Purity 420 05/17/2021 Purity 420 Podcast
Good morning.
While good things come to
those who wait, I felt I had to share this photo now because I felt it best
represented the weather that we enjoyed in upstate New York this weekend and I
wanted to mark this area as a site for a possible excursion in the future. As I advance in age I realize that I have to
make a point of remembering the things that pique my interest because if I don’t
I will forget all about them and possibly miss a worthwhile experience.
I also realize that if I
don’t make concrete plans to do something those ideas go by the wayside and I
end up not doing much more than sitting at home. I love my home but I also
enjoy getting out to see God’s creation so I seek to establish a balance where each
will enhance the enjoyment of the other.
So even though the weekend
flew by because I had to work on Saturday and we are at the beginning of
another work week, I am preparing to make plans to see some new things in the upcoming
weekends in the next few months because I realize if I don’t I will spend the
end of spring and the summer months with nothing more than memories of times at
home.
As Christians, we are
called to look to the future and not to dwell on the past. The Apostle Paul said in:
Philippians
3:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Brethren, I do not count myself
to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
When we look forward with short term goals, we
can have a hopeful expectation for the days ahead and rejoice in our plans’
fulfillment. So whether you had a great
weekend or a lousy one despite the favorable weather, don’t dwell on what is
behind but instead look to today and the days ahead knowing that God is with you
and is calling you to keep walking into the future that He has prepared for you.
Our problems are overcome
one day at a time, but we can look forward to the days when we walk past them by
looking at the next mile marker with determination to reach it and knowing that
God will give us the strength to get there every step of the way.
This morning’s meditation
verses are:
James 1:2-3
(NKJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy
when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your
faith produces patience.
Today’s verses suggest
that we consider a different perspective when we run into difficult
circumstances. These verses indicate
that the Christian is to adopt a mind set that is contrary to what would be a
typical response to trials. Instead of being frustrated and lamenting over life’s
difficulties we are encouraged to consider the challenges that we face in life
to be opportunities for growth.
I love verses
in scripture like James 1:2-3 because they point to authentic faith. Are we really going to believe in God and
live according to His word when the going gets tough? Are we going to persevere in our faith or are
we going to give up our new life in Christ and go back to doing things the way
we used to before we put our faith in Him?
Part of me
loved the challenges of facing life and its problems with my newfound faith in
Christ. I looked at my trials as tests
of my faith that asked me: So, are you for real? Are you really a Christian?
Believe me, I
have made many mistakes in my walk as a Christian through the ten plus years
since making Christ my Lord and Savior and I have experienced some rather
severe trials but the thing I discovered as I walked through them was that the
best course of action was always to live according to God’s wisdom rather than
my own.
When you do
things God’s way, you never regret the things you do. While following God’s way may not be the easiest
thing you can do in any given situation, you are assured that God’s way is the
right way and when you walk in God’s righteousness you don’t second guess your
path. Walking with God through trials
not only produces patience but it cultivates all the fruit of the Spirit.
When we abandon
the cunning ways of the world that promote our self-interests above everything
else and instead look to follow the Lord’s wisdom for life we experience peace
knowing we are doing the right thing and we set the conditions in which we can
grow in faithfulness, goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience, and self-control.
The more we
follow the Lord’s way the more we grow and the more we grow the deeper we can
know His love for us and experience a joy that goes beyond the circumstances of
our experience.
So count it all
joy, when you fall into trials because although our faith will be tested if we
choose to trust and follow the Lord we can walk through the fire and know that
the Lord will preserve us and refine us in the process.
I invite all to mt4christ.org where I always share
insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters
in Christ with their walk.
Today, in continuing recognition of mental health awareness month, we continue
to share from Dr. June Hunt’s “Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless
“.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes
and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and
to support her work. If you need this title you can find it online at several
sites for less than $5.00:
C. How Does Fear Relate to Suicide?
When someone we know has been suicidal, we typically feel a strong sense of
sadness. In fact, our feelings can run the gamut of emotions from frustration
to fear ... from hurt to helplessness. The emotional impact can be
overwhelming.
Likewise, those who contemplate suicide also experience different types of
emotions prior to their attempts. Although Scripture does not specifically use
the word suicide, it does describe the emotional state of those who choose
suicide.
Most suicides are caused by a psychiatric disorder—a physical condition in
the brain—but other causes can be based on severely stressful situations. While
emotions vary, a common contributor to a “suicidal crisis” is a sense of
overwhelming fear of a situation—a dreaded expectation of impending doom. Those
who feel such emotions today can easily identify with these words from
Scripture. ...
“Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has
overwhelmed me.” (Psalm
55:5)
The Bible describes many people so overcome with fear that they resort to
suicide. These suicidal scenarios reveal ...
- Fear of
extreme pain, abuse, or torture
Example: King Saul, was afraid of torture following his military defeat.
“Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.’ But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it” (1 Chronicles 10:4). - Fear of
being left behind
Example: King Saul’s armor-bearer was terrified following the death of his leader.
“When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died” (1 Chronicles 10:5). - Fear of
repercussions
Example: Ahithophel had ignited mutiny against David.
“When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed .... He put his house in order and then hanged himself” (2 Samuel 17:23). - Fear of
humiliation
Example: King Abimelech was afraid that a mere woman would kill him.
“‘Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, “A woman killed him.”’ So his servant ran him through, and he died” (Judges 9:54). - Fear of
retaliation and murder
Example: Zimri had committed many evils.
“When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he ... set the palace on fire around him. So he died, because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord” (1 Kings 16:18–19). - Fear of
severe punishment
Example: The Philippian jailer, thinking he had failed at his job, feared he would be killed.
“The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’” (Acts 16:27–28).
Since fear is a powerful catalyst, when you first have thoughts of suicide,
take this proverb to heart. ...
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever
trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
(Proverbs 29:25)
Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys:
Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless.
----------------------------more
tomorrow------------------------
God bless
you all!
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Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class via the mt4christ247 podcast!
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