The Struggle Is Good?

I had a discussion with a group of believers some years ago about the struggle Christians are destined to have. I had another discussion about the same subject matter with a group of Christians online. The consensus was that those I was talking to were in agreement to be in some sort of sorrowful struggle and they were fine with this horrible thing that was going to happen to them. It baffled me then, now, and if God doesn't reveal something to me quick, it still baffles me as to why intelligent believers could make such a sound decision in making Jesus their Lord and Savior and then also accept that with Him, there will come peril and destruction? So what happened next was for me to do as I have been taught and go seek out the answer for myself as to why there are 2 opposing views with the same intent: for the betterment of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13 AMP).

I wrote about the woman before who had an ailment that she was hoping God would cure before she had surgery. She said she hoped and prayed for God to do a suddenly on her behalf. In that time; however, the woman refused to listen to the sound advise of not eating certain food items which exacerbated the ailment she was having (2 Timothy 4:3 AMP). She claimed that her doctor never told her to stop eating such food items. The woman had the procedure done of which she resented but sought no other choice. Another woman was given the diagnosis of having terminal cancer. When I asked if the doctor put her on any special diet, she replied that he had not. She continued to consume her daily allowance of chocolate pudding and diet cola. Within months, she passed away (Titus 1:9 AMP).

Both of these women had different belief systems. One is a Christian and the other wasn't. Both said the doctor did not tell them to change any of their habits for whatever the reason, according to them. Both went through horrible suffering. Was it because of the habits they refused to give up? Was it because of not using sound wisdom? Was it because of sin not confessed (1 John 1:9 AMP)? Well, the Christian is still here and can do something about her circumstances so not to be in the same predicament again. The Christian can stop the pain and the horrific struggle she is going through even after the surgery. Can you see what that is?

You see, when Paul said that we would go through suffering, it was on a scale that has not been considered or taught (Philippians 1:29-30 AMP). He said that Jesus went through suffering and if you don't as well, then you are not of Him (Romans 8:17 AMP). As I read through those passages, it bothered me (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 AMP). It bothered me more when pastors and speakers did not explain them any better then my own studies (1 Peter 4:13 AMP). They expected horrific things to happen to those who believe as well. Why? Because it has happened to them.

Why did these things happen to them? Why didn't they tell us a complete testimony so that we could understand and not do the same mistakes? Why was this lesson skipped or merely skimmed over?

Its quite simple and a matter that I have written about with the analogy of the seed coming from the ground, a chick trying to get out the egg, or a baby getting through the birth canal. The struggle all serves a purpose. The seed is blown before enabling the correct end to be propped in the soil and the elements getting it to where it needed to be (or by a farmer). In so doing the seed cannot grow into a sapling without getting rid of the outer covering. The chick struggles to get out of its shell and while doing so, it clears its lungs from any mucous and strengthens its muscles to be able to walk about. The baby squeezes through the birth canal with a host of benefits for the baby and the mother when the process is done correctly. So thank God for the struggle.

Now with the acceptance of our Lord and Savior for us to live in abundance, what struggle is left?
Jesus requires for us to pick up our cross and follow Him. He requires for us to receive the Holy Spirit and develop the fruit thereof (Galatians 5:22-23 AMP). He requires for us to crucify the flesh daily...and there it is. There is what we would be crying over. There is what we scream about and fuss and refute. There is where we cry out to God why hasn't He done this or that for us yet. There is where the separation of the lambs and the goats come in (Matthew 25:31-46 AMP). Its where He, and those who maintain, can see if the love of God is in you or is it just lip service. Its the struggle of living Holy and not go back to the life we left behind. Its saying the right thing when angry rather using the profane vocabulary you used to use that could make a sailor blush. Its being able to give you shirt to someone in need and if asked to give your coat also without so much as a hint of regret. For it is written that God loves a cheerful giver. So recognize and see when any of the aforementioned used to cause you grumbling to do....and when you knew to do better, how much effort did it take for you to actually do it?

Paul suffered. No I don't mean the thorn in his side (2 Corinthians 12:7 AMP). I mean when he was persecuting the Christians and then told Jesus that he would stop (Acts 22:1-8 AMP). How long did it take for him to stop being angry? He stopped killing people but his argumentative ways took some time (Acts 17:2-17 AMP). That had to be a hardship for him to go through. What about those that followed Paul? Did they do what Jesus did or did they do what they saw Paul do? After all, he did say would that you could follow me. Then he added, would that you could follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP). He had to grow up and in so doing, there was a struggle for all of the wrong things he did and said in the process. He could have said all of the right words and not believe any of them. But that would only be noise to the Lord and not that sweet savor that we hope for.

Do you believe that everyone that goes to church services have the right intentions? It seems that everyone knows what to say and do, but do they believe those things for the rest of the week when they aren't in church? You see, we can't FAKE it until we make it. Faking isn't real. We have to believe it to receive it (Mark 11:23 AMP). And the believing isn't solidified without crucifying the flesh daily. How do we do this? By saying the right thing the moment we begin our day. Its the spiritual version of brushing our teeth and taking a shower. Do we struggle to be hygienic? Was it always easy to bath and get dressed or did you put your shoes on the wrong foot, skip brushing your teeth every now and again like everyone else when you were growing up? Well, its sort of like that when walking in the Spirit. It takes time for new ways to become habitual. Once they do, its as easy as Jesus said it would be. Don't be fooled anymore. You now know better so you MUST do better. Amen?

That Doesn't Hurt

It is about 5 in the mroning (it could be earlier) and your eyes are barely open. You have a knowing to get up to pray and the longing to go back and slumber. Having full knowledge of who He is, you battle the flesh to get up and be obedient. You enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4 AMP) as you begin your prayers in the Spirit. Within the first 15 minutes, thoughts about your day and all that you have to do try to come. So while in prayer, why not start writing your to do list? How about getting a few minor household chores out of the way; its like two birds with one stone sort of a thing. Hey, that laundry isn't going to fold itself. Isn't it garbage day? Why not take it out to the curb while you are up doing stuff anyway? Are you still praying?

When I was a child, my parents taught us to pray just before bedtime. We knelt at the side of the bed with ourhands pressed together saying the same rehearsed rhyme that we said in those impressionable years. We thank God for everyone and loved people all the same. Feeling good about going to bed, oddly enough, after those prayers; we got a kiss from Mom and the lights were switched off for the night. No big deal, right?

Then as adults and returning back to church, many ministers have taught certain methods to pray as they understand scripture to be. I have heard to kneel and use the Word. I heard to sit with another chair facing you as if you are speaking to God. I heard to pray in the Spirit and do other things like multi-tasking. I heard that people literally get into a closet while others sit under large pieces of furniture. I suppose one could mimick anyone of those techniques based upon who was teaching and how their life has fared or do what seems just right for you.

Nit-picking through what got others out of their issues is a waste of time. I decided to do the multi-tasking thing because kneeling at the bed side was getting hard on the knees, my feet would go to sleep, and sometimes I would be waking up from that kneeling position wondering if I had finished praying or not. I deducted that I did and moved on with my day. Throughout my faith filled life, I made sure that my prayer time was anything but uncomfortable. If I kneeled it was on my bed and sometimes under covers. Most of the time I prayed while doing something else. If the phone rang, I answered it. If someone was at the door, I saw to it. I figured that I was getting things done and that should please God. Well, that was my reasoning and not godly thinking.

In my studies on the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22 AMP), I came upon longsuffering and was stumped. The term in of itself seemed to contradict what I thought Jesus came to rid believers from. How can we suffer when He said He would not leave us without comfort (comfortless). Doesn't comfort and suffer oppose one another? And one must endure with suffering and periods of length (long)? I refused to receive that understanding of the Word. I had to be getting that wrong. I studied and defined that word and still I just didn't like what I got. So I casted the care on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7 AMP) and continued with my faith the way I understood and liked.

I cannot explain the strange things that has happened to me over the years. The battles of anxiety and frustrating issues are to numerable to mention. I prayed and prayed. I called prayer lines to have them pray for me too. I woke family members in the middle of the night to pray. Peace within my soul needed to be still. I read scriptures and I was quieted for a time, but then I was back on the prayer lines and waking folks up again. I didn't know what else to do. So I talked with God and asked where was I disobedient to receive this chastisement? I didn't hear anything for many days but I did gradually receive Peace again.

My multi-tasking prayer life continued the way it was. Sometimes I realized that when I kept still and focused on the specific prayer, the answer came sooner. I also noticed when I stayed still the release of the prayer wasn't an all day project.

Eventually, God brought me back to the longsuffering question. I believed when Jesus came and willingly allowed Himself to be beaten, tortured, and ridiculed for the sins of the world, true believers didn't need to go through that. Jesus was crucified on the cross unjustly. He had done nothing wrong; and still He went through the pain and suffering because He loved us so much. He did this so we wouldn't have to. He broke the laws of sin and death. We believe and so we receive ever lasting life. No pain. No suffering. It makes sense. It is a reason to rejoice. Thank you Jesus - right?

Then Paul went and wrote because Jesus suffered so do we. If we don't suffer, we aren't His (Romans 8:14-17 AMP). What?!!! Why does he write stuff like this? I tried to make sense of it and couldn't. Pain wasn't something I was willing to receive not after believing my latter will be greater and anticipating (Haggai 2:9 KJV) the abundant life Jesus said is mine.

So where is the clearing of this path? What is going to move this mountain (Mark 11:23 KJV)? Jesus didn't leave believers comfortless. We have the Holy Spirit and the maintenance of the Spirit of God is developing and cultivating the fruit thereof. Having been born in an evil nature (Romans 13:13 AMP) before receiving Christ, we developed many habits that needed to change. Some were easier than others. Some took diligence and with the decision to not to return in that mess, came the reward. The renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2 KJV) by faith is instantaneous. Walking in love in all you do must be taught for the willingness to do so can be easy. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning can give reason to be grouchy but understanding that someone did it for you makes the adjustment much easier.

Longsuffering is fruit that no one initially would like to cultivate. It sounds painful. Bowing at the knees to pray for as long as it takes with the tingling in the feet, creaking of the back, feeling like the circulation stopped in the arms and the occasional snooze in between to start the prayer all over again is a pittance compared to those who would not get up early to do so therefore; suffered through financially. Or those who complained about praying so long and went through a lost deal, having no transportation, fired from a job that was guaranteed, a failed marriage, peace of mind is troubled, or whatever you could be facing now.

No, we don't have to do what Jesus did. His ministry is unique of its own. Paul wrote the truth and none of that fruit from each of us is the harvest God looks for. Seriously, in comparison with what Jesus did, does your knees really hurt?