Reflecting Christ

 

CHALLENGING TIMES REQUIRE BIG DECISIONS ON WHOM TO TURN.

 

A heart to give . . . serving Jamaica.

 

Are we even trying?????

 

We are surrounded!

 

Seeing God . . .

 

Identifying sin in our lives?

 

Immorality . . . Holding One Another Accountable Series '24

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Sometimes the best choice is to run. It is in fact the first thing we normally do when in danger is it not? We run from a dog chasing us. We ran from our parents when they caught us doing wrong as a young child. Criminals run from the police. We run out of a burning building!

So why, when facing trouble in our moral choices, do we choose to stay and get into trouble? We are instructed to resist the devil and he will flee! (James 4:7) We are told to flee youthful lusts.(2 Timothy 2:22)

Maybe if we looked at sexual sin and our immoral fleshly lusts more as sin than as pleasure, then we would run! Perhaps we should simply agree with God and start to think differently.

Trusting God....or things?

Do we really trust God, or the things and people around us?  

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:4-5)

There are so many advice columns, self-help books, and lifestyle plans out today that it can get very confusing. Do this to lose weight . . . do that to rid yourself of pain . . . even students are overwhelmed with "easy" scholarship offers for college! Hey . . . just take one gummie a day and see the change in your life! Everyone has the answer to every problem yet we are still left frustrated and searching! 

There is really only one answer . . . trust God, not things! After all, He made us and should know what we need, how much and when. We must get connected and remain connected (John 15:5) for any self-help to occur. For my self to get better I need to be in tune with the One who made my self! 

I got this!

 

God is in control . . . trust Him!

Whether we are going through a mental health battle, grieving the loss of a loved one, being exposed to an entirely new city, or facing deadlines at work, know that we can be grounded because God is in control.

We like to think we can control everything, but we really can’t. We make our own decisions and choices, yet God is the one who is ultimately in control, guiding our path toward His goodness and glory. Since God is loving, caring, and perfect, we can trust Him with the outcome of every situation, even if we don’t understand it at the time.

Turn to God and trust Him. He will keep us grounded during these trials. Even the simplest of verses that most of us have memorized still works today:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

He will help you stay grounded through this difficult, uncontrollable season. Trust God, yes. Also trust what /who He has provided to assist us:

• Seek advice from friends/associates
• Go outside and enjoy nature
• Breathe deeply now and then
• Therapy....it's ok!

With God, we will get through any situation and come out refined as gold.

So not true

So you thought it would get easier did you? Many do one they accept Christ as Lord and Savior. So not true! God will not remove us from this world and all its troubles and challenges, but rather use us through them to glorify Him! Read the words from Paul below . . . he knew of struggles!

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I have heard it said that God will test us to the brink of needing Him to make it out. We will not be able to make it alone, but as we go through, we realize the only way to make it through is by His grace. This way, He gets the glory, not us.

We have to learn to lean upon God. We must stop failing on our own and use the help He offers!

Never . . . more!

So when do we know enough? Simple answer . . . NEVER! We need to know!

While we will never know all about God, we should never stop trying to find out more about Him. The more we can understand of the magnitude of His love and grace, the more we grow in our love for Him. Just like with our spouse, we should be desiring to know more and more about the person God is. After all, He is the most important person in our lives!

God the Holy Spirit is not spoken about or spoken to as often as should be. He is real. He is living inside every believer. he desires for us to know Him deeper. He wants nothing but good for us. In fact, He even prays for us when we don't know what to say! Why do we not seek Him more?

Let's focus on getting to know God the Holy Spirit more today . . . this week . . . every day in fact. We will never know enough but should be seeking to know more.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)