Life Controlling Issues
My husband and I ran into another minister the other day and as ministers do, they started talking a mile a minute while his wife and I sat smiling. They were sharing stories of what was going on in their lives and churches.
My husband began talking about a discussion group that he has started called Discovering Recovery and how difficult it has been to deal with three different types of issues at the same time. The group is reaching out to addicts in recovery, family and friends of those struggling, and people who are having difficulties overcoming.
It is always a very lively and interesting conversation among the groups. This other minister said that he calls these issues Life Controlling Issues. I thought that was a great way to explain what we are dealing with.
Life Controlling Issues: We all have them. Some life controlling issues might be drugs and alcohol but could also be food, gambling, pride, self-esteem, health, depression, anxiety, exercise, even pets, marriage, finances, social media, etc.
Anything that controls your life and takes so much time that your faith in God wains or you don't have time or energy to go to church or pray and have a deep relationship with God is controlling your life TOO much. For this reason I gave up Facebook which might seem weird to some of you but it was taking up too much of my time. I know some who spend hours looking things up on the internet and watching talk shows and news. To some these things are detrimental to their faith. They only cause fear and anxiety. God will speak to you and you will feel it in your soul if you need to give up some of these things and spend more time in positive pursuits.
God comes first!
I know that some of these are truly addictions that are not easily overcome and require a great deal of work. But they can be overcome with God's help and the many programs that are available. Some of these are dependencies, i.e. things that give you comfort and that you just don't want to give up. Some, like health issues, may be somewhat out of your control.
God comes first!
God has promised that He will meet your needs. He will stand by you. He will forgive you. He will take care of you IF you trust in Him.
Whatever issues you are struggling with, I encourage you to do the leg work that it takes to overcome, be it doctors, programs, diets, groups, medication, what have you. AND most importantly to trust in God, to commune with Him everyday and to have FAITH that He will help you overcome.
Questions:
What are your Life Controlling Issues?
What are you doing to overcome?
How can you have more faith in God?
What the bible says about God meeting all of our needs. I would encourage you to read the verses in their entirety and know that everything is in God's hands if you love and follow Him. His plan for you is so much greater than you know.
My husband began talking about a discussion group that he has started called Discovering Recovery and how difficult it has been to deal with three different types of issues at the same time. The group is reaching out to addicts in recovery, family and friends of those struggling, and people who are having difficulties overcoming.
It is always a very lively and interesting conversation among the groups. This other minister said that he calls these issues Life Controlling Issues. I thought that was a great way to explain what we are dealing with.
Life Controlling Issues: We all have them. Some life controlling issues might be drugs and alcohol but could also be food, gambling, pride, self-esteem, health, depression, anxiety, exercise, even pets, marriage, finances, social media, etc.
Anything that controls your life and takes so much time that your faith in God wains or you don't have time or energy to go to church or pray and have a deep relationship with God is controlling your life TOO much. For this reason I gave up Facebook which might seem weird to some of you but it was taking up too much of my time. I know some who spend hours looking things up on the internet and watching talk shows and news. To some these things are detrimental to their faith. They only cause fear and anxiety. God will speak to you and you will feel it in your soul if you need to give up some of these things and spend more time in positive pursuits.
God comes first!
I know that some of these are truly addictions that are not easily overcome and require a great deal of work. But they can be overcome with God's help and the many programs that are available. Some of these are dependencies, i.e. things that give you comfort and that you just don't want to give up. Some, like health issues, may be somewhat out of your control.
God comes first!
God has promised that He will meet your needs. He will stand by you. He will forgive you. He will take care of you IF you trust in Him.
Whatever issues you are struggling with, I encourage you to do the leg work that it takes to overcome, be it doctors, programs, diets, groups, medication, what have you. AND most importantly to trust in God, to commune with Him everyday and to have FAITH that He will help you overcome.
Questions:
What are your Life Controlling Issues?
What are you doing to overcome?
How can you have more faith in God?
What the bible says about God meeting all of our needs. I would encourage you to read the verses in their entirety and know that everything is in God's hands if you love and follow Him. His plan for you is so much greater than you know.
Proverbs 28:13 ESV
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Philippians 4:19 ESV
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 ESV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all
sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good
work.
1 John 1:9 ESV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
James 4:6 ESV
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Philippians 4:13 ESV
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Romans 10:10 ESV
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
John 14:6 ESV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 John 4:1 ESV
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see
whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into
the world.
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart
from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings
of demons,
Romans 5:8 ESV
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Matthew 6:33 ESV
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that
all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 1:3 ESV
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life
and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own
glory and excellence,
1 Peter 5:5 ESV
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe
yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 1:5 ESV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Hebrews 2:15 ESV
And deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
places.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 2:21 ESV
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for
you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
James 4:7 ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:4 ESV
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the
world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the
world makes himself an enemy of God.
2 Timothy 4:3 ESV
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching,
but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to
suit their own passions,
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the
man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:12 ESV
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2 Timothy 2:15 ESV
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker
who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
1 Timothy 6:20 ESV
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent
babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”
1 Timothy 6:10 ESV
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is
through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and
pierced themselves with many pangs.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart
from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings
of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are
seared,
1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and
all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet
life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing
in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and
to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there
is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ...
Colossians 3:8 ESV
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Colossians 3:5 ESV
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Philippians 4:8 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:7 ESV
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:11 ESV
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 3:16 ESV
That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be
strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits
of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies,
and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those
who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning,
your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to
Christ.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply
and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your
righteousness.
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any
affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by
God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through
Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them
because they are spiritually discerned.
Romans 16:17 ESV
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause
divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have
been taught; avoid them.
Romans 10:9 ESV
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.
Romans 6:23 ESV
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:12 ESV
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and
death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Romans 3:23 ESV
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:11 ESV
No one understands; no one seeks for God.
Romans 2:4 ESV
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and
patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to
repentance?
John 20:27 ESV
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands;
and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but
believe.”
John 14:27 ESV
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let
them be afraid.
John 8:1-59 ESV
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came
again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and
taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been
caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him,
“Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the
Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” ...
Mark 11:24 ESV
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Matthew 13:1-58 ESV
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat
down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many
things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed,
some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and
immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ...
Matthew 10:28 ESV
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 7:7 ESV
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 6:34 ESV
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:32 ESV
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Matthew 6:31-33 ESV
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What
shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after
all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:24 ESV
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money.
Jeremiah 17:9 ESV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Isaiah 55:8 ESV
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Proverbs 16:18 ESV
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and
do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 2:6 ESV
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Psalm 24:1 ESV
A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
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