bethdinsmore
Veteran
I am so glad, friend. In my Christian life and most people I know, God has given us more obvious answers at first, then little by little He weans us off them, so we will walk by faith and not by sight. That teaches us to depend more on the Holy Spirit, which is how we lead a victorious Christian life.
When I was discouraged when I was first saved, I would ask the Lord to show me He loved me. And within a day I'd get an answer - free anonymous tickets to a Christian concert, etc. Then the day came when nothing came. It took me about a day to realize - wait, I know He loves me. He has shown me in His Word - He doesn't need to show me by circumstances any more.
Another thing I learned - sometimes Christians are called soldiers. I studied and thought about that, and realized that soldiers are trained for one main reason - they are to do battle. That is one reason why Jesus says we will share in the fellowship of His sufferings. Our rest from war will come in Heaven. But every battle is not ours to win - we are but one soldier.
2 Chr 20:15 ... This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.
(NIV)
And we are to hold God and His teachings in front of us, and keep Him between us and suffering. To realize that suffering is for a season, but He and His words are eternal.
Did you know there are some verses that tell us to be optimists?
Phil 4:4-9
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 everything, 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.
8 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.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(NIV)
(notice in verse 7, it didn't say we would have all our prayers answered the way we want them to be, or even that we'll be able to see all the answers when they happen - but it did say we would have peace when we turn it over completely to Him - so when you mail the letter, let it go!) We are to take these things just as seriously as we take the avoidance of sin.
The battle is mainly in the mind. Practice seeing things God's way - the more you study the Scriptures and are around mature Christians, the easier it will be. God bless you, friend. You have a wonderful life ahead....the abundant life that Christ offers each of us.
Aloha in Jesus
When I was discouraged when I was first saved, I would ask the Lord to show me He loved me. And within a day I'd get an answer - free anonymous tickets to a Christian concert, etc. Then the day came when nothing came. It took me about a day to realize - wait, I know He loves me. He has shown me in His Word - He doesn't need to show me by circumstances any more.
Another thing I learned - sometimes Christians are called soldiers. I studied and thought about that, and realized that soldiers are trained for one main reason - they are to do battle. That is one reason why Jesus says we will share in the fellowship of His sufferings. Our rest from war will come in Heaven. But every battle is not ours to win - we are but one soldier.
2 Chr 20:15 ... This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.
(NIV)
And we are to hold God and His teachings in front of us, and keep Him between us and suffering. To realize that suffering is for a season, but He and His words are eternal.
Did you know there are some verses that tell us to be optimists?
Phil 4:4-9
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 everything, 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.
8 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.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(NIV)
(notice in verse 7, it didn't say we would have all our prayers answered the way we want them to be, or even that we'll be able to see all the answers when they happen - but it did say we would have peace when we turn it over completely to Him - so when you mail the letter, let it go!) We are to take these things just as seriously as we take the avoidance of sin.
The battle is mainly in the mind. Practice seeing things God's way - the more you study the Scriptures and are around mature Christians, the easier it will be. God bless you, friend. You have a wonderful life ahead....the abundant life that Christ offers each of us.
Aloha in Jesus
Upvote
0
