theotherjc Attitude, Character, Christian, Focus, Making Decisions, Questions, Thoughts

Do I Have a Willingness?

Following Jesus is the best decision I ever made. Following Jesus is also the toughest decision I ever made. Following Jesus isn’t easy. To live according to His words isn’t easy.

Here’s a bunch of questions I often ask myself, in one form or another. How about you?

Do I have a willingness to change?

Do I have a willingness to allow God to change me?

Do I have a willingness to participate?

Do I have a willingness to participate in the places where God wants me to?

Do I have a willingness to follow?

Do I have a willingness to go wherever knowing Jesus may take me?

Do I have a willingness to lay aside my plans?

Do I have a willingness to not try and fit God into my plans but trust Him instead?

Do I have a willingness to forego?

Do I have a willingness to forego my opinions?

Do I have a willingness to pray?

Do I have a willingness to pray without ceasing?

Do I have a willingness to forgive?

Do I have a willingness to forgive even though it hurts?

Do I have a willingness to be led?

Do I have a willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit?

Do I have a willingness to be led by the leaders God has placed in their role?

Do I have a willingness to trust?

Do I have a willingness to trust God in ALL things?

I guess I could keep going. What would you add to the list?

theotherjc Challenge, Character, Christian, Faith, God, Maturity, Questions, Thinking

Faith, Questions, Doubts, Mistakes and His Grace

I’m in a strange frame of mind at the moment. Thinking of questions that demand some real honesty…

Are you questioning your faith?
Do you sometimes feel unworthy?
Do you worry how making mistakes effects you with God?

Let me just say: my faith is not in doubt.
I am however, fully aware that for many people these types of question reverberate around their mind. It’s okay. Questions are okay. Don’t panic. Just don’t walk away from God. Dialogue it!

Faith isn’t faith without questions. If you had no questions then you wouldn’t need any faith. Right? I think I am discovering a few things as I walk this Christian journey about faith, questions, doubts, mistakes and how God views things…

– there are somethings about God and His nature that I can learn
– there are somethings about God and His nature that I may never understand – they can go on my list of things to ask when I get to heaven
– making mistakes is inevitable
– I need to try hard to not make the same mistakes and learn from them along the way
– even if I make mistakes, however UGLY they may be, the grace of God and His willingness to forgive will always go further – it truly is deeper, wider, higher then any stinking sin
– grace is beyond my thinking most of the time
– questions are good – they help me learn
– accepting that God loves me isn’t always easy especially when I make those stupid mistakes
– when I think I know better about my life is when I’m in danger of becoming self-sufficient and that can create distance between me & God which can only damage the relationship
– my thinking I’m inadequate doesn’t stop God from making me more than adequate – He makes me whole, perfect in His sight
– there really is nothing I can do that can make God love me more or make Him love me less
– if God is for me, then who can be against me? NOTHING – difficult to fathom which makes it hard to accept
– I must learn to accept it though – GOD IS FOR ME – all the time
– God works ALL things for good – even when I reckon that’s not possible. It’s what He does, I just have to get over myself (which is probably the greatest challenge)

What about you – what are you learning on the journey?