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Ever Notice?
Pini56:
I Hope This Will Encourage Everybody:
Philippians 1:6:
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
With Love Geoff
pylady:
Joe, Thanks for bringing up this thread on patience, something which I've struggled with, and you've made me think deeper a about it. Beloved, your tying in the vs about a wife submitting to her husband zeroed in on my problem. you see my husband has a very "difficult" personality and I have to pray constantly for patience. It doesn't seem to come naturally to me!
I've found that praying for patience has helped me control my tongue and my actions, and helped me to know that God loves my husband and he is exactly what God wants him to be right now. Knowing that is a tremendous help to being patient and loving to him even when I feel he doesn't deserve it! And I know God is patient and loving with me even though I don't deserve it.
But my question is this. Even though I can learn to control my words and actions I know that sin begins in our hearts. How does one control the inclination of one's heart? I pray for this because it seems we have some control over our words and actions, but when my husband says something unkind or impatient to me the inclinations of my heart is to answer unkindly. The inclination is there even before the thought is formed. It seems I have no control over this. This is the very heart of the beast in me. I am a complete slave to my carnal nature! It seems impossible to slay the beast when he is there before I am even aware he is there. Yes I control the words and the actions, even stop the thought of answering unkindly and impatiently but I cannot control the inclination.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. We will not be perfect until all the inclinations of our hearts are love. It seems it will take a lifetime and beyond. But perhaps part of the process is being made aware of our failings which makes us hate the sin.
God's judgments make us look at ourselves in all our ugliness (hence the beast), and realize we cannot be beautiful (like a beautiful bride) unless He changes and prepares us. It's difficult to look in the mirror and see ourselves, when we want to look in the mirror and see Christ.
Thank God He sees us as we will be.
An often ugly sister,
Cindy ;)
Marlene:
Geoff that verse you gave is wonderful. I often have to remind that one to myself.
Cindy, I can agree with you, that beast is always there. I felt hurt today, when in reality no one was trying to hurt me. Self just loves to get in the way. Every day is a new day. Like the scripture Geoff gave us he can bring us to where we need. He has started the work and he will finish. I know, its all him because I have alot of flaws. Patience is the key. I am so glad he has that. Lots of times I can't stand the beast I see.
In His Love,
Marlene
Rene:
--- Quote from: pylady on November 09, 2008, 11:42:51 PM ---
But my question is this. Even though I can learn to control my words and actions I know that sin begins in our hearts. How does one control the inclination of one's heart? I pray for this because it seems we have some control over our words and actions, but when my husband says something unkind or impatient to me the inclinations of my heart is to answer unkindly. The inclination is there even before the thought is formed. It seems I have no control over this. This is the very heart of the beast in me. I am a complete slave to my carnal nature! It seems impossible to slay the beast when he is there before I am even aware he is there. Yes I control the words and the actions, even stop the thought of answering unkindly and impatiently but I cannot control the inclination.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. We will not be perfect until all the inclinations of our hearts are love. It seems it will take a lifetime and beyond. But perhaps part of the process is being made aware of our failings which makes us hate the sin.
God's judgments make us look at ourselves in all our ugliness (hence the beast), and realize we cannot be beautiful (like a beautiful bride) unless He changes and prepares us. It's difficult to look in the mirror and see ourselves, when we want to look in the mirror and see Christ.
--- End quote ---
Hi Cindy,
I thoroughly enjoyed your comments. In answer to your question, How does one control the inclination of one's heart?, I know, you know, we can't. Only through Jesus Christ can that beast be changed and defeated. This scripture comes to mind whenever I'm thinking on this subject:
Romans 7:24-25 - "A wretched man am I! What will rescue me out of this body of death? Grace! I thank God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (Concordant Literal NT)
René
kweli:
Am liking where this one is going...
John 6
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. [I dont know about you, but John triple 6 shows me the beast within]
67 Then Jesus said unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away?"
68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life,
69 and we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 10
33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in Heaven.
Mark 14:72
And the second time the cock crowed. And Peter called to mind the words that Jesus had said unto him: "Before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice." And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Luke 9:23
And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me
Clearly Peter did follow Christ. But to follow Him is not enough unless we first deny ourselves. I wont try to pretend to fully comprehend what denying ourselves mean but I see pylady denying herself in her post. If we do believe in no free will then we must believe genuinely that all is not of our doing but GOD's.
--- Quote from: Geoff on November 09, 2008, 08:04:14 PM ---I Hope This Will Encourage Everybody:
Philippians 1:6:
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
With Love Geoff
--- End quote ---
Geoff, I'm truly encouraged. Thanks for the reminder.
One thing I learned from Ray and will always keep (GOD-willing) is that it is not about me but all about HIM/Him.
All Glory to GOD
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