The Truth About Some Fears

As many of us have, I have been battling fear of various things, almost at every turn. There are many things to fear in our society today, and it's not getting any better, as the Bible predicts. Couple this fact with the many fears in our personal lives, and you have a scenario of relentless and increasing torment.

I began to reach out to Christian friends for prayer, without burdening them with details.

I had begun to seek an answer, through consistent and specific prayer, to eradicating this unhealthy fear. I also began to reach out to Christian friends, without unloading and burdening them with too much detail, for help through prayer. I woke up this morning with an interesting revelation.

I already understood that casting down imagination is vital to freedom from fear. My revelation was that there were other things that I had not been casting down, because I did not understand them to be thoughts that needed that. We think constantly, so may feel that if we cast down every jot of thoughts, we would be mentally lobotomizing our brains. We would become vegetables, therefore we know that we have to pick and choose which thoughts to cast down. This sounds like an easy task, but that is why we need God. It is not always as cut and dried as all that. Sometimes there can be a thin line.

Some fears are extensions of real occurrences, and mask themselves as preparation.

I was shown this morning that there were thoughts that I allowed to flourish because I had identified them as highly-likely future occurrences, whether that future is today, next month or next year. We usually see fears as imaginary, or in the mind, or made up. The most damaging fears that I have been enduring are extensions of real occurrences.  Because of this, I did not see them as thoughts that needed to be cast down. My mind had labeled them as highly likely, leading me to allow them to flourish so that I could devise a plan to stop or circumvent them.

My inner man saw it as preparing myself, or being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. The resulting fears were running rampant because technically and realistically, I could not control nor prevent these possible developments, no matter how small or large they might be. It seems very simple and that I should not have needed revelation to understand. It seems a moot subject, a given, elementary, but that is why we need God. It is not always as cut and dried as all that.

Even as reborn spirits that have a direct link to God, we still have blind spots. We currently live in a fallen world and exist in fallen bodies, so we enter blind spots often. To not understand the revelation of this and to not accept it is to be continually plagued by failures in our lives, and to be confused by our lack of advancement in some areas. Ignoring this knowledge also means that we will not be able to receive God's answer when we ask, seek and knock.

Though God sometimes removes bad circumstances, the answer to freedom is often within.

The answer is not always in the changing or removal of outward circumstances, no matter how difficult, challenging or horrific. How many times have we heard or read that? It is a hard pill to swallow, depending on what you are going through. Though God certainly changes and removes bad circumstances for some, and sometimes for us in his timing, the answer to freedom is often within. There are times that we cannot find it though, without Him.

God removes the dark glasses, raises the blinds and strips off from our eyes and minds the gauze of each gossamer veil that we could never find or remove. About the simplest things, He reveals deep answers that are too confusingly deep and simple for us to ever dig out. Time and time again He has shown me that though the answer was right before me, like a pebble in my path, and simple in comparison to what I was thinking, I would never have found it had He not revealed it to me.

We need God to help us find the answer that is a pebble in our path that we kick to the side, or step over and go on our way.

When we pray, we think that we already understand. This is why my consistent prayer is for him to make my eye single, make my crooked paths straight and order my steps in His word. The battle is certainly not over, but I have advanced.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 

(Matthew 6:22 KJV)

 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

(Isaiah 42:16 NKJV)

  Make my steps secure through your promise, and do not let any sin control me. 

(Psalm 119:133 GW)

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God Is Processing It For You

As we are believing, praying and waiting for various things to come to pass in our lives, it helps to understand that our God is a god of processes. The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines a process as  "A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result." We can see this behavior of God at the beginning of the Bible.

A process is "A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result."

We can see God's principle of processes by starting in Genesis, where we are told that He created the Heavens and the Earth in 6 days. The 7th day was also a process; the process of purposeful, scheduled rest. Even when we experience what appears to be an instantaneous miracle, it is the result of God's procedure of instigating processes to bring about a desired result.

I've heard it said that any person becomes saved because at some time in history, someone prayed for that person. That was a process. Angels were dispatched and the Holy Ghost commissioned to bring about the work. They attended to the drawing of that person to the salvation that God offers through the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus Christ. Some experienced that process when they fought with God before yielding to His calling. Others were not aware of God's process when they surrendered to God without a long battle.

A process is used "To prepare, treat, or convert by subjecting to a special process," or procedure.

Another illuminating definition for the word process is "To prepare, treat, or convert by subjecting to a special process." The word procedure also defines how God operates. "A process is a set or series of actions directed to some end or a natural series of changes; a procedure is a series of actions conducted in a certain manner, an established way of doing something."

"A procedure is a series of actions conducted in a certain manner, an established way of doing something." 

Understanding that God is a god of procedures and processes helps us to endure, with Godliness, the trials and tribulations that He allows to come upon us. It does not matter how small or how devastating a test, trial or training is. If it has the potential to discourage, depress and distract the servant of God, then we must embrace it as a process of God. In order to triumph in our walk with God, we have to accept that He always uses processes and procedures, whether He speeds up or slows down the realization of the end result.

Only in understanding this can the strengthening scriptures take root and empower us to overcome challenges and grow in the Lord.

Only in understanding this can the strengthening scriptures take root and empower us. Romans 8:28 means nothing without grasping hold to this operation of God. Isaiah 26:3 falls on deft ears without considering this principle of God. Romans 12:2 is useless without understanding that God creates change through processes. James 1:4 will bear no fruit without the hearer understanding that God is a god of processes. We need firm footing in order to cooperate with God when we are asked to endure. Only then can we obtain what He so lovingly wants to give.

One day is like a thousand years to God, and vice versa. Even so, it is still a process. Whether we feel the processing in our flesh, or whether our desires seem to manifest swiftly and miraculously, God began the process of delivering to us long ago. He will keep His promises to us, and His Word is true. If we choose to understand this simple principle of God and endure in the way in which He would have us to, then we'll reap all of our desires that we long for and ask for, according to His will.

We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him,

those whom he has called according to his purpose.

(Romans 8:28 GNT)

 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

(Isaiah 26:3 ESV)

 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

(Romans 12:2 NIV)

But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

(James 1:4)

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Image credit: plaum

Scriptures taken from: BibleStudyTools.com
All definitions taken from: TheFreeDictionary.com

Why Won't God Take Bad Memories Away?

Have you ever asked yourself this poignant question? Have you ever struggled to forget a devastating memory about your own behavior, or that of someone else that affected you? Has it been difficult to move on because you keep hoping that the memory will die, or that God will remove it? I have felt this way many times. The truth is that God chooses to erase memories for some, according to his perfect plan. For others, the hateful memories continue to afflict. Why?

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God chooses to erase memories for some, according to his perfect plan. For others, the hateful memories continue to afflict. Why?

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I believe that if my distressing memories are not erased in this world, I still have hope for enduring them. While I suffer them, I remember that Christ also suffered for me, and he suffered much more than I ever will.  I am actually suffering a little, along with him.

I have often wondered about this scripture, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Romans 8:17 NKJV). I have learned that whatever memories God doesn't see fit to remove, I carry as my cross. I also have learned through God's word and His direction to channel bad memories and emotions.  They can be used, just as everything can be used, because nothing is without usefulness within the Kingdom of God.

The scripture in Romans 8:13 tells us how. "...but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." To mortify is to be ashamed, embarrassed and regretful. As we consciously endure, rather than fight the shame and sorrow of our bad memories, we are dying with Christ, and living with Him. In being forced to remember, we are not being charged with our failures and condemned for our hurts, but these are being used to elevate us.

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In being forced to remember, we are not being charged with our failures, but our failures are being used to elevate us.

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God knows how to elevate each of us. Even those who have been delivered from some memories are given circumstances to endure, in order to suffer with Christ. I may carry a thorn(s) in the flesh, and bear a cross(es) in this life, but it WILL one day all be over. If I continue in faith, I'll reap rewards, not only in the world hereafter, but here and now. Most of all, my light will shine brighter and brighter, until in the end when it will be engulfed forever by the light of God.

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Through the thorns of bad memories shines the hope of present and future renewal.

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Through the thorns of bad memories shines the hope of present and future renewal. Press on through power from The Word. If God does not see fit to deliver you from those dreaded memories, endure and be recharged. See those memories as God sees them. Your painful memories are nothing but energy. Energy for living. Energy for life through Christ.

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Image: Bare Branches- Artsy Craftery Studio
Image: Apple Tree- Pixabay Free Images
Scriptures Taken From: Bible Study Tools
Word Definitions Source: http://surl.me/49ek5

When NOT To Give As Good As You Get

How many times have I returned a harsh communication with a harsh answer, I wonder? How often have I responded in like kind when someone snapped at me or made biting comments towards me? What is the number of times that I've repaid spiteful conversation with spite, or gave a person as good as the negative attitude that they gave to me?

If you've ever in your life been an average person, you too would not be able to count the number of times that you responded in the way that an angry person responded to you.

This bad habit, however, can be converted. Learning to replace this flesh-based, useless behavior with useful, spirit-filled responses is the key. We can learn the value of and utilize the spiritual tool of replying to wrath with soft words. What usually happens when we react to strife-laden attitudes? We usually experience more of it, from the person and within ourselves. The opposite of this, says a quiet little scripture in Proverbs, is "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

I don't know what led me to consider this scripture early this morning. In doing so, I found one answer as to why this principle works: We often possess the insight or knowledge needed to respond to a stressful remark with an soft answer. When we do, our answer shows the person that we care about him/her.

Because we are able to perceive something about the person or the situation, we are able to address that in our response.

Sometimes the person knows that we have spoken to something unsaid, sometimes not. It's similar to looking beyond the outward appearance into the spiritual realm. There is often something else behind the words that are being said and the harsh manner. When we respond in like kind though, it shows that at that moment we are self-centered, or centered in our flesh, rather than in our reborn spirit.

One reason that we often give as good as we get, rather then utilizing a soft answer, is because spiritual evil influence can target our flesh and hit it's mark. Evil influence, whether towards someone else or towards ourselves, cannot target our reborn spirit. It hurts when someone yells, or snaps, or bites our heads off. It is not fair when someone speaks to us in a disrespectful manner, or treats us like we are unimportant. It can be damaging to our self-image, self-worth and self-esteem to be talked to with disdain, disregard and a lack of compassion. All of this warfare takes place in the flesh.

Recognizing these facts, however, and continuing to react in kind will not improve our ability to build our spiritual self-image, self-worth or self-esteem.

Reacting in kind harms our ability to improve. It accomplishes little, if anything. This is because our fiery, flesh-based responses rarely address real issues or change circumstances. When we understand this truth, we are able to allow our responses to be transformed.

When we see value in becoming humble enough to ignore verbal slights and attacks, and move beyond them in that moment, our responses will change. Often, it takes allowing what you know about the person, and maybe a situation, to rise to the surface of your consciousness at that moment. It takes peering into the response and the person, which is the same as moving beyond self. But how in the world can I do all of this in the short space of time when I am attacked, you ask?

All of this can be done in a split second, just as a biting response can be formed and made in a millisecond.

In order to reply with a soft answer, we may have to sometimes appear as if we are not fighting for our rights. When we allow that and use the soft answer, often the anger, stress, annoyance, snippishness and fear that motivated the person is disabled and disarmed. In that moment, we will find the person responding with a lot less malice than before, if not without any.

Walking in the spirit can become habitual, just as reacting in the flesh has been. We can re-learn how to respond with soft words, and enjoy more peaceful communication, and peace within. When we receive and understand valuable truths, we change the way that we think. When we change the way that we think, our behavior follows suit.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

(Proverbs 15:7 KJV)

    The lips of the wise spread knowledge; Not so with the heart of fools. 

(Proverbs 15:7 WEB)

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

(Proverbs 15:1 KJV)

 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

 (Proverbs 15:1 WEB)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,....

(Romans 12:2 KJV)

 And be not conformed to this world: but be reformed in the newness of your mind,....

 (Romans 12:2 DR)

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Image Credit: http://wallpaperswide.com/autumn_landscape_5-wallpapers.html
Scripture Taken From Bible Study Tools: http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=wrath&c=pr&t=kjv&ps=10&s=Bibles

A Time To Rest & Reflect On Beauty

It's time for you to sit, rest and reflect on the beauty of God's earth. Along with lovely, delicate notes of Christian classical music, this video will elevate you above the ills of this world. The images are so incredibly beautiful that they will take your breath away. You'll feel the puffs of breeze, bask in the warm sunlight, be dazzled by the visions and hear the whispers of God's Spirit as you pray and meditate. For those who believe, these images are like a tiny taste of what the new Heaven and Earth has in store for us. Though taken from a fallen and dark world, they mimic the unblemished, pristine freshness of Godly perfection.

So take a little time and be elevated, uplifted and transported to pure beauty and light...

In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely...

(Isaiah 4:2 KJV)

Poetry: It Matters To Me About You

My child, I know thy sorrows,

Thine every grief I share;

I know how thou art tested,

And, what is more-I care.

Think not I am indifferent

To what affecteth thee;

Thy weal and woe are matters

Of deep concern to Me.

But, child, I have a purpose

In all that I allow;

I ask thee then to trust Me,

Though all seems dark just now.

How often thou hast asked Me

To purge away thy dross!

But this refining process

Involves for thee-a cross.

There is no other pathway

If thou would'st really be

Conformed unto the image

Of Him Who died for thee.

Thou can'st not be like Jesus

Till self is crucified;

And as a daily process

The cross must be applied.

Just as the skillful gardener

Applies the pruning knife,

E'en so, I too would sever

The worthless from thy life.

I have but one sole object-

That thou should'st fruitful be!

And is it not thy longing

That I much fruit should see?

Then shrink not from the training

I needs must give to thee;

I know just how to make thee

What I would have thee be.

Remember that I love thee!

Think not I am unkind,

When trials come to prove thee,

And joy seems left behind.

'Tis but a little longer

Until I come again;

What now seems so mysterious

Will all be then made plain.

Take courage then; and fear not!

Press forward to the prize,

A crown of life awaits thee,

Glory before thee lies!

 

~ Alice C. Lefroy ~

 

 

Hold on. Don't give up. Tell God.

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Poem From: The Tract League, Grand Rapids, MI 49544-1390
Image Credit:  bcjordan

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary I

When you're just too tired and weary to pray, tell the Spirit of God.

Do you sometimes feel tired of praying, tired of believing, tired of asking?  Do you feel so weary that you no longer know what to say in your prayers, or how to pray? All of this comes because you are such a faithful believer, such a faithful praying person.

To be burdened with this weariness is to give up. To give up means that in due season you will not reap. If you don't give up, when will the due season come?  Most of the time we don't know. Sometimes we are given information on that, most of the time not. Do some die never ever realizing the fulfillment of a long-standing prayer? Yes, and it no longer matters then. While you are here, if you give up, you'll never know if you would have enjoyed the fulfillment of your earth-based prayers.

Have you sacrificed for others? What about going the extra mile for others? Have you given your all for others? In what other ways have you performed good deeds for others? How often have you pushed on, not being weary in well-doing for others? Not being weary in well-doing also means sacrificing, giving your all, and going the extra mile in well-doing towards yourself. Praying one more time is well-doing, but what about feeling just too tired to pray today. And what about being weary and confused about what to say, if you could pray?

Words are necessary to bring things to past, and if we can't form the words, the Spirit of God will.

Well, there is a Helper who speaks the words on our behalf, if we will rely on Him, especially at those times when we're just too tired to form another prayer. Words are necessary to bring things to past, and if we can't form the words, the Spirit of God will. There is another advocate who intercedes on our behalf, always, whether we're too tired to pray, or not. Jesus Christ stands at the right hand of God, speaking for us.

So when you're just too tired and weary to pray, tell the Spirit of God, who is always with you, I'm just too tired to pray, I can't form the words and I just don't know what to say. Help me please. And just be quiet. Don't try to pray a lengthy, eloquent prayer today. Your spirit is willing, and your flesh is weak. That is why you are reading this, because your spirit is willing. The Spirit of God knows your heart, that you believe in the power of prayer, and that you believe God. You can rest in that, and rely upon His Spirit, until you feel more able to form your prayers again.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 (Galatians 6:9  King James Version-KJV)

In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered.

 (Romans 8:26  World English Bible-WEB)

For he that seeketh the hearts, knoweth what the Spirit desireth, for by God [for after God, that is, at God's will,] he asketh for holy men. 

 (Romans 8:27  Wycliffe)

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary II

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary III

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary IV

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary V

You Are Here: Tired Of Praying & Weary VI

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Image Credit: Rowdy Rider

Grace, Restraint & Peacemaking

Responding with grace and diplomacy is always the best policy.  It is a lesson that builds upon the saying if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all.  It is a lesson that I use when my response has the potential to be too heated, too emotional, unfair or belligerent.  When debating and contesting may not increase knowledge, or foster friendly relationships, I choose this tact.  Thinking like this helps me to defuse situations and to also practice good conflict resolution.

Many years ago, I bought an electronic typewriter that began to have problems shortly after purchase.  I contacted the company, but was not able to resolve the issue to my satisfaction.  Though I was disappointed, angry and dissatisfied, the customer service manager was graceful in her formal letters to me.

Unfortunately, their service plan never served me well, so I never purchased an item with that brand name again.  I had always liked that company and they lost a customer.  However, I never forgot the consistent grace with which that person used to communicate with me.  Despite my angry and aggressive approach, she did not allow herself to respond in kind.  It did not cause me to remain loyal to her company, but it worked to diffuse my anger.  It prevented the situation from escalating, which was very helpful to me, emotionally and socially.

As you can see I am still impressed, after almost 20 years, by that manager's skill in the practice of restraint.  I choose to use the lesson of responding with grace and diplomacy in all of my interactions, and you know what? It always works.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

(Matthew 5:9 New International Version)

By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word

is a cause of angry feelings.

(Proverbs 15:1 Bible in Basic English)

Whoever loves pure thoughts and kind words will have even the king as a friend.

(Proverbs 22:11 New Century Version)  

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Image Credit: OCVA

Troubles & Patience: An Unlikely Pair

For those who are seeking peace, this is one of the hardest Biblical suggestions to follow.  It seems to some to mean that we are required to remain in situations that are unbearable.  As we grow in faith and our confidence in ourselves grows, we understand that we should evaluate a circumstance to determine if we can and should change it.  There are troubles that we can circumvent or reduce, and there are those through which we must live.  How to know the difference is within ourselves.  The better we learn about ourselves, the better we can discern the difference.

Being patient in troubles will allow us to attain the goals that we are seeking.  Cultivating this skill will even help us to be delivered from a tribulation a lot sooner than through rash, impatient decisions.  The most important fact is that we can prevent ourselves from jumping out of the frying pan into the fire, by studying to be patient throughout difficulties, troubles, trials and tribulations.  Patience can help us attain what we want in life, and it can assist us in helping others to do the same.  Helping others, even if it is just one person during our lifetimes, is a noble cause.

Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer. (Romans 12:12 Complete Jewish Bible )
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Image Credit: shadfan66