Showing posts with label struggles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label struggles. Show all posts

Saturday, October 7, 2017

The Struggle - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

The Struggle

Now Think On This
Steve Martin

  
“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15, NASU)

We often like to think that the ones who saw Jesus in person during their lifetime, or the ones who lived centuries ago and were believers, had it made. We hold them up as “perfect people, perfect saints”, who almost came as close to not sinning as the Lord, the Messiah Himself. He walked without sin. Surely they must have come real close too, having known Him so well.

I now tend to think not. They had their faith and flesh struggles too. Thus it helps me in my mind and will, when I do the same thing over, and over, and over, to yet have hope to overcome.

Without fail, I find myself more often than I like facing the same old same old – battling the flesh and the soul (mind, will and emotions) when it comes to walking the straight and narrow. And yet, like maybe you too, we have to keep pressing on, relying on the Lord’s grace and mercy to overcome.

That is why the Lord’s Prayer has the petition included, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” The Lord knows we need His help continually.

Are you like me, when someone gets the “shout out” at the office staff meeting, and I have to bite my lip to keep from jealousy and resentment. “They never acknowledge my great work!” I try not to say (too often) under my breath.

Or, as in an unexpected check comes in the mail for my friend and they share their excitement with me. “What about me Lord?” tries to speak into my brain.

Here’s another - the family member goes on another luxury trip, while I get to look at the photos they send back with their posts on Facebook and Instagram. “My turn is coming” I know I have said in the past. (I post a lot of social media photos. I can imagine people thinking that of me!)

Yes, it is a struggle. We fight the daily temptations to not envy another, get jealous over someone’s sports team winning and later hearing about it, while mine favorite is just so so. Or think they have it so good, and what I have isn’t so much.

I find help in being an overcomer by reading of King David and his weaknesses, and yet the Lord still stuck with him to see him through.

And then again we know Paul, probably the greatest apostle that ever lived. Thanks Paul for being was so honest in writing of your dilemma. It certainly gives hope for us.

As he wrote, “It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?


The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.” (Romans 7:21-8:2, THE MESSAGE)

Something greater outside of ourselves has been given to us to be strong in our walk, even when the temptations and struggles come to pull us down. We must keep pressing on, knowing that the salvation of our souls and body is a daily, ongoing experience. It takes times to make it through the moments that certainly, almost continually come our way. The victory won’t happen overnight. For most of us, it is a lifetime walk to keep focused, stay alert, and keep our eyes fixed on Yeshua, the Author, and Finisher of our faith.

We will make it. The Holy Spirit had promised to walk with us and get us to the finish line in good fashion.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this, 

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This - in the Year of our Lord 10.07.17 - #321 – “The Struggle” Sat.  9:30 am

Friday, August 30, 2013

5774 - It's A New Year (Sept. 4, 2013) - from Jo Ellen Stevens "From Breakthrough To Giant Leaps!"

5774 From Breakthrough To Giant Leaps! 
~By Jo Ellen Stevens on August 6, 2013


~ You Are Going From Breakthrough To A Giant Leap ~

I keep hearing the Lord say the word “breakthrough”… We are about to take some giant leaps forward in the coming Hebrew year 5774!! We are in a time of “breaking through” right now for the purpose of bringing us into this giant leap! The coming Hebrew year 5774 has the meaning of “Leaping Forward” We will be leaping forth in our ministries! Some of you have been feeling the press back in this time of transition and the Lord just wanted me to tell you this morning that “even though there seems to be no movement in where you are right now and even though it seems to be very dark right now. There are going to be many great breakthroughs from now through Rosh Hashanah and it will be as if you were calves let out of the stall, and those that have crested a great mountain,but now it will be like running down that mountain full of joy!

The struggling you have been doing will begin to be a Holy ease as you break through and leap forward!! This will be “ONE GIANT LEAP” for those in my Kingdom! So hold fast in this hour of waiting, continue to seek me diligently, and listen for instruction and strategy. I am giving strategy for the place that you will land when you take this giant leap….”

I saw in a vision tonight a man running but there were many people trying to stop him on his path and as he ran he was pushing through the crowd to get to what looked like a finish line facing the sun.

“So do not allow the press to stop you but go forward because breakthrough is the next of God as you wait in my presence to hear my voice. Stay in peace right now.Let me deal with your enemies and those that oppose you and I will expose the evil of their doing. Keep your eyes on me and seek first the Kingdom. Love all those that stand in your way but focus on the prize of the high calling of your God and soon even in the month of September and beyond into 2014 you will see great breakthroughs and then we will leap forward and it will seem as if I have restored the time that you thought the enemy stole,” but the Lord says “you have not lost time but have gained wisdom for all that I am taking you to!!” You will not only leap forward but you shall leap for joy in that day that I do all of these things says the Lord!!”

Malachi 4:2-3 (AMP) “But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy. And you shall tread down the lawless and wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of hosts.”


Editor's Note: I BELIEVE IT! 
For both you, my family, my friends, and all those who are believers in the Lord Jesus (Yeshua)! 5774!! Let your faith arise. You believe it too!  
Steve Martin

From my notebook this morning 08.30.13 at 5:20 am.
It will be a special year. I believe the breakthrough has come 
for many of us who have been waiting for years! 
The Lord will explain more as I seek Him further.

Steve Martin


Jo Ellen Stevens is a prophetic speaker, author, worshiper leader, intercessor, She has ministered with her husband for 23 years pastoring, teaching, and leading prophetic worship.She has taught many Bible study groups, and has led prophetic intercessory prayer groups. She believes that every believer should be hearing the Lord's voice and resounding His heart out of their intimate relationship with Him. She believes God called her many years ago to encourage the body of Christ to Arise and Shine with the glory of the Lord for such a time as this no matter what their age,background, or social status! She also believes that God has given us each a platform to use the gifts and talents that He has given us to bring those who do not know the Lord out of the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God, and that social media will play a great part in covering the earth with His Glory! Jo Ellen is available to speak in churches and conferences.

For more information, contact Jo Ellen Stevens via e-mail at: dstevens7@frontier.com or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joellen.stevens.9