Walk with Christ

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on January 9, 2010 at 1:07pm

Brandon,

Waht you are feeling is not strange to the Christian walk. I believe we all have our weak moments, though in varied degrees. The enemy loves to come after us when we are at our lowest, but be sure that Jesus is right therre with you. Life is tough. I don't say that to be calloused, but to acknowledge we face many forms of trials and tribulations. God does not expect you to make it on your own. He wants you to draw from Him and from fellow believers. You can trust Him to go through the storm with you and in the process He will teach you as He guides you. In the end, when the storm passes, if you have sought Him in the storm you will come out the other side much stronger and molded according to His purposes for your life.

The Word of God states the following in 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (NIV). This verse alone is encouraging, but notice the verse before and the verses after 1 Peter 5:7. 1 Peter 5:6 tells us something about ourselves as it states, " Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" (NIV). God wil always see us through life's trials when we acknowledge we cannot do it without Him and need Him at the center of our lives, not just as an addition to our lives, but at the center. Keep in mind that the outcome of a trial that is in His hands does not always come out like we thought it should, but according to His wisdom and plan. .I could take time, but will refrain, and give numerous examples of what I thought and ultimatley what God did. In some cases it was 10 to 15 years later that I was able to see back and really recognize His wonderful plan and how it tied together with other later events in my life. There are other times I still don't understand what I went through, but rest in Him. Next notice 1 Peter 5:8-9 which states, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering" (NIV). Notice that we are called to self-control after we humble ourselves and turn it over to God. That does not mean we will never worry or doubt, but that we will walk by faith even when the road is unclear or the direction makes no sense to us. The verse also reminds us that the enemy stands agaisnt us and would love nothing more than to discourage us or cause us to fade back. Notice that he roars like a lion. A lion roars to intimidate its prey so that it can defeat it easier. You must begin to ignore the roars of the enemy and trust in the faithfulness of God. Resist the enemy and stand firm. This is easier said than done, but I will give you some tips in a moment. Back to the verses. Notice that we are not the only one's going through such trials. This may not sound encouraging, but many people feel as if they are unique and these things are happening only to them. We serve the risen King and live as foreigners in a fallen world that hates Him and us as well. We are in a spiritual war, but the outcome is sure.

Here are some tips that work if applied:

There are four things that I recommend for us to be involved in regularly. These four help to strengthen us when things are going well and help us overcome when things are difficult or God feels far away. These four are 1) Read the Word 2) Prayer 3) Positive Christian Fellowship 4) An Accountability Partner or Group.

1) The Word: When times are tough I like to read Colossians and 1 John. They inspire me, pick me up and help me to see past my current storm, which will pass.
2) Prayer: We need to be in prayer seeking the Lord's presence and comfort, while crying out to Him in our difficult times as well as good times. He tells us to come to the throne of grace in our time of need. The door is open and He is always waiting attentively to meet with us when we come to Him. Remember that part of prayer is silently sitting at His feet listening for what He wants to say or reveal to you. It is not all about talking, but communicating.
3) Positive Christian Fellowship: We are referred to as sheep for a reason in the Bible. We need each other. There are no Lone Ranger Christians. When we feel beat up and down our natural response is to run and hide, which is the worst possible choice at that very time. We need the love, comfort and fellowship of fellow believers that are traveling the same path we are in life. Do not stop at one church if it is not right for you. Seek until you find the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit come over you in the midst of that group.
4) Accountability: We need people close to us that we can share with. These people have to be people that we can trust and open up to. They are not "Yes" people, but ones that will ask the difficult questions and loving challenge us when we are wrong and encourage us when we have victories. One must seek God's guidance as to who one might choose as an accountability partner. One must choose wisely.

Know that the current storm you are going through will pass and you will be stronger for it. That does not lessen the pain, but there is hope even in the middle of the storm, for Jesus can and will calm the storm at the right moment if you are trusting and walking with Him.

Lastly, attitude is important. One must learn to look up and not down. This too will not always be easy. Begin to look at problems as opportunities, opportunites for God to reveal His love to you anew , His faithfulness true, and His work on you continuing.

Hope this helps.

Lord Bless,
LT

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Lee Turner on January 9, 2010 at 2:05pm

I agree with what you said, I think that maybe some people (myself included) begin to look at our problems and in a way put them before God and that could be what is keeping some of us from being where we need to be in this life. All of us have some unique purpose in life, I have to believe that. Maybe God is trying to mature us in a sense that we will begin to depend on him for our issues so that we can help others. It could be that I am just looking for to much in life. I feel as if I want to do so many things at such a young age that I am some how loosing sight of the big picture. This life is not all about me, it is about helping others. I think that through this valley that I have been walking through I have realized just how selfish I actually have been,Worrying about that next job or that new cool car that I want to buy. I realized that I have not been thinking, what could I do for the Lord. It is strange on how it takes major life changing events to open ones eyes up.

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on January 9, 2010 at 2:10pm

Brandon,

May God bless you as you seek to live for Him. For what it is worth, I have been where you just described and God does have a plan for your life as He does for mine.

Lord Bless, and praying for you.
LT

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Permalink Reply by Carla on January 9, 2010 at 8:45pm

Dear Brandon,

I just came across your discussion here....you have received some tremendous feedback already....

I wanted to share with you my impression of what you wrote.

My impression is that you have a heart to share the Lord and lead your wife in this Christian walk.... That is every Christian married womens desire... to have a husband who will lead a family in faith, living for Jesus. I have several married women friends who pray regularly for their husbands to lead the family as you are expressing that you want to do.

Don't give up...

Perhaps you may want to initiate a devotion time at some point in the day (daily) with your wife. Begin and end with prayer.
Try different churches until you can agree on one...ask for the Lord to lead you in this.

God is faithful.... The feelings that you are having are completely normal.....at least i hope so... :)
God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us... He is bigger then our feelings.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all yours ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. proverbs 3:5,6.

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by David on January 9, 2010 at 10:08pm

Brandon,

Your heart for Christ and his people is very important and helpful as we navigate through the trials of this life. I will agree in prayer with you that Holy Spirit will lead you into relationships that you can develop as a couple and individually in your area. If you are bored in a church, it isn't for you. Keep believing and trusting God. You don't need to be in a formal meeting structure to develop relationships with God's people. Focus on relationship, not religion. That is Father's heart. Remember, he didn't put Adam and Eve in a Cathedral or religious organization but in a beautiful garden where He could walk with them in the cool of the day.

Blessings

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Permalink Reply by Linda Lambertson on January 18, 2010 at 5:47pm

Hi all. I am not sure if this is the right place to make my post. But my husband and I have been very frustrated and broken hearted. He has been working for 4 or 5 years towards his ministry degree. Every road seems to get blocked and puts him behind monts and then a year later each time. Once there was a paper missing that he had done and they were not able to find it, so he did it over again and mailed it back in, so that put him off for 4 more months. Then the called one evening that he had a meeting with the DCOM the next morning. By 7:30 the next morning they called and guess what, a missing paper, will rechedule. My husband teaches school so his whole day was lost as he had a substitute already. One other time they waited until the last minute to have a meeting the very next day, hubby was responsible for his job to be at a school funciton with the kids. That really made the DCOM folks mad at him.
This last week he met with the DCOM and they were all cold towards him and said he didn't answer the questions rigth on Wesley Theology. Well, he is just getting ready to take classes at Wesley School, so that was a little bit too soon to be asking something so deep, right? My husband has done sermons since he was sixteen years old. He is 56 now and his time is rolling on and he is not getting any younger. He loves the Lord and wants to share that love. Go and feed the people but he is told that he is not allowed to do this. They said come back in another year and maybe we will consider you for Candidacy then.
Thanks I just needed to post and lay my burdens down.. I know that God is in control and has something out there for him. I just do not understand the Virginia DCOM on the Methodist Ministry!
Thanks God Bless!

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Permalink Reply by ADOLF FENYI on January 19, 2010 at 7:48am

Hi Boss there is no way a christian would not go into any trial but you should never forget that ye who endures to the end is the one who is crowned.The problems you are going through can never be compared to you future glory. Please let these problems not depart you from the Lord.
Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Luke John on February 1, 2010 at 3:18am

Hi Brandon,
Did you speak to Jesus about your problems?Is anything too hard for our LORD? First of all you need to spend more time with God to know his will and read his WORD everyday,then things will begin to fall in place as per his will.
Regards,
Luke

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