Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden.’
Psalm 81:8-10 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you–if you would only listen to me, Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Romans 7:19 I do not do the good I want to do , but the evil I do not want to do. So if I do things I do not want to do, then I am not the one doing them. It is sin living in me that does those things.
Galatians 5:17, 24 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to one another, to keep you from doing what you want to do. . . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Ephesians 4:27 And give no opportunity to the devil.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will provide a way of escape that you may be able to endure it.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have become new
Hebrews 2:18 For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to hep those who are being tempted.
James 1:13-15 When tempted no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world.
***Bruce Wilkinson in Devotionals of Temptations: Overcome Your Temptations, Bible App Plan, October 2, 2018
I am usually a “want it and obtain it now” person. Immediate gratification. Truly, that has not always been possible in my life, or I am sure in anyone’s life. Logistics, and finances always can interfere, but I do find that if I have a need/want, I will try to get the item as soon as possible. I must admit this tends to frustrate my kids when they are looking for what they can get me for birthday, Christmas, or any other time. Their feeling, and I understand it, is that would have been nice to get for such and such and obviously she wanted it.
Frequently, I do not need the item right away. I have plenty of clothing, I can wait for a specific tool if I have broken one, and there is no urgency usually to my needs/wants. Yet, I tend to identify something that can be useful and order it. Order, done, and it arrives in a couple of days. (I must admit I love Amazon!) But truly, I understand the frustration my kids feel also when I have gone, purchased something and they now wonder what they can do as a gift I want, could use, and have already purchased. Trust me, I am good with a card, we can have take out pizza or a sandwich or something. I truly don’t need things bought for me.
But having the ability to order and pay for something right away is not always showing the control that God wants me to have. There is little I lack that I need but I have the ability to order and get what I want, can use, may help me in a project, but I do not need. This a selfish jumping to attain–it is spur of the moment of desire and spending. It is a form of idol accumulation. I justify sometimes with “I need the new bird feeders. The ones I have had for the past 6-8 months has gotten so wet over time, that the seeds have rotted in the bottom and I cannot empty it and dry it. I do not want to make birds sick.” The birds are a visual gift God grants me daily; and I am very thankful to be able to see them and feed them. But Amazon has made it easy for me to replace things within a few days. And I tend to do that.
And once I do that then it is out of the back of my mind, it is ordered, will arrive soon, then I can replace whatever was broken/damaged/or no longer safe to use. But I am satisfying my want need, not always being practical, and therefore succumbing to a temptation to purchase a desire–fast. Which of course, leads into my patience versus impatience tendencies.
But, yes, I do purchase when I do not truly need–just to fill an urge, a desire, and that is more in line with idol worship. Perhaps I liked the shirt, pants, shoes, or whatever. I will order when I see something another will enjoy as a gift–usually to tuck away until an event–birthday, Christmas, or new house warming or whatever. And I am blessed I can do that, but it is also showing no resistance to being tempted and warding that off. Little time is spent in weighing IF I SHOULD make the purchase. I see it, I think it is perfect, and it is ordered, and done. That is sinful behavior; I am feeding immediate gratification, and it is a type of idol accumulation.
“Temptations increase their persuasive power by adding enticement.” Bruce Wilkinson in “Overcome Your Temptations” day 4 in Bible App Devotionalse
A need is not a want. A want is a desire, and admiration of something attractive in some mode–taste, sight, or even hope. (I hope this cream will really work on these wrinkles….) There are so many in this world that cannot fill some of the necessary and simple needs in their life. Water is a 20-30 minute walk from home, so a member of the family makes the walk with a couple of pails, and carries it home. How much sloshes out on the way? Food is also not plentiful. Parents watch their young children starve to death, a slow, uncomfortable death, leaving them with hopelessness, anger, guilt, and knowing it can easily happen again. Birth control is certainly not plentiful in most of these countries, most medications are not readily available to keep children from developing a fatal illness
But I don’t live in a third world country, in a tent of a couple blankets set over some saplings, with no green grass around, only dry dusty dirt. Are these couples happy they are expecting a child? How do you have hope in that situation. How often do I think of a situation like this when I grab my phone and put in an order for something. . . and there are parents in another part of the world who have no freedoms to do any of this. They cannot even provide their children with clean water, food, milk — only a hug as the child suffers in hunger. And the parent suffers in hunger, anger, despair and hopelessness.
Once we believe in Jesus and trust Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to reside within us. Are all our old desires to put to rest? No. Some are, and many may have the blessing of completely changing or discarding the bad, unhealthy things they were doing. But for many, that is not the way. We have to stumble over our different temptations, and determine if we want to give in to a desire which may be harmful to us; overspending, drugs, alcohol, over-working and not enough down time, no quality time with family. Perhaps you work 10-12 hours daily, put in a few hours on a Saturday, then go play pickle ball/ touch football/ or basketball/softball, or something. But it is not with your family, your wife and children, or perhaps husband and children. Fulfilling your desire to spend your time and energies in this manner is filling your temptation–and blatantly showing your family THEY are not worth you spending time with them.
That is one of the things with idols. It shows your preference is that object (fill in the blank), and not God first, then family, then work. I know bosses can be tremendously unreasonable when it comes to your time, your family. Unfortunately, our culture has encouraged more work, less family time. ‘Get ahead, work harder, move on this NOW, and so forth.’ But that is NOT what God wants for Him or for us. He wants to be number ONE in our lives, then He will help all other pieces fall into the best place for you and your family. Drop the idols of over-work, alcohol, drugs, spending money, and put your priorities in the order that God ordained.
As mentioned, addictions come in MANY forms –alcohol, drugs, eating unhealthily, spending too much money, hoarding, smoking, sex/pornography. All addictions pull your attention and heart from God. And because the Holy Sp0irit comes to live within you when you choose and accept the invitation from God, you have the power to work with the Holy Spirit and ask for help in healing these addictions. God may not STOP our addictions like magic. He allows us to stumble until we seek to end them with HIs help. Sometimes it is a process, others may decide to give up an addiction, turn their minds away from it–and never wrestle with that decision.
Quitting smoking was a process for me. I enjoyed smoking–relaxed in a bunch of people I didn’t know who also smoked, and I was unsure of what to say, who to talk with, and my shyness was rearing its FEAR, and the deep breathing, and having something to do with my hands, made me feel slightly more confident in a crowd. It felt like it soothed when I was stressed to have that cigarette pack. But, although I tried to quit it took several attempts before I was successful, and I had a plethora of things I did to beat the cravings, the anxiety, and the other symptoms both physical and emotional, as well as spiritual as Satan was loudly and ferociously trying to suck me back into having “just one.” But with the help of the Holy Spirit, we did defeat this addiction.
Sweets are another addiction I have, although most of the time, I can have one or even a half of a serving, and want no more. It may then be days before I want a sweet again. And if I am busy have therefore tell my mind I will get in when done as a reward–usually, I forget and thereby don’t have it.
I have many flaws and pray that God will use a hammer and chisel and a coarse sandpaper to remove them. And although I can see progress from where I was to where I am, I get discouraged with what still needs to be changed. But we are all a work in progress.
.
I give in to temptation too often. Things are easy for us to purchase here compared to many other countries. WE are blessed–for now. There are so many things in my home that I can donate
I am a work in progress. And I thank You, Lord, that you have a long ways to go before the flaws are smoothed, I am thankful You hare there always walking with me, and helping me curb my addictive desires, and have always been with me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Exodus 14-14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Matthew 6:25, 34 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothes? . . . Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
John 14:27 Peace I eave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Romans 8:31 What, then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Philippians 4:6- 8 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind
Hebrews 13:6 We can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Worry is a form of unbelief and not fully trusting in God. Humans tend to believe they can handle anything that comes up. Most are raised with the idea and belief that if they work hard, study diligently, and always apply themselves THEY will win. Please notice it is all about “they” and what they do to win, to score, to succeed. It is not God working with, not seeking God’s direction and path, but their own skill, intelligence, physical ability, and so forth. And it is not always true. Few make it to #1. All those attributes of applying oneself, working hard are things we need in life. But God always has a plan for us–and many may not realize that, but His course may be different entirely.
However, as we were taught, yes, you try to do your best always; but you may not be the best. Certainly, I was not ever the best at anything physical–a slow runner, and did not go great distance, was poor at batting, used to be able to throw a ball fairly accurately–the operative word being “fairly,” and I was awkward gawky so cheerleading was out, and you get the picture.
I did well in school, mostly B’s and a few A’s, and liked school–math. science, English, was well organized and liked having projects done in plenty of time to turn it in. But although I had a lot of blessings in the area of school work and organization, I was not the best student–and never would be. So certainly, I worried about my lacks during my school years. I compared myself with others and found my lagging behind, found me not good enough. At that point, I did not realize that worry was a form of unbelief, and it was kind of a normal way of thinking for me. What could I do to measure up to someone else, to improve my athletic abilities (or more truthfully, inabilities)? So I would worry about my lacks. My best was not going to make me standout, but it would be noted, could be noted — hard worker, organized, follow through, dependable, diligent with tasks for a project, but I do not like to be the leader. That is not a comfortable role for me.
And when things get stressed with different life issues, we worry, we try to fix the things that are wrong. We gather information and try to fix whatever is wrong with the information and knowledge we have found to address the issue(s). But we are NOT in charge. Many things in life need us to take a deep breath, reach out to God asking for grace, patience, the best manner to handle whatever is going on, ask for His strength, and to give thanks.
He is in charge, He wants the best for each of us children, and He has given so much. . . and of course, worry is a form of unbelief. HIs word promises his best for us, and all asked in HIs name will be given. He wants us to know He is with us always–even in bad times. And He wants us to remember, we have salvation.
But life can throw us some horrendous hurdles. Sudden, severe illness of a child or self, unexpected death of a loved one, abrupt ending of a career, suddenly having to become a caretaker 24/7, and so many other events that can change lives, and your path in life. Our plans are not always God’s. With all we are to pray for His strength, HIs will, but how difficult is that when the outcome may be a horrific change? But God wants our trust, our hearts, and He will be with us, no matter the outcome. Does that mean if someone severely ill or critically injured that they will always survive? In cases of emergencies, things feel out of our control, and we need to feel we have some semblance of control. But in many instances, we have little control. And as worry increases, we little control. And if we know Jesus, know the strength of our God and Creator, our hearts and minds are reminded to turn to Him. He is in control and turning to Him when we feel worry, we are again claiming our belief and trust in God. If a loved one is critical, we pray and plead, seeking His peace, knowing His promises and to reassure ourselves that God has the best for us. We also know–and yet never want it to be us–things do not always result in something not causing severe pain or loss. Much harder then to stop the onslaught and swirl of thoughts and worries.
Some of these changes could bring about anger–God has heard angry words before–He is big enough to take them, and He understands the pain you are dealing with. It is difficult to not worry about much in our lives. There is a great deal of anger and unrest in our country–and in fact the world. Worry is not going to change the outcomes, but again, God has a plan; He has this.
Having a relationship with God has helped greatly not worry as often. I was a crazed person with schedules, working, worrying about child’s school work, house clean, paying bills, and fearful of ex husband and on the rare occasions he had our son, would it bring him back–and unharmed? My mind felt like a cyclone of fears, thoughts, worries, plans, and the best routes I could figure. Oh, how I wish I had met God sooner, accepted Him into my life.
I feel more confident now than years before when I did not know Jesus and God and know there was a plant–and not only that, but my salvation and eternity. I pray for my family that they will come to know God, develop a relationship with Him, just as they develop a relationship with spouse, close friends, and so forth. Lord, You know I pray for those who don’t know You and have a relationship with You, and hate the idea of anyone spending eternity separated from You in heaven, and choosing to spend theirs in hell. But I am so thankful You chose me and ‘mybellaviews.’ I know my salvation is with You.
Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:5-6 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Bold typeset, my addition)
Deuteronomy 30:19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for your selves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Choose him, and He will guide your ways).
Proverbs 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver.
John 3:15 “…that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him…”
2 Corinthians 3:16-17 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
God granted the gift of free choice to man when He created us in His image. The Lord blessed us with the ability to weigh our options and choose–something. We can choose the color blue over coral, we can choose fish over steak; or turkey over chicken. We choose asparagus over carrots, and rice over potatoes or whatever. Such a blessing when it comes to these kind of choices.
But the free will also benefited us when it came to naming everything presented to Adam.
We get to choose to see beauty while traveling and experiencing new things, or we can choose to see the dismal and everything is negative. I have been blessed as we lived in Germany for a number of years–and I loved and enjoyed all I saw and experienced. It was so impressive to me to see buildings built in the 1500’s, and still in use. My daughter in law grew up in a home that was built in 1554. Yes, it had a modern kitchen, but the pillars were all the original–now seeming to be cement–but were petrified wooden beams. The stairs climbed almost straight upwards with tiny steps–definitely not comfortable for my confidence in my size 10 foot not sliding or slipping on those narrow steps. The mountains, the customs, the flowers and the home designs were all lovely to see. It was easy to travel from one country to another. And although all had a lot more history than the United States, they could all be different. Each had its own language–German, French, Italian, Dutch and so forth. It was fascinating. I chose to love it, to experience all I could, and to delve into at least the culture differences of Germany from what we celebrate in the US. I also chose to introduce them to our holidays of Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and so forth.
I have not seen or been to many of the different states in our own country. I would love to visit some of the states that border Canada, moving toward Washington and Oregon. I would love to explore some of our national parks, to see in person the Redwoods in California. But I did have the opportunity to spend some time in Alaska which I truly enjoyed. But I love traveling and seeing other areas. It would be a choice for me to travel to many areas on my list.
It is wonderful to have choices–and yet that doesn’t not mean we always make the best choices. We can choose to try “just once” to have a night of drinking and it can possibly lead to a car accident, a fall when someone is hurt severely. Some choices are HUGE. Should I move for this new job? Should I go out with the girls celebrating this engagement? What will I insist on for my limitations if I do choose to go? Does that adventure sound like a safe thing to do? I do not like heights, so should I choose to go on a hike that will take me to a thin walking path along the mountains edge? Should I let me young children go into that rough, angry looking ocean today? I am just going to grab that phone fast, and be right out–to find the toddler lying face down in a pool. Should I take this route or that? That is city and almost always congested, but this highway is presently dealing with an accident and traffic is not moving at all. Should I wear the blue dress or this mint green? Should I choose, steak, chicken or fish for dinner? We have choices we make daily that can affect our futures. And can also seem to make choices that have little consequence–painting a room one color with a designated wall a different color. Paint colors can be easy to change–a little time and a few dollars.
We may choose to wear provocative clothing, to put out signals that could be risqué, could be communicated to others that one has a less inhibited manner than is actual. There are so many choices we make each day. Some may choose to do drink alcohol and then find they are over imbibing, and get easily drunk. And then they choose, initially, to want it each day. They might even believe they can control their intake. Yet, being “a little” drunk happens too often. Hopefully, they are not choosing to also drive, and have a driver, have a taxi, or have some other way to get SAFELY home.
I like the fact we have the ability to choose. Does that mean I have always made the right choices? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I think, by far it is easier for me to count up the incorrect choices than the right and best choices. Has God turned my bad choices into good? Yes, almost always–it may have taken quite awhile, but I could eventually see less of my mistaken choices and more of His goodness and grace in changing things to improve for me. I chose to spontaneously choose to sell my home several miles from here–but I did NOT want to sell. I should have rented it out, and given it a year or so, and then decided to sell or not. I was unhappy when I moved here full time–even though I had chosen to sell my home in another town. My choice had been wrong, spontaneous, and I yearned for the social contacts and world I lived in in my town. But I thought ocean, sound, and beautiful views, and a good church were enough. But I was lonesome. I knew that as soon as I got an offer on the selling house within 2 days. “NO< I DON’T WANT TO SELL.” But then I felt trapped and unable to change my mind. I had royally made a MISTAKE. But over time, God opened doors for me and I got more settled, more comfortable, found more comfortable niches.
I love free choice, but I do not always choose the best path. I sometimes choose from a spontaneous desire, some supposed need or want. I can find myself being enthusiastic and jump into a situation I think I must have–and although I have gotten better about asking God to lead my paths–I have been known to NOT wait for a direct answer. I am so much like Sara, urging her husband Moses to jump into bed with my maid Haggar–although I am NOT patient, and have been known to jump God’s timetable. But, because of my impatience, I have screwed up, suffered because of my choices, and my decisions. Rarely do I still insist on Kathy’s way NOW, but the tendency can still be there. However, I have learned it is not totally Kathy–it is Satan with his quiet, evil whispering, urging me to follow this route..
I lean into God now. I don’t trust myself any longer. I yearn to hear what God wants me to do–I do NOT want to mess up and jump ahead of what God wants for me, and what I think I choose for the time being. I want God’s choice for my life. I do know He knows best and even though I deal with my impatient personality; this is NOT who and what I want to be.
Lord, I am NOT without sin, and without jumping Your timeline, but I need You to correct me before I make any mistakes. My mistakes hurt. They have caused me heartache. And that is NOT the choice I want for my life. Lord, You have made my bad choices come out well, but sometimes the time involved was a longer healing time than I would have preferred. Lord, You have covered me time and again and been there for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love,
Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I have put my hope in your word
Psalm 130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
Lamentations 3:24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Matthew 12:21 In His name the nations will put their hope.
Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
As young children, I can remember my brother and I hoping for things. Sometimes it was a new pair of sneakers, or a baseball or mitt, or for me a Barbie or some other doll which had caught my eye. We wanted different things we saw on TV (black and white then), but there was Roy Rogers and Trigger, or sometimes, we hoped to be able to have Nestles Quick in our milk which was normally only a once weekly treat. But the point is, from a young age, we hoped for things. We didn’t get them all the time–sometimes we were disobedient, sometimes the parents forgot, sometimes they decided we had had enough sweets, and needed to wait until “Saturday.” It was particularly tough to wait for Christmas hoping for this or that, and then it took FOREVER for the day to arrive. We hoped for a gift, we hoped to see Santa in the house, we hoped to hear him and the reindeer on the roof, and since it was winter in New England, we hoped for a new sled, toboggan, or ice skates.
It was often the excitement of the hope and what would come. But the feeling of hoping and the enthusiasm was real, and expectant. And I have been able to see that same excited expectation with my own children and with the grandchildren.
Even newborns have a sense of hope. They cry and hope to be fed; cry and hope to be changed; cry and hope to be held, burped and so forth. If those needs are not routinely met, and they are not stimulated they become babies known as “failure to thrive.” They lose hope, they don’t interact, there is no hope in their little minds that their needs will be met. Generally, they stop making eye contact, they lie quiet, mostly silent as they have learned in their very short lives, that their needs will not be met. It takes a lot of work to get these babies to learn to interact and that is IF they do. Sometimes the damage has imbedded and these children are labeled as autistic or on the spectrum for needing a lot of extra help throughout life
As we age, our hopes and dreams change. We still hope, want and get excited about things–an upcoming marriage, or baby going to be added to the family, or a new home. There are things that we are excited to be seeing come to fruition.
But especially once one becomes a Christian, your hope changes, matures. Now you hope for a deeper relationship with Jesus, to know God and the Holy Spirit more intimately. You hope you have waited and truly dug out God’s plan for your life. You hope you are doing your best daily, and examining your day at the end of each, you hope you can be better the next day. Once you have recognized and claimed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, confessed your sins, and started to become a ‘new creation’ you recognize you have assurance of the biggest hope ever. You know, not just hope, that Jesus is preparing a place for you. Hope is attained.
We hope a lot throughout our lives. Many of these hopes we pray about before they are an issue. We pray our children will be safe when we send them out the door, we pray they will do their best in whatever they are working at–whether it be school work, sports, or as they get older, they start jobs and learn the importance of finishing and finishing well, we pray they will stay safe from drugs, and from the evils and demon temptations in this world. Our hope for them is laid out in prayer before our Lord.
We hope illness will not touch us or our family. Our hope may be for complete healing–but when healing perhaps does not come, or there are profound effects post illness changing the lives of the caregivers and family. There may be anger in the patient, and that can be directed at caregivers, family members, self, doctors and anyone who might come in their path. To them, at the time, hope has disappeared. Difficult time for all. Once we realize complete healing is no longer the hope (it can still be a prayer as we have an AWESOME GOD in our lives), but the hope is gone as the new reality sets in. Now a new hope to fit the changed circumstances needs to develop. The prayer may also change–to keep our loved one comfortable, give them the ability and reason to do their physical best–work hard at PT, optimize the best you can be with God’s help, and be confident in what God has for you. But hard to do when it is YOUR body that has been insulted. And yet aren’t those some of the most amazing true stories you have ever come across?
We are born with is an inborn desire to know God, or some higher being. There are some persons who recognize they are missing something. . . Some fill the desires with phone, social media, games, drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other means of distraction; and therefore, don’t find the TRUE fulfillment of the emptiness in their lives. They recognize the hole, but refuse to consider that Jesus MIGHT be the answer. Often it is a hard NO–until He tugs often enough and hard enough to get a surrender. Jesus is all the hope and expectation one needs.
The knocking and seeking and having our requests answered is to FIND, Know, LOVE and REVERE God in the entirety, and then our wishes, desires will be fulfilled in His will. He does have a plan for happiness, safety and good things for those who believe in Him. God is love. He created man to have a relationship with him. God enjoyed His time with the first two humans He created and visited with in the Garden. He wanted to then, and wants now, to have a relationship with those He created. God wants, HOPES, no one will perish, by choosing sin and pride and stubbornness, rather than repentance, turning from sin and knowing that God’s Son died for each of us and for OUR sins, taking them ALL on Himself.
God, the Father and Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are HOPE–the only hope that is steady and the only one we need. If we know Him and have the hope for eternal life with Him and have asked for our sins to be forgiven–we have the ASSURANCE of eternal life with Him. The alternative is eternal life burning in hell-fires–forever separated from God.
Jesus thank You for being patient with me, and steadily steering me to know You better and better. You have richly blessed me and ‘mybelllaviews.’
Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be distraught.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 13:1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?
Psalm 34:17-18 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 38:9-11 Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
Psalm 42:5, 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. . . . . Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 143:7-8 Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
Proverbs 12: 25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Do you ever feel rebellious, crotchety? I have been feeling like that lately. I am not sure why, but I am feeling grumpy, not wanting to do anything or go anywhere, and just as though I want to hibernate. So what is going on with me? That is not my norm, am unsure why I feel like this, refuse most invitations to do anything, and sit and read different novels, watch old TV series, and just be a veg. This is so not my norm, and I don’t like it. There are things I should do–finish cleaning garage, finish purging clothes I do not wear and others could certainly use, go see friends I have not seen in a while and have a good visit.
I watch my birds in the back deck–and I have some great ones to watch–I have a lot of cardinals, red winged blackbirds, hummingbirds, and of course, my star, the painted bunting, and at least 2 females–not sure if there are three or four, but two is for certain. I also have some ugly grackles and noisy, also ugly black crows–all which should be part of the bovine family as they can wipe out my two feeders quickly, and chase away the smaller birds with their bullying. But between my gardens, my bird feeding areas, and the ocean and all its moods, I should have a lot to entertain me. But although I feel thankful everyday I am fairly healthy, have great family and friends, have mostly pretty, nice and wonderful days, I am also feeling YUCK. It is one thing to feel badly if ill, headache, received sad news, or SOMETHING, but there is nothing I can put my finger on, except . . . I don’t know.
Being sad leads to lamenting which is a form of prayer. It can express grief, sorrow, remorse, even when you may not know the cause precisely, God knows and hears you. Lamentations have you question God for answers, direction, and guidance. It’s a means of asking Him for comfort.
So I am searching to see what might be bothering me. So far the Holy Spirit is quiet–and makes me frustrated. But I have asked if perhaps I should sell my home on the island and move closer to New Bern, even if not New Bern. I have a lot of friends here, but family is in New Bern and in an emergency that is over an hour away. I live in a house with three levels of stairs–a lot if ill or injured to traverse. And, it is the last things my husband and I owned together, and shared good times at. Maybe that is at the core of this–clinging to great family times. I have wonderful neighbors, good friends, a church and friends at church I like–and because of my shyness, it takes me a while to settle into a new routine. Part of me does not want to think about giving up what I enjoy here–and yes, I certainly know I cannot take it with me when I pass on to my real home. . .
But I still have a lot of friends and social things I enjoy in New Bern and would be comfortable getting back to. So is this restlessness, yet hopeless feeling to do with that? I don’t know. I have been hurt twice in the past couple of months, making all the stairs a difficulty. Living alone, it could be a day or two before someone realizes they have not seen me–especially with rental season starting and no one knowing if I am a renter or an owner and if it is unusual for me to not be around. So, perhaps that is what is pulling at me–a bit of pre-eminent warning that I might have a serious accident and not be able to reach anyone. I am NOT attached to my phone, so chances are pretty good I would not have it with me 90% of the time. So, I am truly seeing no reason to feel like this. I am blessed and can find only one area that I would like to see improve, and it is fine if God says ‘No, you are doing fine; that is not something I want you to have.’
And yet, He knows I am frustrated and confused as to what might be pulling me down, because certainly I have been vocal, and have also mind-pleaded–but His silence, I guess means I am to wait.
But I am not good at waiting which I know God knows. He created me–knows ALL my flaws, my impatience, my need for answers and a fairly quick direction to change course when needed, and yet, right now, it is SILENCE. I don’t like hearing from Him after a couple of days of wrestling with something. And I do know that if I am not given a good direction, I am to maintain the last course. The difference this time, is the restlessness, tied to the indifference, the melancholy, the isolation I am preferring to being with others. It all feels selfish when I go through it in my head–and since I am full of blessings, why am I not out there eager to be giving to others, instead of isolating, vegging and feeling YUCK?
I normally like to be active, and with this pall, am feeling lazy, and although I am thankful for the sunshine (even the rain we are getting this week to help my plants and also the drought situation), I do not want to do anything. UUGGHH! Frustrating.
I definitely feel like David asking why his soul is feeling so down and miserable. I have no reason that I can put my finger on as yet. I do know that when He is ready, He will pull me out of this, or show me my sin, my need for patience and endurance and to be satisfied with all conditions. So, Lord, I will keep seeking You and asking You to remind me I see others who are worse off than I certainly am, and I can be a light and small gift to them. I am sorry, Lord, for this doldrum period; I certainly recognize I have no earthly reason I can see for this–it actually makes me feel like a spoiled brat–and I do want to thank You. You are steady, unchanging, full of love and grace and mercy, and I know in time You will guide me into feeling more like myself. But if I have sinned or done something remiss, I want to know, to confess and repent, and pick up so I can serve Your wishes again.
Thank You, Lord. No matter my state, Your continued reassuring presence is always with me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!