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deermousie -> RE: is my faith sincere? (6/12/2008 12:33:52 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: DLindros
there's nothing in the world i want more than to be a fountain of righteousness, but i still have sinful thoughts. i long to cast away the desires of my flesh, but i still act on them.
The Apostle Paul struggled with this, too, and so does every Christian. See the end of Romans 7. And don't forget the answer: Romans 8:1! [:)]
quote:
if Christ were to return tomorrow, would he see that i have faith? or would he see that i have doubt? as much as i've changed my life and as much as i want to be God's servant, there is always that little doubt that jumps in there. i reject it as the enemy trying to poison me, but should i be able to shut him out completely? all i want is to completely TRUST in God. and that is something that is so hard for me to do because I'm still new to this. I never believed in anything until lately. I just thought that God was an imaginary friend for grown-ups. how can i completely trust in him? how can i get to that point? i need some help.
The Christian has 3 enemies: the world (that hates God), the flesh (your sin nature - the part that wants it's own way and it's the wrong way. Me, me, me <temper tantrum>), and the devil.
The devil part is easiest to handle, I think: the Bible says if you resist the devil, he will flee. Run away like crazy. So when thoughts creep into your head, "God doesn't really love you" or "you will never be forgiven for *that*" (whatever you just did), etc. you can say, "Nice try but it didn't work. Buzz off. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me." Satan hates the name of Jesus and runs. A fun and easy book to read about this is Lewis' "Screwtape Letters." It's fiction, supposedly from a demon's point of view (the writer is a strong Christian, so don't freak out), and it is a lesson book on the devil's tricks and how a Christian can combat them. I wouldn't get too wrapped around the axle about the devil because our problems we usually cause ourselves; see below.
The world is the framework that leaves God out. Society can be sucked in and people can be fooled into thinking life is easier without God (if they're trying to hide their sin - ha!). But we do things God's way.
Your flesh will tell you you should be insulted when God says to love people inspite of their rudeness. Your flesh says you deserve to be treated right when Jesus died an innocent death to love and save a bunch of yahoos who don't deserve it. Like me. Get the idea?
Congrats on your new membership into God's Forever Family, DLindros! If you aren't in a Bible-teaching church, find one and join it. Get a Bible and start reading it every day (I read mine every year all the way through. 33 times so far, and I'm still getting something new every time!). Pray - talk to God. Tell Him when you don't feel like talking to Him. Ask for things. Thank Him for things (like your salvation!). Tell Him He is worthy of praise, and tell Him how wonderful He is. Tell Him you love Him and want to love Him more. It just gets better and better, and He works on us and makes us more like Him. Look at Rom. 8:28,29. Yay!
To answer your question: is my faith sincere? Probably not. [:D] God saves sinners with lots of practice in sinning. He teaches us and leads us and convicts us of sin, so we confess (we say we sinned), we repent (we turn away from it and go do what's right instead) and He cleanses us of all unrighteousness. For free. 1 John 1:8,9 Not the Gospel of John. And little by little He grows us up. But when you fall on your face, confess, repent, get up, dust yourself off, thank Him He's forgiven you, take His hand again and start walking. It's what all of us have to do.
God bless you, dear heart. I am praying for you. (((Hugs)))
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