Discussion Topic
Temptations
Posted on 07/14/08, 01:40 pm
I don't know about you, but I seem to have one trial and temptation after another, and I am sure they are not over. I have learned some 'tricks' if you will :) I have learned to smile through most of them. I've learned to go to God emmediately for my help and not wait till I've exhausted all other options. But my best tip I want to share with you is that I pray for the next tribulation before it hits. Am I asking for trouble? NO What I do is ask God to give me the strength, the right mindset and FAITH to get me through it. It has really helped me!
Sometimes we take on tribulatons that are not even ours. For example, problems of our parents or children or friends. We think they are our problems. They are NOT! God is working in someone else's life, not yours. EVERYONE has trial and tribulations. Worry about your own. Better yet don't worry at all and trust God to take care of you and you will learn what God has to teach you a lot sooner and that may simply be Trust. Or you might pass the test quicker. But when we take on others trials and tribulations, do we get in Gods way? If God is working in someone else's life and we step in, does that not interfear with his work? because most likely the ones we helped will look at us as their helper, their savior from their problems instead of God. That's not always the case though as we know, because sometimes God does use people to help solve an issue. And if that is the case, it raises another question: How do we know when God wants to use us? Prayer of course and listening to God. Don't jump the gun on your own, wait for God.
Finally: (Back to tribulations) The following is taken from Oswald Chambers 'My Upmost for His Highest':
We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things.Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, "...unless you...become as little children..."(Matthew 18:3). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits'end. When a person is at his wits' end, it no longer seems to be the cowardly thring to pray: in fact, it is the only way he can getin though with the truth and the reality of God Himself.
........But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything.
I love Oswald Chambers devotional. As I was thinking of this I have looked back over the past year, as some of you know I have really been struggling. Did I do what I should? Did I turn to God enough? Did I pray enough, etc etc. No No NO. or else I would not have had a nervous breakdown. or then again....is it possible that no matter how much praying I did I would have come through these problems? Yes, sometimes God does put us through some trials so that we will know and understand fully how to help others that may go through the same situations. And I believe that is what God was doing for me this past year. It was very hard. But how else would Ihave truly understoon how to help someone else? I also think God wanted to slow me down. He did! I think I will be seeing a whole lot of why's in the near future.
Psalm 94:19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (God's word, His promises)
Sometimes we take on tribulatons that are not even ours. For example, problems of our parents or children or friends. We think they are our problems. They are NOT! God is working in someone else's life, not yours. EVERYONE has trial and tribulations. Worry about your own. Better yet don't worry at all and trust God to take care of you and you will learn what God has to teach you a lot sooner and that may simply be Trust. Or you might pass the test quicker. But when we take on others trials and tribulations, do we get in Gods way? If God is working in someone else's life and we step in, does that not interfear with his work? because most likely the ones we helped will look at us as their helper, their savior from their problems instead of God. That's not always the case though as we know, because sometimes God does use people to help solve an issue. And if that is the case, it raises another question: How do we know when God wants to use us? Prayer of course and listening to God. Don't jump the gun on your own, wait for God.
Finally: (Back to tribulations) The following is taken from Oswald Chambers 'My Upmost for His Highest':
We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things.Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, "...unless you...become as little children..."(Matthew 18:3). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits'end. When a person is at his wits' end, it no longer seems to be the cowardly thring to pray: in fact, it is the only way he can getin though with the truth and the reality of God Himself.
........But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything.
I love Oswald Chambers devotional. As I was thinking of this I have looked back over the past year, as some of you know I have really been struggling. Did I do what I should? Did I turn to God enough? Did I pray enough, etc etc. No No NO. or else I would not have had a nervous breakdown. or then again....is it possible that no matter how much praying I did I would have come through these problems? Yes, sometimes God does put us through some trials so that we will know and understand fully how to help others that may go through the same situations. And I believe that is what God was doing for me this past year. It was very hard. But how else would Ihave truly understoon how to help someone else? I also think God wanted to slow me down. He did! I think I will be seeing a whole lot of why's in the near future.
Psalm 94:19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (God's word, His promises)
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Reply #1 07/14/08 3:21pm
BOY IF THIS ISNT TUE, IVE BEEN TOLD SOMETIMES GOD HAS TO BRING US TO OUR "KNEES" BEFORE WE LISTEN TO HIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH I NEEDED THAT! -
Reply #2 07/14/08 7:52pm
Dixie,
This is soooooo true!!! God has taught me to turn to Him for even the smallest of decisions in this way. I also know that He has used my illness to bring me very close to Him in a way that may have never happened if I had not gotten so sick. He slowed me WAY down so I would take the time to KNOW HIM way more intimately. As a result I have been blessed way beyond what I could have ever imagined. I am truly grateful to Him for this tribulation in my life. -
Reply #3 07/14/08 8:19pm
Rhonda, you made another good point. Should we be thankful for tribulations? Yes, the bible says we should. -
Reply #4 07/14/08 9:00pm
This is very true. But I would like to add one little point though. When friends are going through times of trial and tribulation while we should not take that burden on our shoulders but take it to God. We can and should give them the support that they might need. A shoulder to cry on, an encouraging word and just let them know that you care and will be there for them. It means a lot to have that when there are attacks from Satan who uses anyone who is a willing vessel.
What a great post and one that we should all read and think about.
Thanks Dixie -
Reply #5 07/15/08 3:47pm
Sometimes our minds are so crowded with the things of this world we are unable to hear from God and He has to "bring us to our knees" just to get our attention. I know that is how it happened with me years ago and I have gradually learned to be thankful to Him for this. Now, He has my complete attention and I hear what He is saying to me the 1st time. God will do what is needed to get the attention of His children. -
Reply #6 07/15/08 3:55pm
I wish I could say the same rrowley. Unfortunately God has to jerk my chain occasionally. My biggest problem is worrying. And I hate it because to me it means I don't trust God. But for the life of me I can't stop my worrying. I have climbed the laters some but not nearly enough. I am so thankful he doesn't quit on us!! -
Reply #7 07/16/08 11:00am
I'm the same as Dixie4me God has to shout and jerk the chain at me very often. I'm also a worry wart who worries about stuff all the time. I'm a rookie when it comes to listening to where the shepherd is trying to lead me. I love the God but I still a worry quite 2 much. But I know that I stray but not as far as I use to when I was much younger. I'm a amateur artist. So I have to say that I'm a WORK IN PROGRESS. Key word is work. Im working on it all the time. God knows that I do try. -
Reply #8 07/20/08 10:25pm
We all grow at different speeds. Some of us are more easily stressed than others. All of us are still a work in progress till the day Jesus comes to take us home. -
Reply #9 07/22/08 9:36pm
Well, I got a message tonight to come check the site and the discussions or start one. Interesting as I am usually in other discussions, but really ought to be in this one and another with God as the focus.
Interesting that I see this - timing huh.... meant to be. I am with Dixe4me, I need to be jerked into turning to him. I tend to exhaust all other options before finally begging and crying for help. I am at that point right now. I needed this discussion tonight. I was stressing out over something at work and what i need to do is pray and go to God and ask him to take care of it for me....instead of me trying to get involved and take care of it. Good thing I saw this, because I was aiming at excalating this to get some solution.
So, I need to go to the Lord and let him know this bothers me, and to trust him. Who knows, maybe I am meant to keep this particular thing instead of getting rid of it.... And it is the Lords way to prepare me for something else. I don't know... I don't try and am not that close to the Lord as of the last few years...not connected or anything...so no accountability or support. And, that is my fault, I guess...huh...
Hmmm.... If I was God, I would have quit on me a long time ago...Saying when the heck is she going to learn. -
Reply #10 07/22/08 9:46pm
LOL Iddixon, I can't tell you how many times I have asked God why he continues to put up with me. But he does because he loves us like his children. We love our children no matter what. God does too. Hugs.
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