Why You Struggle As A Christian

Author Unknown

Many years ago, a wealthy man went duck hunting with a hired hand named Sam. They took a horse and carriage. Along the way, a rim came off one of the wheels. As Sam hammered it back on, he accidentally hit his finger.

Instantly he let go with some bad words. He quickly fell to his knees, asking God’s forgiveness. “Lord, it’s difficult at times to live the Christian life”, he prayed.

“Sam” said the wealthy man, “I know you’re a Christian. But tell me why you struggle so, I’m an atheist, and I don’t have problems like that.”

Sam didn’t know what to say. Just then two ducks flew overhead. The man raised his gun and two shots rang out. “Leave the dead one and go after that wounded bird!” he shouted.

Sam pointed at the duck that was fluttering desperately to escape and said, “I’ve got an answer for you now, Boss. You said my Christianity isn’t any good because I have to struggle so. Well, I’m the wounded duck, and struggle to get away from the devil. But you, Boss are the dead duck!”

That insight fits Paul’s description of his Christian experience in Romans 7: 14-25. Struggle is one evidence of God’s work in our lives. Forgiveness of sin is available, so don’t despair. Remember, dead ducks don’t flutter.

Struggle, yes, it’s part of living

Nothing’s gained on beds of ease;

But when our heart is set on Jesus,

Struggle drives us to our knees.

Meditation: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! – Romans 7:18-25

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

The “Our Father” Prayer

Author Unknown

Do I Really Mean What I Pray?

Examine how well you live what you pray as you meditate on the following: I cannot say OUR if I keep my faith only to myself and never share it with others.

I cannot say FATHER if I do not trust in His loving and complete concern for me, forgetting that He always answers prayers how and when He knows is best.

I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if I am so attached to the ways of this world that I neglect to seek God first in everything.

I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME if I am unwilling to let His holiness penetrate my life and help me grow in my own holiness.

I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME if I am not using my life to bring His love into the world.

I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE if I live by my own ideas of morality or choose to follow the world’s standards.

I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN if I am not devoting my life to serving Him here on earth.

I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD if I am not willing to be generous with whatever God gives me.

I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES if I don’t want to put forth enough effort to change.

I cannot say AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US if I still hold a grudge, if I’m still angry, or if I still insist that other people change.

I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately or knowingly place myself in a position to be tempted.

I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I’m not actively fighting against evil through deeds of love and service for everyone in my life, especially those who cause problems.

Meditation: Therefore the Lord said: “…these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men…” – Isaiah 29:13

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Why Go to Church

– Author Unknown

A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can’t remember a single one of them. So I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”

This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: “I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”

Meditation: How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. – 1 Corinthians 14:26

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Butterfly Kisses

We often learn the most from our children. Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty.

He yelled at her, “Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside of it?”

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, “Oh, Daddy it’s not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.”

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Meditation: “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” – Mark 10:15

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

The Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read

Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree

Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown

For the world was intent on dragging me down

And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day

A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play

He stood right before me with his head tilted down

And said with great excitement, “Look what I found”

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight

With its petals all worn – not enough rain, or too little light

Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play

I faked a small smile and then shifted away

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side

And placed the flower to his nose

And declared with overacted surprise

“It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too”

“That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you”

The weed before me was dying or dead

Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red

But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave

So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need”

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand

He held it mid-air without reason or plan

It was then that I noticed for the very first time

That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun

As I thanked him for picking the very best one

“You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play

Unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see

A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree

How did he know of my self-indulged plight

Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see

The problem was not with the world; the problem was me

And for all of those times I myself had been blind

I vowed to see the beauty in life

And appreciate every second that’s mine

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose

And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose

And smiled as I watched that young boy

Another weed in his hand

About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man

Meditation: I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13

Indicators of Matured Christians

Author Unknown

✅ They speak the truth at all times

✅ They are good listeners

✅ They hardly take offense

✅ They are quick to forgive

✅ They are reliable

✅ They are supportive

✅ They have an appetite for prayer and fasting

✅ They rely on the Word of God

✅ The more God lifts them up, the more they become humble

✅ They hardly defend themselves

✅ They are quick to repent

✅ They seek peace and pursue it

✅ They love people and they are compassionate

✅ They know when to talk and when to be quiet

✅ They are full of wisdom in many aspects of life

✅ They respect people and are very sensitive to people’s feelings

✅ They have a lot of patience and they are not short-tempered

✅ They fear God

✅ They give honour where it is due

✅ They are content with what they have

✅ They have good leadership skills

✅ They are hospitable

✅ They are not carried away by all kinds of teachings

✅ They are good followers

✅ They have a sacrificial spirit

✅ They don’t gossip and look down on people

✅ They have faith

✅ They take part in church activities and attend church regularly

✅ They are clean in every aspect of life

✅ Their spirits are sensitive, they hate sin

✅ They don’t act holier than others

✅ They don’t compete with others

Meditation: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.– Ephesians 2:8

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Open the Rose

Author Unknown

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do. he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked at the older preacher in disbelief, trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact…It wasn’t long before he realized how it was impossible to do so.

Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to tell the following poem…

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
God opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God’s design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I’ll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only my heavenly Father knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

Meditation: O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. – Jeremiah 10:23

You will succeed in Jesus Name!