“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”-1 John 2:15-17
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[The old has gone, the new is here!”-2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”-Romans 12:2
Welcome to Challenging Wordly Thinking Part II! If you missed part one be sure to check it out here: Challenging Worldly Thinking Part I
Did the first post sting a little? I know these topics have for me! When I started my walk with Christ, it was a whole lot of unlearning what I thought I knew and holding onto biblical truth instead of what the world says is good or what my feelings say. Let’s be real both the world and our feelings can trip us up into thinking something other than godly thoughts.
You Don’t Have To Go To College or *fill in the blank* To Be Successful
The worlds view of successful and Gods view of successful are completely two different things. God’s goal isn’t for you to have all the money in the world and all the materialistic things you ever wanted. God’s purpose is to change your heart and for you to become Christ-like! Sometimes God’s purpose for you may not even be the route to go to college and have a “career”. God may want you to be a stay-at-home mom, work as a waitress. Whatever God calls you to do, is perfect. Because his will is perfect! Just because you don’t have a “career” in the world’s eyes, doesn’t mean you aren’t being used as a vessel to build the kingdom of God. Your family and friends may not understand what you are doing and may even look at you like you are crazy. But that is okay because his will be done, not ours. It doesn’t have to make sense. God sees the big picture not just the small glimpse we see here on our time here on earth!
“God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”-Psalm 18:30 NLT
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”-Jeremiah 29:11
“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”-Luke 9:23
YOU NEED TO ACT NOW!! YOU CAN’T JUST WAIT!
When I first arrived at Fort Polk I had a job set up and was ready to go to work. I was ready to do what I thought I do best, be a caregiver. It turned out God had other plans. He has had me focus on ministry and serving him instead of working at a 9-5 job. I have been able to focus on ministry, serve others, and really focus on his plan instead of my own agenda. It has made not only me. but my husband really trust and have faith even when we cant see the big picture. It has shown me that God really does have plans for us to prosper but we are on a need to know basis with God. He will direct our steps every step of the way. A lot of my family, friends, and people at church didn’t understand why I wasn’t working. God has continually shown his faithfulness through this new path he has me walking on. I just need to be obedient and trust in his will and timing. Soon, I will be attending college. But that is only because I waited on God’s timing for him to reveal his will! You really want to know God’s will, it’s perfect for everyone. Don’t act unless you know its apart of God’s plan. That would be foolish to act before you know! Every single day we should be asking for God’s will to be done not ours. Every.single.day! Sometimes even multiple times a day!
“Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”-Ephesians 5:17 NIV
“Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”-Matthew 6:9-10
God has saved me from a lot of things I thought I wanted to do that could’ve ended up disastrous for not only me, but for others. I am thankful for the times God has closed a door to something I thought was perfect for me when in reality it wasn’t. A no from God is way better than a flawed will.
The Totally “Acceptable” Sex-Driven Culture We Live In Today
Oh my, where do I start!? We live in a world that says it’s okay to have multiple partners, it’s my body. That it’s okay to live our boyfriend or girlfriend because we love one another we are going to get married. It’s okay we have pre-marital sex. We also live in a world that openly accepts 50 shades of grey and pornography.
Oh man, what a bunch of lies that do us more harm in the long run.
When you settle for any of the above you are looking for temporary satisfaction and a very strayed view of what the world calls “love”. I literally had to make Jesus my boyfriend before he ever brought me to my husband. I had to let God be on the throne of my heart. Not what I thought was love. Not what the world told me was love. ~~I am not perfect. I have a past but I am also forgiven and covered in the blood of Jesus. Keep that in mind if this is an area you struggle with. You are not alone. You are forgiven & today is a new day~~
“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”-1 Corinthians 6:18-20
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”-Colossians 3:5
It’s Okay To Divorce, We Just Aren’t In Love Anymore
I recently was married in October of 2017. The “d-word” is not in our vocabulary. Marriage takes work. A lot of hard work. It also takes both partners to be focused on God and putting God first even before one each other. The devil will be attacking your marriage the minute you decide to even get engaged. After you are married is where the real fun begins. A lot of people don’t understand that marriage is a covenant. Marriage displays the relationship with Jesus & The Church. Your marriage may go through seasons, just as we go through seasons and that’s okay. The focus is keeping your eyes on God throughout the good times and that bad. It does say that the only time it is okay to divorce is because of sexual immorality. Check it out for yourself below:
“Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.””-Matthew 19:3-9
After Everything I’ve Done There Is Absolutely No Way I Am Forgiven. (I need to be cleaned up first before I start a relationship with God)
This is one thing I really, really, struggled with. I used to be a lot different than the person you know today. (God changes people from the inside out). I really believed this lie that I was worthless, not good enough, and God was disappointed in me. I didn’t feel loved by God. How could he love someone as messed up as me?
Then I was sitting in church on a Wednesday and the pastor asked us to close our eyes and ask Holy Spirit what he thought about us and how much he loved us. I proceeded to do so and what Holy Spirit showed me still blows me away to this day. He first showed me my Grandmother, my now husband, and began to run a very quick slideshow of people that I loved or someone that loves me. Holy Spirit very gently said, “Combine all those people’s love for you and all your love for them, this doesn’t even begin to show you how much I love you.” Let me tell you, I was sobbing. I am teary-eyed thinking about it now. Jesus forgave me and loved me for the very broken, lost, and hot mess I was. He loves me even when I make mistakes now. God’s love is steadfast & your sins we crucified on the cross with Jesus. You are never too far from God’s love or grasp. We just have to reach out to him wholeheartedly.
“But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”-Deuteronomy 4:29
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”-1 John 1:9
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”-Isaiah 1:18
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”-Romans 3:23-26
~~I know today’s post was heavy. It wasn’t meant to condemn you, so if that is what you are feeling tell that dirty devil who you Father is and you are forgiven. If you are struggling with many of these worldly thoughts and views, you aren’t alone. When you feel these thoughts, bring them into captivity and line your thoughts up with biblical truth. You will be growing to be more like Christ to the day he either returns or it’s our time to go to our eternal home. It isn’t always a walk in the park to be a Christian and it’s not always easy to train your mind to line up with Godly truth. Having an accountability partner is really helpful. Someone to love on you when things are rough but hold you accountable in your actions. Don’t get discouraged & don’t give up! These posts are “challenging” and that’s okay. Growing pains are well, painful and these post are a challenge. Growing into Christ-like character is rewarding and a blessing, even when you have to lay down your cross daily. Rely on his strength if you grow weary and remember he loves you right where you are at! It’s not an overnight process.~~
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