Category: perseverance

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Responding to God’s Word

QUESTION

Dear Pastor,

I have a question. We live life with a purpose. When we are faced with a difficult situation, how do we know that we are responding according to God’s word?
Thank You in advance.
Regards,
Hwee

 

ANSWER

Dear Hwee,

You are already on the right track. The spirit you show in this question tells me that you are genuinely seeking the Lord. The Bible says that God “…rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). God will bless you with insight into the situations of life so that you will know how to respond in ways that please Him.
First, maintain the spiritual discipline of reading, meditating, and studying the Bible. Take no shortcuts here. The more of God’s Word you have in your heart the more insight God will give you into the situations of life. His Word “…is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). The word “active” (Gk. energes) means powerful, effective. God will never contradict His Word. He will never ask you to do something that is against His Word.
Second, ask God for insight and wisdom as to how to handle the situations of life. This was Solomon’s request of the Lord when he became king of Israel. He prayed, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people…” (2 Chronicles 1:10). God answered Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire…wisdom and knowledge will be given you” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12).
Third, commit to submit. Decide ahead of time to submit to God’s will and to carry out His directions. Sometimes God’s will makes no logical sense to the human mind. The battle of Jericho is a case in point (Joshua 6). God’s people were told to march around the walls of Jericho seven times while the priests were blowing trumpets. After this the priests were to sound a long blast on the trumpets and the people were to give a loud shout. They were told that the walls would then collapse – and they did! This strategy makes no sense to the analytical human mind. However, God wanted His people to respond to their situation in that way at that time.
Fourth, listen for the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit (1 Kings 19:12, KJV). He will nudge your heart and will never go against the Word of God. Be careful not to confuse the prompting of the Holy Spirit with the fleshly desires of your heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). Your heart can and will lie to you unless it is fully given over to God.
Finally, seek out human counselors that are Spirit-led, biblically based, and have nothing to gain from you for their insight or advice. Proverbs 11:14 tells us that “many advisors make victory sure.”

~ Pastor Chris

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How Do I Handle My Weakening Faith In God?

Dear Pastor,

 I tried to enlist into the Marines seven months ago, and they had sent my medical records up to b-med. I’ve been waiting for an answer for seven months. I have prayed every night to God to give me an answer so I know what to do with my life. I feel like my life has been on pause for  seven months. I cant date new girls nor go to school without an answer. I’ve lost faith after a while because I felt like God didn’t care enough to give me an answer. Im 25 and my whole life depends on this. I cant afford school or improve my life in the position im in. I just don’t know what to do. I’ve wanted to join the military since I was 12. I got rejected when I was 18 and now got a second chance at joining. I just want to know what God has planned for me…or am I expecting too much? I just wish God would openly talk to me and tell me what I want to know. I’ve been in this pain for along time wondering and hoping that this will come through for me. I feel I have no other choice but not to join to better my life, even though I want nothing more to join. God hasn’t answered me in seven months and its been a real faith killer. I became a believer two years ago and was on fire for God, but now I feel alone and empty. I figured it was my last hope to talk to you and get some sort of answer, rather then loose all faith and be empty again. Thank you for your time on reading this. I have much more detail in my life that has gone wrong and didnt tell you about it, just been struggling with many  things and figured I would work on one thing at a time, starting with this since it will make or break me.

~Mike

 

 

Dear Mike,

God has not left you. He is not ignoring you either. Sometimes God tests our faith.

Think about it this way, when you went to school you took tests. The purpose of those tests was not to fail you but to reveal how much you had learned. It is the same way with God. The Bible says in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

God is developing your faith. In the meantime, attend church, read the Bible everyday, pray, and look for opportunities to serve others. Consider applying for other branches of the military. Maybe God wants you in the Coast Guard or the Army.

~Pastor Chris