Karen, bless you! I am still learning how to do this, after decades of negative thinking and poverty. God sends the Great Teacher, Holy Spirit, Who indeed knows things I do not and gently guides me in taking small steps of action in following HIs counsel. He does not castigate or harangue or hit me with a stick. He is Comfort combined with a holy action, a new thing for me, still coming out of worry and anxiety. I am walking up the path slowly, with Holy Spirit nudging me lovingly and Papa God holding my hand when I feel afraid.
I love how you put this! Thank you for sharing. I, too, am learning about God's gentle guidance in taking small steps of action. I'm so thankful that he is patient with us as we try and fail and try again, each time getting a little closer to who he wants us to be.
Thanks back, Karen! I think so many people are told that God is just a big thug or meanie and cannot wait to shake His finger at us when we mess up and fail. I have learned by direct experience since December of 2017, by just "hanging out" with Papa and doing what I call "flopping on the couch with Papa" (sitting with notebook and pen and writing what God tells me, as well as pouring my heart out), that God is actually a loving Papa Who actually wants us to be ourselves with Him and pour out our hearts just like David did in the Psalms. If we can just be ourselves and allow vulnerability, the condemnation from the devil begins to lessen bit by bit. This in turn, allows God's love in and the transforming process begins step by step. God bless you!
I've observed that people usually have one of two views of God: either he is a mean judge, waiting for you to mess up so he can condemn you, or he's a loving God that would never condemn you to hell no matter what you do. In studying for my Characteristics of God series, I've found that God is neither of these extremes. He is judge and love in perfect balance, holiness and righteousness coupled with compassion and forgiveness. You can't take one side without the other. That's what makes him who he is.
Karen, I agree. God is both great love and the righteous Judge of all. That is the tough part but it remains entwined with our love of the goodness of God and our small efforts to stay close to Him and His Son on the narrow path and embrace Their help to stay on the path. It is very difficult. Keeping our broken hearts close to God so He can gradually cleanse and heal them, that is the work we all have to do. God does not let just anyone in the Gate, we have to repent and remain humble, while allowing His great love to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and step by step, bring us up into the marvelous light of His Son! We cannot do this huge work by ourselves!
Amen! And my God will supply every need (not greeds!) of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:19
Karen, bless you! I am still learning how to do this, after decades of negative thinking and poverty. God sends the Great Teacher, Holy Spirit, Who indeed knows things I do not and gently guides me in taking small steps of action in following HIs counsel. He does not castigate or harangue or hit me with a stick. He is Comfort combined with a holy action, a new thing for me, still coming out of worry and anxiety. I am walking up the path slowly, with Holy Spirit nudging me lovingly and Papa God holding my hand when I feel afraid.
I love how you put this! Thank you for sharing. I, too, am learning about God's gentle guidance in taking small steps of action. I'm so thankful that he is patient with us as we try and fail and try again, each time getting a little closer to who he wants us to be.
Thanks back, Karen! I think so many people are told that God is just a big thug or meanie and cannot wait to shake His finger at us when we mess up and fail. I have learned by direct experience since December of 2017, by just "hanging out" with Papa and doing what I call "flopping on the couch with Papa" (sitting with notebook and pen and writing what God tells me, as well as pouring my heart out), that God is actually a loving Papa Who actually wants us to be ourselves with Him and pour out our hearts just like David did in the Psalms. If we can just be ourselves and allow vulnerability, the condemnation from the devil begins to lessen bit by bit. This in turn, allows God's love in and the transforming process begins step by step. God bless you!
I've observed that people usually have one of two views of God: either he is a mean judge, waiting for you to mess up so he can condemn you, or he's a loving God that would never condemn you to hell no matter what you do. In studying for my Characteristics of God series, I've found that God is neither of these extremes. He is judge and love in perfect balance, holiness and righteousness coupled with compassion and forgiveness. You can't take one side without the other. That's what makes him who he is.
Karen, I agree. God is both great love and the righteous Judge of all. That is the tough part but it remains entwined with our love of the goodness of God and our small efforts to stay close to Him and His Son on the narrow path and embrace Their help to stay on the path. It is very difficult. Keeping our broken hearts close to God so He can gradually cleanse and heal them, that is the work we all have to do. God does not let just anyone in the Gate, we have to repent and remain humble, while allowing His great love to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and step by step, bring us up into the marvelous light of His Son! We cannot do this huge work by ourselves!