Renewing your Faith

Like with everything in our lives, we can grow weary, tired and feel like our lives have become real humdrum.  That can also happen with our faith and also with our relationship with God. We have to be the Catalyst, the cheerleader and encourage our own selves when sin enters in and causes us to become separated from God. The sin that causes the separation can lead to the feeling of being overwhelmed, feeling of being alone, leave us with unconfessed sins, lead to us being unrepentant, with no desire to draw closer to God and ultimately lead us to letting our zeal for God to die.

Letting the fire, passion and hunger for God die, will lead to the death of our spiritual self and open the door to disappointment, frustration, anger, heartache, more sin, discontentment and strife.  Just like with any relationship you engage in, if you want it to last long and be strong you have to feed it.  If you feed or sow negativity into it, you will receive negative results out of it.

I'm learning more and more everyday, that you truly do reap what you sow.  You get out of life the same effort and energy you're putting into it.   Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 There's a season for everything under the sun. It is God that knows the plans for our lives. His plans are for our welfare, for us not to fall for evil and to give us hope for the future.  Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to protect ourselves from evil is through prayer and studying the word for spiritual nourishment.  We should make a list of what we will pray for daily.  Before we go into our prayer we need to praise and thank God for who He is and for how He has kept us from evil thus far.  Like in the attitude of gratitude message having an attitude of gratitude will keep us from constantly complaining about what's wrong and anticipating evil to befall us. Being thankful and having praise in our hearts, will build up our faith and confidence so we will continually be reminded that God is truly in control.   Being thankful and praising God even in the midst of a struggle sends God a message that we trust and have faith that He is sovereign (head, leader, supreme) in our lives. 

Because living this life is hard and we will face stumbling blocks that threaten to separate us from God, always remember that God is the answer to whatever problem or situation that arises. 

2 Corinthians 4:17-18, says for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs any of our troubles. So we must not fix our eyes on our problems, but on God who is unseen. Since our problems are temporary, better energy is spent sowing into things which are eternal.

Walking in the Newness of Life

Romans 6:4 says,  just like Jesus died, was buried and rose from dead to walk in the glory of the Father, we too must follow Jesus's example, die spiritually, emerge and live a new life.   2 Corinthians 5:17, says Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away. The baptism is symbolic of experiencing the same death, burial and resurrection that Jesus himself endured.  How can one truly and wholeheartedly just turn away from sin and be able to live free from of sinful desires.  It's not like you can just flip a switch and all your sinfully feelings and desires just go away.    

But we do have to fill ourselves with God's word and the things of God.  Luke 12:34, says where you heart is, there is your treasures also.   Psalm 119:11 reminds us to store up the word of God, so we will not sin against Him.  Titus 2:11-12, says we must deny all ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly even in this present age.  We have to live to please God, with all diligence, we must live in faith, exercise moral excellence, walk in the knowledge of Good and evil and above all things we use self-control. With being in self-control comes, perseverance which brings godliness, and godliness brings, brotherly kindness, and brotherly kindness brings, love.  The more we grow in this, the more productive and useful we will be in our knowledge & understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:5-9)

Don't be disheartened, we are human.  So don't stress and fear you'll never be able to get right with God.  Hebrews 4:15-16, says For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet is without sin. Consider it all joy, when you encounter various trials, know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  (James 1:2-3)  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.  If you do find yourself having fallen back into your sinful ways, 1 John 1:9, says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

The keys to living righteously is to pray to hear God's voice, let God guide you and treasure His commandments. Pray that you will not fall into temptation."  (Luke 22:40)

(Proverbs 2:1-3)  Seek out & listen to wise counsel and let's surround ourselves with those living to be a Godly example. Proverbs 27:17, says As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  With living in the knowledge and understanding of the law, God's will and His purpose for us, is how we will grow in Godly insight, nurture our love for Him and be able to resist any temptation that is presented to us.