Genesis 6:1, 5-6,17 Now, it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful: and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. . . . And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.
Genesis 10-12 This will cover the genealogy from Noah’s son, Shem, to the birth of Abraham
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house. To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation: I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 21—-read through and find that Sarai birthed Isaac
Genesis 41:31-41 So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. . . . Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. . . . And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 10:12,13 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
Ezekiel 18:21-23 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?”
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
Matthew 1:2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. . .
Jewish boys were educated in the Torah, the history which was covered with the Kings, Samuel and the Chronicles, and then the early prophets, followed later by the minor prophets. In those early days, their genealogy was very important. It was very important as part of your family history to know what clan you came from. So certainly, all knew that also, usually introducing themselves with a name, then followed with son of ….., tribe of … For instance, years later, Paul would claim his heritage in Philippians 3:5-6, “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the 8th day, of the people of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin.” There were only two tribes who stayed loyal to King David, Benjamin and Judah, so this was an important part of the identity of this part of the family.
If girls were educated it was usually by a parent or an older brother. Girls were not encouraged to learn reading and anything that males might need when they are grown and starting a business or bartering. It was important for boys to be educated–women were to be educated in household duties–cooking, caring for the household and family, gardening, and so forth.
In the Torah, God spoke to those He had chosen (Moses, Joshua) to deliver His people. Then, messages were spread by travelers telling others what they had witnessed, heard, experienced. The Israelis were hungry for words from the prophets, especially once settled in Israel and Judah and spread out amongst their areas. Words of God had been passed down by Moses until they reached the Promised Land, then by Joshua as he led the men to finish conquering the land God had designated for them and settling, building their towns, villages, and farms. But they all missed hearing the words of God–they had the Torah, but there must be more.
They then demanded Judges; people who also heard from God and made His rules known to the people. The last judge was Samuel, a Nazarene dedicated and given to a priest when he was 2-3 years of age. He became a listener and speaker of God’s words to the people. But then they wanted a king. (Oh, boy, you have a King–a Creator, One who cares for you and supplies all you need. . . ) But, no, they insisted on making a man their king.
There were good and bad kings. Those who chose to follow God and to do what God decreed, and those who lived by whatever THEY wanted and would give them pleasure. God used prophets to proclaim God’s commands to straighten up and obey His rules. They warned of political unrest with nearby nations, who were sinning, following idols as their many “gods” and not the one true God. Some kings chose to follow God, at least for a short while, while others had no fear. They just did whatever they wanted to. Afterall, hadn’t things been like this for a LONG time, and nothing catastrophic had happened. ‘Haha, why should I give up my riches and change my ways?’
So, in 721 BC, God sent in the nation of Assyria, blood thirsty, cruel and vicious men who destroyed and burned the area and took many hostages. Those not taken tried to eke out a living with no tools, damaged land, and damaged bodies. Difficult to control oxen to farm the land with only one arm. . .
It was about 590 BC, the Babylonians invaded and took 10,000+ as captives, including the teenage Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These were all young men of royal lineage, well- educated, smart and God fearing. When ordered to change their diet to “kingdom” food according to the king of Babylon, they asked not to do that–and proved themselves healthier and sturdier than the others who imbibed in the rich, high calorie, intoxicating foods/drink. They kept themselves pure–praying and honoring God, the Creator, as their ritual, three times daily, they took no forbidden foods in, and did their assignments without complaint or shirking. That does not mean they lived a life of luxury–they worked while enslaved, and made the best of their captive lives, while still knowing God was in charge and it was He they honored, not the king of Babylon.
When they refused to bow to a craven tall gold image of the king of Babylon, they were thrown into fiery furnace. They said, ‘Ok, but we will honor only our God, the only true God, and it is okay if we die, He is our true God.’ And they were seen inside the furnace but now as four men, not as the three thrown in the heat; thus proved to whatever Babylonians who were present–God was with these three young devoted Hebrew men, and saved them from having a single burn or wound.
He did the same when some jealous Babylonian officials decided they could trap Daniel and have him killed in a lions den. Too bad for them God was in charge and smug as they were initially, they LOST. Daniel walked out without a single mark on him, and those officials and family became the lions meals for a few days running.
When the Persian empire took over the Babylonian Empire, King Cyrus, (God initiated) finally permitted some of the Jewish men to return and rebuild the temple. Some chose to stay in Babylon, some chose to return to Israel. But the temple was rebuilt, and the Hebrews rebuilt the area–putting up housing, planting crops, and taking care of the clean-up which had occurred and allowed to stay stagnant for many years. They started rebuilding a community in Jerusalem, God’s Holy City. The Medo-Persian Empire remained ruling in Israel—Aaron’s familial line of priests had been restored, many Hebrews had returned to Israel as merchants, and the Jews had given up worshiping idols. However, they treated their wives shoddily, they did not tithe and support the Temple, the priests were not caring for the Temple, nor teaching the people God’s ways, and they were marrying pagans.
In 333 BC Israel was in a tug-of-war, which really did not affect them over-much between Egypt and Greece. Israel adopted much of the language and customs of the Greeks, and in Egypt the OT writings were combined into a book of all the writings for what we know now as the OT, called the Septaugint, and then translated into Greek. Much of the studies of the male children centered around the OT and Septaugint, which is often quoted in what we know as the New Testament.
The Syrians also tried to muscle in and did for a while. They overtook the Temple and desecrated the Holy of Holies within the temple. In 165 BC, the Maccabees, led by Judas Maccabee from the Aaron line of priests defeated them and cleansed the Temple, but fighting continued until the Romans came into power in 63 BC.
Then the Romans came clanking in. Oh boy, they oppressed with military presence and cruelty, they increased and increased taxes–and did I mention they increased taxes? As hard as they worked the Israelites could not get ahead, their actions judged at every corner. People were thrown into prison until they could pay their taxes. That always seemed to be a Catch-22. How can one work and make money to attempt to pay taxes when locked in prison? How is there anything but discouragement and then how does one hope to move forward or ever get released?
Educated Jewish men were conscripted to be tax collectors, so it appeared as though they agreed with the Romans, the taxes and penalties being mandated. These men were shunned by their own people, seen as part of the problem, traitors to Israeli beliefs.
Then, it was during this time in Israeli history that a Child was born in a little town called Bethlehem.
Thank You, Lord for all the means I have access to and can gain information and knowledge about those several hundred years and many nations who tried to subdue Your people. You have opened doors in my mind and understanding therefore helping me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Matthew 24:13 . . . but the one who stands firm until the end will be saved.
Luke 21:19 Stand firm and you will win life.
Romans 4:18-21 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said of him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead–since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.
Romans 5:3,4 Not only so, but we also know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience
1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
James 1:2-4, 12 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. . . . Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
David was a man admired most of the time. He knew his heart was good, kind, generous and not self serving. But, since the first sin committed by Eve and then Adam, humans have sinned. some have sinned profoundly more than others–not caring, or even believing whether there is or is not a God, Creator and Judge who loves all and wants us to be saved and spend eternity with Him–once they recognize He is the Supreme Creator. He devised a plan to free us from the chains and bonds of sin. That does NOT mean there will be no consequences to our sinful behavior, but since Jesus came and became the final, only pure sacrifice willing to die for all sinners as long as they recognize and confess that God is Lord, Creator, Jesus is His Son, the only pure and righteous who walked amongst as full human and full God, and the Holy Spirit, our Guide, our Teacher, who will only lead us if we are accepting of the Holy Spirit as full God, sent to be our Helper on earth until Jesus comes again to claim His kingdom.
The Old Testament sacrifices consisted of lambs, birds, cattle and was hopefully a visual reminder to all the people that THEIR sins cost the life of a poor, blemish free, healthy animal. The cost was little to them; yes, perhaps they had to purchase the cattle or lamb or whatever, but there were many, many animals on the journey to the Promised Land, and the land was fertile, so sheep, cattle and all thrived. Their sacrifice was more an apology, not an atonement.
David’s actions — and inactions — sleeping with Bathsheba, knowing she was a friend’s wife, not punishing the son who raped his daughter, not dealing with the selfish disobedience and ‘grabby and entitled’ behavior of his sons was the partial cause of the Jewish nations to fumble and fall. (Talk about the sins of the father for generations . . . ) Yet, even when David messed up, he kept running to God in repentance and in sincere desire to know God deeper and to follow Him closer. He was persevering to know God more. Once he died, it certainly seemed there was no telling any of these “royals” that they needed to be obedient, to follow God’s Words, to honor and glorify God and He would honor and glorify them and be with them always. Some of David’s descendants did try to follow after God–Hezekiah, Josiah, but being human, they too had their weaknesses and fell short. Different countries invaded both Israel and later Jerusalem, and the Jewish people were enslaved quite often.
Since all men are selfish, it is a lot of sin God was seeing within His creation. But that changed when Jesus began His ministry. He gathered hard working men and women, and lovingly guided, taught, led, and showed them how He wanted them to live. He repeated that He and the Father were one, and what they wanted was one’s heart to be pure. They wanted all mankind to live as they do–loving, guiding, restful, hardworking, yet giving rewards for the heard endeavors–good harvests each year, healthy families, plenty for all–food, cloth, work, money for taxes, and so on. God the trinity wanted us to live, laugh, seek, and love as they did. They wanted to see kindness, patience, endurance when times were tough, gentleness, peace, gratefulness, goodness, love, joy, self control. They yearned to see all mans’ hearts turned with sincerity to them to honor, worship and glorify.
Yet, even now, for those of us who KNOW Jesus is the Savior, who came to earth to live, teach and then die for US, we can fight argue with our selfish desires versus knowing what God wants us to act–and we therefore sin.; He was to be the only pure and sacrificial Lamb to free us from the penalties of eternity in Hell, yet we still sin. We judge others at times, we may gossip, Sin is abundant in our society, and we struggle with what we want to do, and do not always follow God’s desires.
But there have been many people who have demonstrated perseverance in following God. That does not mean they were perfect, sinless, but they did continue to “run the race, to finish well for the crown.”
Helen Keller was one of those people. At a young age she developed mumps and became deaf and blind, and it was early enough that she had very little verbal words. Because of pity, not knowing how to care for the child and get her the help she needed, she was developing into a young wild “animal” with no manners, and only a means of grabbing what she wanted in life. Ann Sullivan was a young woman who also had visual problems, but she moved into the home and she persevered, sometimes in extreme frustration, trying to reach this child. And eventually she did. And once the doors to learning were unlocked for Helen Keller, she persevered in her quest for knowledge, and went about teaching others and the perseverance of both of these women showed others the importance of continuing to try to unlock doors to reach those who have a disability to become the best they can be.
Walt Disney was another who persevered in his quest. He bought land and had a vision of a place for families to come to and enjoy a stay and turned several properties into a special vacation for many. His vision brought families together for a week or so, reconnecting, enjoying and loving. But he persevered in his vision
Louis Zamperini was another who knew the importance of perseverance. He was an American Olympic long distance runner who joined the US Army Airborne division. Once their plane was shot down, he and three others survived 47 days floating in a raft, until finally picked up by a Japanese fishing vessel. They were then turned over to a Japanese POW camp. Because of who Zamperini was–a known Olympic winner, he was chosen to be abused, beaten, threatened with hours of torturous challenges. (Holding his arms over his head while kneeling in the hot sun…..) He was held captive in that camp for two years until the end of the war. Zamperini was an example of one who persevered.
Billy Graham was another who chose perseverance. He was a Christian from a young child, and was just becoming a young minister in the Evangelistic circles. Invited to a conference with several other well-known preachers, he was intimidated. One of those men challenged him to defend why he believed, and then prove his knowledge as he would have to support his beliefs to others, especially nonbelievers. This caused Graham several months of doubt and he delved into the Word searching answers to his doubts, his questions. This challenged him at his foundation. For months he sought God on how to answer, how to be sure he was on the path God had for him. He finally put his Bible down, knelt before it and stated to God his belief in as Creator, as God, as Jesus as the Son, and as the Holy Spirit. He claimed these beliefs, asked God to give him the right heart if being an Evangelical minister was His plan. And while there, humbled, broken, certainty and peace entered him. Billy Graham knew God as Father, Creator, and that it was a trinity of Godhead. He had persevered in trying to find his answers, and after was rewarded with the knowledge he was doing the will of God, he served and prayed with several presidents, and became one of the most humble sought after preachers to come to speak to others about God.
We all need to come to a time when we persevere whether there are periods of doubt, fear, frustration over a loved one’s choices, praying through illness, contemplating the new job opportunity, and numerous other situations that arise in one’s life. Persevering at the foot of the cross, seeking God’s will and path, in time does give answers. Following God’s will and design for your life is what we should daily seek. Thankfully, we are not daily going through a crisis time, but when those times come, employ your prayer warriors, and stay at the foot of the cross with your concerns.
Thank You for always being there, ready to listen, to offer comfort, and when You are ready for me to know, will point me in the direction You have prepared me for. You have always been there, sometimes when I felt all alone, but You were constant for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Genesis 5: 32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth
Genesis 7:6, 7 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth. And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood
Genesis 15;4,5 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Genesis 17:2-6, 15-17,21 “. . .Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you. . . . God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her. Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”. . . “But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”
Genesis 21:5 Abraham was a 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Genesis 39:1, 19-21 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. . . . When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners, were confined But while Joseph was in the prison, the Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
Genesis 41: 1, 15,16 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream . . . Pharaoh said to Joseph, :I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I cannot do it, ” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
Exodus 12:40-41 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.
Job
1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.
Noah was 500 years old when God commanded he build a huge boat as He, God, was going to destroy the world through a huge and long term flood, and rid it of all the filth and decency that mankind was committing. By destroying the people, He could almost start new. So Noah and his sons worked at building this huge boat because Noah believed God’s words, and he followed what he was told to do. It took a hundred years for the boat (ark) to be fully finished (no power tools except brute strength!) and he and his sons worked at making the boat precisely to God’s specifications. While others laughed and jeered, teasing and ridiculing him, Noah continued building, being persistent and believing in what God had promised. Noah continued to urge all the laughing folks to reconsider, but it was only he and his family who were saved. All, including animals except those he brought aboard as a matched set, and the few which were to be sacrificed at the end of the voyage were left alive. Noah persevered and believed.
Perseverance is shown in the Scriptures by many of the men we read about. Abraham was mostly waiting once he was told to leave his family and go to a new land. His crops, animals and people grew–so much that he and Lot had to separate to be able to support the animals. Abraham knew God and loved Him, and God found Abraham obedient and with a good heart. Finally, God told him he and Sarai, his wife would become parents. Since both were old, 90 and 100, they both laughed at this idea. But God delivered, the first of God’s chosen family, Isaac, and the Israelites were born to Abraham. Abraham waited, he followed God’s commands, and was rewarded becoming the father of many nations–his name is known throughout many of the world’s religions. He persevered and believed.
Isaac was the son born to Abraham and Sarah. He had fraternal twin sons, Jacob and Esau, and one swindled the other out of the eldest birthright. He then married two women, and also had children with each of their maids, totaling twelve sons, and at least one daughter. In his older years, Jacob favored his second to youngest son, Joseph, above the others, causing dissension within the family. Some of the brothers sold Joseph into slavery and he was carried to Egypt. He was enslaved for thirteen years, and for about two years or more was imprisoned for something he did not do. When released, his interpretation from God regarding Pharaoh’s dream, elevated him to a position of prominence. Joseph was able to make provisions to supply food when a famine would be happening. God had shown him in a vision and He had shown him how to be able to supply food for many. He persevered and believed
Moses was placed in the palace and raised as someone close to Pharaoh. As a child, his “nurse” being his biological mother, educated him regarding the Hebrews. He had observed the Egyptians enslaving and mistreating the Jews often, and believed it was wrong. When as a young man, he witnessed physical abuse being dealt to a Hebrew by an Egyptians, he killed the Egyptian and buried the evidence. However, the next day, he witnessed a fight between two Hebrew men, yet when he interfered, trying to let them know he was a supporter, one accused him of carrying out murder the previous day, so he fled. God placed him in the desert where he learned about the desert, became a shepherd and herder, married and had children. God finally came and commanded him to return to Egypt and rescue the Hebrews. Once he was on board, he and his brother, Aaron did return to Egypt, persevering in their quest to take the people to go out to have a time of celebration and praise to their God. When they were finally ordered to leave by Pharaoh, they then had to spend many years in the desert until they finally came to the Promised Land. It was forty years of putting up with whining, finding fault, and disobedience and disbelief of God that Moses persevered wandering in the desert. But he persevered and believed.
When David was a young shepherd, he had already encountered dangers while caring for his father’s herds, and had faced down and defeated the danger. While his brothers and King Saul were facing the scary, “big and mighty” Philistines, David came on the scene, and he became angry at the disrespect the enemy had for the Lord God. He killed Goliath, the mighty and huge Philistine with a stone to the temple. Within a short time, God had Samuel anoint David to be the king when Saul was removed from the thrown. David lived in the wilderness, caves and such for about 14 years until King Saul was killed in a battle. But he persevered and believed.
Lord, when I am doubting, remind me to persevere. You have me in the palm of your Hand. Thank You for all You do for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.
Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but protect us from the evil one.
Romans 6:11-14 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. for sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law but under grace
Romans 12:1-2 , 12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God . . . rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what your are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of the escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Galatians 5:1, 16-17 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. . . . I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish
Titus 2:11-12 for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.
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.
James 1:12-15 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown brings forth death.
James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
I was addicted to cigarettes for years. When I started smoking I was 15, and somehow my two friends and I thought it was cool and elegant, and oh, so grown up. We would take our allowances into town and sneak into a store and buy a pack or cigarettes. Then we would sneak close to home to a field and because of recent work that had been going on, there were three large cement tubes, about 10 feet long, and with an inner circumference of 4 ft, so plenty of area to sit inside, chat and smoke cigarettes, believing we were classy young adults.
I was the one who was the heaviest smoker—I liked the psychological thoughts of coolness, I liked the fact it was easier for me to talk with strangers and people I did not know so well, having something to do with my hands, and somehow calming me down for easier conversations. My two friends were not as impressed; one did continue smoking but having five or less cigarettes a day. The other did not like it and passed without trying more than a total of 4-5 cigarettes in her lifetime.
For 15 years, I smoked steadily, then because of a vow stopped. At the time, there was no nicotine gum, or patches that could help with the intense feelings of withdrawal from nicotine. During that time, my brain was foggy. In fact, I drove a standard shift vehicle, and the morning I faced without a cigarette, I got my son ready for day care, put him in his car seat, jumped in the driver’s seat, turned the key. . . I had no idea how to shift the car as my habit was to jump in, light a cigarette, then turn the key and go. For several moments, long enough for my son to ask why we were not going, I was unsure what to do. That was scary. I was a registered nurse in an ICU and it was critical my brain be able to move quickly to identify patient needs, possible complications that might be trying to rear their issues. I got the car in reverse, then my hands did their automatic shifting. I remember chuckling at the absurdity, but there was an inner area that was nervous and a little scared.
I counted hours when the worst of the cravings would strike. Yay! It’s been 20 hours…yippee, I have made it 22.5 hours and now going to bed, so one day down! Thank You!. Each day, I would realize the number of hours I had not given into smoking, and I would mentally reward myself, all the while praying I could continue to gain hours and not fail.
During this time, my mother, my son and I drove to Vermont, and she commented on the fact I had not smoked. I told her it had been 294.5 hours since my last cigarette. . .working into the 13th day. She was pleased, and asked what I was doing. I responded suffering, but also pretending to “smoke” by raising fingers as though I had a cigarette, then would make the motions as though smoking, taking in a large breath, holding it, then slowly letting it out. Also, when able I would brush my teeth. Deep breaths helped, but I was never feeling relaxed, and wondered if I would truly be able to get beyond this and not have this intense craving. But I continued counting hours and days, and then after almost eight weeks, I was no longer touched by yearnings, and most often found the smell of someone else smoking gross. For ten years I did not have a cigarette.
When I began again, it was a stressful situation full of anger, anxiety, nervousness, and a friend came to our home for the first time for a party for one of our sons, my husband was drunk at 3 PM, and I was mortified and embarrassed and angry. As she and her husband entered, I asked for a cigarette—and the non-smoking period then was done.
Why was I smoking and finding it so hard to quit? Yes, I found it relaxing, easier to chat with others, but I knew it was not good for me. It was one of the major health risks, it was expensive, my clothing and hair smelled all the time. What WAS I doing? For being fairly intelligent, I was certainly proving I could act a fool.
The sin is mine, the continuation of disobeying and falling into the abyss of smoking when I had worked hard to quit, and now was held captive by own addiction and weakness. I already knew my body was supposed to be a temple to honor Him. I was not doing that; and could not seem to rid myself of this sin AGAIN. I was like a moth which had gotten entangled in the spider web–unable to free myself, and therefore feeling more and more a failure, a sinner, and deeply in a prison with chains.
I smoked again for another few years, then again decided to throw them down and “honor my body as His temple.” Now, though, nicotine patches were available, so the withdrawal was much simpler. I applied a patch each day and although I occasionally wanted the “actions” of smoking, there was no physical craving, no brain fog, no increased anxiety, and fear.
Thankfully, that was the last of that addiction besting me. I do not think anything could make me smoke again; at least I think I have more ammunition to fight the desires with God’s word, the power of the Holy Spirit, my recognition that my body is His temple.
In the years since, I have turned from “innocent” things that could cause addiction. For several years, I watched Law and Order: SVU. But it was violent, and the crimes disgusted me. I turned it off permanently. Since then, I have done so with many shows that something in it was against what I felt God was permitting me to watch. If it made me uncomfortable. Gone. Goodbye.
Because realize I have an addictive personality, I avoid anything that I fear I could want a lot and could become a problem. I also trust in the Holy Spirit to tell me clearly to stay away from something that could become a problem for me.
Lord, thank You for Your help in helping me overcome the addiction of smoking and showing me some shows I was watching were not what You wanted for my mind and brain to see and think on. You have been so wonderful guiding me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with your joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on his own understanding.
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart devised his way, but the Lord directed his steps.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 20:24 The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?
Jeremiah 10:23 Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
So often we allow others’ opinions and comments to dictate some of the choices we make. Too often I have done this. And, for me, it has led oftentimes to a tougher time than if I had followed what I was being nudged to do. (And I will admit, I sometimes want to hear a louder, more direct voice or signal, rather than a nudge.)
We do have to verify with God when we are being urged to take a certain path. If it’s from God, we get a sense of peace and an excitement to see what the next step of His plan is. Is there some fear? trepidation? Maybe. Probably, especially if it is new to you to be seeking His will, and what pops into your mind seems SO over the top. But He will continue to lead and direct you to follow HIS direction to the point you can NO longer say, ‘maybe this was a fluke, coincidence….’ But there are enough directional signs given and you have to admit He is guiding. Do you follow?
Some choose not to. Admittedly, I have used my brain—full of its anxieties, uncertainties, and stubbornness and insisted that I knew best. And lost some peace of mind, certainly had struggles, and wonder just how different things would have been IF I had had the confidence to go forth in the direction I was quietly being invited to go. But as with most humans, certainly I THINK I am in charge, and I know what is best…..Such hindsight.
I will never know what would have happened if I had taken the other path He was directing me to take The poet, Robert Frost also wondered about this in his poem (The Road Not Taken) . I believe that is normal for us…what would have happened if I made the other choice? Where would life have taken me then? Which might have brought me the greater reward?
For those who don’t know the joy of following and having a relationship with God, their decisions are weighed as to which might bring immediate gratification. And most often as humans we look at the financial rewards before we see the rewards that are God-given.
What opportunities have I missed that would have blessed me; or that He would have used me to be a blessing to others? And as I have grown closer to Him, I know the satisfaction of helping and serving in some way for others. I wonder how my life would have been different had I followed thew nudging to do different? How handy to be George Bailey and see how your life and the decisions you made brought pleasure/love/ or positive outcomes to others. Or like Ebenzer Scrooge you can see how your actions have negatively impacted others. . .
Oh Lord, I have made so many wrong turns not being willing to wait for your timing, or wanting what seemed best, cool, appealing for the moment and I have chosen to DIVE in, and not being a strong swimmer, have had trouble floating or treading water. I do not want to be so impetuous and arrogant. I want to wait until I can see the plan You have for me. However, don’t let me be overly cautious because of my past mistakes that I don’t move at all. Your path and in Your timing for me, that’s my desire. Let me be like Elisha sticking close to Elijah on Elijah’s last day so I don’t miss You in my haste.
Oh my Lord, don’t let me remain deaf or blind or stubborn when it comes to doing Your will for my life. You have abundantly blessed me and mybellaviews.’
The Road Not Taken Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow woods,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same. . .
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!