Let me just say that I am still learning and growing in my relationship with God. I am far from perfect. What I've written in this post are things God has worked on my heart about, and I hope it's a blessing to you!
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Recognizing the Enemy.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
We have an enemy and his name is Satan. One of the ways we can be most vulnerable to falling away from a close relationship with God is simply not knowing the enemy and his tactics. The devil is gonna try his best to keep you from loving God and living for God. He will use ANYTHING to cause you to stumble or even just distract you.
Are you distracted from spending time with God each day?
Are you feeding the spirit or the flesh?
God is the one who can give you the victory over every sin or distraction in your life.
Do you know your weaknesses? The devil does.
What is it that gets your mind off Christ? Is it music? Movies? Social media? Whatever it may be its always good to know what your weaknesses or down falls are. Ask someone godly and close to you that would maybe see from a different perspective. I've talked to my parents plenty of times of areas I tend to stress, doubt, worry, or get a wrong attitude from.
Just be ready to hear what you might not want to hear. :) Just be humble.
"Nothing puts you further away from satan than genuine humility." -Adrian Rogers
Again, I would like to emphasize this passage.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Recognize when the enemy is deceiving/tempting you.
Know that God ONLY gives us peace and a "sound mind". If you don't have a sound mind than you're probably not dwelling on God and His word.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
It's either your flesh or the devil when we start experiencing fear, stress, doubt, or any other negative emotions. Sometimes as humans we think "Well, I've spent time with God today and I still feel like this. I guess it doesn't help to spend time with Him." Or "I'm doing something for the Lord and I've been having nothing but problems in life."
My Friend, that IS the DEVIL not wanting you to continue with your relationship with Christ. Please, let me encourage you to PRESS ON and fight the good fight of faith.
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.Be on guard any time you decide to take the next step in your relationship with God or you decide to take on a ministry, because the devil may/will come along and try to discourage you. Satan see's the potential when someone surrenders their life to God and the devil will do anything to stop it. What will it take for you to "throw in the towel" in living for God? The devil knows.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Recognize we have to fight for our relationship with Jesus and our faith in Him.
Just like we need to fight for any other relationship.
What draws you to Jesus? What draws you away from Him?
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Recognize your faith grows by reading God's Word. When you spend time with our King make sure to ask Him to show himself to you through His word. Pray and Ask to have a greater knowledge of who HE is.
1 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Always remember this promise. God promises if you submit to Him and resist the devil.... Satan WILL flee. I don't know about you, but I am VERY thankful that I don't have to worry about the devil tempting me all the time. Just stay humble. Know that you can fall if not for the grace of God and know that HE gives us the strength to press on.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
This is a longer passage of scripture, but it is so good! "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature"
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
This is a longer passage of scripture, but it is so good! "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature"
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Let me challenge you to KNOW Your Lord and Saviour. Stay faithful to God. Read your bible, pray, witness, be faithful to church.... These are some ways to know and love God more.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
What ways are you exercising your faith? Or is your faith on a "shelf" that you bring down for church or for when things don't go your way?
Keep fighting by; being on your knees in prayer, in knowing Him, and in serving Him.
Hebrews 12:1 WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.Look to Jesus, run, and keep fighting the fight of faith!
I also have a previous post called "Set Free" if you feel you don't understand(or not sure) what it is to know God and for Him to know you. Do you know you have a home in heaven? You can! Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns!
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