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How do you see these verses in 1 Peter?   Do you see the power in the "Born Again" experience?   Does this show we are freed,  and we must not fall back into the "old self?"  And, when we consider our actions, are we more empowered as we follow, "  15 But as the One Who called you is Holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ?"

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One Who called you is Holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am Holy. 1Peter 1:14-16

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thanks Carla, 

so He isn't angry with us when we continue to struggle with say a short temper for a long time?

Jenny,

I've heard it said that God loves us just as we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way.  I don't see God as angry... I see Him as longsuffering and merciful.  He knows how weak we are and meets us right in that place, with the desire that we will move past it... But not because of anger, but because of Love.  I'm not saying God isn't angry at sin... because He is.  I'm not saying God doesn't want our obedience, because He does.

For anyone who is stuck in a sin of some sort, it would be best to ask God to reveal what is keeping you there.  What is the pay-off for you?  We will hold on to sin for many different reasons.. one of which may possibly be that there is somehow something we are getting out of it.

All sin is rooted in pride.

Ask the Lord.  He will show you.

Blessings, Carla

i will pray about that, thanks Carla

Jenny, 

I agree with Carla, and will add a little more of my own POV regarding the struggle with sin. Struggling deosn't mean one is defeated. Everyone, from what I observe, must go through it and it looks like it's a necessary part of sanctification. Many have the goal in mind to end the struggle. However, is that really the goal? If the struggle is the process, or at least a part of the process, it can't end until we see Jesus and are with Him, face to face. Jesus is the goal. Your journey to Him is very personal, although it is said that people are more alike than different. We, at least, can identify at times with one another.

thanks Amanda, good reminder that Jesus the person is the goal

This struggle is a part of our life and we might as well face it instead of continue looking for an escape. The family of believers throughout the world are enduring the same kind of sufferings (see 1 Peter 5:8-10).

As long as we live in the flesh, we will have the struggle, the battle.

In James 1:2-4 it looks like the struggle is meant to strengthen us, to help us persevere. I can't really say that I count it all joy, though. I'm not there yet and able to find joy in it. 

James 1:2-4
English Standard Version (ESV)
Testing of Your Faith

2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

“Elijah faced a sulking King Ahab and stared him down in the name of Jehovah, but we must remember that his courage to stand before kings was the result of years spent in standing before the King of kings. Christ stood silent in the presence of Pilate and for our sake went calmly out to die. He could endure the anguish of the cross because He had suffered the pains of Gethsemane the night before; there was a direct relationship between the two experiences. One served as a preparation for the other.” -- A.W. Tozer 
http://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer?id=452

interesting, I always thought of the "trials of various kinds" to be trials from outside, but I guess "various kinds" can include internal trials as well. 

it's comforting to know that it's not for nothing and God is working towards a goal in us

in other words, God knows what He's doing and I don't have to understand everything as it happens

Even the external trials become internal ones as well, at least for me. The mind is a battlefield. Then the emotions must be considered, too. There are physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects to every trial IMO.

Jenny

We cannot or should not compare one to another in our struggle; walk; dying to our flesh.  We have many names for the process, fortuity we have but One process.  One process yet some steps still exists.  Jenny my Sister, you have already shown that you have already begun those steps.  When we are Born Again, we have Jesus and The Spirit in our spirits.  The Spirit gives us "sight" or knowledge and understanding.   The fact that you shared, "getting rid of our "stuff"" shows you know you have stuff and it needs to leave.

Amanda has shared some verses with you, I will do the same.  3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great Mercy, He has given us a New Birth into a Living Hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being Protected by God’s Power through faith for a Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trial 7 so that the genuineness of your faith — more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and Rejoice with Inexpressible and Glorious Joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the Salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9  

We have been given a New Birth into a Living Hope...to me that is a very Powerful verse.  Our Hope is not just a desire, but is Living on it own.  We are able to gain Power from that Hope, we do not give it power.  As we would if say, we hope for a desire we have.  We than would put our faith into Prayer and create a hope for something where, there was not before.  Here this Living Hope is based on our faith in Jesus, we are shown this Truth; Invited to believe.  Not just that, we are being Protected by God’s Power, all we need do is trust.           

 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Gal 5:16  And continue on 17-26.  Part of walking by The Spirit means to trust and obey God's Word and Leading.

 For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. 2 Cor 5:1

7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this Extraordinary Power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.     2 Cor 4:7-9         Even though our bodies will not last; we are clay jar, God has Given us this Power, as these verse show, life may throw it's worst at us, we still have Victory in Jesus.  That is why our Hope is in God and not ourselves.  

As Paul shares, 3 I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, 5 so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s Power. 2 Cor 2:3-5         Paul may have been timid at one time, he did not like speaking in public early on in his ministry.  That is the beautiful part, we are best when we are our weakest, it is then that God is shown most Strong.  This is more complete from 2 Cor 12:1-10       9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power, is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:9-10

thanks brother Chris, i love these verses you shared and know I need to be getting in the Word more as i have been forgetting these things. 

it seems that the Word is something that starts to fade in my memory and I need to go there again and again, even to the familiar verses

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