waldo1 said:
I for the past 4 or so years feel as though i am being punished. I know most people believe that God doesnt punish but i cant help think that i am being punished.
It seems as though every time i try to get ahead i always fall short. I try to better myself and there seems to be someone trying to pull me down.
I take responsiblity for any mistakes i make in my life but truley i have tried to do everything i can to be a good person.
For instance, I have tried to get a better job and i have sent out over 100 resumes and i get no responce. I have all the qualifications and experiance but nothing ever seems to materialize. I pray every day that i can get a better job [although i have a job i as of late want to move on to a better company] but still nothing. I know i should be happy with what i have because there are people out there that are worse off but i have tried and tried and it seems as though god wants me to fail and see how long it takes me to break. I dont mean to offend anyone here i am just at the end of my rope.
Hi waldo1 , and all ,
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. <-----> Matthew 6:24-33
Learning to recognize and trust in God's ability to provide is of far greater value than having an easy time securing a comfortable existence .
Before we learn to trust in the Lord as " little children " -( without doubting ), we try to accomplish what we perceive to be good and necessary , mostly on our own .
This puts us in a difficult place , for if we succeed , through the talents and efforts which we possess naturally ( from being born " of the flesh " ), we have little compulsion to seek a higher source of life giving virtue . i.e. " being born again , of The Spirit , into God's Kingdom of Righteousness .
But , if we fail over and over , this can wear on us , and make our life miserable . Surely , God does not want us to be failures , not in the long run , not in those things which matter most .
Yet , if we are going to trust in God , we must direct our attention towards His priorities , not our's . For , if we put His choice matters second to our own , we express that we think we know better than does He , which is contrary to trusting .
The term , " power corrupts " , comes to mind .
The Lord Jesus has " all power " .
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. <-----> Matthew 28:18-20
And He has demonstrated His incorruptibility .
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. <-----> Hebrews 4:15
And it is His will that we " become one " with His incorruptible virtue and absolute authority .
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. <-----> John 17:16-26
But before this can become a present day reality , we must be purified of our corruptibleness .
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. <-----> 1st Peter 4:12+13
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. <-----> Daniel 12:9+10
This is true for all of us who are destined to become one with The Father and The Son .
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. <-----> 1st Peter 5:6-9
Seek fellowship with others who are also undergoing this refining process .
Part of your " wits end " is due to facing these things largely on your own .
And most importantly , realize , that Christ's character and virtue being formed in us , is the # 1 priority of a Gracious God who seeks to pour out His Spirit upon us .
Our efforts to do good , as mere earthly mortals , don't even compare with the capacity for goodness which Christ can perform mightily in and through us , for His Holy Name's Sake .
Seek to harmonize with The Lord's priorities , then the empowerment can flow without hindrance , once our corruptible aspects have been purged .
Corruptible aspects - Pride , lust , greed , selfishness , and their offshoots .
May The Lord Be Pleased To Bless .
wm
