If you read motivational books, no doubt you have heard of the importance of setting goals. Without setting goals we tend to drift and we don't achieve great results. Without strong goals all we tend to do is "get by".
Some motivational books encourage us to choose any goal we like. Could be a large house in a good neighbourhood paid off, or a certain kind of car, or holiday. It might be a career achievement. The books then go on to give you some principles through which you can achieve your stated goals.
I have a problem with this because it is true concerning all truly born again Christians that we are "not our own". We belong to God. Therefore, in going after goals, we must be sure they are the ones pleasing the LORD.
God tells us that might, riches, wisdom and strength are nothing in his eyes compared to "knowing Him". That is, to know God personally.
Jer 9:23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
Jer 9:24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.
To what extent can we say we reliably know and obey the voice of God (however it may come to us)?
I have known Christians who could identify the diseases present in a small group of people, which God wanted to heal. I have known Christians who could tell me what was going on in my life and where it was going in the short as well as the long term. AT TIMES I have received grace to do this for others as well. What I have experienced has led me to believe that KNOWING GOD to a signifcant degree is a very possible, if fairly rare, attainment. We should go after it.
I know a man in Christ who has received the designs of amazing inventions from the Lord. I have known people who when you just get physically near to them you experience a heigh
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Our Goal is God
It's true that setting goal is important and it is beneficial in setting a direction in our lives but remember that we don’t live for ourselves, we live for an higher being who is our Creator, that is our God in heaven, we live with purpose and fulfilling that purpose would be our drive in life and living a life pleasing to God is our motto.
Why am I uncertain?
I attend church everytime the doors are opened. I counsel at a drug alcohol live in group 2 x a month. I attend bible studay every week aside from church.I am always surrounded by good christian friends, my best friend is my deacon. I fast;yet I tell my friends I am not as spiritual as they are.I feel at times i am playing church. I do Love the Lord with all my heart. I am seeking his guideance. I know he has forgiven my past, maybe I haven't.There is so much I am trying to learn. I grew up in a baptist church (independent, fundamental) I now attend a methodist , we joke sometimes and call it a methocostical, we just praise worship and taught about one GOD ; the trinity.. my problem sometimes is have i already grieved the Holy Spirit as he is no longer with me? Thanks for any help
Why am I uncertain
Not having FAITH is the reason you feel the way you do. Are you born again? "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved". Do you believe this verse will all your heart, do you believe that once you confess this verse with your not only will you be saved also you be filled with the Holy Spirit?
As long as you are still righteous the Holy Spirit is with you! Instead of worrying or doubting that it is with you, you need to start confessing that the Holy Spirit dwells in You! Jesus never lies. "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But theHelper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:25
Quote the verse in prayer, you will feel the Holy Spirit, only when you believe, and born again.
It's not about us, it's God
I am reminded of a verse "Be still know and know that I am God", we done a lot of things in life that we thought it's best for us but we forgot to be still before God and know what is will for us. All things fail because we do it with ourselves, we don't acknowledge that we need God, we need his help in times of trouble, we need his strength in our weakness, spending time with God is important, pouring out our hearts is important as well, I get to know God better when I release my whole hearts to him and I pay that this will happen to you as well. We don't to do something so that God will respond to us but rather he loves an honest and humble heart coming to him asking for help. God bless you.
Seek the Holy Spirit zealously
If you have grieved the Holy Spirit, it does not mean that you can never know God again. Instead, make the presence of God your priority. Its good to do all the things you mention - one thing you did not say is that you have a PASSION for the PRESENCE of GOD. I would say, get alone with God for a season - could be as short as 1 day. Look to Jesus and what He has done for you on the cross. Put your hope in that. Ask for the Holy Spirit to come and fill you again. Don't give up. Forsake sin - do it just to stop hurting God. I believe God is merciful, His face can shine on you again.
YOUR ANSWER FROM A PERSON SUFFERING FROM YHE SAME PROBLEM..!!!
the problem may be that your mind may be weak or you spirit is being influenced by satan. i hav the same problem. but today i prayed to God for my deliverance and am fasting for 3 days wthout food. only water. i asked God to give me the streth. hope i will be able to pull it through. keep trying. God loves you.
Don't be dismayed
you need to have that one on one time with God and listen very carefully to his voice. i tell you what i am during the same thing by listeing, praying and just letting the Lore direct my life. believe and trust that he is with you. when time like this get hard know that God is by your side through every thing.Deuteronomy 55:22 The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you, he will never leave you or forsake you , so don't fear or be dismayed amen.
Don't be dismayed
you need to have that one on one time with God and listen very carefully to his voice. i tell you what i am during the same thing by listeing, praying and just letting the Lore direct my life. believe and trust that he is with you. when time like this get hard know that God is by your side through every thing.Deuteronomy 55:22 The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you, he will never leave you or forsake you , so don't fear or be dismayed amen.
Discipline
Hi, an important foundation that you must build into your life is that of discipline. Start setting goals in this area. You can set a goal to read the Word for 10 minutes, then 1 hour and so on. It is like developing muscles through exercise.
Seems like you are oppressed. Start getting angry with the devil who is stealing from you the blessings you can have in Christ! Don't be passive. You can overcome. Make sure you ask the Holy Spirit for help daily and if you don't know for sure that you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, please read this teaching on it.
God's empowering plus your determination to put the flesh (old natural desires and ways of thinking) down will give you the victory. Just look to God and trust Him to even change your desires as you look to Him.
Fasting and knowing God is speaking to me
i often wonder how do i know when God is speaking to me or showing me things. i also have this barrier of unbelief within me - how do i break it. like every time i read the word i might find myself thinking maybe its not the right time for me. and only yesterday i tried to fast from 6am to 6pm and i failed - what do i need to do. in general i seem to have no focus on anything in life - i lack that staying power for anything i want to achieve but i don believe i am lazy but i always seem to fade.at church this past sunday we were taught about fasting and i understood the teaching why we need to, how we can do it and the benefits but why is it i cannot bring myself to actualy do it. i would very much appreciate your help
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