What's Holding You Back from Seeking God?

When was the last time you met someone who became a permanent fixture in your memory? Pivotal events can have such an enduring influence that your life is forever changed. A young couple met each other at a social function related to their employment, and over the following months their paths continued to cross.

A pivotal moment signals the flowing together of thoughts and feelings that may have taken months to formulate. Spiritually, it can be indicative of God at work to bring about a consciousness of his presence in you. Jesus told his disciples that he would send the Spirit of truth to guide and teach them all things.

Making a decision to seek God with all your heart is a pivotal moment that will change your life. A decision of this magnitude brings a new level of satisfaction and peace within because Jesus resides at its center. 

When you draw near to God, he will draw near to you, so fill your mind with things that are good and praiseworthy.  

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Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.

~Proverbs 4:23 Contemporary English Version

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What Lie Do Perpetrators of Family Violence Believe?

One explanation for violence in the home is feelings of inferiority in the offenders. Anything that threatens to expose these feelings is often met with anger that transforms into aggression. Aggressive acts of family violence are actually attempts to cover fear of loss of control and power.

For most people, authority is made obvious by the person’s natural gifts and talents, their leadership skills as well as being someone who can be trusted and respected. Feelings of inferiority are identified by low self-esteem, low self-worth, not measuring up, and fear of being subordinate to others.

The perpetrator of family violence may or may not recognize these markers. The big lie is, “I am strong and I will prove it through anger and violence.” Proverbs 4 gives this advice: “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” You can change the lies you tell yourself by substituting the truth of God’s word.

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This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

~Jeremiah 9:23-24 New International Version

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The Voice of Conscience

Making significant choices in moments of vulnerability has been everyone’s experience. Being vulnerable to praise and flattery, even if  pretentious and laced with ulterior motives, identifies those moments. For financial reasons, Delilah deceitfully pretended to love Samson in order to seduce him while being a spy for his enemy. 

Sexual passion has the power to diminish common sense, numb the conscience, and blur spiritual and emotional boundaries. The stronger the voice of sexual passion that is beyond God's boundaries, the more silent becomes the voice of conscience to warn of danger. In this state of mind Samson revealed to Delilah the secret of his strength.

It would be easy to condemn Samson for being so foolish, but have you ever been deceived by passion? Sin charges in full force to steal your voice of reason and logic. God’s word admonishes us to guard our hearts from sin by keeping our minds clear and our hearts tuned to God. He promises to be our shield and defender. 

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Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

~Proverbs 4:23 New Living Translation

 

A good man produces good things from the good stored in his heart, and an evil man produces evil from his evil stored there. What you say flows from your heart.

~Luke 6:45 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

Don't Be Bored to Death!

Boredom is a fact of life, and each person must learn to manage it constructively to prevent unwanted thoughts and feelings from dominating their mind. Boredom is the outgrowth of what’s happening psychologically. However, you have the power to change your thought patterns to what are challenging and meaningful.

  

When you allow boredom to take up residence in your mind, negative thoughts become repetitive. These thoughts are reinforced with low self-esteem. If you become perpetually bored, you may be vulnerable to excessive use of excuse-making that eventually impairs your judgment. Your eagerness to accept challenges to explore present and future possibilities is also impaired.

Boredom indicates the absence of inner peace and must be challenged with opportunities to change particular facets of your lifestyle. Being receptive to God’s purpose for you can begin now. God acknowledges, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Faith in these powerful words can change your life.  

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Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

~Proverbs 4:23  Good News Bible

For I am demolishing arguments and every barrier that is raised against the genuine knowledge of God, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

~2 Corinthians 10:5 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

Pervasiveness of Evil: Guard Your Heart - Part 3

Evil has the capacity to invade every area of life, as it did for Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Human beings seem to have a propensity toward evil. Although we don't like to discuss it, it’s obvious that evil is a major contender for the heart and soul of every person.

Numbers 25 relates how Israel turned away from God and toward evil. Listen to The Living Bible. "While Israel was camped at Acacia, some of the young men began going to wild parties with the local Moabite girls. These girls invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods. Before long all of Israel was joining freely in the worship of Baal, and the anger of the Lord turned hot against them." Isn’t it amazing how the young people influenced the adults?

It's apparent that guarding one's heart and soul against evil is a lifetime endeavor. As you begin this new year, turn your heart, your soul, your behaviors, as well as your love and affection toward Christ Jesus. What better way to secure God’s blessings? Happy New Year.