My Moment of Truth

 

Our world is tough to understand sometimes. There are things that are obviously good and things that are obviously bad. Then there are things that we just aren’t sure about. With all of this mixture of things that are such opposites, it’s hard to make sense of it all.

I believe one thing that is very deceptive about this life is how that good and evil seem to kind of coexist in the here and now. This appears to be the way it is and the way it will always be. But it’s not as it appears to be. This short span we call life here on earth is just a transition point. Good and evil have to dwell together here in this time but then they will part ways in the end. Why? Well, it’s because we have a free will and a free choice. There would be no choice to choose good or evil if they didn’t both exist. If everything was good, we could only choose good. If everything was evil, we could only choose evil. The presence of the choice means the presence of the two options is inherent. Therefore, we see the results of the two options present with us every day.

Another thing that adds an element of difficulty are areas that are just gray. We’re sometimes not sure about those. Is it good, is it bad…..what is it? The good news is that we all have a sense of right and wrong, even though some people may just choose to ignore it. Sometimes we have a tough time making sense of the gray. Either due to genuine confusion, or the desire to just maybe get by with something that we don’t think is that bad. We don’t realize that sometimes a gray area can be just as dangerous. For one thing, it can lead you down a road to the truly bad. For another thing, we sometimes forget that it’s just a different shade of the same color. But I also understand we sometimes have to make the choice between two bad options. What do we do in that case? Well, I believe we just have to go in whichever way our heart feels right.

One way we’ve gotten it wrong is in seeing good and evil as polar opposites. What we don’t realize is that bad is just the absence of good. Just like dark is the absence of light. When light comes it expels the darkness. That’s what light does. But we’re in danger if we think that this world of good and evil will go on forever. We believe we can choose mostly good and then mix it in with a little bad here, or a little gray there. But while it may appear to work here, it’s only temporary. Good and evil are at odds with one another. They only dwell together here and now so that you can make a choice. The right choice. The good choice.

…Let’s go deeper

AV Hebrews 12:14: “Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Our pursuit must be holiness. Holiness means being separated for a purpose. And it means we live lives that are clean and pleasing to God, not trying to see what we can get by with. But we use Jesus as our example and we try to live as He did.

AV Romans 2:15: “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)” This verse is in reference to the Gentiles. It talks about people who didn’t grow up in the Jewish law. That when they just lived out the law in their everyday lives, they were establishing the law written in their hearts.

AV 1 John 1:5: “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” The reason God requires holiness is because of what this verse says—that God is light and has no darkness in Him. God is Holy. Yet He desires a relationship with us. He made a way to bridge that gap between our sin and His holiness. The way is through Jesus Christ. Once we accept we accept His free gift of salvation through Jesus, we can now enter in and live a holy and clean life acceptable unto Him.
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AV Galatians 5:18: “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” When we aren’t sure what to do, we can just allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. The Holy Spirit will not lead us in ways that are wrong. So, we can trust that we are acting in a holy manner. We establish the law when we go by the leading of the Holy Spirit. We aren’t to go back under a system of living under the Law. We are now under grace. We have a liberty in Christ that we didn’t have before. Not free to sin, but freedom from sin and the ability to live a life for Him.

AV Matthew 6:22: “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” The things we set our sights on will also determine the condition of our hearts. This can include the things we look at, the things we think on, and the things we pursue, or set our sights on. When our desires our pure and holy, we will pursue things that are pure and holy. That means pursuing God and His desires for us. When we do that, we can know that our life is one that is holy and pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

AV Hebrews 12:14: “Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

AV Romans 2:15: “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”

AV 1 John 1:5: “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

AV Galatians 5:18: “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

AV Matthew 6:22: “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”

 

One thing that’s interesting is how we spend time on some activities that seem like they’re just a waste of time on the outside. If we look at some things we do on a regular basis, we may wonder why we even do them. But appearances don’t always reflect the reality of how some things actually are.

When we look at some things we do, they don’t seem to have any tangible benefit. For example, a person sitting somewhere just thinking certainly appears to be doing nothing. But the action going on inside the mind can’t be seen. And there may be a lot of action going on in there. Of course, this has its downside as well. Some of us are just sitting there ruminating over things. That’s known as worry. And that truly is a waste of time. But what I’m talking about is someone who is sitting there in deep cognitive thought in an honest effort to work out a solution to a problem. This is how we generally work things to a point of resolution—we run them through our minds until there’s an answer.

And sometimes we’re doing something else while we’re thinking. So, it may appear that we’re doing some meaningless activity in addition to what appears to be nothing. I often find myself giving some topic meaningful thought when I watch TV. In that case, people may look and say, “Wow, what a waste of time.” But it isn’t really. In moderation, watching a TV program once in a while can be just enough distraction to get your mind engaged in something else. This is also the case with running. I’m not saying it’s a waste of time, even though some people may want to make that argument. But what I’m saying is that, when I’m running, it may look like that’s all I’m doing. What I’ve found, though, is that I do some of my best thinking while running. It seems to clear my head. I’m not just getting physical exercise, but I’m working out resolutions to things in my mind. It seems that some type of mindless activity gives part of your mind just enough distraction so that other parts can actually work better. At least that’s my experience.

But what does this all lead to? Why is thinking valuable, even though it may not appear to be such? Well, actions have their genesis in thought. So, much of our actions that have a tangible and meaningful effect in this material world begin in an unseen world of thought. Our mind gives birth to an idea by us acting on that idea, which manifests in a tangible result. So, while the beginning (thought) may appear to be nothing, the end result (tangible effect) has its beginning in what appeared to be nothing. That’s why we shouldn’t always discount something for how it appears. Some of the most valuable things in life may look insignificant, or even like nothing from the outside.

…Let’s go deeper

 

 

In using the analogy of thought and action, I wanted to compare it to prayer and the results it produces. Often times other people may think, and we may be tempted to think ourselves, that we’re just wasting our time. But we don’t see the effect it’s having in the spiritual realm. And those spiritual effects often produce a natural result. We need to remember that that time on our knees is not a waste of time. Prayer has the potential to produce more results than anything we could do in the natural.

AV Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].” The battles we fight on our knees can appear not to be battles at all. But they can be more grueling, and more real, than any natural battle we face. You may not know the reality of the spiritual realm and battles that take place there until you start to engage them yourself. You begin to feel a resistance and a warring in your spirit. But this just means you are having an impact. It’s not something to be afraid of, but something to be aware of. And engaging in that battle makes us aware of the truth in this verse.

AV Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].” This shows us the value of prayer, but also, the value of believing when we pray. We can many times pray. But that prayer needs to mixed with faith in order for there to be an impact. Prayers aren’t just words. They’re an expression of our heart. An expression of our heart’s needs and, also, our heart’s trust and faith in Almighty God. We can know our prayers are having an impact when we fully trust and believe that God is answering our prayer.

AV Jeremiah 33:3: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Sometimes we pray for God to meet a specific need. But other times we pray to God for a specific answer. God is yearning to give us answers to many things we may want to know. He is just waiting for us to ask the question. I believe when we truly seek God, He will show us amazing things that we couldn’t otherwise know.
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AV 2 Corinthians 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.” This goes back to appearances. Living a spiritual life means you don’t go by the natural appearance of things. And you are living your life from an eternal perspective. We pray because we believe in the impact our prayers are making. And we believe that they will have an impact for all eternity.

AV Habakkuk 2:3: “For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” We may not always see an immediate result of our prayers. But that is when we need to pray and stand in faith believing. God may even speak to us what He will do in our lives. But we need to stand on what He has spoken to us. It may not come right away. But standing on what He’s said, we’ll eventually see it come to pass.

AV Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].”

AV Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].”

AV Jeremiah 33:3: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

AV 2 Corinthians 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.”

AV Habakkuk 2:3: “For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

 

Being hungry and thirsty for something more in your life is a good thing. It means you’re not content and that you have to do something to satisfy that hunger. This is the beginning and the impetus for action in our lives.

I’m reminded of the fact that often times our lack of success in something really is rooted in a lack of desire. There are actually a lot of great things we could do. We just choose not to because we don’t want it bad enough. This is what star athletes have that the rest seem to be lacking. Well, they probably have some skill too. But I would say, in the end, that it amounted to them wanting it more than the other person. That hunger and desire can’t be underestimated. It’s an important element for success in anything. The same goes for the person who goes through all the grueling hours of study for law school. They have a desire to do that and reap the rewards of their degree.

The fact of the matter is that without the hunger we live a life of mediocrity. The hunger is what allows us to go through the daily grind of whatever pursuit. It’s the underpinning that allows us to be disciplined and focused on the goal. You can’t just kind of want something in order to achieve something of value. You have to really want it.

Another thing we forget is that sometimes we gain a hunger for the wrong things. We sometimes start to get a small taste for things like candy and other foods that aren’t good. We begin to think that these things will satisfy us. But as we get more into them we find that they leave us empty and unfulfilled. That can be the case with any negative influence in our lives. Some people get into drugs instead of a fulfilling career with a future. That’s where they let a wrong appetite take over a good appetite. So, I would say that a proper appetite has to be nurtured as well. The more you get the taste of something that’s good, and good for you, the more you will desire it. I think most people would confirm that it’s true. Once you start on a healthier diet you begin to enjoy those foods more and have less of a desire for the old foods that were bad for you.

If we develop a true hunger for something, we have a much greater chance of attaining that thing—whatever it is. But it all begins by developing that hunger. Sometimes it begins because we get a small taste of something that’s good. Other times we see something that someone else has and we decide we would like that for ourselves as well. But however that hunger starts, it can often start small and just grow from there. It doesn’t have to have a big beginning in order to have a big ending.

…Let’s go deeper

 

AV Matthew 5:6: “Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” This is one of the beatitudes in Matthew. The true fulfillment of our hunger lies in our hunger and thirst after righteousness. If we desire the things that are right, and true, and good, we will be filled those things. If we desire true righteousness we will develop a right relationship with God. This will spill over into all areas of life, including our relationships with others.

AV John 4:14: “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” This was Jesus’ response to the woman at the well. She wanted to know about the water Jesus offered. Of course the water Jesus offers is spiritual water. Jesus fills our every longing, and that includes satisfying our spiritual thirst.

AV John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” Again, Jesus speaks of satisfying our spiritual hunger and thirst as well. He speaks of being the bread of life. He is our sustenance. Our life in Him is sustained and supported by Him. Are you finding yourself dry and hungry? Then you need to come to the well. You need to come to the bread of life.

AV Psalm 127:2: “[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.” This is one kind of bread we don’t want to develop an appetite for. The bread of sorrows speaks to our propensity for worry and a fretful state of being. He wants us to rest in Him. Like a newborn baby in His arms, we can rest without care or concern. This verse tells us that we are acting in vain when we are overly concerned about things.
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AV 1 Peter 2:2: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” Finally, our desire begins as a newborn babe. We desire the sincere milk when we first begin to grow. Then as we mature and develop we start to gain an appetite for deeper and more mature things. What if we lack this desire? Just start by getting into the word. Then ask Him for the desire for more of Him and His word. The more we get into it the more it will develop and grow from there.

AV Matthew 5:6: “Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

AV John 4:14: “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

AV John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

AV Psalm 127:2: “[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.”

AV 1 Peter 2:2: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

 

One of the things I have to remind myself of is the value of just being who I really am. Sometimes it can be very easy to change your outward behavior due to other people’s response to you, or their expected response. But that easily leads to you leading a disingenuous life.

I wonder how many times I have changed how I act or what I might say just due to the concern over what others might think of me. That’s probably happened more times than I care to count. Although, I would say that I’ve gotten better at not caring. But I’ve started to wonder why I care so much. I believe the concern over what others think of me is really rooted in insecurity. Probably, the most important thing is not to focus so much on getting over caring about what others think of you. The most important thing may be focusing on getting a good handle on knowing who you are. Because once you know who you are, it takes care of the concern over what others think and you also have a better sense of self. I believe having a sense of self is key to being who you are. By ‘having a sense of self’ I really mean that you know who you are. You don’t just know who you are but you are content with who you are—your personality.

Being self-aware is a good starting place to help you examine the person you really are. If you can get a clear outside perspective on you (your tendencies, your likes, your dislikes), it puts you in a position of knowing the real you and what motivates you. The great thing is that it doesn’t just help you know yourself better. It also gives you a better chance of making positive changes in areas that need change. Doing a self-examination can help you to say, “Oh, so that’s why I do things like that”, or “that’s why I react that way.” Knowing a trigger point can help you avoid it altogether. A reaction of fear or anger may not even be related to what triggers it. But it may be just a conditioned response that originated somewhere else. And finding what those triggers are can be a huge key to overcoming those responses.

I think it’s important to remember that when we’re acting a certain way due to concern over what others think it’s not an outright attempt to be phony. But it’s an action rooted in fear. And fear isn’t a good motivator. If we’re being ourselves we will automatically be more content. The main thing is not basing our actions on the response of others. An authentic self moves and acts in a way that is independent of outside influence. The attitude is, “I’m just going to be me and let the chips fall where they may. If other people don’t like it, I can’t help that.” But I believe, in the end, you will end up attracting the right people to yourself. You will attract genuine friends because you’re genuine yourself.

…Let’s go deeper

 

AV Luke 12:6-7: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” I believe that knowing who you are begins by knowing your value. And knowing your value begins by knowing your value to God. This verse makes it clear to us that God has placed special value on each of us. Knowing our value is an important starting point to being our authentic self. This gives us confidence. We can be truly be confident when we know our value and worth. Then once we know our value and worth we can start to get to know ourselves.

AV Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Renewing our mind is an important part of living an authentic life. We live a life of truth when it is a life in line with the Word of God. When we start to live a life in line with the Word we can also start to know who we are. And when we know who we are we can begin to be who we are.
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AV Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” There’s not only a downside to fearing man, but an upside to trusting the Lord instead. Fearing people really puts us into bondage. We are in bondage to their negative responses. And this ties us up so that we can’t really freely move within the environment of who we are. There is a safety that is offered when we trust the Lord. I believe God truly wants us to be ourselves. God gives us this opportunity. In Him we have a place free from critical sneers that would try to tear us down.

AV Isaiah 2:22: “Cease ye from man, whose breath [is] in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” We need to remember the imperfection of people who would try to place imperfect judgements on us. God, our one and true judge, is the only one who can paint an accurate picture of us. It’s really His judgement and what He thinks about us now that counts. And it’s only His judgement about us that will count in the end.

AV Luke 12:6-7: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

AV Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

AV Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

AV Isaiah 2:22: “Cease ye from man, whose breath [is] in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”

 

I wanted to write about fear. But I wanted to write specifically about fear and its effect on our decision-making skills. I believe the effect fear has on our decisions can’t be underestimated.

There are situations I’ve looked back on in my life where I panicked, or made a decision out of fear. It resulted in me making a worse decision than if I had just sat back and thought about it and made a rational decision.

I think about one situation that was in the news a few years back. It was when the plane landed on the Hudson River in New York. It became known as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’. For me, it epitomizes the value of remaining calm and not panicking in an emergency situation. Of course, one has to acknowledge the presence of divine intervention in this situation. I watched a documentary on the events taking place up to and during the crash. The Captain, Captain Sullenberger, said, “The physiological reaction I had to this was strong and I had to force myself to use my training and force calm on the situation.” I think that’s an important point. That physical reaction we have to fear can be so strong. We have to fight it, though. A fear response will try to take over when faced with a situation of impending doom. But if we give into the fear, the chances of making calm and rational decisions goes down dramatically.

You think of someone who panics in the water and ends up drowning. Often, it’s because they panic that they ended up drowning. I used to be really afraid of the water. But what I learned through more exposure to the water is that you don’t even have to use that much effort to stay afloat. Usually you can just lay on your back and stay afloat. The great irony is that the more you struggle and fight, the more likely you are to find yourself in trouble. That’s what panic does, it gets in the way of sound decisions. That’s why the standard procedure in about every emergency response is to not panic. The people that write these procedures know the harmful effects of panic.

I think about the situation with the plane on the Hudson and how it could have ended up differently if the Captain had panicked. It could have easily been a catastrophe. But instead, everyone survived. Also of importance was that the crew relied on their training. They had trained for these kinds of scenarios so that when the situation came they knew what to do. When you have the proper knowledge in an emergency it can supersede the fear response that may try to take over. But in these situations it’s important that you remember that your greatest enemy is fear. Your best chance of making a wise decision lies within the space of calm, clear thinking. But it’s comforting to know that we can make wise decisions even in the midst of a daunting situation.

…Let’s go deeper

 

When I talk about having knowledge in an emergency, I’m also talking about having a knowledge of God. Our own earthly knowledge has its limits. But when we know the power of God and His presence, we can face any situation.

AV 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” In speaking of a sound mind, it’s interesting that this verse talks about it. God has given each of the use of a sound mind. Notice, the way that this verse is stated makes it appear as though a spirit of fear is the opposite of a sound mind. And it’s true. The spirit of fear cannot coexist in presence of a sound mind. So, remembering that God has given us a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind should help to dispel fear when the time comes.

In fact, it canada cialis from can save you from spending time and money looking for offline, online virus removal support options. Areas Covered in the Session: Spotting the viagra online samples difference between merely disagreeable or difficult, thoroughly disagreeable, and dysfunctional. Now you should have at least five links to suppliers who can provide Kamagra tablets https://www.unica-web.com/tervoort.htm buy cheap cialis to your area of residence. Certified Chiropractic Sports Physicians (CCSP) are Doctors of you could look here levitra properien Chiropractic with a special certification in sports fitness and sports injuries. AV Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.” Sometimes we can become too dependent on our worldly abilities. These things can be important to a degree. But we need to remember that knowing the Lord is the highest form of knowledge. For He is the final authority. And once He’s said something, there’s nothing left to be said on the matter. Knowing Him and His willingness to help us will help dispel fear more than anything else.

AV Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” This popular Psalm paints a picture for us of walking through a valley. It’s a valley of the shadow of death. But notice that it’s just a shadow. Why does it say shadow? Well, a shadow isn’t real. Most of what we fear is imagined. Why is it a shadow? Because any danger we face, we still don’t need to fear it, or its effect in our lives. A true trust in the Lord is one that dispels all fear.

AV Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” This is probably my favorite verse on fear. I find it constantly going through my mind. An awareness of the presence of God in our lives brings us to a state of calm and peace. Knowing not only that He is there, but will strengthen us and help us, is where we have true confidence and peace.

AV 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

AV Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.”

AV Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

AV Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

 

So much of what we learn and come to understand about life is based on competition. We live in a world that is about competition and competing with others. And winning is a good thing. Winning is important. But winning in life doesn’t always mean beating the other person or looking at them as the enemy.

It seems like so much of what we learn when we’re involved in sports gets out of balance. On one side you have this line of thinking that says, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” And there’s some amount of truth to that. You want to play the game fairly and by the rules. But playing a fair game without any concept or attempt at winning in mind probably isn’t a completely accurate picture. Then there’s the thought process that says, “Do whatever it takes to win.” Now, that gets into an extreme on the other end and possibly some nefarious schemes just to get the win. But while it’s certainly not the goal to win at all costs, winning has to be one of your objectives. It’s not just about the exercise.

I think the problem comes when the objective of winning just becomes about beating the other guy. If that’s your only goal, it’s going to be an empty win. Part of winning is strategizing and planning to see if you can find a way to win. And much of the game play are a means through which we can learn how to do that. So, learning how to win is an admirable objective.

And winning, when it really matters, isn’t about beating other people, or about gaining the upper hand on someone else. It’s about beating down a bad idea or a wrong belief system. Winning the day in an argument that really matters has the power to truly impact lives for the better. For if winning is just about beating the other person, it just becomes an exercise in pride. And many times that’s what our arguments develop into. We just want to beat the other person. So, we cling to our argument at all costs—with a death grip. We’ll even begin to make the argument at the expense of the facts. It’s known as intellectual dishonesty.

Winning is about being the best you can be at something. I’d say you’re biggest opponent is yourself. So, it’s not a competition, at least not with other people—it’s a competition with yourself. It’s seeing how good you can become at something. But when it really matters, it’s about being the best person you can be. The development of your character is the objective. And you’re really competing with your alternative self. You’re seeing how good you can become vs. the alternative. Many times our biggest enemy is ourselves. We always want to look to the outside for enemies. That takes any blame off of ourselves, anyway. But when we really win is when we beat back our most base of natures, and when we beat back the wrong beliefs and ideas that try to invade our culture.

…Let’s go deeper

AV Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].” I think the enemy likes nothing better than when we begin to fight and bicker amongst ourselves. This gets our eyes off the true enemy—namely him. If we’re busy fighting with each other he can roam around unchecked, and unnoticed, wreaking havoc in our lives. This verse reminds us that our real enemy isn’t one of flesh and blood. While we may battle with people here on earth with wrong ideas, we are only battling with them because the enemy has deceived them. And the battle isn’t fought in the flesh, but in the spirit. And that’s where the battle is won, praying in the spirit on our knees.

AV 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:” Paul’s declaration was one he confidently expressed looking back on his life. He relates it to that of running a race. What I think we often forget is that the race isn’t against other Christians. We aren’t trying to prove ourselves a better Christian than someone else. That’s not how the race is won. The race is won when we have faithfully and fully completed the work the Lord has given us to do.

AV 2 Timothy 2:23: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” Conversations can often get into muddy waters very easily. We can begin to discuss matters of very little importance and end up battling over them like it’s the only thing that matters. We can find ourselves willing to die on almost any mountain just for the sake of winning an argument. The Bible reminds us to steer clear of these things. As it says, this only causes strife.

That’s why pharmaceutical company has one set of price for drugs in the U.S. and usa cheap viagra another, cheaper set of prices for medicines in other countries. Lubrication may be helpful, buying viagra uk but hold on to the ring until you are completely hard in order to avoid slippage.Look out for signs that there’s something else in it that naturally boosts the sex drive. The most http://icks.org/n/data/ijks/1482467975_ij_file.pdf viagra online canada common side effects include stuffy nose or headaches. viagra for sale india It helps all those with erectile dysfunction It truly is simply not for every single guy who suffers erection difficulties. AV 2 Corinthians 10:3: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:” This goes along the lines of the verse in Ephesians 6:12. The fact that we live and move in a physical world can often distract us from the fact that we face resistance from another realm. That spiritual realm can often be easy to overlook. But as we get more involved in the battle and facing it head-on, we become more aware of its reality. We become more aware of it because we can sense the resistance and the forces that we face. You’re aware of the battle because you’re now engaged in it.

AV 1Thessalonians 4:4: “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;” Many times winning the battle without, starts by winning the battle within. Possessing our vessels means that we have control over our flesh and its desires. We put our flesh under subjection to our spirit. And we do this with the Holy Spirit’s help. When we win that battle, we are free to live, and walk, and be led by the Spirit.

AV Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].”

AV 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:”

AV 2 Timothy 2:23: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”

AV 2 Corinthians 10:3: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”

AV 1Thessalonians 4:4: “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

 

Tolerance sounds like such a good thing. And it can be in certain circumstances. The difficult thing with tolerance is that it can’t be your only objective. Tolerance just by itself will lead to nothing but a society without standards.

I’ve watched and paid attention to our society. I understand the idea of not judging people. But it’s gotten to the point that even judging a person’s actions has come to be verboten. (I’m sorry, I just felt like inserting some German in there. I took German in High School and I never get to use it. If you aren’t familiar with German, it just means forbidden.) Anyway, we seem to never fail to take something that’s good, within certain bounds, and take it to the point of being ridiculous. The prevailing theme seems to be that we tolerate almost anything but intolerance. And this all falls within the realm of, “You can do whatever you want as long as you aren’t hurting anyone else.” So, those seem to be the new standards of today. But if intolerance is no longer tolerated, that covers a broad spectrum of thoughts, actions, and behaviors. It’s scary to think of all the things that could involve. Tolerance with no bounds isn’t any kind of high ideal to try to achieve.

The thing is that people can use words like tolerance, they can say, “I’m tolerant”, and it sounds so morally superior. The fact of the matter is that people that say this kind of thing end up allowing all but the worst kinds of behavior with only one criteria in mind. And it’s the criteria that says, “It’s OK as long as it’s not hurting someone else.” So, they end up allowing the worst kind of moral behavior up until the point of hurting someone else. But what they don’t understand is that moral degradation won’t stop at the point of hurting other people. Once allowed, it will inevitably lead to its forgone conclusion: the complete dissolution of society. That’s the deceptive thing about evil. Once it’s allowed, if it’s not placed in check, it will slowly dissolve what moral fabric remains until there’s nothing left. That’s why you need a higher moral standard than what this criteria allows. We have boundaries for everything else in life. Why are people so easily convinced that boundaries apply to everything except moral behavior?

Many people think that outright evil acts are the worst kind of wrong. But toleration of evil can be the worst kind of wrong. There’s that saying that goes, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Our morals need guidelines just as much as my car needs lines on either side to direct me in the right direction. This is so basic, yet so easily overlooked. I wouldn’t tolerate a driver repeatedly crossing over those lines. So, we shouldn’t tolerate that in morals either. Evil needs to be expressly labelled as such. Otherwise, we can eventually begin to mistake evil for good.

…Let’s go deeper

Whether some in this world like to believe it or not, there is a moral right and wrong. Those things are clearly labelled and set out for us in the Bible. God determines and lets us plainly know what those things are. Just like any other civil law we follow, God has given us a law and guiding principles.

AV Matthew 9:36: “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” I never paid much attention to this in this verse before, but it says here that Jesus had compassion on the multitude because they were ‘as sheep having no shepherd’. If you think about it, that is something to be pitied. How do people know the right direction without someone to guide them? Without a set of moral principles, how do people keep from getting themselves into trouble? God’s laws are meant to keep us out of trouble. They are there because He loves us and not because He’s trying to keep something from us. And Jesus is the shepherd of our souls.

AV Isaiah 5:20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” The Bible talks about this happening in the last days. And this is much of what we are seeing today. The very idea of good is being turned on its head. The guiding principles have been removed, so now there’s no one to determine what’s what anymore. Many in this world are as sheep without a shepherd. But it’s because they don’t want a shepherd. They have rejected the Great Shepherd. And when you reject Him, there’s nothing left to guide you. You have no compass, because He is true north.

AV Psalms 32:8: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” This is God’s word to us, if we will allow Him to do so. God will guide and direct us. Since He is good and in Him there is no darkness at all, we can rely and depend on His guidance. When we submit, I believe God will counsel and direct us, like a teacher in a class. So, when we start out on the straight and narrow path He will correct us and teach us when we get off track. He will keep His eye on us.
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AV John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The Holy Spirit guides and directs us into all truth. The only thing we will hear from the Holy Spirit is truth. Not only that, He will show us things we need to know. He will even show us things to come in the future and things we need to prepare for.

AV John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Once we know the truth we are made free. The reason is because evil puts you in bondage, but knowledge of truth is freeing. Evil is not the opposite of good. It is merely the absence of that which is good. That’s why morals degrade when that which is good is removed. That’s why we need Jesus. He’s wanting to be our Great Shepherd. But we have to allow Him to be. He wants us to give up control so that He can show us that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

AV Matthew 9:36: “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

AV Isaiah 5:20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

AV Psalms 32:8: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

AV John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

AV John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

 

The rule of the majority is a major theme in a democratic society. And it sounds good at the outset. It’s really how this nation is governed. But what we need to realize is that even this is not enough.

Democracy is a great platform for a civil government. It’s provides the best opportunity for liberty and freedom for the people. It’s certainly better than any other option. On the opposite end of the political spectrum would be socialism. Besides that, your only other option would probably be a dictatorship. But we’ve all seen what those types of societies are like, and how they end up. Given the option, I would gladly choose a democracy. Giving the people the option to govern themselves is much preferred to being ruled by a dictator or a small group of elites.

It can be easy and tempting to think that a group of people can make good and wholesome decisions for the group by themselves. But without a set of guiding principles, it can be a dangerous thing. The thing you’ll notice over time is that the founding of a democratic society always begins with the best of motives. What eventually happens after that is that those original intents and purposes begin to be forgotten. And this especially happens when there is not a set of written documents to direct a society. For us, those documents are called the U. S. Constitution. It’s what we endeavor to adhere to since the founding of the nation. Of course it’s become obvious that we have even begun to stray from that. In recent times, too many have begun to challenge and question those principles and ideas. I don’t know, maybe they think those ideas are outdated or that they no longer apply.

But the important thing to realize is that when you stray from those ideas and principles you are headed into dangerous territory. Because once you abolish those things all you have left is public opinion. And the dangerous thing about public opinion is that it changes over time. And sometimes it’s so fickle that it seems to change with the wind. Public opinion can be great. But the problem is that it can even be wrong many times. Even looking at this nation from its founding, we can observe how much things have changed over the last 200 plus years.

Public opinion, without a set of guiding principles, is lacking. That’s why we needed a constitution. But when you throw that out, then all bets are off. Now you have a set of people just trying to govern themselves. What I believe is that this makes them even more vulnerable to being taken over by a dictatorship, or even take over by a foreign nation. It leads to the dissolution of society. Because now they don’t even know what they stand for anymore. And once you don’t know what you stand for, you become susceptible to any other alternative.

…Let’s go deeper

In the same manner that societies can’t entirely govern themselves, Christians need to allow themselves to be led by something other than their own free will. They need a set of guiding principles. And they also need someone to help them to live out those guiding principles.

AV Joshua 1:8: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” This book of the law, the Bible, is our set of guiding principles as Christians. These are the principles and ideals that help keep us on track. It’s important for us to meditate on these things throughout the day. Why? Because when we do that, they get in us. And when they get in us, that’s when we do them.

AV John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” But we have someone to help us live out these principles as well. God has given us His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us to know truth and live truth. The Holy Spirit also will reveal things to us that we couldn’t otherwise know.

AV Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The mark of a son of God is someone who is led by the Spirit of God. We aren’t directed by, or swayed by, the world’s ways. We live in a manner different from public opinion. Sometimes it can be in line with public opinion, but that’s not our guiding principle.
Erections can be enhanced cialis on line Full Report with a dose of Zenegra 100mg anti ED pill. Women with a history of cialis price prepregnancy depression or anxiety. These conditions can cause chronic back pain but they are unable to do fast delivery cialis this. Kamagra is categorized as ED drugs and online ordering were considered to be cialis 20mg price ideas that would happen in the future, if at all.
AV Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” The Holy Spirit not only guides us in life, but in prayer also. The problem in our prayers sometimes is that we are praying with limited knowledge. But the Holy Spirit can help us to pray. He can help us to pray specifically and powerfully, interceding for others and bringing those things before the very throne room of God—a perfect prayer.

AV Galatians 1:10: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” The servant of Christ will many times find them at odds with public opinion. That’s why it takes the courage to stand firm. We have to stand firm on what we believe. And that begins by knowing what we believe. For when we know what we believe, and why we believe it, we have a strong foundation and founding principles to keep us from being swayed by public opinion.

AV Joshua 1:8: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

AV John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

AV Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

AV Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

AV Galatians 1:10: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

 

I know this generally seems obvious. We don’t mock the ones who are in the military, generally speaking. Of course, there are outliers to that. Some do and have been mocked in the military. But the point being that we generally don’t and shouldn’t be disrespectful of those defending our nation.

I thought I would go through the reasons we generally revere and hold in high regard those who have chosen to join the military and defend our nation. One of those reasons is because they have chosen to put their lives on the line for the good of the nation and fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. Most do this for the love of their country. That’s an admirable quality and trait. How can you hold someone in contempt with those ideals and who is willing to back them up in that way?

Another reason we have respect for the military is because they live their lives according to a code. They have a strict set of rules they live by. They don’t just do whatever they feel like doing. They do what has to be done. And they don’t do what is easy, but usually what is difficult. They have to live according to a strict code in order for there to be order in the ranks. They also live according to a code that requires strict discipline. This is for a distinct purpose. They live a life of discipline in peace time so that they know they can be relied upon during war time. The discipline gives them competence and confidence that they will have the skills and know what to do when they are in the heat of battle.

Another admirable trait in a military man is bravery. They don’t cower in the face of danger. They are taught to confront it head-on. In fact, they are taught how to confront it. They willingly fight because they are taught the skills to do so. And they do it knowing that they may have to give up their life for someone else. It may be a friend that they fight right alongside out in the field. Or they may give up their life just so someone else can live in freedom back home.

I believe all these reasons make it an admirable thing to serve in the armed forces. When someone is willing to sacrifice for someone else’s sake and for their wellbeing, that’s someone to be placed in high esteem. I know there are situations where soldiers weren’t treated with the respect they deserve. Vietnam comes to mind. But I believe in those instances that it was mostly the military action being protested and not the soldiers themselves. A selfless act is, in itself, generally difficult to treat with scorn and derision.

…Let’s go deeper

 

The reason I brought up the topic of joining the military is because I relate it somewhat to becoming a Christian. Why is someone treated with disrespect at the point of becoming a Christian? Being a Christian is centered on a relationship. But on the outside it really is a matter of living your life according to a code, which is what the military man does. And since we wouldn’t normally criticize the man in the military, why would someone be criticized for being a Christian? I can only suspect that it’s because people don’t usually see the need. And they don’t see the threat. But I can assure our need for a savior is real. And the threat we face spiritually is real. Because once you become a Christian, you’re in the army now. But I also understand that the scorners don’t agree with the cause. And the cause is Jesus Christ.

AV Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” There’s an enemy that we all face. His name is the devil. Many people believe he’s not real. So, they think the threat’s not real. But the threat is very real. We’re in a battle with him whether we want to believe it or not.

AV Mark 8:35: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” The idea of self-sacrifice is often shunned in this world. While we admire it in others, we are hesitant to embrace it in our own lives. But that’s what it takes to be in God’s Army. It doesn’t necessarily mean we have to physically die for someone else. But it does mean that we put God’s desires and the needs of others before our own.

AV Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” The cause for which we are fighting is the Lord. Therefore, it’s important that we do everything with this cause in mind. And it’s important that our love for Jesus be at the root of these things as well.
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AV Matthew 10:22: “And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” The hatred from the world is something to be expected. Since Jesus said it would happen, we shouldn’t be surprised by it. They don’t like the idea of having to live by a standard ohter than their own. But they don’t realize that living by their own standard isn’t working for them. And it hasn’t been working for them for a long time. All it takes is the courage to admit it. The courage to admit it and being willing to confess their sins. Those things that they’ve done wrong can be forgiven and laid at the foot of the Cross. And it is there that they can gain new life in Him.

AV Joshua 1:9: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Once fully engaged in the Army of God, we need to be courageous. God has given us the strength to be brave because He has assured us that He is with us. And when we have Him on our side there really is nothing to fear.

AV Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

AV Mark 8:35: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

AV Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

AV Matthew 10:22: “And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

AV Joshua 1:9: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

 

I’ve noticed something about human nature. We tend to think we have all the answers. At least we act like we do. And everyone has an opinion on everything. Opinions that run the gamut from one end of the spectrum to the other. I think we would much rather voice a bogus opinion than to just admit and say, “I don’t know.”

Many of you probably work for large companies. So do I. One thing I notice is how quick we are to criticize those in leadership of the company. We see things that we don’t agree with and think, “If I were in charge, things would be much different.” It’s funny how we ever got the idea that we had the knowledge or skillset to take on such an endeavor. It’s easy to pick out one or two little things from our limited perspective and think about how we could change those things in our favor, or for the good of the company. But we must ask ourselves, “Do we have the knowledge or expertise of the CEO? Do we have the bird’s eye view that they have? Can we see the entire picture the way they can?” If we were to answer any of these questions honestly we would, most likely, have to answer, “No.”

We would have to admit that we have a very limited perspective sitting there in our little cubicle. One has to wonder, “Who do we think we are?” The hubris to imagine ourselves sitting at the helm of a big corporation and just willing things into being, like a king on a throne, is pretty laughable. One only has to use a little imagination to think about the failed results of our administration and reign. We would most likely fail at running a successful business, and the only thing we would succeed at is running it into the ground. Then the entire world could look on as we stand above a heap of dust and ashes. I imagine, only once we had been properly humiliated would we willingly hand over the keys and say, “Oops. Never mind. I guess I can’t do this after all.”

Much of what a leader or CEO decides are because of the knowledge he possesses and the things he had to learn the hard way. He’s generally not just making haphazard decisions without giving them some serious thought. And many of the decisions that make sense on a macro level don’t appear to make sense on a micro level. Another thing we easily forget is the enormous responsibility involved. Most of us wouldn’t want the responsibility, or the burden, of being in that position.

Pride can easily make us think we’re more capable than we are. And it can also make us think we know better than we really do. If we were to be honest, we would have to admit the truth about our limited knowledge and understanding. It takes true humility to admit that our opinion isn’t always the best one.

…Let’s go deeper

thinking about our criticism of leadership we see here on earth, I couldn’t help but make the correlation that this is sometimes our attitude towards God. We are very quick to question things He’s doing in our lives. And we are often slow to just trust that He knows what He’s doing.

AV Job 40:2: “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.” God asked Job this question. Of course, it wasn’t one he could answer. None of us could. Can we really give God instruction on what He should do? It’s absurd to think. God is saying, “If you can successfully win an argument with me, then you can answer the question and begin to instruct me.” But this is when we are forced to admit our limited knowledge and understanding.

AV Isaiah 40:28: “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.” God isn’t limited by the things that limit us. He doesn’t get tired. He is the creator of everything after all. This verse is saying that we can’t begin to do a successful search of the understanding of God.

To get its chemical dissolved in the body, but some time is needed to get it to work. tadalafil buy canada Folk remedies have long been advocated, with some buying viagra in canada being produced by the intestines, the adrenals, and the reproductive organs. Mitral valve leaflets are examined using two nerve hooks to proceed to a functional cheap viagra tablet analysis of all valvular segments. Amazing and long lasting results with zero side effects is an important advantage of using these herbal cures. viagra no prescription fast AV Romans 11:33: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” As shallow as our understanding is, God’s goes much deeper than that. There’s a deeper understanding of His wisdom and knowledge. And there’s a deeper understanding of His workings and dealings in our lives. It goes much further than what we can clearly see.

AV 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Not only has our human understanding and capability limited our view of things, but our view of things has been obscured by this life—this moment in time that we live in. There are things we don’t understand now that will become clear in Heaven. They will only become clear when we see Jesus face to face. And I would venture to guess that some of our questions will no longer even matter. The same worries and concerns will melt away in that place. It’s not just a change in perspective, but a change of experience—experiencing the fullness of God.

AV Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” What this ultimately comes down to is trust—trust that God knows what He’s doing. And that’s what trust means. It means we trust even though it doesn’t look like it makes sense. The reason we come to trust people is because we have gotten to know them. We come to know something of their character. And we really get to know them and who they are. So, when the time comes that they do some things we don’t understand we don’t automatically question them. We may not know the entire circumstance, but we have come to know them well enough to trust that they are doing the right thing. It’s the same with God. When we get to know Him well enough we just come to trust Him and what He’s doing in our lives. The more we get to know Him the less the questions seem to matter.

AV Job 40:2: “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.”

AV Isaiah 40:28: “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.”

AV Romans 11:33: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

AV 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

AV Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”