Christianity Oasis Forum

[Pert]

"When I want to do good, evil comes calling."

Today's reading must be the story of my life, because after 8 days, this is the first one I "get". No matter how good a person I try to be, I seem to wind up being a failure on every side. Some things in the world make me mad, sad, frustrated, hurt, etc. I try to ignore these things or to just act like they don't bother me, but that doesn't always work. Given the choice, I'd choose happiness over any of these other things EVERY TIME, but when satan is working in so many ways and through so many people/situations/things to keep you down, it's hard not to be affected!!! And finding out that having these thoughts is "enmity" against God makes me sad because I don't hate God! Geez, I just did it again, right there! AAAAHHHHH!!!! And now I'm frustrated. Why can't this be easier? Why can't it be easier.....

How do you guys do it? After reading the passage I prayed to God to forgive me and to help me find ways to combat having negative thoughts. Help me please Jesus!!!!

[Mackenaw]

Hello Pert (((hugs)))

God bless you this day.

I'm so glad that today's Step really spoke to you. God is so Good!!!

God loves you, perfectly, now -- the same as when He first thought of you. Nothing changes the amount of love He has for you -- He loves you, perfectly, all the time. You cannot earn His love. He is love.

We live in a sin-fallen world, and we've been erroneously taught by the world that only those that are smart enough, pretty enough, talented enough, rich enough, worthy enough will ever good enough to love. So, everyone goes about trying to fit into at least one of those "enough" categories. For most of us, it's like squeezing into a pair of jeans 4 sizes too small, not allowing us to move in freedom. But, even if we squeeze into one of the world's mold, we know deep down this isn't right. We see the injustice and the unfairness of it all, but the world keeps turning and the molds get weirder and stranger and uglier and, and, and. Where does it stop?

It stops when we start following The Lord and live the life He intended us to live, in the blessed liberty and love of Christ, and breath a blessed sigh of relief.

There is much to unlearn and much to learn, but we don't have to do it all alone. In fact, we cannot do it alone, it has to be done by His power. Good news...He, The Holy Spirit, lives inside you and is empowering you to make those changes. Yeah!!! The Bible -- His Word -- Jesus is our Instructor. And, then atop of that, He gives us one another...brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ephesians 4: 11-16
(11)And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the Truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16) From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying (building up) of itself in love.

Pert, we have full access to the fruit of The Holy Spirit (See Galatians 5:22-23), because He is inside every born again Christian. Believe it. Therefore, even though we are weak and our hearts are corrupt, we can still access perfect Fruit...His.

I don't know a Christian that does not experience anger, or jealousy, or bitterness, or all those negative emotions. But, as quickly as those ungodly emotions rise up within us, we must CHOOSE to reach for the blessed fruit of The Holy Spirit.

Most people don't go to the grocery store and say, I'm going to choose the worst looking fruit and buy it. Most go and try to find the best looking fruit. Well, it is the same principle here...only it's spiritual. We choose the perfect fruit...His, but it is a matter of doing it. Just do it

Pert, you asked:

How do you guys do it?

My own fruit (emotions) continues to be rotten. His is always perfect. I choose His. But, please let me explain, sometimes I wallow in my own rotten fruit for a bit, but, I don't want to stay in the slime and stink. So, I repent, pray, ask Him to renew me, then I reach for His. Awwwwwwwww, God is so Good!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhh, I see you chose that too.

Pert said:

After reading the passage I prayed to God to forgive me and to help me find ways to combat having negative thoughts. Help me please Jesus!!!!

Yeah!!! Thank You Jesus.

Prayers continue to rise to our Lord in the name of Jesus on your behalf. May God's blessed will be done.

God bless and keep you, Pert.
Love,
Mack

[xxJILLxx]

Hello Pert,

There are a few different methods that i use to deal with my negative thoughts, it depends on the severity of the thought as well as how deep rooted it is within me.

Small negative thoughts come and go all day long with us. I have come to the realisation that i cannot control the negative thoughts that come into my mind. Some of those thoughts that come in that are meant to harm me can actually help me as I am willing to look for the root of such thoughts and take care of it. U see as the thoughts come in I recognise the thoughts, i realise those thoughts are not who I am, I counteract that thought with a true thought of who I am in Him, or use His eyes to examine the motive of the thought, and i discard the old and replace it with the new.

I have also found that when i fight the thoughts, they intesify. Just notice them, acknowledge them that they are there and deal with them as they come. We will always have negative thoughts, wether it be habitual thinking, over thinking, thinking things not in a realistic way, etc...

As we get closer to Him we will gain more confidence in our Creator and in ourselves, and it will come more naturally in doing this.

Another way i deal with them is by meditation and using His healing light to examine my inner most being and showing me areas within that He would like to work on with me as His partner. What qualities would He admire in His child and things of that nature.

Writing the thoughts down and keeping a journal also helps, you can examine them later when you have time alone with Him and discuss these over with Him.

I ask Him to not only change my heart, but my whole inner person to be more like Him. That means spending more time in His word, studying who is by being in nature and seeing His hand in all creation.

These are just some of the ways He has showed to deal with these thoughts as they come in. Accepting that they will never stop coming in and stop trying to control them was freeing to me. On the same note setting lil goals each day for myself to being a better and more compassionate person to others and myself helps as well because it brings the focus off the negative and over to the good in us.

I hope this helps you some as it IS HELPING me tremendously in spiritual walk with Him. Each a new beginning, learn and move forward and enjoy yr new freedom of grace.

God bless
♥Jill