I'll be very honest. Trusting God is not easy. I have a very difficult time with this. It is hard to trust God with everything; finances, relationships, education; it's hard. But you know what is harder? It is harder to try to figure things out by yourself. Let me explain a bit.
I have tried so many times to try to figure things out on my own. I have done things that I regret because I was doing what I thought was right, or what I was feeling like I wanted to do. However... each time I have found out that my plan... well, it sucks. Every time, I let myself down, and I always let the people around me down too. And I'll be honest... I don't like doing that.
I'm in the process of learning to lay things down and let them go, giving them to God. Cause honestly, God knows all of it, and He knows everything that is going to happen. And I believe that God has the best plan for my life. I also think He has the best plan for your life.
The best thing that one can do to learn how to let go and trust God is to grow closer to Him. In every relationship, as you get closer to someone, you trust them more. If we grow closer to God, we will learn to trust Him more, and then we will be able to let things go. And how do we get closer to God? Well, how do you get closer to anyone? You spend time with them. You talk with them. This is what you need to do with God. You need to take time to spend with Him, praying and listening for Him to answer. You need to read His Word, and reflect on it. Just like when you think about what your friends say, think about what God says.
I'm not saying that this is going to change things completely. This is a process, and it is going to take time. The best relationships are formed over time. Your relationship with God will form. It takes time and work, just like any other relationship, but it will be worth it.
You can and will learn to trust if you want to. So, what do you want to do?
Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Monday, November 2, 2015
"Gracious and Attractive"
Colossians 4:2-6 {NLT}
"Devote yourselves to prayer, with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone."
Why did I highlight the last part of this passage? This is something people (especially close friends) have been reminding me of this last little bit. I struggle with my conversations being "gracious" and "attractive," especially when I am stressed or overwhelmed or don't think I can do it anymore. God has been teaching me this last week about it. He uses people to speak to us, and when He highlights the same thing in Scripture, it is time to really listen and pay attention to what He is saying. This is what God taught me from this last part of Colossians:
We need to be careful in our conversations. We need to make sure that they are indeed "gracious" and "attractive" so that we can be leading people to God instead of driving them away from God. If we focus our conversations on things that are, as Philippians 4:8 says, true, right, pure, lovely, honorable, and admirable, we will be more likely, and more able to lead people toward God, instead of driving them away with "unattractive" and "ungracious" conversations.
This is hard to do sometimes. I know, especially when people upset me, that I am not likely to be very "gracious" and "attractive" in my speech. Did you know that our thoughts are important as well? Philippians 4:8 (as referred to above) is talking about our thoughts. As Jesus says in Matthew 15:18, "But the words you speak come from the heart - that's what defiles you." What we are thinking can be just as bad as what we are saying (or, in some cases, worse than what we are saying). Our heart is the center of us. Everything springs forth from the heart.
How can we practically "put into practice" what we have learned? Well, I have a few suggestions. Like I said before, this is something I struggle with, so I am definitely no expert on this! The best place to go is to the Bible or to ask the Lord in prayer.
Here are a few ways we can learn to be "gracious and attractive" in our conversations:
1) Listen! We do not have to agree with them. We do not have to even support what they are saying. But we need to be gracious enough to let them speak their mind, and then we can share our opinion on the topic.
2) Be gentle! Do not force something on someone. It is disrespectful, unattractive, and not at all gracious.
3) Stop! If you cannot be calm and rational with someone, do not talk to them. Walk away. Come back and talk to them. I have had to do this when I have gotten into heated debates, or even arguments with people, or if I am upset with them about something. Remember what Mom always taught... "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"
In the end, most of it is common sense. Be kind to people, gracious and forgiving in speech and in manner. If you are unable to do this, walk away and calm down instead of saying something that could be very damaging to someone. Remember Philippians 4:8 and apply that to your life, in every aspect, and you will be well on your way!
"Devote yourselves to prayer, with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone."
Why did I highlight the last part of this passage? This is something people (especially close friends) have been reminding me of this last little bit. I struggle with my conversations being "gracious" and "attractive," especially when I am stressed or overwhelmed or don't think I can do it anymore. God has been teaching me this last week about it. He uses people to speak to us, and when He highlights the same thing in Scripture, it is time to really listen and pay attention to what He is saying. This is what God taught me from this last part of Colossians:
We need to be careful in our conversations. We need to make sure that they are indeed "gracious" and "attractive" so that we can be leading people to God instead of driving them away from God. If we focus our conversations on things that are, as Philippians 4:8 says, true, right, pure, lovely, honorable, and admirable, we will be more likely, and more able to lead people toward God, instead of driving them away with "unattractive" and "ungracious" conversations.
This is hard to do sometimes. I know, especially when people upset me, that I am not likely to be very "gracious" and "attractive" in my speech. Did you know that our thoughts are important as well? Philippians 4:8 (as referred to above) is talking about our thoughts. As Jesus says in Matthew 15:18, "But the words you speak come from the heart - that's what defiles you." What we are thinking can be just as bad as what we are saying (or, in some cases, worse than what we are saying). Our heart is the center of us. Everything springs forth from the heart.
How can we practically "put into practice" what we have learned? Well, I have a few suggestions. Like I said before, this is something I struggle with, so I am definitely no expert on this! The best place to go is to the Bible or to ask the Lord in prayer.
Here are a few ways we can learn to be "gracious and attractive" in our conversations:
1) Listen! We do not have to agree with them. We do not have to even support what they are saying. But we need to be gracious enough to let them speak their mind, and then we can share our opinion on the topic.
2) Be gentle! Do not force something on someone. It is disrespectful, unattractive, and not at all gracious.
3) Stop! If you cannot be calm and rational with someone, do not talk to them. Walk away. Come back and talk to them. I have had to do this when I have gotten into heated debates, or even arguments with people, or if I am upset with them about something. Remember what Mom always taught... "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"
In the end, most of it is common sense. Be kind to people, gracious and forgiving in speech and in manner. If you are unable to do this, walk away and calm down instead of saying something that could be very damaging to someone. Remember Philippians 4:8 and apply that to your life, in every aspect, and you will be well on your way!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Honesty; The Best Policy!
Who of you has told at least one white lie? I know that I have. Usually it is to protect other people. (Sometimes to protect myself!) Like, when people ask how you are doing. I usually say "good", "okay" or "fine." Do I always mean it? No! But it is easier to say that than to get into a conversation on your whole life; worries, concerns, burdens. But God's Word tells us to be honest with one another, no matter what the cost. No, it may not be easy or fun, but it is what God asks of us.
1 Corinthians 3:9-10 says this; "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him..." I suggest you read verse 11 too. But I'll leave that to you.
Basically, we are told that lying is not a good thing to do. I have another verse to back me up on what God believes about lying. I rarely read the book of Revelation, because to me, it is somewhat scary! But it was in my references, so I looked it up. Revelation 21:27 says this; "But there shall by no means enter it (heaven) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."
Ouch! That seems a little harsh, doesn't it? Well, think about it. Heaven is a perfect place, right? If something is perfect, nothing evil can exist within it, right? So, when you think of it that way, it does make sense!
Now, I'm not saying that God doesn't allow anyone who isn't perfect into heaven. Rather, He wants us all to enter heaven! Titus 1:2 says " in hope of eternal life which God, Who cannot lie, promised before time began..."
So you see, God loves us all and wants us all in His kingdom. He cares so much about us He gave us a way to spend all of our lives with Him; both now and forevermore! That was through Jesus' death and resurrection. That is the only way we can find forgiveness and love; arms open wide to receive us! If you want to find out how to be forgiven from your sins, and how to become a follower of Jesus, I ask you to read some of my past posts. They should explain everything to you!
If you would like to comment, I would appreciate feedback.
Thanks! God bless!
1 Corinthians 3:9-10 says this; "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him..." I suggest you read verse 11 too. But I'll leave that to you.
Basically, we are told that lying is not a good thing to do. I have another verse to back me up on what God believes about lying. I rarely read the book of Revelation, because to me, it is somewhat scary! But it was in my references, so I looked it up. Revelation 21:27 says this; "But there shall by no means enter it (heaven) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."
Ouch! That seems a little harsh, doesn't it? Well, think about it. Heaven is a perfect place, right? If something is perfect, nothing evil can exist within it, right? So, when you think of it that way, it does make sense!
Now, I'm not saying that God doesn't allow anyone who isn't perfect into heaven. Rather, He wants us all to enter heaven! Titus 1:2 says " in hope of eternal life which God, Who cannot lie, promised before time began..."
So you see, God loves us all and wants us all in His kingdom. He cares so much about us He gave us a way to spend all of our lives with Him; both now and forevermore! That was through Jesus' death and resurrection. That is the only way we can find forgiveness and love; arms open wide to receive us! If you want to find out how to be forgiven from your sins, and how to become a follower of Jesus, I ask you to read some of my past posts. They should explain everything to you!
If you would like to comment, I would appreciate feedback.
Thanks! God bless!
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