The sun cannot shine every day. There will be times when you need to take a break and rest even if you don't know why.
Your body knows when you need to rest, and it will let you know. You can listen or ignore it, but you won't ignore it for long. It will remind you that you have limitations, and the reminder won't come at an opportune time.
Your spiritual life is similar. Be strong but use self-awareness. You cannot do or be everything. Be patient, forgiving, and persistent while understanding your limitations.
Expect some down time. I'm not talking specifically about sin, although it will happen. I'm talking about those times when your faith is not so strong. When you feel weak and discouraged. It's all part of the process. That does not mean it's unimportant though. These down times must be anticipated so that you can learn to get through them the best ways possible.
Depending on the kind of situation, you might need one or all (or more) of these things in your life.
- Increase time in prayer.
- Read the Bible more.
- Spend more time in worship.
- Spend more time with close Christian friends.
- Spend time alone.
- Find a healthy "distraction".
- Call a mentor or ask someone to be a mentor.
- Go exercise. Go for a walk or bike ride.
Prepare in advance for the inevitable times you just aren't up to the challenges of life. You know they are coming, and you probably know how to get through them.
Comment below your own advice for getting through these times!
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
Sometimes we might think that (since we are saved by God's grace) He does not care about the good things we do. Some even use Isaiah 64:6 out of context to say that even our good deeds are "filthy rags" to Him. If this were true it would be devastatingly discouraging!
When trying to encourage Christians to remain true to the faith that they professed, the writer of the book of Hebrews said, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" (Hebrews 6:10). This means that the things we choose to do MATTER to God!
People have no doubt that God pays attention to the bad things they do, but they rarely talk about the fact that He also notices the GOOD that we do. Maybe we should talk about that more.
What good things will God see you doing today?
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
Eloquence is not important.
The number of words is not important.
Sophistication is useless.
Pouring out your heart in faith is important.
Struggling with your mind and thoughts is important.
Understanding your deficiency is important.
Recognizing God's sovereignty is vital.
It's not the prayer that is powerful but the One you are praying to.
Prayer takes your needs and thoughts to the One who can do something about them. It is not something we should set aside.
- If we don't have time for it, we are too busy.
- If we don't feel comfortable with it, we should discover why.
- If we don't know what to say, it's because we have not developed the mindset for it.
There is nothing that can replace prayer. Yes, God knows what you need. He also knows how to supply it. He does not need the reminder. WE need the reminder though!
There are some things that He will not give us unless we ask for them. The second half of James 4:2 says, "Yet you do not have because you do not ask."
Could it be that sometimes we are guilty of blaming God for not providing the things we never asked Him to provide?
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
James 4:4 says, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?"
Have you ever considered what is implied here?
First of all, we need to address a false idea that sometimes is thrown around. This does not mean that having friends who are not Christians is somehow evil. The context is not about people but about evil desires. It's about "wars" that people wage in churches when they don't get their way.
Doing things the way the world does them means NOT doing things as God wants us to do them. James is talking about processes, corrupt, ungodly systems that can be employed to take what we want from others. It's about ungodly things in this world. If that includes people, it's about colluding with people to do evil.
But the implications of this verse are powerful!
- It's about materialism vs. trusting God.
- It is about relationships and social pressures.
- It's about our use of time and resources.
- It's about a way of living that this world has "figured out" that is contrary to living as God wants us to live.
Christianity is far more than a weekend hobby. It is a way of life that incorporates the most fundamental thinking and activities of life.
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
I don't think we win so that we can learn. I think we win so that we can have greater hope.
But hope that is based on winning can be dangerous. Our hope should not rest in our ability to accomplish everything we set out to accomplish. It should be based on the faith God's word gives us. We succeed when we follow Him. We win as we set aside our own ideas and adopt God's ways.
The danger lies in achievement that we misinterpret. When success comes only because of our strength and our decisions, we are missing the point. Someone taught you the lessons that led you to successful decisions.
No doubt you have a hand in your wins. Just don't come to the conclusion that your strength is all you need.
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
