Category: Personal Relationship with God

Mistake Or Sin?

If we do something accidentally, we can call it a mistake. When we do something even though we know it will hurt ourselves or someone else, then it is sin. The knowing is what makes the distinction.

We like to write off our sin as a mistake and blame others for what we have done. Sometimes, we even blame God for our actions. We also blame Him for the circumstance that we experience because of our actions. We can live righteously before God when we can take responsibility for our decisions and our actions, admit our mistakes, and confess our sin.

Confession of sins to Christ is the big one. He already knows but we don’t receive forgiveness unless we ask. If we have unforgiven sin in our lives, it separates us from God and our other prayers will not reach Him. To be sure, we should enter our prayer time by asking for forgiveness of anything that may be in the way of reaching God. Ask Him to point out areas where we need to repent. Then He will hear our petitions and work in our life.

To avoid responsibility, we look for someone else to blame. If we had any way to keep from doing what we did and still did it, then we should accept the responsibility and the blame is on us. The sin needs to be confessed without putting blame on others. If we are truly seeking God and want to do right, He will provide a way of escape when we are tempted to do wrong. We will have to choose to hold our ground or to step into the danger zone.

The danger zone may take us to places we never wanted to go. The more disobedient we become and the further from God we get will just cause us more difficulty when and if we ever choose to go back. It would be better to not go there. We must seek God for help before we take that step and if we do slip, it is best to repent and turn immediately.

John 9:31

31We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

13No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Isaiah 64:7 (NLT)

7Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.

How Are We Doing?

Ephesians 5:1-8 (NLT)

Living in the Light

5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

How are we doing? Can people recognize us as belonging to God by the way we talk and act. Can God recognize us? Can God say, “That one is mine, I can tell by the way he acts/talks”?

Can people see our Heavenly Father in us?

What Does God Want To Do For You?

We cannot expect others to solve our problems. We need to take steps to solve the problems that we face. We need to start by making sure we are right with God. We cannot always solve our problems on our own. We should give them to God before we even try. Once they are submitted to God, we should allow Him to work and we should be listening to what He wants us to do.

God want to help us overcome all that comes against us. He is waiting for us to give those problems to Him and trust that He will work them out to our good and His glory. If we truly seek Him, He will move. We must live in faith, knowing that He is able and willing. If we are not right with Him, we will lack the confidence we need to have that faith.

We try in vain to solve our problems on our own. The flesh will fail us. Ask the Holy Spirit to come in and guide you. This can be a process so keep seeking, don’t give up. Christ came that we can live in the Spirit and not the law. The law represents the flesh and our own strength. The Spirit is of God that is all powerful. He can do for us what we can’t even imagine. He will want control over every aspect of our life but He will make it good. We can’t settle for only allowing Him to work in certain areas. We must submit it all.

Even though God is all powerful, He will not force Himself on you. If you decide to work in your own strength, He can choose to allow you to struggle in your problem. He can allow your problem to escalate until it seems too big to handle. He can allow you to live without His blessings. He wants to help but He allows you to decide. We will someday bow before Him. Why not do it when we can be blessed? If we decide later in life, we cause ourselves and our families strife that could be avoided. If we decide to wait until our life on earth expires, we will still bow but we will only be cast out for not making the choice when we had the chance.

People think they lose control of their life by giving it over to God. It is actually the opposite. When  we don’t chose Christ, we actually leave ourselves open for Satan to come against us without having any defenses and then Satan is ultimately in control. By choosing Christ, we actually can feel a freedom that cannot be felt by any other means.

Living in the Law (our own strength)

vs.

Living in the Spirit (allowing the all knowing and all powerful God to control every aspect of our life)

Get Alone With God

Take time to get alone with God in prayer. Jesus did it so how much more do we need it.

Keep your eyes on Jesus not on the conditions of your circumstance.

Keep your faith no matter what seems to be happening. Worship Him. The people had faith that just to touch the edge of his cloak was enough to heal them. When you experience just a touch of a relationship with Him, you will desire to have more and so much more is what He is willing to give.

 

READ: Matthew 14:22-36 (NIV)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Be Set Free

Your sin will tear you to shreds as a lamb in a lion’s mouth. Jesus can rescue you and heal your wounds. He can heal all your hurts. If you are in any bondage, you must demand freedom. The oppressor (Satan) won’t set you free. The oppressed must demand to be free. God will not come upon you uninvited. You must ask to be rescued. With the help of God, you can demand Satan to flee from you. He must flee in the name of Jesus.