Christian life or "your life as it is meant to be"

Matt:16:24

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me.

Probably the key verse for me about Christian life. It tells about man's fallen and wretched plight. Man is always self oriented and selfish. Therefore, denying yourself is proving that you love Jesus more than your own self. Declaring that God is more important to you than your own self. Your tiredness, your loss of wealth, your loss of privacy or me time - doesn't matter as long as the advacement of the kingdom is onward. If denying your desires and yielding yourself into God's hands entrusting Him to take you through the path which He has deemed best for you - he is the one who truly follows Jesus.

Jesus denied Himself for the will of the Father, for the better good. For our better good.

Take up the cross doesn't always mean persecution for the sake of the Gospel in the literal sense. In fact I believe, any trouble that comes our way, is because we are children of God. Because Jesus said, the world has hated me, so will it hate you too. A perennial health problem, poor financial balance, ridicule from friends because of your naivety, issues within the family - all might look as if it is because of your inadequacy. Don't point fingers.

Eph:6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Just follow me - just focus on the authour and finisher of our faith. Not on things around. But on the beautiful face of Jesus alone. And just follow Him as He guides.

This is the Christian life, NO..... The life that I desire. So help me God.

Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=man+carrying+a+cross

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Endure

2 Cor:4:18 For the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal. Unless we live with this perspective, there is no hope, there is no strength to endure, there is no sap left to hold on. For endurance depends on your ability to look beyond the physical to the spiritual, beyond the present to the eternal and beyond the visible to the invisible. It is not imaginary. But a reality into which we place our trust. Therefore our afflictions though may appear heavy when we face it, it is in reality light and momentary, for the glory awaiting is much more heavy - far beyond any comparison. So look forward. Look beyond. Focus on eternal things. Store up treasures in heaven and not here in this earth. Set your heart in treasures above. That will help you to face your afflictions here on this side of eternity. That will help you to have faith and put your trust in the One who called you. He will not leave you half way. He who has taken care of your et...

Be a man.

1 Cor:16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in faith; act like men; be strong. Watch out. Look out. Be on the alert. Stand firm in faith. That is what men do. Be strong. Stay strong. Dwindling in your trust in God is what children do. Act like the man you are. Be a man. Stay strong on your faith. No matter what happens, hold fast to your God. That is mature faith. Do not let go to fear or anxiety. Be strong. Faith is trusting God, the Father despite what the circumstances look like. Knowing fully that He is in control. That He will take care and thats enough. He is enough. Image credit; https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/hand-holding-fist-symbol-determination_139829368.htm

Trust the process

Thorn in the flesh. To keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself. 2 Cor:12:7 Is there something which is a constant pain for you? Something which has not sorted out yet? Something for which you have fasted and prayed but hasn't worked out still? The pain is still there for a purpose dear one. To keep you from exalting yourself. To keep yourself humble. Know that your Abba is in control. He is Sovereign. He is good. And He will not allow anything beyond what you can endure. He has allowed this with a purpose. So when prayers are still unanswered, rejoice. For God is in control. He has this for a purpose. You might not get the big picture now. But God knows. Trust the process.

Smell good

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Cor:2:15 Do you smell Christ? Do you exuded His fragrance to God, among others? Do you have that sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ? Or do you stink? The knowledge of God and sim cannot stand together. Sin will run in the presence of the knowledge of God. Wash clean of your dirt and apply the aroma. Similarly, wash clean of your sin by the blood of Jesus through confession and apply the knowledge of God. Simple. Image credit: https://gulfnews.com/amp/story/friday%2Fbeauty%2Fyou-smell-nice-choosing-the-perfect-fragrance-learn-the-art-1.1643542938723

It's a process

Are being transformed from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor:3:18 The purpose of our existence is transformation. We have been called into salvation into one glory. From one glory to another we are being transformed. From fallenness we have been made children until the ultimate glory. It is not a one time event - the transformation into the final glory or the ultimate glorification. Salvation is. But transformation is a process. You are definitely better than yesterday. You are definitely a little bit more like Jesus than yesterday. You are improving. Though you may fall, your graph is rising. Trust the process. He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion untill the day of coming of Christ Jesus. Phil:1:6 You have to trust Him in what He is doing. Do not lose heart. Keep trusting. Image credit: https://blog.softexpert.com/en/process-management-key-issues-and-how-to-solve-them/

Why do I quickly desert?

I am amazed that you are quickly deserting Him who called you. Gal:1:6 How do I desert Him who called me? By believing in a different gospel! How has your belief changed? Has self sufficiency creeped in; instead of absolute trust? Has materialism barged in; instead of simplicity? Has pride crawled in; instead of humility and self denial? He should increase. And I should decrease. Paul the greatest missionary, the saintest of us all, trained and knowledgeable of all spiritual doctrines and truth, says I am a bond servant of Christ; I am the worst of all sinners. Where is the sin consciousness in me? Where is the person I used to be? Where is the passion to know Him? Where is the urgency to repent and correct myself for His sake? How did I get diluted? Why do I seek favour of men? Why do I live a life trying to please men; rather than God? Why are my standards that of the world? Why do I neglect the standards of God? Why do I give more importance to the outwardly e...

Strength

2 Cor:4:16 But though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. Though you are physically getting old, with the mental and emotional turmoil you are going through, your inner man is getting strengthened day by day. Because you are created for a greater glory, created with a purpose and God is in the process of taking you there. That transformation is happening day by day. As God is on work in you, it's a process. He will not leave it undone. My responsibility is just to take efforts to develop this forming inner man. Make him strong. Develop spiritual muscles. Work out. Spend time with word and prayer. Feed the inner man with the right things. So that your trust would increase. Your faith would increase. Your intimacy with God would increase. And your worldliness would decrease. Image courtesy: https://www.moneycontrol.com/health-and-fitness/build-muscles-naturally-improve-recovery-boost-energy-with-these-7-foods-in-your-daily-diet-photo-...

The halfbaked Bard

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