To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what brought this on. I was minding my own business, getting ready for tomorrow when I started thinking...And eventually thought that it would make an okay blog/discussion starter. Here are the statements/questions that ran through my head:
How can I stop [insert any kind of addiction/constant problem]? I can't stop, not on my own. Hell, it's my own will that wants to do [inserted problem]. "Do it with God's strength!" is what preachers teach. How can I do that? How do I access "God's strength"? How can I be strong enough to gain God's strength, and not stop [said problem]? I am not strong enough to turn away, nor am I strong enough to turn to God.
Now...I've pretty much been raised in the pentecostal way, and I can't shake all those charismatic preachers at the pulpit shoutin', "Turn to God!" for strength, comfort, security, etc. I'm finding that it's not that easy (duh). Few teachers out there will teach that a Christian walk is "easy" and those that do should be run out of town.
I don't know how to turn. Humans are creatures of habit, and some habits are harder than others to break.
Please don't question my beliefs. I know very well that there is a God and very much a Devil. I've felt and seen both extremes in life; some personally, others I bore witness to. I've seen people torn with stress and panic calmed in a blink of an eye. I've seen where curious minds have gone to try and explain "what if God isn't God?" or "what is God?" At times, I've wondered myself whether God really is God, but I'm always drawn back to the fact that if He wasn't, than life, EVERYTHING would be coincidence. (What a laugh!)
"By faith, we walk" is the motto that got pounded into my brain many years ago. I know there is a difference between knowing and believing, and you believe by faith, but can knowing be faith? So I ask this: How do you know if you have faith?
I know God exists. I'm pretty sure He likes me and wants to help. How do you turn?
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2 comments:
That has been an issue that I have dealt with for several years. As Paul once said, we do things we don't want to do and don't do things we want to do! How frustrating...
I stumbled upon some truths in Romans 12 and also in two books I have read (Celebration of Discipline and The Divine Conspiracy). The way to turn is to submit to the Kingdom of God and to walk in his will. The only way we ever learn his will is to be transformed into His Son's image. Circular logic? A little bit. We become like Christ by being transformed and submitting to the Kingdom. That is something that I have wrestled with and will be the subject of my next few blog postings. I'll wrestle with this topic alongside with you. :-)
Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Jerbear hit the nail on the head with what paul said. But from my own thoughts which we have talked about I too have had your feelings. But
1. If you really want to be rid of a addiction that is controlling you, you have to do it in your mind first. This is where God comes in. Cause we sure as hell can't do it ourselves. But like you said it isn't easy.
2. Like you I ask how do I call upon God? I search the word. I find that there was no secret magic form to do. Simply like a child scared they fell to their knees and cried out to the one who made them. Which is what I do.
3. The faith thing is described perfect in a DC Talk song called Minds Eye off the Jesus Freak Album.
"Can you catch the wind?
See a breeze?
Its presence is revealed by
The leaves on a tree
An image of my faith in the unseen."
"Can you catch the wind?
[Can you see God, have you ever seen Him?
I've never seen the wind
I seen the effects of the wind
But I've never seen the wind]
Can you see the breeze?
[There's a mystery to it]."
You know you have faith and you believe by what is shown. You of all people have seen God work. You can't doubt he is real. If you do then look at what you have called upon him and seen what he has done. This isn't a magic lamp. But this is how I have faith. It's not the tell all on how to have it. But I see the effects of his wind in a sense and believe. Even when I don't want to lol.
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