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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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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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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Scripture Taken From Bible Study Tools: http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=wrath&c=pr&t=kjv&ps=10&s=Bibles

Paul's Letter Of No Condemnation

Paul grabbed hold to the essence of his salvation.

Because of his past persecution of Christians, Paul elaborates in Romans on the great state of grace that we are under. This grace that we are free to receive was bought for us through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Paul's agenda can be seen as an ultimate sin by some, to harass, persecute and murder those who choose to accept The Christ as Savior. Paul must have felt a great burden when his past came to mind. I believe it came to mind often.  How could so infamous of a past not torment the perpetrator. Through his torment and his desire for relief, Paul was able to quickly grasp hold to the spiritual truth of salvation.

Paul's ministry, after he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, is a large part of the story in Acts. However, though the bulk of Paul's life figures heavily in Acts, he did not write it. At times as we read, we would think that he had. Luke penned Acts, which some feel should have been named The Acts of Paul. If you have read Acts, you may have felt a natural flow to proceed into Romans. This is because Paul wrote Romans, which is actually a letter to friends in Rome. This letter is full to overflowing of the wonderful fact that we are saved by grace, not works. Scripture upon scripture reminds us of this, and is there for whomever will drink of The Living Water of The Word.

Paul grabbed hold to the essence of his salvation. Because of that he was able to obey God and to hold on until the end. God infused him with power and might. The only thing that mattered to Paul was to be able to preach and teach the gospel, whether bond or free, in Jerusalem or Rome, in a jail or hired house, before kings or peasants. He was on a mission on which he could have never conceptualized that he would be. Never would he have dreamed that he would endure a burning and driving desire to speak on behalf of God. He advanced to instant faith, as in scripture, Acts 28:3-6, and he practiced the laying on of hands. He ran headlong into the conflicts which God presented to him with determination and consistency. He never tried to save himself.

Grab hold to the real essence of your salvation, that you therefore do not have to live with a feeling of condemnation about your past, because you are in Christ Jesus. Since you choose to live by the Spirit of God and not according to your fleshly existence, you enjoy freedom from guilt about your past actions, whether they were yesterday, last week or 10 years ago. When those evil memories surface, cast them down with The Word in Romans. Paul  wrote it so that you could live free, just as he did.

Dear Father: Bless this reader with a dynamic understanding of your words of freedom in Romans, and in other places in your Word. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. 
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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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