What to pray for?

[LittleLion]

Good. Apparently you understand between the resurrection and not.
So, since he is currently resurrected and presently the Spirit is a part of many Christians - doesn't this also apply to today's generation?

Yes, it applies.

Well, if you intellectually agree that Jesus stated that anyone is to come to him "as you are", yet you "personally disagree" with his statement, then it is your opinion against his.
Furthermore, since you are often publically calling yourself inadequate in many areas, what makes you believe that you are adequate in disagreeing with an opinion of Jesus Christ especially when you understand what he is stating?

This is no longer a matter of faith, but of character, LittleLion.

I know. There is that special something on trial and perseverance -- and character, mind you.

 

[beloved42]

You can pray for you family and GOD's direction to where he wants you to go what he wants you to do becasue it's about him not us.

 

[Edial]

I know. There is that special something on trial and perseverance -- and character, mind you.

Oh no.
When I said it is a matter of character and not faith, as in the context below ...

Well, if you intellectually agree that Jesus stated that anyone is to come to him "as you are", yet you "personally disagree" with his statement, then it is your opinion against his.
Furthermore, since you are often publically calling yourself inadequate in many areas, what makes you believe that you are adequate in disagreeing with an opinion of Jesus Christ especially when you understand what he is stating?

This is no longer a matter of faith, but of character, LittleLion.

... it is not meant as "building blocks" of Romans anb James, but as "obstacle blocks" of willful denial that is based on knowledge and is not of ignorance.

This is serious.

Ed

 

[LittleLion]

Ed,

Oh no.
When I said it is a matter of character and not faith, as in the context below ...
http://www3.christianforums.com/ima...op-right-10.gif
Well, if you intellectually agree that Jesus stated that anyone is to come to him "as you are", yet you "personally disagree" with his statement, then it is your opinion against his.

Yes, I understand this.
I think my disagreement is due to my pathological lack of trust.

Furthermore, since you are often publically calling yourself inadequate in many areas, what makes you believe that you are adequate in disagreeing with an opinion of Jesus Christ especially when you understand what he is stating?

I think it is a habit. I often disagree on principle, not having a clue what I am actually saying. This disagreeing on principle is a kind of self-defense, which is very old with me (it was useful once).

This is no longer a matter of faith, but of character, LittleLion.

... it is not meant as "building blocks" of Romans anb James, but as "obstacle blocks" of willful denial that is based on knowledge and is not of ignorance.

You mean like looking for loopholes? I don't think I am willfully looking for loopholes, but my behaviour lately tells me that I am.
I don't see much connection between my thoughts and my actions. I have been told before that there are severe discrepancies between my asserted beliefs and my actions, in good and in bad (like I say I believe in discipline, but if you look at my behaviour, it states the opposite; or I say I am a bad friend, but I always think of people's birthday's, keep appointments, am there when I am needed).

This is serious.

I know. I am immature and I barely know myself.

 

[Nightfire]

I have been told before that there are severe discrepancies between my asserted beliefs and my actions, in good and in bad (like I say I believe in discipline, but if you look at my behaviour, it states the opposite; or I say I am a bad friend, but I always think of people's birthday's, keep appointments, am there when I am needed).

Everybody has those discrepancies on some level, when they fail to meet an ideal. It's especially hard when they have set those ideals themselves, because it's the self saying to the self: you are not good enough for me.

The way to correct this doesn't lie in meeting those ideals. Not in life, and certainly not with God. We fail miserably at meeting God's ideals - even the ones he established on our "level", which is why we needed Christ's atonement. To say we do not feel good enough to receive Christ, is like saying we do not feel sick enough to see a doctor - it's subtle, and even sounds reasonable... until we find out what the diagnosis is. By our old way of thinking, the self will say to the self "see? you are even worse than I thought!". A more helpful way of thinking would be to act according to this information, whether you "personally" (which is the old self speaking) agree with it or not. We can act against our will, and we often must. The irony is, that you have probably already perfected the necessary self-control (to "will your will"), but have only been using it in service of the old self.

I know. I am immature and I barely know myself.

This is only a half-truth. By the ideals of the self (that were ingrained by various people and experiences), you might feel you don't know yourself. But what probably happens is that much of your knowledge is either latent or suppressed under the current "regime".

The effect is that you know yourself only through a window, as though at a distance, and what would otherwise be self-knowledge you now only see as unobtainable ideals. But they're only unobtainable because they oppress, rather than inspire you - they're "out there" instead of "in here". When you learn where immaturity has a place, and where maturity fits in, those concepts will already be formed and available, but you will be able to access them as your own: integrated.

 

[Edial]

Everybody has those discrepancies on some level, when they fail to meet an ideal. It's especially hard when they have set those ideals themselves, because it's the self saying to the self: you are not good enough for me.

The way to correct this doesn't lie in meeting those ideals. Not in life, and certainly not with God. We fail miserably at meeting God's ideals - even the ones he established on our "level", which is why we needed Christ's atonement. To say we do not feel good enough to receive Christ, is like saying we do not feel sick enough to see a doctor - it's subtle, and even sounds reasonable... until we find out what the diagnosis is. By our old way of thinking, the self will say to the self "see? you are even worse than I thought!". A more helpful way of thinking would be to act according to this information, whether you "personally" (which is the old self speaking) agree with it or not. We can act against our will, and we often must. The irony is, that you have probably already perfected the necessary self-control (to "will your will"), but have only been using it in service of the old self.


This is only a half-truth. By the ideals of the self (that were ingrained by various people and experiences), you might feel you don't know yourself. But what probably happens is that much of your knowledge is either latent or suppressed under the current "regime".

The effect is that you know yourself only through a window, as though at a distance, and what would otherwise be self-knowledge you now only see as unobtainable ideals. But they're only unobtainable because they oppress, rather than inspire you - they're "out there" instead of "in here". When you learn where immaturity has a place, and where maturity fits in, those concepts will already be formed and available, but you will be able to access them as your own: integrated.

These are significant answers, Nightfire. Very significant.

On the lighter side, ... you too LittleLion.

I am simply horrible at remembering other peoples' birthdays and dates of personal events, (not appointments).

Once I decided not to forget my sister's 50th birthday.
I prepared the barbeque and all ... - it was her 49th !
So, we celebrated her "50th" birthday twice.

We still laugh about it.

Ed

 

[Hisbygrace]

What to pray for?

What should one pray for?
It is at God's discretion which prayers He will answer. So one might just as well pray for nothing.

Or?

In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus gives us direction on how we should pray and what to ask for. first and formost we should start by honoring God and giving Him glory. Then we should ask for His will to be done in all things here and in heaven. we should ask that He meet our daily needs and that He give us the strenght to forgive those that have wronged us, as we seek forgiven from Him. We should ask that He keep us safe from all temptation and deliver us from evil. then we should end by praising Him and giving Him all authory over us.