avoiding the suffering it would take to change. Many times people suffer because of their own character faults. Other people offer comfort and a spiritual pep talk how God is with them in this time of testing. They frame the experience as the testing of an innocent person: “Keep the faith and God will reward you for persevering”, they say. The problem is that these people don’t tell those suffering that their suffering is the fruit of their own character and it is of no value unless they see it as a wake-up call. Bad pain is wasted pain. It is the pain we go through to avoid the good pain of growth that comes from pushing through.
Suffering is the path Jesus modeled for us, and He modeled how to do it right. He went through it all without sin and with obedience. This is the difference between those who suffer to a good end and those who suffer to no good at all. Peter came to see suffering as armor. He came to see suffering as protection against sin. We can arm ourselves with this same attitude. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1Peter 4:1-2). As we learn to embrace suffering as something to learn from, we are able to break away from harmful patterns that ruin our lives.
The first way to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ is “empty” ourselves. Jesus emptied Himself by giving up “equality with God” (see Phil. 2:5-8). We cannot be in control of everything, be the boss or the judge, write the rules, or any other aspect of God’s roles. Assuming the humble position of bowing to God instead of trying to be Him starts the process. We first obey the Spirit of Grace by accepting His love and forgiveness. We then continue by humbling ourselves to obey the rest of His desires and will for us.
The second way to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ is to submit to God’s will. We can identify with Jesus’ suffering by identifying with what Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed to be to God to be relieved, yet He said, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Often we choose to do things our way to avoid pain and suffering like sex, substances, performance, and materialism. While these do offer temporary relief, they cannot carry the weight of the problem. To choose to do God’s will, and not our own, is to turn away from those options directly to the problem themselves.
The third way to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ is to not retaliate. Ultimately, we are only as healthy as our ability to relate as God relates. He is honest, loving, and forgiving. Good relationships equal good health. So if I can be drawn into unhealthy patterns, then I am not healthy. I become dependent and at the mercy of whatever treatment I am receiving at the moment.
September 16, 2011
God’s Promises Bring Good Success
The world measures success on self-effort. The world system is based on focusing all your time, energy, and resources in earning the favor of man. The world feeds our self-centeredness and ego. If you are beautiful, powerful, and famous, you are rewarded. In a world system, we live and define ourselves by our achievements. The world’s model of success is built on an unstable and fragile foundation. Just like earthquakes can shake the ground, the economy, government, and other worldly systems are shakable and are like the shifting sands in the desert.
God’s definition of success is contrary to the world’s definition. God’s system takes the focus off of self and puts the focus on Jesus so we can become more like Him and less like the world. God gives us His favor as a free gift. We are not required to earn His righteousness and His favor. God builds beauty inside of us no matter what we look like on the outside. God builds character in us so we can stand firm during life’s storms. God’s ways are unshakable, timeless, and everlasting. With Jesus in your heart, you are guaranteed good success.
Redefine your understanding of success. Don’t put a limit on God’s blessings in your life. Favor from God is not just seen in material things. God is interested in your total well being. Whatever your desires, hopes, and dreams, nothing is insignificant for Jesus. The presence of the Lord in your life makes you a success. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access through faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-3.)
Your success starts with God living in you. “We know that we live in Him and He (lives) in us, because He has given us His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us” (1John 4:13-16).
The Holy Spirit directs us to truth, guaranteeing good success. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Every choice and action must be “screened” through His leading. “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the Shepard of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (John 10:1-5.) Hearing and doing what God would have us do, results in good success.
Meditate on the Word of God. Every time you put God’s Word into your heart and into your mind, you are making an investment towards good success. You are building up an account. This account gets fuller and fuller until it spills over into the other areas of your life, multiplying your good success. “Lay hold of my words with all of your heart; keep my commandments and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them” (Proverbs 4:4-5.)
God has our best interest. He knows what is good for us. He has given us His word to direct us in good success. "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3.) The Bible promises that when we do what it says, we will be prosperous and successful: “Do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8.)
Jesus makes you a success. Believe in your heart that Jesus knows you perfectly and accepts you perfectly. Grace is the favor you do not deserve and cannot earn for yourself. Grace will perfect every imperfection and weakness in your life, making you a success. Whatever challenges, or lack in any area of your life, grace will protect prospers, bring restoration, and will transform you into wholeness. It is grace and the goodness of God that gives you strength and success. When you receive completely what Jesus has done, you depend less on your efforts and ability, and begin to see His grace overflowing in you. He gives us more and more grace. God’s grace will be multiplied in your life. “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2Peter 1:2.)
Success is not what you feel. Feelings tell us how we are doing and we shouldn’t ignore them. Negative emotions help us to make us aware of the reality of an underlying situation or issue that is causing our feelings. On the other hand, feelings are not based on truth. God’s Word is truth. A discerning heart seeks knowledge and understands success comes from being in the presence of the Lord. The Bible warns us of “the malicious man who disguises himself with his lips. Though his speech is charming, his heart is deceitful.” See Proverbs 26:25-26. We must seek Godly wisdom and not rely on our feelings when making choices.
Believe it, think it, and say it: Obeying and trusting in God makes me a good success. I make the choice to minimize my wants of worldly success and maximize my desire for the things of God. I break all past limitations that others, or I, have put on myself regardless of my situation in life. I choose to meditate on the Word of God and receive His truth. I believe in the promises of God and not in my own understanding or how I feel. As I will walk in the presence of the Lord, I speak and pray my faith of the Word into my life and the lives of others. In Jesus’ Amen.
God’s definition of success is contrary to the world’s definition. God’s system takes the focus off of self and puts the focus on Jesus so we can become more like Him and less like the world. God gives us His favor as a free gift. We are not required to earn His righteousness and His favor. God builds beauty inside of us no matter what we look like on the outside. God builds character in us so we can stand firm during life’s storms. God’s ways are unshakable, timeless, and everlasting. With Jesus in your heart, you are guaranteed good success.
Redefine your understanding of success. Don’t put a limit on God’s blessings in your life. Favor from God is not just seen in material things. God is interested in your total well being. Whatever your desires, hopes, and dreams, nothing is insignificant for Jesus. The presence of the Lord in your life makes you a success. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access through faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-3.)
Your success starts with God living in you. “We know that we live in Him and He (lives) in us, because He has given us His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us” (1John 4:13-16).
The Holy Spirit directs us to truth, guaranteeing good success. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Every choice and action must be “screened” through His leading. “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the Shepard of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (John 10:1-5.) Hearing and doing what God would have us do, results in good success.
Meditate on the Word of God. Every time you put God’s Word into your heart and into your mind, you are making an investment towards good success. You are building up an account. This account gets fuller and fuller until it spills over into the other areas of your life, multiplying your good success. “Lay hold of my words with all of your heart; keep my commandments and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them” (Proverbs 4:4-5.)
God has our best interest. He knows what is good for us. He has given us His word to direct us in good success. "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3.) The Bible promises that when we do what it says, we will be prosperous and successful: “Do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8.)
Jesus makes you a success. Believe in your heart that Jesus knows you perfectly and accepts you perfectly. Grace is the favor you do not deserve and cannot earn for yourself. Grace will perfect every imperfection and weakness in your life, making you a success. Whatever challenges, or lack in any area of your life, grace will protect prospers, bring restoration, and will transform you into wholeness. It is grace and the goodness of God that gives you strength and success. When you receive completely what Jesus has done, you depend less on your efforts and ability, and begin to see His grace overflowing in you. He gives us more and more grace. God’s grace will be multiplied in your life. “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2Peter 1:2.)
Success is not what you feel. Feelings tell us how we are doing and we shouldn’t ignore them. Negative emotions help us to make us aware of the reality of an underlying situation or issue that is causing our feelings. On the other hand, feelings are not based on truth. God’s Word is truth. A discerning heart seeks knowledge and understands success comes from being in the presence of the Lord. The Bible warns us of “the malicious man who disguises himself with his lips. Though his speech is charming, his heart is deceitful.” See Proverbs 26:25-26. We must seek Godly wisdom and not rely on our feelings when making choices.
Believe it, think it, and say it: Obeying and trusting in God makes me a good success. I make the choice to minimize my wants of worldly success and maximize my desire for the things of God. I break all past limitations that others, or I, have put on myself regardless of my situation in life. I choose to meditate on the Word of God and receive His truth. I believe in the promises of God and not in my own understanding or how I feel. As I will walk in the presence of the Lord, I speak and pray my faith of the Word into my life and the lives of others. In Jesus’ Amen.
September 12, 2011
The Bible helps us Grow
There is power in the Word. It gives us much hope, security, and faith. The Bible stands alone as God’s only perfect guide to life and growth. Through forty or so authors over the course of fifteen hundred years producing consistent set of ideas and stories, God laid out all the elements for us to understand how people grow. Reading the Bible is one of the main ways God speaks to our lives and hearts. We receive comfort and love while experiencing some crisis or struggle (see Psalm 103:1-5). The Bible offers wisdom or correction at a time of decision making (see Proverbs 16:3). There is healing power in God’s Word. The Word of God is living and active (see Hebrews 4:12) and does not return to God empty (see Isaiah 55:11).
The Bible is complete. It contains all the principles we need to understand for both growing spiritually and resolving personal struggles. The Bible clearly presents a process for pursuing spiritual maturity. Sanctification is being progressively set apart for God’s purpose (see romans 6:19). Transformation is being changed from the inside out (see Romans 12:2). Growth is maturing spiritually (see 1Peter 2:2). The idea is that we are designed to become more of who we were created to be (see 2Corinthians 3:18).
The Bible points to God as the Source of all growth. When we see that the Bible points to God for all growth, we understand that all growth is spiritual growth. Everything that fosters growth is ultimately from God. Growth can occur even when the Bible is not given credit. A person might be involved in a support group not purposely practicing biblical principles, but inadvertently practice some of them. As members of the group share vulnerabilities and weaknesses, they begin to develop trust. As they do, they find that they feel safer, resulting in feeling less alone and empty inside. The group may not know it, but they have been applying the biblical practice of confession (see James 5:16). This is how wonderful, powerful, and spiritual the Bible’s growth principles are. How much better it is for someone or a group to understand and know that the system they are following is from the Bible, making it easier for them to surrender to God, the designer of the growth process.
Some people make the mistake of missing the One to whom the Bible is directing them. They become excessively interested in learning the depths and complexities of the Bible, and they forget that it points us toward God. In other words, they make an idol out of the Bible. This happens when emphasis on doctrine or Bible study is to the point of neglecting personal relationship with Jesus, who said that the Scriptures bear witness to Him (see John 5:39). A preacher once said this is like a man who goes into a restaurant and reads the menu. He then exclaims how great the menu is, puts salt and pepper on it, and proceeds to eat it! The Bible was written to give us the path to God, life, and growth, and not to satisfy our intellectual curiosity.
Anyone who has been applying biblical principles for a time can tell you, spiritual growth is anything but “let go and let God”. Rather, it is hard and sometimes painful work, but it is always worth it, for “it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Understand that teaching “all you need is the Bible” is itself an unbiblical concept. Learn that the Bible teaches that, more than just reading it, we need to get out and live it out in our lives and our relationships.
The Bible is complete. It contains all the principles we need to understand for both growing spiritually and resolving personal struggles. The Bible clearly presents a process for pursuing spiritual maturity. Sanctification is being progressively set apart for God’s purpose (see romans 6:19). Transformation is being changed from the inside out (see Romans 12:2). Growth is maturing spiritually (see 1Peter 2:2). The idea is that we are designed to become more of who we were created to be (see 2Corinthians 3:18).
The Bible points to God as the Source of all growth. When we see that the Bible points to God for all growth, we understand that all growth is spiritual growth. Everything that fosters growth is ultimately from God. Growth can occur even when the Bible is not given credit. A person might be involved in a support group not purposely practicing biblical principles, but inadvertently practice some of them. As members of the group share vulnerabilities and weaknesses, they begin to develop trust. As they do, they find that they feel safer, resulting in feeling less alone and empty inside. The group may not know it, but they have been applying the biblical practice of confession (see James 5:16). This is how wonderful, powerful, and spiritual the Bible’s growth principles are. How much better it is for someone or a group to understand and know that the system they are following is from the Bible, making it easier for them to surrender to God, the designer of the growth process.
Some people make the mistake of missing the One to whom the Bible is directing them. They become excessively interested in learning the depths and complexities of the Bible, and they forget that it points us toward God. In other words, they make an idol out of the Bible. This happens when emphasis on doctrine or Bible study is to the point of neglecting personal relationship with Jesus, who said that the Scriptures bear witness to Him (see John 5:39). A preacher once said this is like a man who goes into a restaurant and reads the menu. He then exclaims how great the menu is, puts salt and pepper on it, and proceeds to eat it! The Bible was written to give us the path to God, life, and growth, and not to satisfy our intellectual curiosity.
Anyone who has been applying biblical principles for a time can tell you, spiritual growth is anything but “let go and let God”. Rather, it is hard and sometimes painful work, but it is always worth it, for “it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Understand that teaching “all you need is the Bible” is itself an unbiblical concept. Learn that the Bible teaches that, more than just reading it, we need to get out and live it out in our lives and our relationships.
September 8, 2011
Keeping Change
Just when you start to see God working in your life, we seem to go backwards and fall into some of the same routines and old habits. We start feeling and start doing some of the same attitudes, behaviors and choices. Change can be lasting and effective when you remember that the elements of growth are grace, truth and time. Grace and truth never change because God never changes.
Confess your distorted thinking: As we humble ourselves and confess with our mouths our inability, God releases His power into our lives. The Bible tells us “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge” (Proverbs 23:12.) Old habits fall away when you change the way you think. When you replace distorted thinking and wrong mindsets with right ones, you keep the victory.
Believe the power to change comes from God: With a willing heart, God shapes and molds us to the image of Jesus. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7.) The spirit of God is alive and within you, when you follow Jesus: “Now it is God who has made for us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2Corinthians 5:5.)
Believe God means what He says: God is in the changing business. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are yes in Christ. And so through Him, the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God, who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come’ (2Corinthians 1:20-22.)
I will keep my hope in the Lord: The world and people are both good and bad, but God is good. My hope is not in the world but in what God has promised in His Word. I won’t let my past keep me from what God has for me today. Even though the world is crashing all around you, God’s presence and comfort is sufficient for your needs: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2Cor 4:17.)
Believe it, think it, and say it: I refuse to replay my past mistakes. I believe God is at work in me to bring His lasting change in my life. I will use my thought life to imagine the promises of God coming to pass in my life. I will speak and pray the promises of God. He keeps me from falling backwards and empowers me to stand, in Jesus’ Name.
September 6, 2011
Misconceptions of Growth
Emotional and spiritual growth is a path that takes you further into reality. One of the most important things God does for us in the growth process is to send to us His Spirit of truth. Truth is healing. The Holy Spirit is always showing us the truth about ourselves, our relationships, about God and His Word, and about our life and path. The Spirit teaches when and where we need growth, convicts us when we are wrong, and redirects and shows how to stay on the right path. The truth confronts what we are not ready to deal with. Sometimes the truth leads us to what is the source of our pain. Sometimes the truth leads us leads us to what our weaknesses or limitations are. Whatever the truth is, it is our friend and it is where God is. The Spirit is ultimate reality.
There are many misconceptions about growing in the Christian Community and Spirit filled living. God does not promise that we will always be happy or never again have difficulty. The truth is yielding to the Spirit and being filled by the Spirit as we go through struggles and pain, not instead of the struggles and pain. This common misconception is nowhere close to the real life experience of any human including Jesus. We know that Jesus was always connected and yielded to God. We know His power came from the Spirit of God, yet He felt pain and struggled a great deal. In the garden of Gethsemane, He had immeasurable distress and agony. Certainly no one would say that He had “lost his victory” or he was a “phony”. Yet, sometimes people struggling with growth issues are told that if they are hurting, or failing, they are not walking with God, or filled with the Spirit. Jesus and many other people in the Bible took their struggles and pain to God and leaned on the Spirit, the Helper, for strength. Experiencing struggles, difficulties, and pain is not the absence of a Spirit filled Christian walk.
Another common misconception is like the first but instead of pain it has to do with sin: if you are filled with the Spirit, you will never sin. The truth is everyone sins, and if any one says he does not, he is a “liar”. (See 1John 1:8, 10). No one is ever without sin, for even if our behavior is okay for the moment, unconscious, sinful, dark parts of the soul are not yet cleansed. The Spirit filled life is on-going. We are “cleaning up the inside of the cup” as well as the outside. Sanctification is a process. Paul said he didn’t have it yet (Phil. 3:12-13). Peter said the qualities of good character are built over time in increasing measure (2Peter 1:8). It takes time to grow. “All things have become new, but not complete” (2Corinthians 5:17).
As you continue down your growth path, do not let anyone discourage you and make you feel that you do not have it all together, or that you are not “in the Spirit”. Trust and lean on Him to the best of your ability accepting His grace. Ask Him for help as much as you know how to. Obey all that you know to do, and face reality and the truth.
September 4, 2011
Skills for becoming an Adult
Over time we are required to take charge of our own lives. We can learn skills to develop this ability. We have to work on attaching to others to have our heart filled. We work on setting boundaries to own your own life. We work on confessing and receiving forgiveness so you have the fractured parts of your soul made whole. And finally, learn to be an authority and be in charge of your own life.
See parents and authority figures realistically. If you idealize your parents, you are meshing with their mistakes, and you may become like them. See their weaknesses and their strengths. Confess the sins of your fathers and then forgive them. Recognize the sin, stand apart and break away from destructive generational patterns and behaviors.
Love and appreciate people who are different. Learn to appreciate people who are different from you. Begin to assume an equal stance with other adults. In doing so, you are stopping the “sibling rivalry” and the childhood battle of trying to be the better child to win “parental approval”.
Submit to others out of freedom. An important aspect of becoming an adult is to learn to submit to others in love, without an authority conflict, including government, employers, friends, spouses, people you disagree with, and God. When you submit in love, you are displaying your freedom. You do things because you want to, not because you have to. Submission out of compliance is slavery.
Practice disagreeing. Be aware when someone is parenting you. Anyone telling you what you “should” think or do, is parenting you. Learn to verbalize what you are thinking. The point is not to become confrontational, but rather having a normal conversation. Learn to be equal with those who have assigned themselves as gods in your life, or to those who you have put on a pedestal. Start making decisions for yourself and be responsible for yourself. Welcome the opinion of others but don’t feel compelled to do what they say.
Reevaluate beliefs. We need to look into what we think and believe and why we think and believe it. At some point, we need to recognize the difference between the understanding of our perceptions, and the traditions of family and culture versus a real heartfelt conviction from God, the truth from His word, and our own life’s experiences. Once we have gone through this questioning period, we will have developed a mind of our own.
Disagree with authority figures. Safe relationships allow others to have their own thoughts and opinions even if they disagree. No one is right about everything, and we all go through periods of reshaping what we think on any topic. Learn to speak your opinion and be open to disagreements. Speaking out helps us to reshape our own views and you may also be helping someone else shape their views.
September 2, 2011
We grow when we believe right, think right, and speak right
Believing right is accepting God’s gift of grace and His Holy Spirit who empowers us to change our lives. God is love and love is the theme of the Bible. No greater truth can be imagined: “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him (John 4:15-16). What your faith is in- is what you believe to be true. But it’s not about just having faith, it’s what your faith is in that counts. The Bible teaches us to believe in the perfect life that Jesus lived, that made Him the perfect sacrifice, that makes you righteous and without fault. Believe in the finished work of the cross that guarantees you a new beginning and a new life. Believe in the power of the Holy Spirit who leads and directs you with wisdom and understanding to make right choices. Believe God loves you.
How you see yourself, how you view the world and see life is in how you think. Your thought life and your perspective forms and shapes your attitude, opinions, and your personality. Your thoughts are formed from your current knowledge and understanding of what you believe to be true or not true. When you begin to change your thought process about your situation, your circumstances may not change, but how you view them will. “Your problem is not really your problem. How you see your problem is your problem.” Thinking right is a process of replacing current distorted thinking patterns with biblical principles and promises. When you believe right, think right, and speak right, you change and grow. All lasting change begins by surrendering your thought life to the Word of God (see Romans 12:2). “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
The Words of God and our words: “In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus is the Word. He is what the entire story of the Bible is about. He is grace and truth. As we are living in His presence, we speak the Word in His name: “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and will be saved” (Romans 10:10). Words are like a seed that will produce a result. The Bible instructs us to choose our words wisely. Speak blessings and life.
Believe it, think it, and say it: I am who the Bible says I am. I refuse to accept past definitions and limitations that others or that I have put on myself. Jesus has given me the gift of grace to change. I am God’s child and He has given me favor. I believe in who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for me that will bring good changes in me. I can change my habits, emotions, and life by changing the way I think. I submit to the process of renewing my mind, and I expect to change into His image as I believe in how the Word says “to meditate on it day and night”. Speak words of faith and thanksgiving in Jesus’ name, amen.
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