Why is following God so difficult?

[Norah63]

When we peel away our flesh as you put it, it can turn into a confessional. Hope that isn't derailing your thread. Common Christian thing to do is confess our faults one to another and pray one for another. It may seem hard for the flesh to do but it matures the spirit man.

 

[psalms 91]

Because God is spirit and He knows what we will be facing yet future so God tells us to do things that we either do not want to or think we can do it a better way for Gods way isnt always the easiest or makes the most sense but if we can put down the flesh and follow God we will see the wisdom in His direction if not immediately then somewhere down the road

 

[ToBeBlessed]

We also know that this is not our home, just as Jesus said that this is not His home. We are in this world, but not of this world.

 

[rick357]

Because God is spirit and He knows what we will be facing yet future so God tells us to do things that we either do not want to or think we can do it a better way for Gods way isnt always the easiest or makes the most sense but if we can put down the flesh and follow God we will see the wisdom in His direction if not immediately then somewhere down the road

I think the following says it very well...
*[[John 3:3]]

*ISV* Jesus replied to him, “Truly, I tell you emphatically, unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

*KJV* Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

*NHEB* Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

*NHEB-ME* Yeshua answered him, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

*RNKJV* Yahushua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of יהוה.

*TS1998* יהושע answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he is unable to see the reign of Elohim.”

*WEB* Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

*YLT* Jesus answered and said to him, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;'

The word kingdom we often think of as a place but it has more to do with the position of and act of ruling....the flesh and blood sees the person as the catylist for Gods reign....if the person has great faith God acts greatly....if the person is consecrated then God is with them...when we think or see things like this we try to get our inheratance of flesh from Adam in line....we try to put it to death....or build our faith...or reform its actions....when we do this we make ourself at odds with God.
Jesus says power over all flesh has been given to him....so we trust him to crucify it in christ.
*[[Joh 17:2/KJV]]* As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Jesus has said he is the author and finisher of our faith....so we trust him to give us the faith we need
*[[Heb 12:2/RNKJV]]* Looking unto Yahushua the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of יהוה.

Jesus says our old man is dead in him and the Spirit lives through us...so we trust what he has said is true
He has made us one with him as he is one with the Father....so we share the same life Jesus has shared with the Father and all this is one life
Your life is not your own
The life I now live in the flesh I live by THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD....lets just go with that whole verse

*[[Gal 2:20]] RNKJV* I am crucified with the Messiah: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but the Messiah liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of יהוה, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

It is difficult because we try to accomplish by self what we are supposed to trust him to do.

 

[mrhappy3]

without humility - it will always be a struggle.

you have to deny yourself -Jesus said it.

Christians don't fancy that level - so end up in trouble.

 

[ron4shua]

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,”[a] “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”[c] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

 

[thesunisout]

So the normal answer I hear to this is because the devil fights you tooth and nail every step of the way. When you decide to follow Jesus the devil starts his fight against you. But is that accurate? I doubt it. The answer implies that satan is for someone ever at one time for him to turn and fight now. Satan is always striving against man, he hates us all, even those who "worship" him. All outside of Christ are under his spell of darkness. So it can't be just that satan has decided to amp up his resistance. To be true, that is one reason, but not just the only one. In fact, I submit its not even the biggest factor in why following the Father is so difficult.

The scriptures speak of those who are humble are the ones see God, for he resists the proud but gives grace to the ones who draw near him in humility. The reason I think following God is so difficult is as you step forward in the walk of faith, you peel away your flesh and are pruned so that you die and Christ lives in you.

What do you think?

I find for me I am usually fighting against myself, and to be sure the Devil is energizing the battle. Yet, I couldn't blame the Devil for my sin. The word also speaks of how the whole world will hate us and we will be persecuted. The entire bent of the world, the flesh and the devil is in opposition to God. When you take a stand for God you will face all of these opponents, but greater is He that is in us than He who is in the world.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

I've known the Lord since I was a child so for me it's just not that difficult to follow Him anymore. It's become almost like a first nature. I'm not claiming to be perfect but just trying to be encouraging for those who are struggling. Hang in there, it does get easier. At least for me it has.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

It is interesting how we become so in love with Jesus that when we are far away from Him we do not feel like ourselves anymore. I can never drift to far from Him because I feel lost without Him, like a part of me is missing.

With that said, I do not always appreciate and love Him as I should, but I don't let myself move too far away. It's almost like if weights become imbalanced, I notice it right away and need to move myself back into the balance of His love.

Anyone else feel like this?

 

[Andy S. Wright]

It is interesting how we become so in love with Jesus that when we are far away from Him we do not feel like ourselves anymore. I can never drift to far from Him because I feel lost without Him, like a part of me is missing.

With that said, I do not always appreciate and love Him as I should, but I don't let myself move too far away. It's almost like if weights become imbalanced, I notice it right away and need to move myself back into the balance of His love.

Anyone else feel like this?

Yes. I have become particularly sensitive to this phenomenon after a lengthy stretch on a Prodigal Son tour of rebellion and self destruction. It is amazing what the Potter can use to 'conform us into the image of His son' (Romans 8:29).