How Does Disobedience Lead to Loss of God's Favor?

How would you describe your strengths and weaknesses? Acknowledging that strengths and weaknesses exist in our personality and character is essential for achieving success in each phase of adult life. How a person utilizes their gifts and talents during adolescence lays the foundation for an expanding identity.

Saul, the first king of Israel, exhibited the strengths that would qualify him for success. He was intelligent, handsome and tall, a man of courage, a military strategist, and a capable commander of the army. He was generous, but above all these he was chosen by God to be king.

With all of these strengths, disobedience would contribute to Saul's failure. Apparently, pride kept him from admitting his weaknesses and making amends. Proverbs 16:18 gives us this warning: “Pride leads to destruction and arrogance to downfall.” Always remember, humility instead of pride is the way to God’s heart and his blessings.

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Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that the God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey him.

~Ephesians 5:6 God’s Word Translation

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What's So Important About Self-restraint?

From childhood onward human beings have an inclination to focus on the strengths and weaknesses in themselves and others. Choosing someone to emulate is an essential need, but ironically, that person or group may have weaknesses that minimize their strengths.

Most individuals are subject to self-indulgence, if only marginally, yet practicing self-restraint creates a pathway to peace, contentment, and satisfaction with what God provides. Self-restraint is a character strength that helps you “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but to consider others more important than yourself.”

Self-restraint must continually be nurtured by honoring God and acknowledging that without him you’re vulnerable to falling into sin that’s difficult from which to break free.

When you "seek God with all your heart, he will be found," and that gives you reason to praise him and be thankful. Do that now.                              

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But I discipline my body to keep it under control, lest when I preach [teach, talk] to others, I myself should be disqualified.

~1 Corinthians 9:27 English Standard Version

 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

~1 Peter 2:9  English Standard Version 

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Are Common Sense and Humility required for Success?

Regardless of a person’s heritage, each is endowed with a variety of strengths and weaknesses. Both are activated in every choice and decision to determine what measure of success will be obtained in the time frame prescribed by the Lord God.

Practical intelligence and common sense play a major role in gauging success in a career and in personal relationships. 

Common sense, combined with an innate and acquired intelligence, recognizes that God’s design and plan for each person should be thoroughly pursued. This helps ensure lasting personal peace and contentment.

Humility acknowledges it is the Lord God who gives understanding and wisdom for managing success. Solomon, the son of King David, asked God to help him understand his people’s deeper needs so he could govern them in ways that pleased God. Humility is a character strength that helps ensure success as you endeavor to please God with your life.               

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Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

~Proverbs 19:21 New International Version

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How Is Success Determined?

What does it take to be successful? However you define success, commitment and hard work are required for being successful. In some instances, success is validated by the smallest measurable time frame. Success may be determined by how well a person manages their strengths and weaknesses.

While intelligence is an important component in realizing personal objectives, other personal factors can sabotage a relationship or career. Children who are not held accountable for their behavior may mistakenly expect indulgence from the rest of society.

Being spoiled is often reflective of a personality where humility is nonexistent. Humility, as designed by God, is a character strength that measures accomplishments and success by means of God’s love and mercy. 

Humility says in effect: I am what I am, I have what I have by God’s grace; therefore, whatever I achieve is a gift from God.  

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Ask the Lord to bless your plans and you will be successful in carrying them out.

~Proverbs 16:3 Good News Bible

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Is Worrying Worth the Effort?

If worrying is basically unproductive and implies that your faith is weak, what is an acceptable alternative? Worry is a strong indication that your faith is being tested. How would you know if your faith is strong or weak unless it has been tested?

So if you are extremely worried, do you need to clear out some debris or garbage you’ve allowed to take up residence in your thoughts and mind? Worry is related to what is beyond your ability to manage, so clear out what is a hindrance to your faith. Put your trust in Jesus.

An alternative to worrying is believing whatever you’re facing will eventually be for your good. That is God’s promise. 

Keep this at the center of your attention until worry and doubt have been replaced by peace. Jesus promised, ”It is my own peace I give to you.” Visualize Jesus doing this. Permit this alternative to worrying to strengthen your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.                      

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Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

~Colossians 3:23-24 Christian Standard Bible

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What Is the Relationship Between Worry and Faith?

Do you know someone who could be classified as a worrywart? A worrywart is someone who constantly worries about everything. This affliction is not rare or isolated but is one that may trouble each person at some juncture along the road of life.

Worry is closely related to doubt. D. L. Moody, the 19^th century evangelist speaking on this subject said, “If you pray for bread and do not bring a basket to carry it, you prove that doubt may be the hindrance to your prayers being answered.”

Realistically, there are dangerous situations and people in this world. Still, statistics prove that most of our worries never take place. Jesus specifically challenges in Matthew 6:25 not to worry about your life, for God will provide for your needs. If God provides for all of his creation, including the birds, how much more important are you? May God bless you today as you faithfully and patiently trust him. 

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Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing, and you will see the wicked destroyed.

~Psalm 37:34 The Living Bible

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How Much Power Does Worry Have Over You?

What exactly is worry, and why do human beings tend to fall into its grasp? Worry is compulsively imagining situations for which there isn’t a suitable answer or solution. Worrying is agonizing over what should be done to solve an issue.

Worry can annoy others who are subject to the worrier’s moody attitude. Worry is impossible to cover up because the mind is preoccupied with obsessive thoughts and concerns. Worrying has an emotional and mental effect on those in its vicinity.

Have you noticed that when you worry about a situation indefinitely, your feelings react as if that situation has actually happened? The initiator of worry is fear of what you think will probably happen. Jesus cautioned that worrying is unproductive. Ask yourself, “Is God capable of managing this desperate situation?”

Our task is to be patient and wait for him to reveal to us what he will do when the time is right.       

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I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the air….Your Heavenly Father takes care of them.  

~Matthew 6:25-26 Contemporary English Version

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