> General Discussions
I'm at a loss.
SixFour:
Bambam,
I do feel where you are coming from. This is what helped me deal with what you are dealing with. I had begun to focus on my shortcomings, then this happened:
Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who WALK not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
This freed me, coupled with:
Phil 1:6 "He that has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ."
I don't think it's God's will that you fail at anything to the point of just failing, but that He works in you His good pleasure through your failures and shortcomings to the point that you begin to overcome them. This is what He is doing through me. When I get frustrated at myself(which is quite often), I fall back on these truths. I think Darren's quote of Prov 3:5 is timely too:
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. "
I understand this to be a dark time for you. Too, I realize so much that we are among a great cloud of witnesses on this forum, and that people are praying for you as much are as replying to your posts. Please, my sister, hang in there. You are not alone.
Your Brother,
James
Kat:
Hi Beth,
I think this email of seems to speak to what you are going through right now.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3705.0.html -----------
Dear Bill:
I can appreciate you situation and the emotions you are going through. I receive a lot of emails in which people tell me how hopeless they feel because of sins, weaknesses, lusts, attitudes, finances, marital problems, horrible diseases, and the like. Many ask me to please not share their email with others because they are too embarrassed to have anyone but me read them. I try to give special attention to such emails, and I know how much it is possible to hurt when everything is going bad and wrong.
Unfortunately, I cannot solve any of their problems, nor yours. I can give a little advice, reassurance, and offer up prayer, but it is ultimately God and God only who is your Saviour. You seem to be wondering when God will begin to drag you to Christ, without realizing that everything you go through is part of the journey to that end. We usually don't see it until sometimes years after it has happened. I have told many that they will not begin to come out of their sins until they begin to really HATE THEM. Oh, I know, "everybody hates their sins." No, not really. When you begin to hate your sins like poisonous snakes you WILL STAY AWAY FROM THEM. God is able. God will also wait until you yourself are thoroughly convinced that you are powerless to conquer your sins. When you do finally begin to have major victories over your carnal mind and the lusts of your flesh, you will KNOW that it was God and not you. It always gets darker just before the dawn, so don't lose faith.
God be with you,
Ray
Ward:
BamBam:
May I share my thoughts with you? I will try to help without being too verbose first. If you want more please ask.
--- Quote ---If we can make choices, but only according to the millions of circumstances placed on us on a daily basis, and in the end, there is only one choice that we can possibly make, I have a problem. I keep making the wrong choices. ... I want to change deep down, but I have not been able to do it. Should I just give it up and be happy? Because I am at times most miserable, knowing all my faults and flaws and hating them.
--- End quote ---
Yes, all you can do is make choices. Those choices are not random and you actually cannot make any other choices.
Your "I want to change deep down inside." is a very good sign.
Your "I keep making the wrong choices." acknowledgement is a very good sign.
Your "I am at times most miserable, knowing all my faults and flaws and hating them." is a also great.
--- Quote ---I guess what I am trying to say is, am I just supposed to accept myself how I am at the moment because there is not much I can do about it anyways?
--- End quote ---
No... You should make every effort you can to change these problems that you perceive.
--- Quote ---Yet I don't think it would be right for me to quit trying to change, even though I just want to give up so badly!
--- End quote ---
You are correct about not quitting. You have to try. Even if you slack off right now. You will end up trying again. When you get to the true end of your trying is when you will stop. You won't be asking for anybody's opinion about it. You will stop because you can't go on. And that's when the change will start.
--- Quote ---If I keep trying, and failing, I will continue to be miserable.
--- End quote ---
Absolutely right... And you will fail.
--- Quote ---God is in control, so He'll change me when it's time for me to change.
--- End quote ---
You have been given great insight if you truly believe this statement. It is absolutely true.
--- Quote ---Should I just let go of some of these things I am trying to change but not doing a very good job at?
--- End quote ---
Unfortunately, you are not able to.
--- Quote ---I sure hope this makes sense.
--- End quote ---
It makes perfect sense to me.
BamBam - What you are going thru is chastisement. It is God working on your Heart. The "Biblical" heart. Where your desires come from. Our desires of the heart are what is wrong, evil, bad, etc. about with us.
God is not teaching any of us to control our desires. He is changing our desires thru His work.
All of what is wrong, evil, bad, sinful, etc with us comes from the desires of our hearts. And cleaning them up... Well, that is a very difficult thing to do. The truth is... Only God is able to do this work. The analogy that He uses in the Scriptures is of a silversmith. God is burning out the contaminants in you. When they are gone, like the silversmith, He (and everyone else) will see His face reflected in you. You are feeling God's work. His work will take your entire life.
To quote you... "I sure hope this makes sense." If not, don't give up. Keep asking. But don't just ask us. Ask God in true prayer.
\/\/ard
Pax Vobiscum:
Wow, Joe, you fired one across my bow!
Where in the world did you get the idea that I advocate that we "...[t]hrow out the divine wisdom of the Scriptures"?? I have re-read my post and don't see it. Never said it; don't imply it. I am sorry that you read it that way.
I strive to post thoughtful and reasonable (albeit unorthodox) perspectives from time-to-time. Granted, I usually keep to the theological, but BamBam's post moved me. Further, I write with the assumption that readers here are familiar enough that they can infer Biblical references without going "quostal" and taking valuable time and space with cut-and-paste passages.
At any rate, I believe that my advice is spot-on:
Jesus' words about the lilies of the field and birds of the air clearly tells us to chill out and not to worry about what we do not have; rather realize all that God has given us without asking.
Do you think a child ruminates on Free Moral agency? Jesus wants us to be childlike in our reliance on Him and his gifts.
We cannot change the weather, much like the leopard cannot change his spots -- so why not focus on the simple, direct commandments of Jesus? I cannot add a cubit (remember the old Bill Cosby routine?) to my stature by just thinking about it, so let go of it! Love the Lord with all and all and all!
For you to say that "...The whole purpose of this life in a nutshell is we are here to have our corruptable (yet unfree) will alligned with the will of our Father, like Christ and through Christ's Spirit, not some "iron willed" super man of steel resolve and action." Really? Jesus' words resound with ease and love of neighbor and child-like reverence for the divine. And although my use of "Iron Will" was more a literary device than a theological one, let's turn to the beautiful passage in Ephesians where we are prepared for our earthly battles in very militaristic terms.
Finally, to think that the "Free Will" debate will ever end is folly. If anyone thinks it is a settled matter, I am forced to conclude that that person either doesn't understand the issues or that that person fails to explore all of the possibilites. There are honest, prayerful, and Scriptural arguments from both perspectives. Therefore, an honest, prayerful and Scriptural response is to not worry so much with this and live your life according to your beliefs -- not your struggles.
I am very disappointed by your reply to my post which was meant as an encouragement to a faltering sister. I think any further discussions along these lines should be held privately.
Peace
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: Pax Vobiscum on July 17, 2007, 05:41:08 AM ---Wow, Joe, you fired one across my bow!
Where in the world did you get the idea that I advocate that we "...[t]hrow out the divine wisdom of the Scriptures"?? I have re-read my post and don't see it. Never said it; don't imply it. I am sorry that you read it that way.
--- End quote ---
Hello Pax,
You are correct I did not read it in this thread, I read it here;
--- Quote from: Pax Vobiscum on July 16, 2007, 11:32:37 AM --- There are many, many errors, additions, and corruptions in the Bible – from differing genealogies to the bogus final verses of the Second Gospel to the chronology of Holy Week. The Bible is not a cookbook or a technical manual – it is a glorious (as opposed to glorified) anthology of sacred writings to be used as a guide through our Earthly experience hitched to the promise of something greater after death.
--- End quote ---
Although it is indisputable the bible has man made (errors) influences within it, some translations more than others, the scriptures do not contain contradictions in regard to the Truths of God. That is what we are to earnestly strive for, understanding Him through diligent search of His Word.
Observing nature and creation is another way He communicates with us but if the message we obtain from these observations is diametrically opposed to His written Word we should have our radar screens blipping off the charts.
My response to you was not intended as a personal attack I am quite sure you are very aware of that but remember the name of this Forum is Bible Truths and as a moderator it is my duty to protect the integrity of this Forum to the best of my ability, not only against blatant disagreements but also from posts or statements that may be very confusing to some guests and members.
It is a noble thing to comfort the brethren with empathetic compassion, it is a godly thing to do.
We also have His Word to comfort us in our afflictions;
Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 10:33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye ********, and not sons.
Last but not least...
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
His Peace to you,
Joe
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version