Your Biggest Struggle...
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I suppose, to answer this question:
what comes to mind for me right now is this:
Walking out life at home that is consistent to what I preach/teach/read/share with my family. (I.E. being a living example, not living in hypocrisy "the bible says "xyz" but then turning and doing/saying something contrary to that.)
It is easy to walk out faith/ practice what you preach outside the home, where the people you interact with only see the side of you that you allow to be seen. It is quiet different doing so in the home where the ones you live with see EVERY SIDE of you, both the good and the not so good.
I think I could give other answers to this question, but this is what first jumped out at me, for myself .
Since prayer is a matter of talking with the Lord, and can be done ANYTIME ANYWHERE, then whenever a situation comes to mind that I realize I need to repent of and seek help in. For example: I love that even in the most chaotic situations I can quietly say "Lord I need help here!" Situations that test patience "Lord, I need help with this patience stuff because I'm about to blow my lid!!!!" And then just like that... (so long as I YIELD (aka SUBMIT) to His leading, patience takes over me
by going back to the Word of God and checking that my actions line up with what He says.......
example:
1 Corinthians 13 1
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
Have I been patient with this person/situation? Have I shown kindness in the matter? What are my motivations for what I am doing? Am I keeping score of something done wrong last year?
I then take those answers and reflect upon them. If my answers / actions are not lining up with the word then I know it's time to pray about it, find out what's in me that is causing things not to line up.
Sometimes it's that I've been caught up in worldly advice and have picked up an attitude of selfishness. When I realize this then I know it's time to get back to the Word of God and keep my mind upon Him in these matters.
what comes to mind for me right now is this:
Walking out life at home that is consistent to what I preach/teach/read/share with my family. (I.E. being a living example, not living in hypocrisy "the bible says "xyz" but then turning and doing/saying something contrary to that.)
It is easy to walk out faith/ practice what you preach outside the home, where the people you interact with only see the side of you that you allow to be seen. It is quiet different doing so in the home where the ones you live with see EVERY SIDE of you, both the good and the not so good.
I think I could give other answers to this question, but this is what first jumped out at me, for myself .
Since prayer is a matter of talking with the Lord, and can be done ANYTIME ANYWHERE, then whenever a situation comes to mind that I realize I need to repent of and seek help in. For example: I love that even in the most chaotic situations I can quietly say "Lord I need help here!" Situations that test patience "Lord, I need help with this patience stuff because I'm about to blow my lid!!!!" And then just like that... (so long as I YIELD (aka SUBMIT) to His leading, patience takes over me
by going back to the Word of God and checking that my actions line up with what He says.......
example:
1 Corinthians 13 1
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
Have I been patient with this person/situation? Have I shown kindness in the matter? What are my motivations for what I am doing? Am I keeping score of something done wrong last year?
I then take those answers and reflect upon them. If my answers / actions are not lining up with the word then I know it's time to pray about it, find out what's in me that is causing things not to line up.
Sometimes it's that I've been caught up in worldly advice and have picked up an attitude of selfishness. When I realize this then I know it's time to get back to the Word of God and keep my mind upon Him in these matters.
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Good question. Sometimes its just dealing with unbelievers I learned early on that to keep the pearl of salvation hidden at times rather than cast it before swine, who had no interest in it.
Sometimes God wants me to be bold, but being bold means you get a lot of flak. People dont like change. I think its the older generstion that can be the most resistant and hard to reach. And they can be the most oppressive.
I dont really pray about this in general just specific people who give me a hard time. I have to not take it personally, even when it seems personal. Its spiritual warfare at times. Some people shy away from any mention of it, but Ive find it really important to pray binding and loosing prayers.
Sometimes God wants me to be bold, but being bold means you get a lot of flak. People dont like change. I think its the older generstion that can be the most resistant and hard to reach. And they can be the most oppressive.
I dont really pray about this in general just specific people who give me a hard time. I have to not take it personally, even when it seems personal. Its spiritual warfare at times. Some people shy away from any mention of it, but Ive find it really important to pray binding and loosing prayers.
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I can remember this thought CharliRenee, and add it to my thoughts above. Because ,as I'm sure you know firsthand, caring for others can become very tiring at times..... for me that can lead to bad attitudes and an unloving drive for getting things done.
Even in pure exhaustion we can do what must be done in love......
Even in pure exhaustion we can do what must be done in love......
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Patience with mentally ill people has been hard...it can be a pain to guide people who just came into the faith and somehow cant let go of a dark past and know things yet arent capable to do it often..like letting go or not bursting out in anger etc....
Being patient especially when its needed is hard
Being patient especially when its needed is hard
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Amen Gregoryp, I struggle with obedience every day. The "old man" of flesh rears his ugly head all to often in my daily walk. Like Godsgirl said: dealing with family and those around you seems a test of endurance to live the spiritual way. They will rub us raw and bring out our worst. I try to die daily, but I often seem to fall short of that. Pray for me!
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When anyone struggling with anything, particularly with flesh, the thing is to FAST and pray.
Not just pray. You need to be prepared give up whatever it is that is in the way. Flesh clings to bone. You want the holy spirit to cut right through that.
Sorry if not explaining it well. But going to the OT, remember the story of Jacob how he wrestled with someone at night and it turned out to be God. He said I wont let go until you bless me. GOd won and Jacob ended up with his dislocated hip or shank bone. Youve got to get hold of God and even though Hes always going to win, dont let go until He blesses you.
New testament. What do we do with our mind? We take every thought captive to Christ. So if you thinking a bunch of wrong thoughts, catch them and send them to Jesus. You CAN control your thoughts. You can choose to think of good thoughts. Just like, you can turn off the tv that you arent even watching, you are just allowing yoursself to watch it even if you dont want to, cos you just lazy and cant be bothered to turn it off. There is an oFF button.
And theres also books on a bookshelf to read instead, of mindlessly watching junk on tv.
The thing is youve got to have a goal in mind and reach for it, if you aim for nothing you will get nothing.
Not just pray. You need to be prepared give up whatever it is that is in the way. Flesh clings to bone. You want the holy spirit to cut right through that.
Sorry if not explaining it well. But going to the OT, remember the story of Jacob how he wrestled with someone at night and it turned out to be God. He said I wont let go until you bless me. GOd won and Jacob ended up with his dislocated hip or shank bone. Youve got to get hold of God and even though Hes always going to win, dont let go until He blesses you.
New testament. What do we do with our mind? We take every thought captive to Christ. So if you thinking a bunch of wrong thoughts, catch them and send them to Jesus. You CAN control your thoughts. You can choose to think of good thoughts. Just like, you can turn off the tv that you arent even watching, you are just allowing yoursself to watch it even if you dont want to, cos you just lazy and cant be bothered to turn it off. There is an oFF button.
And theres also books on a bookshelf to read instead, of mindlessly watching junk on tv.
The thing is youve got to have a goal in mind and reach for it, if you aim for nothing you will get nothing.
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Adding to my earler reply,
I think that Philippians 4:8 can be applied here as well...
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
I think that Philippians 4:8 can be applied here as well...
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
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I think self love/worth/forgiveness has been a big big one. It’s been I think at the core of a lot of problems.
I’m still dealing with it, I probably will deal with it for the rest of my life. I just trust God helps me to get to a point where I can let Him help me with it more than I have so far.
I’m still dealing with it, I probably will deal with it for the rest of my life. I just trust God helps me to get to a point where I can let Him help me with it more than I have so far.
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