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I was talking with pastor Jay the other day and he reminded me of something he said to me some months ago. We were talking about counseling people and he said to me that he asks everyone who comes to him some simple questions. If they cannot answer "yes" to these questions he tells then that there is nothing that he can do for them.
He was not saying that these actions solve every problem because sometimes we face very real issues over the course of our lives. We all know that life can be and often is very hard. But these questions he asks are the basics that every man or woman of God needs to have in their lives. As i have thought about these simple questions, I have realized how right he is.
The questions:
1) Do you pray everyday?
2) Do you read your Bible everyday?
3) Are you a person who gives?
4) Do you pursue holiness?
5) Are you committed to a local church?
If you are doing these simple things, you will have problems in your walk with God. Again, I am not saying that you will not face real issues in life, issues that you cannot handle alone and will need help with, but as i look at my own life, I realize that one of the keys to my consistent walk with God has been these five areas.
No relationship will thrive without healthy communication and that is what prayer is all about. There are many forms of prayer from silent meditation to shouting intercession and everything in between. But if you are not a person of prayer you will stumble and fall in your walk with God. The disciples specifically asked Jesus to teach them to pray and we need to be students of prayer as well. I heard once the following quote, "If you are not praying, there is a problem, or soon will be." Listening to the voice of God in your innermost being and pouring your heart out to your God is crucial!
Now lots of people pray and claim God told them this or that. I have talked with people who claim God spoke to them about this decision or that activity that is in direct contradiction with the written word of God. Can God lie? NO! That is why it is so important to be a man or woman of the word! And yet, so many allow dust to gather on their Bibles. "But the Bible is so boring!" many will say. Corey Russell, a preacher and teacher in Kansas City says, "The Bible isn't boring, we are!". We are so apathetic towards the word and do not realize the power it has, the wisdom it contains and the safety it provides! If we read it, and believed what it says and actually applied it to our lives (DAILY), I can guarantee that we would have a lot less problems in our lives.
The reason so many of us are in such trouble is because we live such selfish lives! We do not give! I'm talking about our time, talent and treasure! You know what giving does? It takes our focus off self and meets the needs of others. When you are selfish, you will have problems. Selfishness invites trouble! To be a Christian is to be a giver! God gave His Son, the Son gave His life and the Spirit gives gifts. God is a giving God and calls us to give! No way around it! Some people will give their money but never give you a moment of their time and vice versa. But you have to give of all areas of your life! Whatever you are unwilling to give away is what has your affection, your heart. Share your life and your stuff with those around you and you will have more than you need! And don't give only when it is easy...develop the habit of giving at all times! Too many give only when they CAN and not when they SHOULD.
Pursuing holiness is different than attaining perfection. Listen, none of us are perfect, we still struggle with sin (me more than most). The question though, is are you "pursuing" holiness on a daily basis? Is it part of your life? This pursuit cannot be done in your own strength, it really is the grace of God in us, but it does not just happen! You have to "work out your own salvation". Are you? Many people struggle simply because they are not even trying. Plain and simple! You have to at least be trying and trust me, like working out or practicing an instrument, there are days where it is not fun...but it is oh so worth it! You Father loves to see you strive to become like Him!
And lastly, Christianity is a team sport! You cannot do it alone! Someone once said that, "Your relationship with God is always personal but never private". So true! Jesus said we are sheep and a sheep that are not part of a herd are...snack food for wolves! Christians get into all kinds of trouble when they are not part of a local church. But then the excuses start..."The church hurt me". SO WHAT! Jesus was killed by His own but thank God He didn't give up on them! I understand your hurt...I myself have been hurt by the church (and done my share of hurting others) but you have to get over it. I have never been in a relationship where I wasn't hurt by either word or deed, intentional or unintentional. It happens. If you don't learn forgiveness and trust, you will live a lonely life with no friends, marriage after failed marriage, going from job to job and church to church looking for some perfect person or place that you will never find. We were meant to live in community and community is difficult because none of us are perfect. That is why we extend grace, forgiveness, mercy, compassion and the like to one another. We need one another and it is "not good for man to be alone". The proverbs say that "iron sharpens iron". We cannot achieve are full potential alone.
So the next time you need my counsel...be prepared to answer these five questions. Maybe the solution to your problems really are as simple as these five steps.
...end transmission
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