None Whatsoever

I do have a question.
How do you go about this and explain this to someone about relying on God's strength and not by what we can do alone?
One more question.
The way it has worked out in my life, I rely on God to help me, to change me, but I have a friend that seems so persistant on things getting better or fixed over night. Their thinking is God is just going to emediatly do or change something, or at least I should do or change something. As if it is that easy it's not. This person just expects things to change over night. I have, like all of us do, I need some work and change. I don't want just outside change, I want change on the inside. So I wait and rely on the Lord, I do what I need to do and wait. God has changed me on several things, and it has taken time.
This is my struggle with my friend, I can't get my friend to see or understand that.

Romans chap;8v5 an 6 tells us exactly what paul is talking about.to remain focus in Christ Jesus is to at all times think about his goodness his love an also his Grace he has bestows upon us as christians.an walk in his path.

I love the Lord sooo much that I do not want to do wrong in my life. I am human though and do make mistakes, but i have a Parent that loves me sooo much that he is always there to pick me up and go with me where ever I go.

I am getting better at giving things to God. I went for years as a Christian still living on my own knowledge and strength. But, that just made things worse. I finally came to the end of myself and now ask God to search my heart, so that I know what I am really doing, after I have prayed this I then look at what God says about the circumstances then I can respond in the correct way. Life is so much better when I surrender everything to God and there is a peace that we gain from knowing that one far greater than us is in control.

I also like to remind myself of what 1 Corn. 10:13 says; No Temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The Bible is filled with promises for those that put their hope and trust in God alone, and those promises give me hope and strength in times of trouble.

May God’s wisdom and knowledge guide all of us that belief in Him who gave his life for us.

The greatest commandment JESUS gave us is to love and if you look at this passage it revolves around LOVE. Now just think about it, when you gather all the passages in Philippians, Paul is having a time to explain to everyone in his generation that love is the greatest thing we can do to fulfill the mission GOD has given us. In our day people have misused the meaning of love. GOD's love is pure without a price. This is why we need to reflect on that love. A love that is without blame or shame. A love that reaches out to a brother or sister without need for repayment.

Tami, I have to admit that I have the same struggle. However, I have set aside the beginning of each day for the bible reading/blog, and I also listen to several ministers that I get podcasts from each day, and follow that with prayer. When I start my day this way, it helps to keep my mind on our Lord Jesus Christ, and know that I can lean on him for the day. This has helped me a LOT! Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to read and share with those of like mind!

I'm just grateful for today's devotion. I praise God for reminding me that He is enough. That things like wealth, position, and the like are nothing compared to the relationship we have in Christ. :)

When I am hurt by another's action .... I have to tell myself God is the only one who counts, I ask Him to help me rise above what my flesh is feeling and you know once I give it to Him, I have such relief as I know it is His strength, His love that I depend on. I feel His presence in my workplace and I have to remember that my actions/reactions are being viewed by co-workers who are not in Christ.

I can relate--absolutely! Before Jesus when something went wrong all I knew how to act was fleshly. I have been getting better at going off by myself. Then it's just me and GOD. But that's because today I have a choice. I can remain in the flesh or turn it over to GOD. I like the verses: "The battle belongs to the LORD" and "Not by might or power but by MY Spirit saith the LORD. Keeping a good Christian song that I like in my heart and on my mind helps. Also being loaded with verses from the Bible helps too. The last two work the best for me. But getting away and alone with GOD helps "NOT" make a fool out of myself on the spot! Like yesterday I tried to expose hypocrisy and became the hypocrite! It seems like everything I do just backfires. Maybe it is better for me to just sit back quietly and look the fool than to open up my mouth and remove all doubt. I am sorry.

What a challenge. To count everything as loss to be found in Him, not having a righteousness of our own. We put up so many "laws" for ourselves that God Himself has never required, and try to get satisfaction by "obeying" them. The righteousness of God in Jesus, which depends on faith and repentance, seems much easier, but is much harder to live.

In knowing Him, we will also experience the power of His ressurrection, we will share in his sufferings and become like Him in His death. These are the only ways to truly know Him.

Oh Lord, prepare my soul to truly know You as you ought to be known. Help me abandon my selfish ways and confidence in my flesh, trusting You completely. You are our gain, You are our reward.

That is so true Anon.
I have done the same thing. I am so quick to to say something and I end up being the hypocrite. Wow. My job is to let God take care of it.

I am befuddled by the Apostle Paul. I mean he was the Hebrew of Hebrews, the persecutor of the Church (as am I sometimes-a lot of times-)! Then what happened? He got knocked off his high horse, had a encounter(?) with the ONE-N-ONLY, endured beatings, jail, ridicule, etc., then wrote 3/4 of the N.T. My flesh tells me that's a "tough act to follow." (Did you know that complacency works better than discouragement because it's less painful) But HIS Spirit says: "with GOD noting is impossible" Amen!? Via con Dios amigos!

To trust in the LORD completely is not possible for me .
I think that's why he sends trials my way which bring me to the end of my self I then I have no exit from the trial except through he who is the way.

To trust in the LORD completely is not possible for me .
I think that's why he sends trials my way which bring me to the end of my self I then I have no exit from the trial except through he who is the way.

I am still wandering around in the Desert Of "I have to solve everybody's problems and well as my own"! When all else fails-pray!

How many years will I wander around and around trying to do on my own?

I'm like a little toddler trying to do it myself as my very patient Father waits for me to realize that I can't do it on my own. I know in my heart to go to God in prayer FIRST-but over and over again--I still try to "fix' it first.

Thanks be to God who is so full of mercy and grace that He forgives my foolish attempts to right the world.

Dear Anonymous-
Maybe my experience will help you have insight. I have always been about making money, titles, and being independent. In my mind that is what gave me worth. So I would work and work and do it all by myself - just to validate myself.

This verse is so perfect for me because I am just now learning that my money, my title, and my independence doesn't give me my self worth- but I had to loose my job to figure that out. Now that is a big change! But something that I think God had in store for me because for 20 years I have struggled with putting all MY confidence in MY flesh.

Please let your friend know this.
1. As I venture through this new stage in my life I can still do everything on my own, but this makes me anxious and lonely. However, I am much more happy when I let Christ in and recognize that there are people out there, serving through Him, to help and support me. Not just happy, but REJOICING. Every day I wake up with gratitude that God is with me, on my side, rooting for me because he loves me.

2. As far as change over night, God is capable of anything. However in my experience change for anyone takes time - some faster than others (I am quick to change). Change is just not a physical thing- like loosing or quitting a job (this is the fast part), it is also a mindset thing- like "I have to keep everything in control and if I don't have a job how can I be in control?" (this it the slow part) To help change your mindset you need daily support from Christ. He will give it to you.

Hope this helps.
E

Tami- Thanks once again hitting the nail on the head for me and giving me the reminder that my identity should be in Christ and not in the confidence of the flesh. This bible study and group has been an answer from God. I am so grateful for what you do. Thanks, Elise

PS: """" Thank Y♥U for ROMANS 8:5 """"

In response to Anonymous' question. I think that it has something to do with: the just shall walk by faith, and faith comes by way of hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD. Which is Quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart!
As for the other question, I think we plant the seed and GOD does the watering & pruning.

We learn from our mistakes and move on (fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me:-) But Satan, that ol' serpent, the adversary wants to use my mistakes as a rod and try to beat me away from Jesus, my first love! Amen?!

Yes I agree with getting the song on my mind and then into my heart, it works! The one that has manifested itself within me is:
"Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere"
via con Dios mi amigos!

I am so quick to preach ....GIVE IT TO GOD...SURRENDER IT TO GOD....LET GO AND LET GOD, but I have been struggling soooo much lately. I used to be so good at it and as a result I felt amazing peace and calmness. I just KNEW God would take care of it. I can't remember being in a spot so dark as I am now. I continue to do daily devotionals, attend bible study and service and most importantly tithe when we can't even pay our bills. I know that he does not give us a cross we can not bear, but my back is feeling broken and my knees bloodied. I begin every prayer with what I am so thankful for and have almost quit asking for what I think I need because God knows. I am trying so hard to not be "woe is me" but I am feeling defeated. Please keep me in your prayers, that I may continue to give him the glory he so deserves and to be patient.

Juliana: What a perfect short prayer to keep things in perspective. Thank you!

Oh Lord, prepare my soul to truly know You as you ought to be known. Help me abandon my selfish ways and confidence in my flesh, trusting You completely. You are our gain, You are our reward.

I try to look for all of the little blessings that most of us miss because we are looking at the 'trial' at hand. Sometimes, I consider that 'Wow, God protected me from ...' or 'Amazing that God can use me, little human me, to help show His glory around this hospital...' or 'What blessing will I receive from this experience?' Peace that passeth all understanding can be beyond compare!

Thank you everybody for your help and encouragement.
God Bless

Barbara,

Thanks for sharing your heart with us. We'll pray for you. Tami W.

I think that if we truely believe in the strength of our Lord, we won't have to depend on anything that we are physically capable of. To stay focused on Christ, I try to always think of him when something comes up that I try and handle on my own. I try to trust God to do what he thinks is right, which doesn't always mean that what I want will happen.