Category: Personal Relationship with God

What Do You Think?

Do you think people hesitate to ask God what He wants of them for fear of what He may ask them to do?

Do you think God will pour out His spirit on someone that is not really seeking Him?

If you have daily bible reading and seek God on a daily basis and know that you desire what He desires and you are honestly and eagerly seeking God’s will in your life, would you be short changing yourself to not go to the altar at church when an altar call is made even if you don’t feel a push from God to go?

Do you think everyone should be at the altar during an altar call because none of us have arrived at perfection and we will always need more of God to make our life better and draw closer to God?

Do people not go to the altar because they really feel they are as close to God as they can get or they think they are “good enough” or because they fear what other people will think?

Do you think God would hold blessings back from a person because someone else (say a family member, friend, spouse) is not being obedient?

Do you think bad things happen to good people to get someone else (say a family member, friend, spouse) to bend their knee and seek God?

Wouldn’t it be better to have all that God wants for you and be asked to do things you don’t like than to miss a blessing?

Wouldn’t you become a stronger person by doing things that may be a little uncomfortable because once you completed the task you would realize how God can give you the power to do things you thought were not possible?

Wouldn’t it be better to be obedient in all things so that others would not fall or suffer because of your disobedience?

Powerful Prayer

Psalm 51:1-17  (NIV1984)

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts[a];
you teach[b] me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are[c] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

Powerful Prayer

Forgiveness

Wisdom

Cleasing

Holy Spirit “ 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” NIV

Sustainer

Lead others away from their sin and to God’s forgiveness

“17 The sacrifices of God area broken spirit,  a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.” NIV

Jesus Friend of Sinners by Casting Crowns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=sOiD0cREjjU&feature=endscreen

God gives us so much for the asking.

Ask for forgiveness for your sins and all these other things and then go lead others.

What Does Christianity Look Like?

Maybe you look at Christians and say that’s not for me. Well that’s not necessarily what God has for you. If you don’t like what someone’s relationship with God looks like, don’t worry. You are different and God does not want you to have their relationship. He created you unique and He wants to have a unique relationship with you. You will like the one He has for you, but you have to be the one to invite Him to share His plan with you. He has special plans for you and won’t give you more than you can handle and He will get you through the things that are tough. Just ask. Talk to Him. You will see.

You have probably seen Christians act badly but don’t let that stop you from what God has for you. He is still working on them. He works on each of us differently and at different times. He requests different things from us based on our abilities and desires that He has given us. His plan is complete. Pray for the Christian that you think is acting improperly because they may need some extra strength. Ask God to work in their life because it is not our job to fix them. Focus on God not on people because people will fail you.

It is also not someone’s else job to fix us. We need to be seeking God and walking in the light that He gives us. God may put people in our path to help guide us but be certain they are on the path we want to be on. If we are stumbling, ask God to help us get straightened out so that we aren’t causing our brother to stumble. We are never above falling. If you think you are, you are probably closer than ever to the edge of the cliff. Be careful.

Christianity will look different to everyone and it will also be a different experience for everyone.

Why Do You Go To Church?

Do you go to socialize?

We should enjoy the company of others when at church. We should enjoy friends that have the same goals and share common interests.

Do you go to get a pat on the back from the pastor or other people?

We should go to church to be encouraged and also to encourage others but that should not be our primary purpose.

Do you complain about how services are organized or what music is played?

If God is calling you to help with the job then you should be sure to step forward to see where you could be of help. If not, then you should enjoy the parts you like and ask God to help you with the parts that are meant for others to enjoy.

Do you complain about the message?

If the pastor is not preaching from God’s Word then you may want to seek another church. If he is preaching the Bible then you should probably tune in. You can read with him or go home and read the scripture reverence but be sure to ask God what He is telling you on a personal basis. The amazing part of God’s Word is that it is alive. It is the Living Word. It speaks to all of us individually. It can even tell us something difference at another time in our life when we reread something we have read before.

The main reasons for church should be to worship God and to draw closer to God. You should worship in whatever way you enjoy and being obedient to what God asks of you including using your talents that He has given you. We can draw closer to Him by discussion in a Sunday School class or small group studies. We also can draw closer through the message the pastor brings to the service. If He has taken time to pray and study so that He can give someone insight and make their life more meaningful, we should praise God even if it was for someone else’s betterment. If you gain a deeper understanding of God’s word from the message, then your life should be blessed and you could pass that on by sharing your thankfulness to the pastor for caring enough to bring the message to his congregation. If you are displeased with the message, you should probably take that up with God. You should probably ask if it was delivered for your growth. We don’t usually get offended when we think a message was meant for someone else. We have a tendency to be offended when we feel we have been corrected or asked to step out and do something.

What kind of message do you want to hear?

A message that tells us how good we are doing will keep us where we are. You will be encouraged to keep on doing what you are doing and you will never be any more than you already are.

A message of truth that comes from God should encourage you to step out in your faith to do whatever God is asking you to do. It may speak differently to each person but it should still help you to grow closer to God and help you to become a better person than you already are. It may be tough and it may hurt a little but those are the things that cause growth. God’s word was created to show us how to live and help us make our lives better. If the message brings us the Word, we should be willing to walk in it. We should also be reading on our own and praying to God to reveal the truth to us. When this all works together, the message will be able to be accepted and applied in the way it was intended and the whole body of Christ can move forward.

Do you want to move forward or remain stagnant?

Your approach and attitude will reflect your desire and commitment.

Why does God want you in church? What is God telling you? Are you talking to Him? Are you asking Him to show you what He wants to do in your life?